vivaldi

Vivaldi Technologies is a Norwegian software development company founded in 2013 by Jon Stephenson von Tetzchner, the co-founder and former CEO of Opera Software, and Tatsuki Tomita. Headquartered in Oslo, Norway, the company was established with the mission to create a web browser that caters to the needs of power users, prioritizing customization, flexibility, and user privacy. The genesis of Vivaldi stemmed from a desire to revive the principles of the original Opera browser, which had shifted its focus away from its dedicated community of advanced users. Vivaldi is proudly employee-owned, a structure that underscores its commitment to its founding principles and user-centric philosophy rather than shareholder demands. This independence allows the company to focus on building a product that is rich in features and respects user data, positioning itself as a strong advocate for a free and open web.

The company's flagship product is the Vivaldi browser, a freeware, cross-platform web browser built on the Chromium engine. While it shares a foundation with Google Chrome, Vivaldi distinguishes itself with a vast array of built-in features and an unparalleled level of customization. Users can modify almost every aspect of the browser's interface, from themes and tab placement to keyboard shortcuts and mouse gestures. Key features include advanced tab management with options for stacking and tiling, a built-in ad and tracker blocker, and integrated tools such as Vivaldi Mail, Calendar, Feed Reader, and Notes. This all-in-one approach aims to provide a comprehensive productivity suite within the browser itself. Vivaldi's commitment to privacy is a cornerstone of its identity; the company pledges not to track or profile its users, and its sync functionality is protected with end-to-end encryption. With a global team and offices in Iceland and the USA, Vivaldi continues to develop its browser for a growing community of users who demand more control and privacy from their online experience.