Skip to content

Side-by-side comparison ยท AI Browsers & Agents

Google Chrome vs Microsoft Edge vs Opera One

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

Opera One

3.9

Free to start

Comparing 3 tools, the maximum.

At a glance

Best overall

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.

Pick it if: Anyone who wants a free Chrome alternative with a capable AI sidebar, tab organisation and a built-in VPN, without paying for anything.

Overview

AttributeGoogle ChromeMicrosoft EdgeOpera One
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.Opera's free everyday browser with a built-in AI sidebar that reads your tabs.
Pricing modelFreemiumFreemiumFree
Starting price$19.99/mo$19.99/moFree
Free plan Yes Yes Yes
Works with Claude Code No No No

Rating breakdown

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

AttributeGoogle ChromeMicrosoft EdgeOpera One
Overall rating4.1Winner3.93.9
Ease of useHow quickly someone non-technical gets value from it.
4.5
4.5
4.5
FeaturesHow completely it covers its own job, and how well the pieces fit together.
4.0
3.5
3.0
Output qualityHow good the results are before you fix them.
3.5
3.5
3.5
Value for moneyWhat you get for the price, including the free plan.
4.5
4.0
4.5
Speed & reliabilityHow fast it is and how often it falls over.
4.0
4.0
4.0

Feature comparison

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

AttributeGoogle ChromeMicrosoft EdgeOpera One
Access & platform
Free plan Yes Yes Yes
Mobile app Yes Yes Yes
Desktop app Yes Yes Yes
Browser extension Yes Yes No
API access No No No
Teams & business
Team workspace Yes Yes No
Enterprise plan or SSO Yes Yes No
Connects to other apps Yes Yes Yes
Open source or self-hosted No No No
AI abilities
Works with your files Yes Yes Yes
Understands images Yes Yes Yes
Makes images Yes Yes Yes
Makes video No No No
Writes code No No No
Runs agents or automations Yes Yes No
Learns your brand or style No No No
Works in many languages Yes Yes Yes
Capabilities score12/ 1712/ 178/ 17

Pricing

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

AttributeGoogle ChromeMicrosoft EdgeOpera One
Plans

FreeOur pick

Free

Most people: summaries, tab comparisons and AI search.

FreeOur pick

Free

Most people: summaries, tab comparisons and Journeys.

Free

Free

Everyone. There is no paid tier for the AI.

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.

Free with an Opera accountOur pick

Free

Anyone who wants chat history across devices and more images.

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.It's all free. Sign in with a free Opera account if you want your chats saved and more images; otherwise just download it and click Ask AI. Opera sells a separate VPN Pro, but you don't need it for the AI.

Key features

AttributeGoogle ChromeMicrosoft EdgeOpera One
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
  • Opera AI sidebar
  • Tab Islands
  • Files and video
  • Browser Connector
  • Built-in extras
  • Privacy switches

Pros and cons

AttributeGoogle ChromeMicrosoft EdgeOpera One
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
  • Free, with no account needed for the AI
  • Tab Islands make the AI's context easy to control
  • Handles files, YouTube videos and images, not just web pages
  • Free VPN, ad blocker and translator built in
  • Page access is off until you allow it
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
  • No agent: it can't click, fill in forms or finish tasks on sites
  • Browser Connector for ChatGPT and Claude is still an opt-in test feature
  • Opera doesn't say which Gemini model you get or publish chat limits
  • Sponsored speed dials and news on the start page by default

Who each one is for

AttributeGoogle ChromeMicrosoft EdgeOpera One
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
  • Summarising long pages and YouTube videos
  • Comparing suppliers or products grouped in a Tab Island
  • Quick drafts and translations while you browse
  • Keeping work and personal tabs organised
You'll find it used by
  • Small business owners
  • Marketers
  • Students
  • Google Workspace users
  • Office workers
  • Small business owners
  • Students
  • Windows users
  • Small business owners
  • Students
  • Researchers
  • Anyone switching from Chrome

Questions people ask

Which is better, Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge or Opera One?

Google Chrome scores highest overall in our ratings (Google Chrome 4.1/5, Microsoft Edge 3.9/5 and Opera One 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. Opera One is best for summarising long pages and YouTube videos and comparing suppliers or products grouped in a Tab Island.

Which is cheaper, Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge or Opera One?

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. Opera One: It's free to use.

How we compare

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

Swap in another tool

More tools from AI Browsers & Agents in the library.