In December 2025, Opera introduced "Neon," their experimental browser designed explicitly for AI enthusiasts. As someone who has spent years bootstrapping startups, I’m naturally curious about what makes a company charge almost $20 a month for a browser. On paper, Neon offers direct access to high-powered AI models like GPT-5.1, Gemini 3 Pro, and other emerging tech, positioning itself as a premium tool for users deeply engaged in AI-driven tasks. But is it worth the investment for entrepreneurs?
Breaking Down Neon’s Features
Opera Neon isn’t your typical web browser. Besides browsing, it allows you to query pages, create mini apps, and organize tasks with AI’s help. For instance, its integrated AI can remember browsing history to contextualize queries, automate repetitive work, and streamline internet research significantly. Also, it introduces "Cards," where you can build workflows for frequent operations.
While this all sounds helpful, the $19.90/month subscription cost sets it apart from competitors like OpenAI’s free Atlas or Perplexity’s Comet. Here is what you get as a user:
- Premium AI Access: Models like GPT-5.1 and others are bundled into one service.
- Organized Workspace: Dedicated workspaces ("Tasks") can function autonomously across various tabs.
- Direct Developer Access: Paying subscribers enjoy direct communication with developers and exclusive invites to improve the tool collaboratively.
Opera touted Neon’s efficiency in reducing manual effort during research-heavy tasks. Yet when free alternatives exist, many startup founders, who are often confined by budget constraints, might hesitate to subscribe.
Statistics and Competitors You Should Know
Competitive options like Perplexity’s AI browser, Comet, and OpenAI’s Atlas don’t require subscriptions at large, which could tilt the playing field. Neon banking exclusively on premium users is a bold move, but perhaps Opera aims to target niche power users rather than the casual crowd.
Data from Opera and independent tech reviews suggest Neon’s AI significantly improves productivity during intensive workloads. But productivity improvements vary based on how much you engage with the advanced features.
How to Decide if Neon Is Right for You
If you’re an entrepreneur deciding whether to invest in Neon, here’s a step-by-step approach:
- Assess Your AI Usage: Do your daily tasks heavily rely on AI? If not, Neon’s premium features might be superfluous.
- Compare Tools: Evaluate free options, like OpenAI Atlas, and check for comparable features.
- Choose Function Over Price: If productivity outweighs the cost, consider Neon.
Mistakes Entrepreneurs Often Make
When investing in tools like Neon, the following mistakes hold business owners back:
- Overpaying for features they never explore. The AI features Neon offers are robust, but reading about functionality versus consistently using them is entirely different.
- Ignoring team involvement. Tools like Neon work best collaboratively. Entrepreneurs should onboard their teams to leverage its capabilities fully.
- Skipping security concerns. Browsers equipped with AI like Neon process tons of user data , understand how privacy safeguards the platform offers, as not all tools have this sorted out yet.
Lessons and Insights From My Own Startups
In bootstrapping initiatives like Fe/male Switch, I’ve often found myself exploring tools to inject efficiency into workflows without breaking the budget. A subscription-based browser would compel me to ensure its ROI is tangible, given tight margins. I believe that paying for Neon makes sense if you work across AI tools daily (e.g., building AI models, running experiments). Otherwise, free browsers offering integrated AI would suffice.
Final Thoughts
Neon’s launch has undoubtedly stirred conversations. If you thrive on AI-powered extensibility and seek a tool that consolidates multiple capabilities into one ecosystem, it’s an intriguing option. But for female entrepreneurs bootstrapping their businesses across Europe, the subscription should be evaluated carefully because free alternatives often meet basic needs equally well.
FAQ
1. What is Opera Neon and how does it differ from standard browsers?
Opera Neon is an experimental browser tailored for AI power users, integrating features like AI chatbots, workflow automation ("Cards"), and premium AI models such as GPT-5.1 and Gemini 3 Pro. Standard browsers typically lack these advanced AI tools. Learn more about Opera Neon
2. Why does Opera charge $19.90/month for Neon?
The cost allows users to access premium AI models bundled within a single tool, eliminating the need for multiple subscriptions, and includes collaboration opportunities with Neon developers. Discover more about Neon’s pricing
3. Who should consider using Opera Neon?
Entrepreneurs and AI enthusiasts engaged in AI-driven tasks, like building models or conducting research, will benefit most from Neon’s features. Casual users may find free alternatives sufficient. Assess whether Neon fits your needs
4. What makes Neon’s AI features unique?
Neon integrates AI directly into its interface, enabling advanced contextual queries, "mini-app" creation, and task automation across browser tabs using AI models like Gemini 3 Pro. Learn about Neon’s AI capabilities
