Opera Neon AI Browser Subscription Raises Questions

The new browser from Opera Neon tries to do more than any browser before it—but the result reveals just how confusing the “AI browser” era still is. Launched as a subscription service, Neon bundles three distinct modes—Chat, Do, and Make—each designed to serve different tasks. What’s unusual: you don’t just pay for a better browser, you pay for threebrowser-bots in one.

The “Chat” mode feels familiar: a built-in assistant sits in the browser, answers queries, summarises pages, and provides context. But testers found its responses verbose and sometimes incorrect—for instance, returning zero comments where there were four. The “Do” mode is meant to be the task automator: book a trip, fill forms, shop—Neon takes action for you. In real use it performed—but mistakes surfaced. It failed to switch back from Do to Chat seamlessly, and even added a decorative item to a basket that was the opposite of what was requested. Then there’s “Make,” the builder: ask for a game, a website, a prototype and Neon will build it in a cloud VM and give you a link to share.

Neon markets itself as the first “agentic browser”—one built for the so-called agentic web, where your browser doesn’t just load pages, but acts on your behalf. That idea holds promise for productivity-hungry users. But here’s the rub: Neon charges around $19.90/month for these features—while many free browsers are integrating comparable tech.

From a long-tail keyword viewpoint, think of “agentic browser subscription model”, “task-automating browser agent”, and “browser built-in AI modes Chat Do Make”. These terms reflect what Neon is pitching—and what users must decide whether to pay for.

What sets Neon apart: the integration of three distinct agent modes within the browser, rather than adding a single assistant. That is both strength and weakness. Users don’t leave the browser for AI tasks—but they must choose the right mode for each job. Chat, Do, Make—each has its own role. That complexity may hinder adoption. In practice, testers reported friction: slower than manual browsing for some tasks, and the “Do” mode got stuck or mis-executed steps.

Neon’s subscription model raises further questions in the long-tail context of “paid AI browser for power users”. With major competitors like Google Chrome integrating free AI features (via Gemini) and Microsoft Edge already offering assistive capabilities, Neon needs to justify why a user should pay monthly. The key differentiators: built-in Do/Makemodes and a promise of privacy-first execution (local task processing, not always sending data to cloud).

For early-adopters and power users—those who build, code, automate outside typical browsing—Neon could deliver value. But for the average user, the value is less clear. Paying twenty dollars for the promise of automation and agentic browsing may not appeal while the experience remains experimental. The long-tail keyword “AI browser early access subscription review” applies here.

From a product strategy angle, the question is whether the concept of “task-automation browser” resonates broadly. If Neon succeeds, other browsers might follow a subscription model for advanced agentic features. If it doesn’t, the experiment may be seen as over-promised. Observers note: the agentic web is still formative, and users may not accept three modes of AI within a browser that they also have to pay for.

For those tracking the evolution of browsing, key terms like “agentic web browser”, “browser as automation platform”, and “subscription AI browser” matter. Neon contributes to that trend—but also highlights how confusing that future can feel today. The novelty of Chat, Do, Make is compelling; the reality of switching modes, trusting automation, and paying monthly is less so.

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If you’re curious about how browsing might evolve, join the early access list for Opera Neon and evaluate whether “browser built-in task agent” fits your workflow. Test the Chat-Do-Make triad and decide if a subscription makes sense before the agentic browser era goes mainstream.