Apple’s Safari browser has received a much-needed revamp in terms of aesthetics and functions with the upgrade to Big Sur. Despite Apple’s best efforts, many users are opting for Safari alternatives such as Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and Google Chrome. If you’re confused as to who to choose between the two Chromium brothers, then it’s time to choose between Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge.
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In this post, we will compare Microsoft Edge with the Google Chrome browser on Mac so that you can figure out which one suits your usage. In the comparison we will talk about the interface, features, security, cross-platform availability, extensions, theme engine, and more. Let’s begin.
Cross-platform availability
Cross-platform availability matters a lot when it comes to choosing the browser you prefer. After all, you’d want to sync tabs, history, bookmarks, and favorites across all of your devices.
Google Chrome is available on iOS, Android, Windows, Mac and Chrome OS. Microsoft Edge is accessible on iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, and even Linux.
Theme interface and engines
You won’t find major interface changes between Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge. Both are integrated into the Chromium platform. However, you will discover nuanced differences in functions and settings for both browsers.
Microsoft’s previous EdgeHTML-based Edge browser was used to offer a fantastic acrylic theme on tabs and menu bar. It’s all over in the new version.
The theme is an area where Microsoft Edge shines on both Google Chrome and the Safari browser. Safari only supports macOS dark theme. Google Chrome relies on the Chrome Web Store and third-party developers to generate creative themes.
Microsoft Edge takes advantage of both. The company recently released a series of Xbox game-inspired themes to customize the browser’s look. Users will certainly appreciate Microsoft’s extra efforts.
Safety
The open source Chromium is updated every six to eight months with the latest security patches. Usually Google is quick to implement them in the Chrome browser.
Microsoft does the same. But the company went ahead and added a tracking prevention option in the Settings menu.
Users can go to Settings> Privacy and Services and enable the option and set it to a balanced approach.
The practice blocks trackers from sites you haven’t visited and even stops malicious trackers without affecting the sites.
Microsoft has removed or replaced more than 50 Google services from the default Chromium code. They include ad blocking, Google Now, Google Cloud Messaging, and Chrome OS related services. So, if you’re someone looking to get out of Google’s world of apps and services, Microsoft Edge might be your best bet without any compromise.
Features
Most browsers offer many features that go beyond loading web pages faster. Starting with Google Chrome, the browser offers synchronization functionality, but is hidden in the Options menu. Go to History> Synced Tabs, and that’s where you’ll see the Chrome tabs open on iPhone or Android. Yes, it also works with Android.
Unfortunately, Google Chrome doesn’t offer any native reading modes. My favorite feature of Google Chrome is group tabs. You can create multiple groups based on a specific topic and arrange tabs. It really comes in handy when researching multiple websites at once with dozens of tabs open.
Microsoft Edge suffers from rendering performance issues with many websites when using EdgeHTML. After moving Edge to the fork of the Chromium project, Microsoft fixed all the rendering issues.
In addition, Edge Chromium offers an excellent reading mode. Tap the read icon on the address bar and remove unnecessary items. You can change the font style, text size, reading theme, and more.
Other features include Sleeping cards which hibernate the cards after a certain period of inactive use. Microsoft Edge Collections is also a welcome addition.
Password management
Google Chrome offers robust password management within the browser. Known as Chrome Password Manager, it offers an autofill feature and suggests strong passwords to get you started.
Use a Google account to sync history, bookmarks, passwords, and account settings across platforms. If you are using an Android device, it will automatically sync the data as the browser is set as the default by the operating system.
Microsoft has an advantage. The company offers password management on the desktop, but on mobile devices, you can view saved passwords from a separate password manager using the Microsoft Authenticator app. As a result, it works flawlessly with autofill on Android and iOS.
The Safari browser saves the passwords on the iCloud keychain. And you can’t view them on Android.
Extensions
Since Microsoft Edge is based on the Chromium engine, it works flawlessly with all Chrome extensions. So you can mix and use extensions between browsers.
Which one should you use?
Microsoft takes a big step over Google Chrome. If you’re looking to get out of the Google ecosystem and appreciate Microsoft’s efforts to block unwanted trackers, then go for Edge. Chrome is a reliable option for Android users, and the years of development shine in the final product.
