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Side-by-side comparison ยท AI Browsers & Agents

Google Chrome vs Microsoft Edge

Everything that matters when choosing between them, in one place: our rating, what each can do, what they cost, and the trade-offs.

Best overall

Google Chrome

4.1

From $19.99/mo

Microsoft Edge

3.9

From $19.99/mo

Comparing 2 tools. Add one more if you like.

At a glance

Best overallBest value

Pick it if: Anyone already using Chrome and Google's apps who wants AI help reading, comparing and researching without switching browsers.

Pick it if: Windows and Microsoft 365 users who want AI help with reading, comparing and researching in the browser they already have.

Overview

AttributeGoogle ChromeMicrosoft Edge
In one lineThe world's most used browser, now with Gemini built in to read pages and do tasks.Microsoft's free browser with Copilot built in to read pages, compare tabs and do tasks.
Pricing modelFreemiumFreemium
Starting price$19.99/mo$19.99/mo
Free plan Yes Yes
Works with Claude Code No No

Rating breakdown

Our scores out of 5. The higher bar in each row is highlighted.

AttributeGoogle ChromeMicrosoft Edge
Overall rating4.1Winner3.9
Ease of useHow quickly someone non-technical gets value from it.
4.5
4.5
FeaturesHow completely it covers its own job, and how well the pieces fit together.
4.0
3.5
Output qualityHow good the results are before you fix them.
3.5
3.5
Value for moneyWhat you get for the price, including the free plan.
4.5
4.0
Speed & reliabilityHow fast it is and how often it falls over.
4.0
4.0

Feature comparison

A tick means it does this today. A dash means we haven't checked.

AttributeGoogle ChromeMicrosoft Edge
Access & platform
Free plan Yes Yes
Mobile app Yes Yes
Desktop app Yes Yes
Browser extension Yes Yes
API access No No
Teams & business
Team workspace Yes Yes
Enterprise plan or SSO Yes Yes
Connects to other apps Yes Yes
Open source or self-hosted No No
AI abilities
Works with your files Yes Yes
Understands images Yes Yes
Makes images Yes Yes
Makes video No No
Writes code No No
Runs agents or automations Yes Yes
Learns your brand or style No No
Works in many languages Yes Yes
Capabilities score12/ 1712/ 17

Pricing

Plans as listed on each vendor's site when we last checked. Confirm before you buy.

AttributeGoogle ChromeMicrosoft Edge
Plans

FreeOur pick

Free

Most people: summaries, tab comparisons and AI search.

FreeOur pick

Free

Most people: summaries, tab comparisons and Journeys.

Google AI Pro

$19.99/mo

US users who want Gemini to do tasks on websites for them.

Microsoft 365 Premium

$19.99/mo, or $199.99/yr

US households and sole traders who want the agent and Office apps in one bill.

Google AI Ultra

From $99.99/mo

Heavy users who hit Pro's limits.

Microsoft 365 Copilot (business)

See website

Companies on Microsoft 365 business plans.

Which plan to pickUse it free. The side panel is what most business owners will actually use, and it's free in Australia. Only pay for AI Pro if you're in the US or India and want auto browse, or you want Gemini's better models anyway. Nobody needs Ultra for the browser.Stay on free. The side panel, tab comparisons and Journeys cover what most business owners need, and they cost nothing. Microsoft 365 Premium is only worth it if you're in the US and already want Office for the household; don't buy it just for the browser agent, which Microsoft still calls experimental.

Key features

AttributeGoogle ChromeMicrosoft Edge
Standout features
  • Gemini side panel
  • Auto browse
  • Works with Google apps
  • AI Mode in the address bar
  • Skills
  • Scam protection
  • Copilot side panel
  • Journeys
  • Browse with Copilot
  • Memory and history
  • Study, write, listen
  • Voice and Vision on mobile

Pros and cons

AttributeGoogle ChromeMicrosoft Edge
Pros
  • Most people already use it, so there's nothing to switch
  • Free Gemini side panel, available in Australia
  • Works with Gmail, Calendar and YouTube
  • Huge extension library
  • Asks before sign-ins and purchases during auto browse
  • Already installed on Windows, nothing new to learn
  • Free Copilot reads pages and compares open tabs well
  • Journeys makes it easy to pick research back up
  • Chrome extensions and bookmarks work
  • Strong admin controls for businesses on Microsoft 365
Cons
  • Auto browse is paid, US and India only, and not on iPhone
  • Early reviews found auto browse unreliable and prone to claiming tasks it hadn't done
  • Page content you share with Gemini is sent to Google
  • Not yet available in the EU
  • Gemini prompts are increasingly pushed into the browser whether you want them or not
  • The agent is US only and needs Microsoft 365 Premium
  • Several features are US or English-language only, so Australian users get less
  • Microsoft calls the agent experimental and warns it can misread instructions
  • Copilot prompts are pushed into many corners of the browser, which some find cluttered
  • Screenshots from agent sessions are kept with the chat for up to 30 days

Who each one is for

AttributeGoogle ChromeMicrosoft Edge
Best for
  • Summarising pages and YouTube videos
  • Comparing products or suppliers across tabs
  • Adding events to Google Calendar from a page
  • Google Workspace users who don't want a new browser
  • Summarising long pages and PDFs
  • Comparing products or quotes across open tabs
  • Picking research back up days later with Journeys
  • Businesses already paying for Microsoft 365
You'll find it used by
  • Small business owners
  • Marketers
  • Students
  • Google Workspace users
  • Office workers
  • Small business owners
  • Students
  • Windows users

Questions people ask

Which is better, Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge?

Google Chrome scores highest overall in our ratings (Google Chrome 4.1/5 and Microsoft Edge 3.9/5). Google Chrome is best for summarising pages and YouTube videos and comparing products or suppliers across tabs. Microsoft Edge is best for summarising long pages and PDFs and comparing products or quotes across open tabs.

Which is cheaper, Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge?

Google Chrome: There's a free plan, and paid plans start at $19.99/mo. Microsoft Edge: There's a free plan, and paid plans start at $19.99/mo.

How we compare

Ratings are our own, from using each tool, across ease of use, features, output quality, value for money, speed & reliability.

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