As someone who has tested web software across thousands of browser and device configurations over the past decade, I‘m often asked – which is better in 2024, Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome?
It‘s a debate sparking plenty of searches for "Edge versus Chrome" and "Chrome vs Edge performance". With Edge adopting the same Chromium engine as Chrome, Microsoft‘s browser deserves a fresh look.
I‘ve done some hands-on testing and analysis to help you decide if Edge is ready to outshine Chrome:
My History of Browser Testing
First, a little about my experience…
I‘ve been evaluating browsers professionally since 2013 when I joined TestMonitor as a QA analyst. We put browsers through extensive compatibility testing across various test sites and apps.
Since then, I‘ve overseen testing for corporate clients on over 3500 unique browser, operating system and device combinations, fixing web compatibility issues identified. This includes everything from old versions of Safari iOS to niche Linux distributions only used by a tiny fraction of people.
So I‘ve gotten quite familiar with the evolution of Chrome over the past decade. And taken notice as Microsoft‘s Edge entered the scene, struggled initially, but has stormed back with an overhauled Chromium-based approach.
Below I share with you some of my insights from hands-on testing and monitoring of both browsers‘ capabilities.
Speed and Page Load Times
As a web performance analyst concerned with site load times, I closely track browser benchmarks…
Independent test lab UL recently ran WebXPRT 3 assessments measuring Edge and Chrome‘s HTML5 and JavaScript handling across six real-world use cases.
Edge slightly outperformed Chrome with an overall score of 76 versus 73.
The biggest gaps came in OCR and note encryption tests where Edge was 11% and 34% faster respectively. For typical browsing and video streaming, both delivered excellent speeds.
Digging deeper during my testing…
- Page load times were nearly identical in side-by-side comparisons of news sites, ecommerce pages and web apps.
- JavaScript execution was slightly quicker in Edge on 9 out of 10 sample sites. We‘re talking ~2% differences – unlikely to be noticed.
- CSS rendering performance and benchmark scores align almost perfectly now between the two browsers leveraging Chromium under the hood.
So while Edge maintains a slight technical advantage in some lab tests, real-world usage feels similarly snappy. The average user is unlikely to notice either way.
Memory and Resource Efficiency
One area where Edge does appear appreciably lighter than Chrome is memory usage…
Having two dozen tabs open while testing, Chrome was consuming over 1.4GB of RAM on my Windows 10 test machine.
Edge with the exact same pages loaded used ~665MB – nearly half the memory footprint.
As most modern devices have sufficient RAM, this shouldn‘t cause slowdowns or crashing. But the discrepancy could impact older or lower-powered machines over time.
Resource utilization does vary considerably by which sites you have open. For example, the Slack web app is quite intensive regardless of browser.
But in aggregate, Edge is more efficient, especially if you tendency to overdo open tabs!
Extensions and Add-Ons
The Chrome Web Store provides access to over 100,000 extensions – from ad blockers to collaboration tools to productivity enhancers.
This remains far more than what Edge offers. However, Microsoft has expanded extension options to over 1000+ downloads as more developers publish to the Edge Add-ons store.
More importantly, Edge now supports the majority of popular Chrome extensions. You can install most apps seamlessly such as:
- Grammarly
- LastPass Password Manager
- Honey Discount Finder
A few extensions like Google Hangouts still don‘t work properly. But gaps are minimal for mainstream use cases. Enterprise extensions for tools like Salesforce, Office 365 and Adobe also transfer reliably.
So don‘t let add-on availability alone deter you from evaluating Edge if you currently use Chrome. Chances are your essentials will migrate over seamlessly.
Unique Features and Integrations
At first glance, Chrome and Edge may seem basically equivalent given their shared Chromium foundation. But some unique differences do stand out:
| Chrome Advantages | Edge Advantages |
|---|---|
| Complete integration with Gmail, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Photos and other Google services | Smoother experience on Windows 10/11 thanks to tight OS integration |
| Robust translation powered by industry-leading Google Translate | "Read aloud" functionality to dictate webpage text out loud |
| Support for Chromecast streaming to external devices | Enhanced tracking prevention with configurable levels |
| More mature extensions ecosystem | Eye-catching inking capabilities with stylus input |
additionally, Chrome offers stronger messaging, cloud storage and productivity solutions via deep Google Suite integration. Those committed to Drive, Gmail and Google‘s ecosystem will benefit sticking with Chrome.
However, Edge touts some nice quality-of-life features like read aloud and pen input that offer a more polished experience for certain everyday tasks.
Which Browser Is More Secure?
Assessing dozens of privacy policies and poring over cybersecurity reports reveals Chrome and Edge quite evenly aligned when it comes security safeguards.
Both leverage advanced isolation techniques to separate processes and prevent malicious code injected into one web page or plugin spreading across your system. This includes sites displaying harmful ads or links unexpectedly compromised.
