Firefox vs Microsoft Edge
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Firefox
Free, open-source browser from Mozilla with tracker blocking built in
Free
Where they differ
- Firefox is free. Microsoft Edge is free.
- Firefox is open source and end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- Microsoft Edge also covers passkeys.
In commonFree planWindowsmacOSLinuxAndroidiOSAI featuresPassword managerWeb browser
At a glance
| Firefox | Microsoft Edge | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Starts at | Free | Free |
| Free plan | The browser is free with no paid tier. The built-in VPN is free for up to 50 GB of browser traffic per month, and sync uses a free Mozilla account. | Edge is a free download, listed as free on the App Store. Copilot is included with a usage allowance; Microsoft sells higher limits through Microsoft 365 subscriptions. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Mozilla Corporation | Microsoft |
| Price read from | firefox.com | apps.apple.com |
| Checked | Oct 5, 2026 | Oct 5, 2026 |
Who each one suits
Firefox
- People who want tracker blocking switched on by default
- Users who prefer an open-source browser that is not based on Chromium
- Those who want to pick their own AI chatbot, or turn AI off
- Anyone moving between Windows, macOS, Linux and a phone
Microsoft Edge
- Windows users who want Copilot inside the browser
- Comparing options across many open tabs
- People who use Bing, Microsoft Rewards and the Microsoft 365 web apps
Worth knowing
Firefox
- The built-in VPN is capped at 50 GB per month and protects browser traffic only. Mozilla's paid VPN service costs $59.88 per year or $9.99 per month, plus tax.
- Firefox shows optional ads on its homepage to fund development. They can be turned off.
- The built-in VPN has not reached Firefox for Android or iOS; Mozilla's roadmap lists VPN on mobile as upcoming work.
- Windows 8.1 and below and macOS 10.14 and below are no longer supported by the standard release; they need Firefox ESR.
Microsoft Edge
- Copilot has usage limits; Microsoft says higher limits, agents and complex multi-step tasks need a Microsoft 365 subscription.
- The iPhone and iPad app lists Microsoft 365 Personal and Premium as in-app purchases, from $9.99.
- Microsoft notes that feature availability varies by device type, market and browser version, and that supported extensions differ between operating systems.
- Password Generator works only when signed in to Edge with password sync turned on.
Key features
Firefox
- Tracking and cookie protection
- Enhanced Tracking Protection blocks known trackers by default, and Total Cookie Protection keeps each site's cookies separate. The shield icon in the address bar shows what was blocked.
- Built-in VPN
- A VPN toggle in the desktop toolbar routes browser traffic through a proxy server to hide the IP address, free for up to 50 GB per month. It covers the browser only, not other apps on the device.
- Tab groups, vertical tabs and sidebar
- Tabs can be grouped and color coded or stacked vertically, and a customizable sidebar gives one-click access to bookmarks, history, synced tabs and other tools.
- AI chatbots in the sidebar
- The sidebar can host a third-party assistant such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot, Claude or Mistral Chat. AI features are optional and can be turned off entirely.
- Sync with a Mozilla account
- Bookmarks, history, saved passwords and open tabs sync across desktop and mobile with end-to-end encryption, and Send Tab pushes a page from one device to another.
- Reader mode, PDF editor and translation
- Reader mode strips clutter from articles, a built-in editor fills, signs and annotates PDFs, and pages are translated in the browser without sharing the data with anyone else.
Microsoft Edge
- Copilot in Edge
- Copilot sits in the browser to summarize pages, PDFs and videos, answer questions about the page being viewed and compare details across open tabs.
- Journeys and the Copilot new tab page
- Journeys group related pages, searches and chats so earlier research can be picked up again. The Copilot new tab page takes a question, a search or a web address in one box.
- Workspaces and split screen
- Workspaces keep sets of tabs separate and color coded, split screen shows two pages side by side in one tab, and tabs can be grouped by topic in one click.
- Microsoft Password Manager and passkeys
- Password Generator, Password Monitor and Password Health suggest strong passwords, sync them between devices and flag saved credentials found in known leaks. Passkeys are supported too.
- Built-in security tools
- Microsoft Defender SmartScreen blocks known phishing sites and malicious downloads, a scareware blocker targets fake warnings and support scams, and InPrivate clears history, cookies and form data on close.
- Performance and gaming features
- Energy saver extends battery life, PC gaming boost cuts the browser's resource use when a game launches, and Edge for Game Bar is an in-game browser for PC gaming.
Plans
Firefox
Free$0
The full browser on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS, including tracker blocking, sync and, on desktop, the built-in VPN up to 50 GB a month.
Microsoft Edge
Free$0
The full browser on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android, with Copilot built in and sync between signed-in devices.
