If not for my love for Arc Browser, which has sadly become an abandonware, I would have used Vivaldi. No other browser comes even close to the customization and features it offers. And with its latest version 8.0 update, Vivaldi is making an even stronger case to ditch other browsers in its favor.
I like that while browsers like Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge have been busy packing AI into every corner, Vivaldi has been quietly delivering features users actually want.
The headline feature is a new design language called “Unified”. Previously, the different parts of the browser, tabs, toolbars, panels, and the content area all existed as separate, slightly disconnected layers. Unified removes those boundaries and places everything on one continuous surface.
Is this just a visual refresh or something more?
When you apply a theme in Vivaldi 8.0, it flows through the entire browser without interruption. A dark theme is dark everywhere, not just in some parts. Wallpapers feel like part of the environment rather than something pasted on top. When you apply a wallpaper, it flows not only to the main window but also to the top bar, the address bar, and the tabs, giving the browser a unified look.
Vivaldi has also added a fresh collection of default themes, and if none of them feel right, there are over 7,000 community themes you can choose from. If you prefer the old look, you can keep it. This is Vivaldi, after all, and you always have the final say.
Feeling overwhelmed by all the options?
One of the issues with Vivaldi was that it overwhelmed users with all its customization options. To solve this issue. Vivaldi 8.0 ships with six preset layouts to help new users get started.
You can choose between a clean, minimal setup, tabs on the side, a full-screen browsing experience, or the classic Vivaldi look. I love this from Vivaldi, as it will ease the user onboarding process. If you like what you see, you can download Vivaldi 8.0 today for free on Windows, macOS, and Linux.