# Microsoft Edge Published January 1, 2026 · Updated August 10, 2026 Multi-platform web browser Category: Web Browsers · Free · [Official website](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/edge?form=) ## Install with Homebrew `brew install --cask microsoft-edge` ## Quick take On Mac in 2026 Edge works best as a Microsoft productivity browser, not as a Safari replacement for Apple purists. You get a free Chromium browser with Vertical Tabs, Collections, Workspaces and a useful free Copilot sidebar. Copilot Mode is the headline, and it is meaningfully better with a paid Microsoft 365 Copilot plan. If you already live in Outlook, Teams and OneDrive, Edge earns a place. If you want battery life and native Apple polish, Safari stays ahead. Best for: Microsoft 365 users on Mac who also touch Windows, Researchers who want Copilot Mode, Collections and Vertical Tabs, Anyone who needs Chrome extensions with Microsoft service sync ## What is Microsoft Edge?, Complete Guide for Mac Users in 2026 Microsoft Edge is Microsoft's free Chromium browser for macOS, Windows, iOS and Android. Rebuilt on Chromium in 2020, it is the successor to Internet Explorer and remains fully supported on Mac in August 2026. Builds are native for Apple Silicon and Intel, and the installer from Microsoft's Edge download page picks the right architecture. Chromium rebases ship on the stable channel, so Tahoe 26.x stays supported. What matters on Mac in 2026 is not IE nostalgia, it is Copilot. Free Copilot sits in the Edge sidebar for page-aware chat and summaries. Copilot Mode is generally available on Mac and Windows as a unified new-tab and search experience that goes beyond a small chat panel. How much it can do depends on whether you use free Copilot or a licensed Microsoft 365 Copilot plan. The bits that still set Edge apart from stock Chrome are Vertical Tabs, Collections, Workspaces, shopping helpers, a limited free built-in VPN, tracking prevention levels and Chrome Web Store extension support. A few honest caveats. Safari usually wins on battery life and Apple ecosystem feel. Internet Explorer mode is a Windows enterprise tool, do not expect it to work the same on Mac. Edge is at its best if you live in Microsoft 365, with passwords, Collections exports to Office, Outlook sidebar apps and Copilot continuity across Edge and desktop apps. On Mac people cross-shop it with Safari, Chrome, Firefox, Brave, Dia, Zen Browser, Arc (now Chromium updates only) and SigmaOS. Practical take for August 2026. Install Edge if Copilot Mode, Vertical Tabs or cross-platform Microsoft account sync earn their keep for you. Stay on Safari if battery, Continuity Camera and Apple Pay matter more than Microsoft AI. Keep Chrome only if DevTools muscle memory or Google Workspace extensions outweigh Edge's Copilot features. Edge is no longer the underdog Chromium fork. It is Microsoft's AI-forward browser, on Mac that is either the reason to switch or the reason to skip. ## Features - **Copilot in Edge & Copilot Mode.** Copilot is available free in the Edge sidebar: ask about the current page, summarize long articles, rewrite text and stay in-flow without opening a separate AI tab. Copilot Mode GA unifies AI search and the new-tab experience on Mac and Windows so browsing can feel more like guided research than a blank omnibox. Free Copilot covers everyday use; Microsoft 365 Personal, Family and Premium raise consumer usage ceilings, while Microsoft 365 Copilot for enterprise (~$30/user/month) unlocks fuller Copilot Mode and work-grounded capabilities. Microsoft's enterprise pricing matrix lists Copilot Mode in Edge as limited under Copilot Chat and included with full Microsoft 365 Copilot. - **Vertical Tabs and Tab Organization.** Vertical Tabs move the tab strip to a collapsible left sidebar, reclaiming vertical space on MacBook and ultrawide displays. Tab groups and AI-assisted organize suggestions help when research balloons past a dozen tabs. For Mac users who keep dozens of docs, tickets and dashboards open, Vertical Tabs remain one of Edge's clearest UX advantages over default Chrome and Safari tab strips. - **Workspaces.** Workspaces create separate browsing environments inside one Edge window, useful for splitting client work, personal browsing and research without juggling multiple profiles all day. Each Workspace keeps its own tab set and context; Workspaces can sync via Microsoft account so a Mac session can resume on another signed-in device. They pair well with Vertical Tabs when projects collide. - **Collections.