--- title: Microsoft Edge canonical: https://saasranked.com/software/microsoft-edge/ category: Web Browsers points: 73 rank: 3 of 12 facts_checked: 2026-10-08 --- # Microsoft Edge Chromium-based browser with tracking prevention on by default, a built-in VPN allowance and Chrome Web Store support. 73 points out of 100. #3 of 12 web browsers. Vendor: Microsoft. Website: https://www.microsoft.com/edge - Tracking prevention is on at the Balanced level by default [4]. - Edge Secure Network uses VPN technology and gives personal Microsoft accounts 5 GB a month [6]. - Microsoft Defender SmartScreen is turned on by default [4]. - Downloads exist for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android [3]. - Extensions made for Chrome can be installed from the Chrome Web Store [10]. Verdict: Edge suits people who want tracker blocking switched on from the first launch, a small built-in VPN allowance and access to Chrome extensions [4][6][10]. Its bug bounty and vertical tabs are documented [8][13]. It also saves passkeys [16]. The catch: Microsoft does not document end-to-end encrypted sync with a key only you hold, and the Edge browser source is not published [4][15]. Best for: Windows users who want tracker blocking by default and Chrome extensions. ## Points | Criterion | Line | Value | Points | Note | |---|---|---|---|---| | Systems | Other systems | macOS, Linux, iOS, Android | 8/8 | Download page lists Windows, macOS, Linux (.deb), iOS and Android [3]. | | Privacy and security | Blocks trackers by default | Yes | 8/8 | Edge blocks known trackers; Balanced tracking prevention is selected by default [4]. | | Privacy and security | Built-in ad blocker | Not published | 0/5 | Not published on the vendor's Edge home, features or security pages [1][2][9]. | | Privacy and security | Fingerprinting protection | Yes | 7/7 | Tracking prevention is designed to block trackers it detects as cryptominers or fingerprinters [5]. | | Privacy and security | Built-in VPN or proxy | Yes | 3/3 | Edge Secure Network uses VPN technology; a personal Microsoft account gets 5 GB a month, switched on from Settings and more [6]. | | Privacy and security | Open source | Not published | 0/5 | Not published: the Edge GitHub page's MSEdge repository holds only a README and licence, not browser source [15]. | | Privacy and security | Public bug bounty | Yes | 4/4 | The Microsoft Edge Bounty Program covers Edge based on Chromium in Dev, Beta and Stable channels [13]. | | Privacy and security | Phishing and malware warnings | Yes | 5/5 | SmartScreen blocks known dangerous sites and is turned on by default [4]. | | Sync and sign-in | Free sync across devices | Yes | 6/6 | Signing in syncs favorites, passwords, history, extensions, settings and open tabs; no fee is shown [14][4]. | | Sync and sign-in | End-to-end encrypted sync | Not published | 0/8 | Not published on the vendor's privacy page: it describes encryption in transit and at rest, not a key only you hold [4]. | | Sync and sign-in | Built-in password manager | Yes | 3/3 | Password Manager is built into Edge with a password generator and monitor [7]. | | Sync and sign-in | Saves passkeys | Yes | 5/5 | Edge saves passkeys in Microsoft Password Manager and syncs them across Windows, iOS and Android when signed in [16]. | | Extensions | Chrome Web Store extensions | Yes | 6/6 | Extensions designed for Chrome can be used in Edge after allowing other stores [10]. | | Extensions | Manifest V2 extensions still work | Yes | 6/6 | Timeline shows only warnings from September 2026 and enterprise deprecation from 2027; a policy lets v2 stay enabled [11][12]. | | Tabs and tools | Vertical tabs | Yes | 4/4 | Vertical tabs move tabs to a side pane [8]. | | Tabs and tools | Tab groups | Not published | 0/4 | Not published: the tab groups page documents naming and renaming but not collapsing [8][17]. | | Tabs and tools | Built-in page translation | Yes | 4/4 | Edge offers to translate whole webpages into your preferred language [4]. | | Tabs and tools | Separate profiles | Yes | 4/4 | Profiles keep favorites, history and passwords in independent profiles [4]. | | Price | Cost to use | Not published | 0/5 | Not published on the vendor's Edge home, features or download pages [1][2][3]. | ## Plans | Plan | Price | Per month (USD) | |---|---|---| | Microsoft Edge | No price shown [3] | - | Microsoft's download and feature pages show no price for Edge [1][3]. ## Strengths - Tracking prevention defaults to Balanced and blocks known trackers using a list [4]. - Edge Secure Network gives a monthly 5 GB allowance to users signed in with a personal Microsoft account [6]. - SmartScreen blocks dangerous sites and downloads, and is on by default [4]. - Vertical tabs and tab groups are built in [8]. - Microsoft runs a public Edge Bounty Program with awards up to $30,000 [13]. ## Limits - The VPN allowance is capped at 5 GB a month and needs a personal Microsoft account [6]. - Microsoft's privacy page describes encryption of synced data but not a key only you hold [4]. - Microsoft's Edge GitHub page shows no repository holding the browser's source code [15]. - Manifest V2 deprecation warnings start for some users in mid-September 2026 [11]. ## Sources 1. [Microsoft Edge](https://explore.microsoft.com/en-us/edge), Microsoft, accessed 2026-10-08 2. [Microsoft Edge features](https://explore.microsoft.com/en-us/edge/features), Microsoft, accessed 2026-10-08 3. [Download Microsoft Edge](https://explore.microsoft.com/en-us/edge/download), Microsoft, accessed 2026-10-08 4. [Microsoft Edge privacy whitepaper](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-edge/privacy-whitepaper/), Microsoft Learn, accessed 2026-10-08 5. [Learn about tracking prevention in Microsoft Edge](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-edge/learn-about-tracking-prevention-in-microsoft-edge-5ac125e8-9b90-8d59-fa2c-7f2e9a44d869), Microsoft Support, accessed 2026-10-08 6. [Edge Secure Network](https://explore.microsoft.com/en-us/edge/features/edge-secure-network-vpn), Microsoft, accessed 2026-10-08 7. [Password management in Microsoft Edge](https://explore.microsoft.com/en-us/edge/features/password-management), Microsoft, accessed 2026-10-08 8. [Vertical tabs in Microsoft Edge](https://explore.microsoft.com/en-us/edge/features/vertical-tabs), Microsoft, accessed 2026-10-08 9. [Microsoft Edge security features](https://explore.microsoft.com/en-us/edge/features/security), Microsoft, accessed 2026-10-08 10. [Add, turn off, or remove extensions in Microsoft Edge](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-edge/add-turn-off-or-remove-extensions-in-microsoft-edge-9c0ec68c-2fbc-2f2c-9ff0-bdc76f46b026), Microsoft Support, accessed 2026-10-08 11. [Timeline for migrating to Manifest V3](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-edge/extensions/developer-guide/manifest-v3), Microsoft Learn, accessed 2026-10-08 12. [ExtensionManifestV2Availability policy](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/deployedge/microsoft-edge-policies/extensionmanifestv2availability), Microsoft Learn, accessed 2026-10-08 13. [Microsoft Edge Bounty Program](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/msrc/bounty-new-edge), Microsoft Security Response Center, accessed 2026-10-08 14. [Sign in to sync Microsoft Edge across devices](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/edge/sign-in-to-sync-microsoft-edge-across-devices), Microsoft Support, accessed 2026-10-08 15. [Microsoft Edge on GitHub](https://github.com/MicrosoftEdge), GitHub, accessed 2026-10-08 16. [Passkeys in Microsoft Edge](https://explore.microsoft.com/en-us/edge/features/passkeys), Microsoft, accessed 2026-10-08 17. [Tab groups in Microsoft Edge](https://explore.microsoft.com/en-us/edge/features/tab-groups), Microsoft, accessed 2026-10-08