5. What competitors does Opera Neon face?
Neon competes with free AI browsers like Perplexity’s Comet, OpenAI’s Atlas, and The Browser Company's Dia which also offer integrated AI features. Check out Neon’s competition
6. How does Neon improve productivity during research-heavy tasks?
By organizing tasks into dedicated workspaces, integrating browsing history for context, and automating workflows, Neon significantly reduces manual effort involved in complex research. Explore productivity benefits of Neon
7. Why is Neon suitable for team collaboration?
Neon encourages team onboarding, offers autonomous workspaces for organizing tabs, and provides direct developer access for feedback and improvement opportunities. Understand Neon’s collaborative features
8. Are there security concerns with AI browsers like Neon?
AI browsers process large amounts of user data, potentially exposing sensitive information. Gartner recently advised companies to consider the risks before using AI-integrated browsers. Learn about Neon’s security risks
9. What are the most prominent AI models included in Neon’s subscription?
Neon provides access to top-tier AI models, including GPT-5.1, Gemini 3 Pro, and Veo 3.1, which are bundled into the subscription. Discover Neon’s premium AI tools
10. How does Neon compare to its free competitors?
Neon offers exclusive features like full context memory integration and “Cards” automation, which go beyond the capabilities of free browsers like OpenAI’s Atlas or Perplexity’s Comet. Compare Neon to free alternatives
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta Bonenkamp's expertise in CAD sector, IP protection and blockchain
Violetta Bonenkamp is recognized as a multidisciplinary expert with significant achievements in the CAD sector, intellectual property (IP) protection, and blockchain technology.
CAD Sector:
- Violetta is the CEO and co-founder of CADChain, a deep tech startup focused on developing IP management software specifically for CAD (Computer-Aided Design) data. CADChain addresses the lack of industry standards for CAD data protection and sharing, using innovative technology to secure and manage design data.
- She has led the company since its inception in 2018, overseeing R&D, PR, and business development, and driving the creation of products for platforms such as Autodesk Inventor, Blender, and SolidWorks.
- Her leadership has been instrumental in scaling CADChain from a small team to a significant player in the deeptech space, with a diverse, international team.
IP Protection:
- Violetta has built deep expertise in intellectual property, combining academic training with practical startup experience. She has taken specialized courses in IP from institutions like WIPO and the EU IPO.
- She is known for sharing actionable strategies for startup IP protection, leveraging both legal and technological approaches, and has published guides and content on this topic for the entrepreneurial community.
- Her work at CADChain directly addresses the need for robust IP protection in the engineering and design industries, integrating cybersecurity and compliance measures to safeguard digital assets.
Blockchain:
- Violetta’s entry into the blockchain sector began with the founding of CADChain, which uses blockchain as a core technology for securing and managing CAD data.
- She holds several certifications in blockchain and has participated in major hackathons and policy forums, such as the OECD Global Blockchain Policy Forum.
- Her expertise extends to applying blockchain for IP management, ensuring data integrity, traceability, and secure sharing in the CAD industry.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond, launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks and is building MELA AI to help local restaurants in Malta get more visibility online.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.
About the Publication
Fe/male Switch is an innovative startup platform designed to empower women entrepreneurs through an immersive, game-like experience. Founded in 2020 during the pandemic "without any funding and without any code," this non-profit initiative has evolved into a comprehensive educational tool for aspiring female entrepreneurs.The platform was co-founded by Violetta Shishkina-Bonenkamp, who serves as CEO and one of the lead authors of the Startup News branch.
Mission and Purpose
Fe/male Switch Foundation was created to address the gender gap in the tech and entrepreneurship space. The platform aims to skill-up future female tech leaders and empower them to create resilient and innovative tech startups through what they call "gamepreneurship". By putting players in a virtual startup village where they must survive and thrive, the startup game allows women to test their entrepreneurial abilities without financial risk.
Key Features
The platform offers a unique blend of news, resources,learning, networking, and practical application within a supportive, female-focused environment:
- Skill Lab: Micro-modules covering essential startup skills
- Virtual Startup Building: Create or join startups and tackle real-world challenges
- AI Co-founder (PlayPal): Guides users through the startup process
- SANDBOX: A testing environment for idea validation before launch
- Wellness Integration: Virtual activities to balance work and self-care
- Marketplace: Buy or sell expert sessions and tutorials
Impact and Growth
Since its inception, Fe/male Switch has shown impressive growth:
- 5,000+ female entrepreneurs in the community
- 100+ startup tools built
- 5,000+ pieces of articles and news written
- 1,000 unique business ideas for women created
Partnerships
Fe/male Switch has formed strategic partnerships to enhance its offerings. In January 2022, it teamed up with global website builder Tilda to provide free access to website building tools and mentorship services for Fe/male Switch participants.
Recognition
Fe/male Switch has received media attention for its innovative approach to closing the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship. The platform has been featured in various publications highlighting its unique "play to learn and earn" model.