** Collections gather links, images, text snippets and notes into themed boards for trip planning, shopping comparisons, or competitive research. Unlike plain bookmarks, Collections keep visual context and support export paths into Microsoft productivity apps such as OneNote, Word and Excel. For students and analysts on Mac, Collections reduce the need for a third-party clipper extension. - **Shopping, VPN and Tracking Prevention.** Edge includes shopping helpers (price insights and coupon suggestions where available), a limited free Microsoft Edge Secure Network / VPN allotment for light privacy needs and three Tracking Prevention levels, Basic, Balanced and Strict. Password Monitor can alert when saved credentials appear in known breaches. These features make Edge a fuller 'browser suite' than a bare Chromium shell, though power users who want always-on VPN still buy dedicated VPN apps. - **Extensions, PWAs and Sleeping Tabs.** Because Edge is Chromium, most Chrome Web Store extensions install and run with familiar behavior; Microsoft also operates an Edge Add-ons store. Progressive Web Apps can pin sites to the Dock like lightweight native apps. Sleeping Tabs and Efficiency Mode reclaim RAM and battery on MacBooks by throttling inactive tabs, important on 8GB and 16GB machines where Chromium browsers otherwise accumulate zombie tabs. - **Security Stack (and IE Mode Reality on Mac).** Microsoft Defender SmartScreen, sandboxing and Tracking Prevention form Edge's consumer security baseline. Enterprise Application Guard and IE mode remain Windows-centric stories: Mac admins should plan legacy web-app access with modern Chromium standards or Windows VDI rather than assuming IE mode on macOS. For everyday Mac browsing, Edge's security posture is comparable to Chrome with Microsoft threat intelligence layered on top. ## How to Install Microsoft Edge on Mac Microsoft Edge for macOS is free. Download the official installer from Microsoft's Edge download page, or install via Homebrew. Native builds cover Apple Silicon and Intel. Keep Chromium rebases current through Edge's auto-update channel for modern macOS including Tahoe 26.x. 1. **Download Edge.** Visit https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/edge/download and download the macOS installer. The site detects Apple Silicon vs Intel. Alternatively run: brew install --cask microsoft-edge 2. **Install the Application.** Open the .dmg and drag Microsoft Edge into Applications. On first launch, approve Gatekeeper if macOS prompts (right-click > Open). Homebrew installs land in Applications automatically. 3. **Sign In and Import.** Launch Edge, optionally sign in with a Microsoft account for sync, set Tracking Prevention and import bookmarks/passwords from Safari or Chrome if switching. Enable Vertical Tabs and pin Copilot if you want AI always one click away. ## Pros - Completely free Chromium browser with ongoing Mac support (Apple Silicon + Intel) - Copilot sidebar plus Copilot Mode GA for AI-assisted browsing - Vertical Tabs, Workspaces and Collections remain strong productivity differentiators - Chrome Web Store extension compatibility with Microsoft 365 continuity - Tracking prevention, shopping tools and limited free VPN in one package ## Cons - Promotes Bing, Microsoft accounts and Microsoft services throughout the UI - Safari still usually wins MacBook battery life and native Apple polish - IE mode and some enterprise isolation features are Windows-oriented, limited or unavailable parity on Mac - Fullest Copilot Mode / work-grounded AI requires paid Microsoft 365 Copilot licensing ## Closer Look: Edge on Mac, Chromium, Copilot Mode and Ecosystem Fit Edge on Mac succeeds when you judge it as a Microsoft productivity browser, not as a Safari replacement for Apple purists. The product story in 2026 is Chromium compatibility plus Copilot Mode, packaged for people who already live in Outlook, Teams and OneDrive. ## FAQ ### Is Microsoft Edge free on Mac? Yes. Edge downloads and runs free on macOS with Vertical Tabs, Collections, Workspaces, tracking prevention and Copilot's free tier included. Paid Microsoft 365 Personal, Family, or Premium plans raise Copilot usage; enterprise Microsoft 365 Copilot (~$30/user/month) unlocks