Google Chrome vs Shift
We give Google Chrome a 3.6 GPA and Shift a 3.2, out of 4.0. Google Chrome grades higher on value for money, ease of use and platforms. Shift grades higher on features. They get the same grade on the free plan.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Google Chrome
Google's free browser for desktop and mobile, with Gemini built in
Free
Shift
Build-your-own desktop browser for multiple inboxes, apps and Spaces
Free plan · from $19.99/mo
How we grade them
| 3.6GPAGoogle ChromeExcellent | 3.2GPAShiftVery good | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | BThe browser is free, so there's no bad deal to be had. The one thing to pay for is auto browse, which needs a Google AI Pro or Ultra subscription and only works in the U.S. Chrome's pages don't say what that costs. | CAdvanced is $19.99 a month or $199.99 billed annually. Rambox Pro is $7 a month and Wavebox Pro $8.33 paid annually. For the extra you get unlimited Spaces and apps, more Shift AI and priority support with video calling. That's dear. |
| Free plan and trial | AAll of it, on every device: sync, the password manager, Safe Browsing, tab groups and extensions. No trial and no locked buttons. Only auto browse sits behind a subscription. | AFree forever with 5 Spaces and 10 apps in each, plus the Browser Builder and templates. That's plenty for work, home and a few clients. Shift AI is limited on free, and the listing doesn't say by how much. |
| Features | BTab groups, vertical tabs, split view, a password manager with passkeys, and the Chrome Web Store for everything else. But no ad or tracker blocker is on the feature list, and Gemini in Chrome depends on your account, country and device. | ADrag apps, bars and controls anywhere, or start from a template. Spaces get their own apps, tabs and extensions, with several logins per app. There are more than 4,500 apps in the library, any Chrome extension works, and downloads are screened through Avira. |
| Ease of use | A4.7 from about 3.9 million App Store ratings. Download it, sign in with your Google Account, and your bookmarks and passwords are already there. A new version lands every four weeks. | BNo App Store rating to go on. Templates give you a ready-made layout so you don't have to build one, and apps connect from the library in one click. No card is needed to download. |
| Platforms and integrations | AWindows, Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad and Android. Sign in and tabs, bookmarks, passwords and payment details sync across all of them. You can even send a tab from your laptop to your phone. | BMac and Windows on the desktop, with Chrome extensions and a library of more than 4,500 apps. No Linux or phone version is listed. |
| Best for | the same browser on every device you own | several email accounts in one desktop window |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Google Chrome and Shift. How we grade
Where they differ
- Google Chrome is free. Shift starts at $19.99 per month, or $199.99 billed annually (Advanced).
- Only Google Chrome lists Linux, iOS and Android apps.
- Google Chrome also covers password manager and passkeys.
In commonFree planWindowsmacOSAI featuresWeb browser
At a glance
| Google Chrome | Shift | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free plan |
| Starts at | Free | $19.99 per month, or $199.99 billed annually (Advanced) |
| Free plan | Chrome is downloaded and installed at no charge on every platform. The auto browse feature of Gemini in Chrome needs a separate Google AI Pro or Ultra subscription. | 5 Spaces with 10 apps per Space, the Browser Builder and templates, and limited Shift AI usage. No credit card is needed to download. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Shift Technologies Inc. | |
| Price read from | support.google.com | shift.com |
| Checked | Oct 5, 2026 | Oct 5, 2026 |
Who each one suits
Google Chrome
- Google Account users who want the same bookmarks, passwords and tabs on every device
- People who depend on extensions from the Chrome Web Store
- Those who want Gemini and Google's AI search inside the browser
Shift
- People juggling several email accounts and app logins
- Freelancers and consultants who keep each client in its own Space
- Those who want to design their own browser layout
Worth knowing
Google Chrome
- Auto browse, where Gemini carries out multi-step tasks, is available only to Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers in the U.S.
- Gemini in Chrome needs a signed-in, eligible account in a supported country, and Google's FAQ says it is not available on Android yet.
- Enhanced Safe Browsing requires browsing data to be sent to Google.
- Desktop requirements start at Windows 10, macOS 13 Ventura, and 64-bit Ubuntu 18.04, Debian 10, openSUSE 15.5 or Fedora Linux 39.
Shift
- The free plan is limited to 5 Spaces, 10 apps per Space and limited Shift AI usage.
- Shift is available on desktop for Mac and Windows only; no Linux or mobile version is listed.
- Team setups with consolidated billing and a central dashboard are not priced publicly; the pricing page says to contact Shift.
- Refunds are offered only within 14 days of a purchase or renewal payment.
Key features
Google Chrome
- Tab groups, vertical tabs and split view
- Tabs can be grouped, labeled and color coded, stacked down the side of the window as vertical tabs, or shown two at a time in split view.
- Sync across devices
- Signing in to Chrome brings bookmarks, saved passwords, payment info and open tabs to any phone, tablet or computer, and a tab can be sent from one device to another.
- Google Password Manager and passkeys
- Google Password Manager is built in to save, manage and generate passwords. Passkeys allow sign-in with a fingerprint, face, PIN or pattern.
- Safe Browsing and Safety Check
- Safe Browsing warns before a dangerous site or download, with an optional enhanced mode. Safety Check reviews saved passwords, extensions and settings and points out anything that needs attention.
- Gemini in Chrome and AI Mode
- Gemini in Chrome answers questions using the context of open tabs, and Skills save prompts for reuse. AI Mode, Google's AI search, accepts tabs, files and images as context.
- Extensions and performance controls
- Extensions from the Chrome Web Store add features, Energy Saver and Memory Saver limit resource use, and Google ships a new Chrome update every four weeks.
Shift
- Browser Builder and templates
- Apps, bars and controls can be dragged anywhere in the window, unused controls can be removed, and templates offer ready-made layouts with the sidebar at the side, top or bottom.
- Spaces
- Spaces separate work, hobbies and projects, each with its own apps, tabs and extensions. Several logins for the same app can be toggled without signing out.
- Multiple inboxes
- Several Gmail, Outlook or Yahoo email accounts can be opened side by side, with the apps and extensions used alongside them kept in the same Space.
- Shift AI
- An optional assistant summarizes pages and videos, drafts replies and answers questions using context from Spaces, apps, history and open tabs, with a separate chat in each Space.
- App library and Chrome extensions
- More than 4,500 apps can be connected from Shift's library in one click, any Chrome extension can be added, and Shift offers to add apps that are missing.
- Download scanning and site checks
- Downloads are screened through Avira's file reputation service, visited URLs are checked with Google Web Risk, and passwords are encrypted and stored locally.
Plans
Google Chrome
Free$0
The full browser on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iPhone and iPad, with sync through a Google Account.
Shift
Free$0
5 Spaces with 10 apps per Space, the Browser Builder and templates, limited Shift AI usage, and email and chatbot support.
Advanced$19.99
per month, or $199.99 billed annually
Unlimited Spaces and apps per Space, expanded Shift AI usage and priority customer support with video calling.
Ways to pay less
Google Chrome
No public discounts listed.
Shift
- Annual discount
Save $40 with annual billing
Shift Advanced is $199.99 billed annually, against $19.99 a month. Shift's pricing page labels the annual option as a $40 saving.
