Short answer: Opera GX is the more gaming-focused browser. Its GX Control panel lets you cap how much RAM, CPU and network bandwidth the browser uses, puts Twitch and Discord in the sidebar, and adds a games and deals page called GX Corner. Chrome has no hard caps, but its Memory Saver deactivates tabs you aren’t using so that active video and gaming tabs run smoothly.
Opera GX features on this page come from Opera’s own Opera GX pages. Chrome features come from Google’s Chrome performance help.
Limiting RAM, CPU and network use
Opera GX. Opera says GX Control lets you set hard limits on how much memory GX can use, throttle background tabs, and keep downloads from hurting your ping. To use it, click the GX Control icon (a speedometer) in the sidebar, then set your RAM, CPU and network limits. With hard limits on, GX drops tabs you aren’t using from memory straight away.
Chrome. Chrome has no RAM or CPU cap, but it has two performance settings on a computer:
- Open Chrome and select More (three dots) > Settings.
- On the left, select Performance.
- Turn on Memory Saver and choose Moderate, Balanced or Maximum. Google says Memory Saver deactivates tabs you aren’t using and that it helps “your active video and gaming tabs run smoothly”. Inactive tabs reload when you go back to them.
- Check Energy Saver. On a laptop running on battery, Google says it limits background activity and that “you may notice changes in gaming and video performance”. Turn it off, or keep the laptop plugged in, while you play.
Google notes that these performance settings can’t be changed in Chrome on Android or iPhone. To see which tabs and extensions are using the most memory, open Chrome’s Task Manager.
Twitch, Discord and game deals
- Twitch. Opera GX docks Twitch in the sidebar, where you can get alerts when your favorite streams go live and pop out videos. In Chrome, you use the Twitch website in a tab.
- Discord. Opera GX has Discord in the sidebar without a separate app. In Chrome, you use Discord’s web app in a tab or install Discord’s own app.
- GX Corner. GX Corner collects free games, game deals, a release calendar and gaming news in one place.
- Ad blocking. Opera GX has a built-in ad blocker. In Chrome, you add an ad blocker from the Chrome Web Store; see our list of ad blockers for Chrome.
What stays the same
Opera’s developer documentation says Opera is based on Chromium, the open-source project Chrome is built from. The difference is in the extras each company adds; our Chromium vs Chrome page explains what Google adds. Opera GX also runs on iPhone and Android, with GX Corner in the mobile app.
Which should you choose?
- Opera GX if you keep a browser open while you play and want to cap its RAM, CPU or network use, or you like having Twitch and Discord in a sidebar.
- Chrome if you want your Google Account, passwords and extensions in one place. Turn on Memory Saver and close tabs you don’t need before you play. Our Chrome for gaming guide has more.
To install or update Chrome, see Chrome for Windows, Chrome for Mac or how to update Chrome.