Google Chrome

Chrome is Google's web browser, used by around seven in ten people online. Over 2026 Google has built its Gemini assistant into it. Click 'Ask Gemini' in the toolbar and a side panel opens that can see the page you're on and your other tabs. Gemini in Chrome reached the US in January 2026 and has since rolled out to Australia (April), the UK (July) and many other countries on desktop and iPhone. The EU was still waiting at last check.

Day to day, it summarises pages and YouTube videos, compares information across tabs, and works with your Google apps, so it can add a Calendar event or check your availability without leaving the page. You can save prompts you use often as Skills, edit images on a page with Nano Banana, and use AI Mode, Google's AI search, from the address bar. Auto browse is the agent: tell it to fill a shopping cart or book a table and it clicks through the sites, pausing for you to approve sign-ins and purchases. Pick Chrome if you already use Gmail and Google Workspace and want AI without changing browsers; pick Edge if you're a Microsoft 365 business; pick Comet if you want an agent without paying for a subscription.

The catch is that auto browse is paid and narrow. It needs Google AI Pro or Ultra, works only in the US and India, needs Chrome set to English, and doesn't run on iPhone. Early hands-on tests were unimpressed, reporting low success rates and the agent saying it had done things it hadn't. The free side panel is far more dependable. Privacy is the other trade-off: whatever tabs you share with Gemini, including their contents, go to Google. Like every AI browser, a web page can try to hide instructions for the agent, so keep it away from banking and anything you can't undo.

• Small business owners
• Marketers
• Students
• Google Workspace users

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

• Gemini side panel

  Ask about the page you're on or across your open tabs, with summaries and comparisons. Free.

• Auto browse

  Gemini clicks through sites to finish a task, pausing for you to approve sign-ins and purchases. Google AI Pro or Ultra, US and India.

• Works with Google apps

  Create Calendar events, check availability and summarise YouTube videos without leaving the page.

• AI Mode in the address bar

  Google's AI search, with follow-up questions, that can use your tabs, files and images as context.

• Skills

  Save prompts you use often and run them again with one click.

• Scam protection

  An on-device Gemini model helps Safe Browsing spot new scam and phishing pages.

• Our pick

  Free

  Free

  Most people: summaries, tab comparisons and AI search.

  • Chrome on every platform
  • Gemini side panel with page and tab context
  • AI Mode from the address bar
  • Skills and Google app actions

• Google AI Pro

  $19.99/mo

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

  • Auto browse in Chrome on desktop and Android (US and India)
  • Gemini's top models with higher limits
  • Gemini in Gmail and Docs
  • 2 TB storage

• Google AI Ultra

  From $99.99/mo

  Heavy users who hit Pro's limits.

  • Higher auto browse limits
  • Much higher Gemini limits
  • Project Mariner on the top $199.99 tier only
  • Extra storage and YouTube Premium

Prices in USD unless noted, checked 22 October 2026. Vendors change plans often, so confirm on their site before you buy.

Ways Google Chrome can slot into your week.

1. 1

   Shortlist suppliers

   Open four supplier sites in tabs and ask Gemini to compare price, minimum order and delivery.

2. 2

   Watch less, learn more

   Ask for the key points of a long YouTube webinar before deciding whether to watch it.

3. 3

   Book it from the page

   Reading an event page? Ask Gemini to add it to your Google Calendar.

4. 4

   Hand off a booking

   With AI Pro in the US, have auto browse find a restaurant and fill in the booking while you approve the last step.

Chrome is the obvious pick if your business runs on Google Workspace, since Gemini here already talks to Gmail and Calendar. If you're a Microsoft shop, Edge does the same job with Copilot. For a stronger free agent, Comet is built on the same engine, so your extensions come with you.

The closest alternatives to Google Chrome in the library, best rated first.

• 

  Claude Cowork

  4.1

  Best for weekly reports built from several sources

  Compare with Google Chrome
• 

  ChatGPT Work

  4.0

  Best for sorting inbox and calendar admin across connected apps

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• 

  Brave

  3.9

  Best for summarising pages, PDFs and Google Docs privately

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• 

  Comet

  3.9

  Best for summarising long pages, PDFs and videos

  Compare with Google Chrome