Microsoft Edge vs Google Chrome

Chrome integrates Google Gemini for tab organization suggestions, writing assistance in text fields, and intelligent search. The AI features are more subtle and integrated into existing workflows rather than offered as a separate panel.

Chrome provides tab groups with colors, tab search, Memory Saver mode (similar to Sleeping Tabs), and tab previews on hover. However, it lacks vertical tabs and split-screen browsing as built-in features.

Edge supports both the Microsoft Edge Add-ons store and the Chrome Web Store. This means nearly every Chrome extension works in Edge, giving users access to the full Chromium extension ecosystem plus Microsoft-exclusive add-ons.

Chrome has the original and largest extension marketplace with 180,000+ extensions. It is the primary development target for extension creators, meaning Chrome gets new extensions first.

Chrome's Memory Saver mode discards inactive tab contents to save RAM, but it's less sophisticated than Edge's approach. Chrome still tends to use more memory overall, especially with many extensions installed.

Chrome's built-in PDF viewer handles basic viewing and form filling but lacks advanced features like annotation, highlighting, and text-to-speech. Users often need third-party extensions for more advanced PDF workflows.

Edge uses the same DevTools as Chrome (since both are Chromium-based) with some Microsoft-specific additions. The tools are functionally identical for most development workflows.

Chrome provides Enhanced Safe Browsing and site isolation. However, Chrome's privacy defaults are less protective, and Google's business model depends on advertising data. Third-party cookie deprecation has been repeatedly delayed.