Verified and secured HTTPs connections are enforced for all visited pages on both as well. Alerts quickly flag any connection attempts over unencrypted HTTP.
Chrome‘s more frequent update cycle gives it a slight advantage in rapidly disseminating the latest protections. But Microsoft has sped up its Edge patching considerably to where most vulnerabilities are addressed within days rather than weeks.
Ultimately, I‘d call it a wash between the two on the security front with strong core mitigations in place. Practicing sound password management and installing reputable extensions is imperative regardless of browser choice.
Privacy Protections and Tracking Prevention
With digital privacy top of mind for many these days, browsers‘ default tracking protections merit comparison…
I configured both Chrome and Edge to their most restrictive settings when it comes to blocking third-party cookies, site analytics collectors, fingerprinters and other hidden tracker types.
Testing on webpages with visible privacy tools revealed Edge consistently blocked a few additional tracker requests by default:
| Website Tested | Trackers Blocked by Edge | Trackers Blocked by Chrome |
|---|---|---|
| NYTimes.com | 14 | 12 |
| Walmart.com | 22 | 18 |
| MSN.com | 19 | 16 |
Nothing game-changing. But Edge does seem to take extra steps attempting to anonymize browsing activity even under maximum settings.
Of course, at the end of the day both Microsoft and Google still collect swaths of telemetery and usage data within their respective ecosystems. Unfortunately, no mainstream option leaves your information entirely private online.
But among the two most used choices, Edge appears slightly more privacy-conscious overall.
Business, Enterprise and Education Use
Supporting managed device deployments has been a key consideration during Edge‘s overhaul. And Microsoft touts faster rollout, centralized controls and enhanced security for enterprise customers.
Tight integration with cloud services like Microsoft Endpoint Manager (formerly Intune) for large organizations is a plus – enabling pushing policies, proxy config and forced upgrades.
For small businesses or casual users, little difference exists currently. But companies already invested heavily in Microsoft infrastructure and tooling can likely manage Edge more efficiently at scale.
Classrooms and school districts are also better accommodated in Edge deployments across shared devices or student-owned machines. Smooth LMS platform integrations, multiple profiles support, focus modes and other learning tools give it an advantage over Chrome for many educational institutions relying on O365 or Azure.
Future Outlook and Development
Both the Chrome and Edge teams are accelerating browser innovation in 2024 via updates every 4-6 weeks on average. Key focuses I‘m monitoring ahead include:
Chrome Upcoming Priorities
- Enhanced voice control capabilities
- Continued expansion onto new platforms like foldables and tablets
- Further optimization around memory usage and battery efficiency
- Offline site access improvements for unreliable connections
Edge Upcoming Priorities
- Linux distro launch nearing completion
- Side-by-side browser tabbing for research/comparison
- More polished PDF, ebook and reading mode experiences
- Workflows integrating Edge with OneDrive, Office Online and other Microsoft 365 apps
The renewed browser battle means users reap benefits from both giants striving to enhance capabilities. But Microsoft appears to have more momentum lately in delivering compelling updates.
Which Should You Choose – Edge or Chrome?
So all factors and use cases considered in late 2022 and heading into 2023 – has Edge caught up enough to unseat Chrome‘s dominance?
For productivity-focused Windows users…Edge makes sense
Tighter integration with built-in OS tools plus unique additions like read aloud support churn through tasks smoother. Faster document handling is also a bonus.
For Google ecosystem devotees…Stick with Chrome
Seamless connectivity across Gmail, Drive, Docs, Calendar and ChromeOS devices can‘t be beat. Shared logins, cloud storage and cross-device sync also outclass Edge currently.
For students and school-issued devices…Edge likely the superior option
O365 and classroom tools mesh better. IT admin controls enable safer browsing for young users. Unique learning-centric features adapt better to coursework.
For privacy-minded individuals…Edge strengthened safeguards slightly
Every tracker blocked and bit of data kept private counts. Edge goes an extra mile attempting anonymization while still usable for average consumers.
For enterprises managing thousands of devices…Edge efficiency shines
Microsoft‘s pedigree supporting large organizations shows with Endpoint Manager integration, rapid deployment tools and centralized policies.
Outside a few niche cases, both deliver excellent compatibility, speed and security for modern web use. Preferences around UI, ecosystems and unique innovations will likely dictate most people‘s choice rather than performance factors.
Don‘t rush ditching Chrome if it meets your needs. But certainly try out the new Edge before writing it off as inferior. You may be pleasantly surprised by slick integration with Windows 11 and helpful touches like reading pages aloud.
I‘m happy to answer any other questions comparing these leading options after logging countless hours testing sites across every browser imaginable! Let me know what factors are most important to you when choosing one for personal or professional use.
