Vivaldi for PC: How to Download and Install on Windows (2026 Guide)

Most browsers decide everything for you: where the tabs go, which features you get, how much of your activity is tracked. If you keep dozens of tabs open or want a browser that treats privacy as the default, the mainstream options can feel restrictive.

This guide shows you how to download Vivaldi from its official website, install it on Windows 11 or 10, and set up its signature tab features. Requirements, features, and cost are covered below.

What Is Vivaldi?

Vivaldi is a free web browser developed by Vivaldi Technologies, a company founded by Jon von Tetzchner, the co-founder of the original Opera browser. Built on the Chromium engine — the same foundation as Chrome — it opens every website correctly and supports Chrome extensions, but its philosophy is the opposite of Chrome’s minimalism: Vivaldi adapts to you, not the other way around.

Almost everything about it can be rearranged: tabs on any edge of the window, a customisable sidebar, split-screen tab tiling, and mouse gestures. It also includes built-in tools other browsers make you install extensions for — an ad and tracker blocker, a notes tool, a screenshot utility, and even mail and calendar clients — while the company states it does not track users’ behaviour.

Key Features of Vivaldi

Tab stacking and tiling: Group tabs into stacks to save space, and tile two or more tabs side by side in one window for split-screen browsing.
Deep customisation: Move tabs and the address bar to any side, theme every colour, and remap keyboard shortcuts and mouse gestures.
Built-in tracker and ad blocking: Block trackers and ads at browser level, with per-site control and custom filter lists.
Web panels sidebar: Pin messaging apps, social feeds, or any site in a side panel you can open without leaving the page.
Chrome extension support: Install extensions from the Chrome Web Store, since Vivaldi runs on Chromium.
Workspaces and sessions: Separate tab groups for work, shopping, or research, and save sessions to reopen later.
Built-in extras: Notes, full-page screenshots, a break timer, mail, calendar, and a feed reader built in.

System Requirements

Operating System: Windows 11 or Windows 10 (64-bit recommended)
Processor: Any modern Intel or AMD CPU
RAM: 2 GB minimum; 4 GB recommended for heavy tab use
Storage: Around 500 MB, plus profile and cache space
Internet: Required for browsing and for the initial download
Account: None required — a free Vivaldi account is only needed for the optional sync service

How to Download Vivaldi (Official Method)

Popular browsers attract imitation download pages that bundle unwanted software or outdated builds. Download Vivaldi only from its official website, vivaldi.com, where the current version is free.

Official Website: Download Vivaldi from the official website

Step-by-Step Installation

Open the official Vivaldi download page linked above in your current browser.
Click the Windows download button — it detects your system automatically.
Save the installer file, named like Vivaldi.x.x.x.x.exe, to your Downloads folder.
Double-click the installer and approve the Windows permission prompt if one appears.
Choose your installation type: “Install for current user” suits most people; the standalone option installs into a single folder.
Tick the options you want, such as setting Vivaldi as your default browser, and click Accept and Install.
Vivaldi launches when setup finishes — follow the short welcome flow to pick a theme, privacy level, and whether to import bookmarks from your old browser.

Import tip: Vivaldi can pull bookmarks, passwords, and history from Chrome, Edge, or Firefox during setup or later in Settings → General → Import, so switching takes a minute.

How to Set Up Tab Stacks and Tiling in Vivaldi

Open several related tabs — for example, three pages about the same topic.
Drag one tab directly on top of another and pause until it highlights, then release: the two tabs merge into a single stack.
Hover over the stack to see thumbnails of every tab inside, and click one to switch to it.
To view two tabs together, Ctrl-click their entries (or select the stack) and click the Page Tiling button in the status bar, choosing a vertical or horizontal split.
Rename the stack by right-clicking it — a label like “Work” keeps a crowded tab bar understandable.
Right-click the stack and choose “Close Tab Stack” when you are done with the whole group at once.

Is Vivaldi Really Free?

Yes, completely. The Vivaldi browser is free to download and use, with its full feature set — tab stacking, blocking, workspaces, and built-in tools — available to everyone at no cost. There is no premium tier and no licence key. Vivaldi earns revenue mainly through search partnerships and partner bookmarks, which you can change or remove in settings. Donations are accepted but never required.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Vivaldi safe to download and use?
Yes, from the official website linked above. Vivaldi is an established browser from a company founded by one of Opera’s original creators, and it receives regular Chromium security updates. As with any browser, download only from vivaldi.com rather than a third-party portal.

Is Vivaldi based on Chrome? Will my Chrome extensions work?
Vivaldi is built on Chromium, the same open-source engine that powers Google Chrome, so websites render identically and Chrome Web Store extensions install and work normally. It is not made by Google, however, and removes Google’s tracking integration in favour of its own privacy approach.

Does Vivaldi collect my browsing data?
Vivaldi states that it does not track or profile users, and your history, cookies, and settings stay on your device. The optional sync service encrypts your data end-to-end before it leaves your PC, so even Vivaldi’s servers cannot read it. Built-in blocking further reduces website tracking.

Can I move my bookmarks and passwords from Chrome to Vivaldi?
Yes. Vivaldi’s importer pulls bookmarks, saved passwords, history, and open tabs from Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Opera — during the first-run welcome flow or later through Settings. Most people complete the switch in a couple of minutes.

Conclusion

If mainstream browsers feel like they are designed for someone else, Vivaldi is the answer: the same reliable Chromium foundation, arranged entirely around how you work. Download it free from the official website, stack a few tabs, and make it yours.

Download Vivaldi from the Official Website

Vivaldi for PC: How to Download and Install on Windows (2026 Guide)