fuller work AI, including stronger Copilot Mode capabilities. ### Does Edge support Apple Silicon and macOS Tahoe? Yes. Edge ships native Apple Silicon and Intel builds and follows Chromium update cadences that keep the browser current on modern macOS, including Tahoe 26.x support as Microsoft continues stable rebases. Always install from the official download page or Homebrew cask. ### What is Copilot Mode in Edge? Copilot Mode is Microsoft's GA unified AI search and new-tab browsing experience available on Mac and Windows. It goes beyond the classic sidebar chat. Free users get meaningful assistance; licensed Microsoft 365 Copilot plans unlock fuller Copilot Mode capabilities, Microsoft's enterprise pricing page lists limited vs included Copilot Mode in Edge by SKU. ### Can I use Chrome extensions in Edge on Mac? Yes. Edge's Chromium foundation supports the vast majority of Chrome Web Store extensions, plus Microsoft Edge Add-ons. Performance is generally comparable to Chrome for the same extension set. ### Does Internet Explorer mode work on Mac? IE mode is primarily a Windows enterprise compatibility feature for legacy intranet sites. Mac users should not rely on IE mode parity, plan legacy apps for modern browsers or access them via Windows environments. Everyday Mac browsing does not need IE mode. ### How does Edge compare to Safari on Mac? Safari typically wins battery life, system integration and Apple Pay/iCloud continuity. Edge wins on Copilot Mode, Vertical Tabs/Workspaces/Collections, Chrome extension compatibility and sync with Windows Microsoft accounts. Choose Safari for Apple-only life; choose Edge for Microsoft 365 and cross-platform work. ### Was Copilot Pro replaced? Yes. Copilot Pro as a consumer plan was retired; consumer AI upgrades now sit inside Microsoft 365 Personal (~$99.99/year), Family (~$129.99/year) and Premium (~$199.99/year). Free Copilot remains available in Edge and at copilot.microsoft.com. ### Is Edge's built-in VPN unlimited? No. Edge includes a limited free secure-network / VPN allotment suitable for light privacy needs, not a full-time VPN replacement. Heavy travelers should use a dedicated VPN subscription. ### How do I install Edge with Homebrew? Run brew install --cask microsoft-edge, then launch from Applications. Updates can follow brew upgrade microsoft-edge or Edge's built-in auto-updater. ### Is Edge safe for work on Mac? For most knowledge work, yes, SmartScreen, sandboxing and tracking prevention provide a solid baseline and enterprises can apply Chromium policies. Review Copilot data-handling and Conditional Access requirements with your admin if you handle regulated data. ## Sources - [Microsoft Edge, Product Overview](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/edge) - [Download Microsoft Edge](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/edge/download) - [Which Copilot Plan Is Right for You?](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-copilot/for-individuals/do-more-with-ai/general-ai/right-copilot-plan-for-you) - [Copilot Pricing Plans for Individuals](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365-copilot/pricing/individuals) - [Microsoft 365 Copilot Plans and Pricing, Enterprise](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365-copilot/pricing/enterprise) - [Edge Copilot Mode Notes](https://robquickenden.blog/2025/08/edge-copilotmode/) - [Microsoft Edge Support](https://support.microsoft.com/edge) ## Related - [Arc](https://bundl.run/apps/arc) - [Google Chrome](https://bundl.run/apps/google-chrome) - [Firefox](https://bundl.run/apps/firefox) - [Brave](https://bundl.run/apps/brave-browser) - [LibreWolf](https://bundl.run/apps/librewolf) - [Opera](https://bundl.run/apps/opera) - [Microsoft Edge vs Google Chrome](https://bundl.run/compare/edge-vs-chrome) - [Microsoft Edge vs Safari](https://bundl.run/compare/microsoft-edge-vs-safari) - [Microsoft Edge vs Brave](https://bundl.run/compare/microsoft-edge-vs-brave-browser) - [Microsoft Edge vs Arc](https://bundl.run/compare/arc-vs-microsoft-edge) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://bundl.run/#organization", "name": "Bundl.run", "url": "https://bundl.run", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://bundl.run/og-image.png", "width": 1200, "height": 630 }, "description": "The Ninite for Mac. 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