Vivaldi vs Firefox on Windows: Built-In Tab Tools, Automation and AI Restraint

The sections below cover what the feature claims mean in practice, where Firefox already overlaps, and how to try each Vivaldi feature on a Windows PC.

The pitch in brief​

Patel describes a small experiment that ran for a few weeks and turned permanent. He wasn't hunting for anything exotic. He wanted a browser that made everyday work easier and didn't push AI assistants at him. His praise falls into three groups:

• Built-in organization: Tab Stacks, Workspaces, Tab Tiling, Web Panels and Notes.
• Customization that changes behavior: Command Chains and native mouse gestures.
• Restraint on AI: no assistant competing for attention.

He is also fair to Firefox. He says it wasn't a bad browser, just no longer the right fit for him. That is preference, not a finding, and it should be read that way.

Tab Stacks and Workspaces: two ways to tame tab sprawl​

Vivaldi's help documentation says Tab Stacks can be displayed either on the same level as other tabs or on a second level. You change this under Settings > Tab > Tab Features > Tab Stacking. To create a stack, drag one tab over another or over an existing Tab Stack. Naming and coloring are optional.

Workspaces work differently. Vivaldi's own blog explains the split. Stacks give a complete overview within a single tab bar, while workspaces intentionally show only the tabs for the task at hand. You can also combine them, because Tab Stacks and even Tab Tiling can be managed inside Workspaces.

Practical details from Vivaldi's feature page:

• You open the Workspaces menu from the Workspaces button on the Tab Bar, or with a Quick Command.
• The Windows Panel shows your Workspaces and the Tab Stacks within them, with tab counts for each.
• Vivaldi's feature page says workspaces are saved automatically when you close the browser, and that workspaces made in private windows disappear when those windows close.
• A workspace can be open in only one browser window at a time. Selecting one that is already open elsewhere focuses that window instead of duplicating it.
• If the feature isn't showing, you can disable or re-enable Workspaces under Settings > Tabs > Tab Features.

A caveat: user forums aren't all praise. One Vivaldi for Windows forum post describes drag-and-drop stacking problems in vertical two-level tab bar mode and offers a workaround. That is one user's report and not proof of a widespread bug. It does suggest that heavy two-level layouts are worth testing before you commit.

Tab Tiling: the "compare two pages" feature​

Patel says he uses tiling to compare sources or to keep a reference open while writing. Vivaldi's help page lists several ways to tile:

1. Select two or more tabs with Ctrl or Shift on the Tab Bar.
2. Right-click and choose Tile, or drag the tabs into the active page's content area until you see "Drop to tile".
3. Alternatively, use the Page Tiling button on the Status Bar, Quick Commands, a keyboard shortcut or a mouse gesture.

The default layout shortcuts are Ctrl+F9 for vertical, Ctrl+F8 for horizontal and Ctrl+F7 for grid. Vivaldi says there is no limit on how many tabs you can tile, but I'd note its own docs warn that readability suffers at some point depending on screen size. On a laptop display, two or three tiles is the realistic ceiling.

Web Panels and Notes​

Web Panels pin websites to the side panel. Per Vivaldi's help page, you add one from the panel's Add Web Panel button or by right-clicking a page and choosing Add Page to Web Panel. Vivaldi suggests mobile-friendly sites work best because of the narrow view. Its examples include developer resources like StackOverflow and DevDocs, translation tools and chat apps. You can also set a periodic reload of 1 to 30 minutes for pages that don't refresh on their own.

Notes live in the side panel and in a full Notes Manager at vivaldi://notes. Highlight text on a page and choose Copy to note, or use Ctrl+Shift+C. By default the note includes the page link and a screenshot. You can turn off automatic screenshots under Settings > Panel > Notes Panel. Notes also export as .txt or .md files, which eases worries about lock-in.

Command Chains and mouse gestures​

Command Chains are Patel's favorite. Vivaldi's documentation defines one as a group of commands executed in sequence. Its own example turns on Reader View and Fullscreen Mode with a single shortcut.

To build one:

1. Go to Settings > Quick Commands > Command Chains.
2. Click Add Command Chain and name it.
3. Set Command 1, then use Add Command for each following step.
4. Click Test Chain to confirm it works.
5. If a step needs time to finish, insert the Delay command, which is measured in milliseconds.

To trigger a chain you have four options:

• Quick Commands, opened with F2.
• A keyboard shortcut assigned under Settings > Keyboard Shortcuts > Chains.
• A mouse gesture assigned in Settings > Mouse > Gesture Mapping.
• A toolbar button.

I haven't tested Patel's specific example of opening sites, arranging tabs and switching workspaces in one chain. Treat it as an illustration of what the feature is designed for.

Mouse gestures need to be enabled first. Under Settings > Mouse > Gestures, tick Allow Gestures. You then hold the right mouse button, or Alt, and move the pointer. Alt-based gestures are the option for touchpad users, and a sensitivity slider sets the minimum stroke length. You can view default mappings and add your own in Gesture Mapping.

The Firefox comparison: fair, with a caveat​

Patel concedes that Firefox has basic tab grouping. Mozilla's support documentation supports that. Firefox offers labeled, colored tab groups that you can collapse, move between and save. Mozilla also notes that groups don't sync through Firefox Sync, and that groups made in Private Browsing are deleted when the private window closes.

So the honest comparison isn't "Vivaldi has grouping and Firefox doesn't." It's about how much is built in. Vivaldi bundles two-level stacks, workspaces, tiling, panels, notes and chains in one package. Firefox leans on extensions for much of that. Which approach wins depends on your workflow, not on any measured advantage.

About the "non-AI" label​

Patel's point is that Vivaldi doesn't make AI the center of browsing. That matches the company's own positioning, which I'd note is marketing language and not independent verification. It does not prove the browser contains no AI-related features, and it doesn't guarantee that stays true. The article only establishes that, in his use, he wasn't nudged toward AI tools. Check Settings yourself if this is a dealbreaker.

Who should try it​

Vivaldi is free and runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS, per XDA's product box. The case is strongest for these users:

• Researchers and writers who keep dozens of tabs open across projects.
• People who compare pages side by side.
• Keyboard and mouse-gesture enthusiasts who like to automate repetitive actions.

Be wary if you value minimal interfaces or already rely on a lean Firefox setup. The same density of options that attracts power users can overwhelm everyone else.

Here is a low-risk way to test it:

1. Install Vivaldi alongside Firefox rather than replacing it.
2. Import your bookmarks and passwords.
3. Spend a week on one real project using one workspace, one stack and one tile layout.
4. Build a single Command Chain for something you repeat daily.
5. Decide at the end whether you actually used the features or just admired them.

Bottom line​

This is a personal endorsement, and the evidence behind it is the documented feature set. Patel makes no claims about speed, privacy or security, and none should be assumed. Vivaldi's documentation backs up the practical benefits he describes, and Mozilla's documentation shows Firefox is closer on tab grouping than the headline implies. If integrated organization tools sound appealing, a few weeks' trial is cheap. If you like your browser quiet, Firefox is still a perfectly reasonable place to stay.