We came from community
Way back when we started the company, we didn’t start by building a browser. We knew we wanted to build a browser, but started with a forum. A place where we could hang out with our friends. We talked about our hobbies, but also what was happening to the web, how it was being overtaken by giants pushing agendas and prioritising shareholder value over everything else. We wanted to build a browser that had the users’ needs and privacy as the guiding light. Good user experience is first and foremost a practice of empathy: having the ability to put yourself in someone else’s shoes and feel their frustrations. That’s how you build products that actually matter. That remains true today. When Sir Tim Berners-Lee created the web, he envisioned an open, democratic space for all.
Freedom to explore
We remain committed to our users’ needs. And we believe that we are born to explore. That’s why we won’t get in the way of people’s online exploration. Because it might not always seem like it, but there are a lot of beautiful stories of people discovering places, communities and even understanding themselves better online. The Guardian did a survey earlier in 2026 where they asked “should we turn the internet off?”
The web has provided and still provides hope and freedom to marginalized groups all over the world.
The responses were overwhelming. Especially those who told stories of people finally finding safe places to express who they really are. Some talked about what the web has meant for girls’ education in some parts of the world, others talked about people with physical disabilities and how the web is an equal platform. There were moving testimonies from trans and queer people growing up in conservative communities, and how their online presence is the only one that feels free.
The web has provided and still provides hope and freedom to marginalized groups all over the world. Although a crowded space with loud voices often spewing hate and division, or artificial slop made to waste precious time, there are still safe spaces out there. Spaces that continue to bubble with freedom, creativity and love. We want to be a part of keeping the diverse beauty of the web alive and safe.
From the Guardian survey:
“Honestly, without the internet I would be isolated and alone. I have a conservative family and am in the closet and queer and trans. With the internet my world finally expanded and I finally became free. I learned about myself and became happy and at peace. I met my most important person after a lifetime of difficulty connecting to people and I found things I loved that changed me. The internet has done a lot of harm, yes, but it’s not black and white and has been a lifeline for queer and disabled folk such as myself. I am so grateful for the connection and friendship I found thanks to the internet.” – Kati777
Why a browser?
The browser is the exploration machine. It’s the car to the roadtrip. We try to build a tool for everyone to use, but the truth is, people are incredibly different and use tools differently. That’s why we always try to keep in mind that our users may see things differently than we do. This has resulted in a product that’s extremely customizable, and some people find that annoying, but we would rather give you the options to make the browser work just the way you want rather than claim that we have all the answers.
Community remains essential
We want to create safe spaces where people discuss ideas and create bonds, spaces where the human experience is a priority
We came from community, and that’s still a big part of what we do. We want to create safe spaces where people discuss ideas and create bonds, spaces where the human experience is a priority, which is why we created our Mastodon instance. In our social community Vivaldi.net we have some guardrails. We actively moderate the content and explicitly state in our policy that we for instance do not tolerate homophobia, transphobia or xenophobia. That kind of thinking brings nothing but pain and division. Humans are diverse, and this very diversity in all its wild and chaotic expression is the beauty of it all. So if you can’t handle two men kissing or someone wanting to decide their own pronouns, this open and free space is going to be rough for you.
We encourage all our users to explore, and truly hope that everyone can find their space, where they are safe and free. Keep exploring, and be proud!
🏳️🌈 Happy Pride!
