Maxthon vs Microsoft Edge (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Microsoft Edge grades higher than Maxthon: 3.6 against 3.2 out of 4.0.
Checked Oct 5, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 · graded Oct 10, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 by ToolGPA
Microsoft Edge grades higher on features and ease of use. They get the same grade on value for money, the free plan and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Maxthon
Chromium-based browser with notes, password manager and AI chat
Free plan
Which one is for you
Pick Maxthon if
- Fits if you want notes and a password manager inside the browser itself
- Works for people who use a browser on both a computer and a phone
Look elsewhere if
- Watch out: the membership price isn't shown unless you log in, so we can't tell you what it costs
- Skip it if you want a built-in ad blocker on desktop, as it's an optional extension there
- Not for you if you use Linux, as the download page has no Linux version
- Watch out: the iOS version is listed through TestFlight on the download page
Pick Microsoft Edge if
- Fits if you're on Windows and want Copilot sitting in the browser
- Works for people already using Bing, Microsoft Rewards and the Microsoft 365 web apps
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want ads blocked out of the box, which Brave does
- Tight if you lean on Copilot all day, because higher limits need a Microsoft 365 subscription from $9.99
- Not for you if you want the same features everywhere, as Microsoft says they vary by device and market
- Watch out: supported extensions differ between operating systems, and Password Generator needs sign-in with password sync on
- Watch out: a few iPhone and iPad reviewers report tabs closing when they didn't ask them to
How we grade them
| 3.2GPAMaxthonVery good | 3.6GPAMicrosoft EdgeExcellent | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AThe browser is free to download and use on Windows, Mac, Android and iOS, with sync and the built-in VPN. A paid membership exists, but its price wasn't readable. | AFree on all five platforms, Copilot included, with no paid version of the browser at all. The only thing Microsoft sells around it is a Microsoft 365 subscription for higher Copilot limits, listed in the iPhone app from $9.99. Skip that and nothing in the browser closes. |
| Free plan and trial | AThe browser, sync, split screen and the VPN from Bright Data are free. | AFree outright on Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone and Android, with sync, the password manager, SmartScreen and Copilot all in. Copilot does come with a usage allowance rather than an open tap, but the browsing side has nothing metered. |
| Features | CPrivacy tools, notes, a password manager, media tools and AI chat. The ad blocker is built into the mobile versions only, and on desktop it's an optional extension. | BThe job is covered: Copilot summarizing pages, PDFs and videos and comparing across tabs, Journeys to pick research back up, Workspaces, split screen, a password manager that flags leaked logins, SmartScreen and a scareware blocker. No ad blocker on the list, and Microsoft says features vary by device and market. |
| Ease of use | BNo store rating on record. You install it and browse, with the extra tools a click away. | A4.7 from about 586,000 App Store ratings. Sign in and tabs, favorites and passwords appear on their own. A few iPhone and iPad reviewers do report tabs closing when they didn't ask them to. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWindows, Mac, Android and iOS, with sync between them. The iOS version is listed through TestFlight, and there's no Linux version. | BWindows, Mac, Linux, iPhone and Android, with tabs, favourites and passwords synced across every signed-in device, plus extensions, although which ones you get depends on the operating system. Computers and both phones, then, which is where our top mark stops short: that also wants a web app, and a browser isn't one. |
| Best for | a browser with notes, a password manager and a VPN built in | Windows users who want Copilot in the browser |
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: Maxthon and Microsoft Edge. How we grade
Where they differ
- Maxthon also covers notes and ad and tracker blocking.
- Microsoft Edge also covers password manager and passkeys.
In commonFree planWindowsmacOSiOSAndroidAI featuresWeb browser
At a glance
| Maxthon | Microsoft Edge | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free |
| Starts at | Not published | Free |
| Free plan | The browser is free to download. A paid Maxthon membership exists, but its price could not be read without logging in. | 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 | Maxthon | Microsoft |
| Price read from | maxthon.com | apps.apple.com |
| Checked | Nov 12, 2026 | Oct 5, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Maxthon
- The membership price is not shown to visitors who are not logged in, so it is not recorded here.
- The ad blocker is built into the mobile versions; on desktop it is an optional extension.
- The iOS version is listed through TestFlight on the download page.
- There is no Linux version on the download page.
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
Maxthon
- Privacy tools
- Anti-tracking, incognito mode, automatic data cleaning on exit and a free VPN provided by Bright Data.
- Maxnote and Passkeeper
- Maxnote organizes notes and URLs, and Passkeeper fills passwords, addresses and payment details and syncs them across devices.
- Browsing tools
- Split screen, reading mode, read aloud, mouse gestures, super drag and tab search.
- Media tools
- A video float bar, video download, screen capture and a resource sniffer.
- AI chat
- The homepage describes a multi-model AI chat built into the browser.
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
Maxthon
Free browser$0
The browser for Windows, macOS, Android and iOS, with sync, split screen and the built-in free VPN.
Microsoft Edge
Free$0
The full browser on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android, with Copilot built in and sync between signed-in devices.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Maxthon or Microsoft Edge?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Maxthon publishes no starting price, and Microsoft Edge is free.
Which has a free plan, Maxthon or Microsoft Edge?
As of Nov 12, 2026, both Maxthon and Microsoft Edge have a free plan.
Which platforms do Maxthon and Microsoft Edge run on?
As of Nov 12, 2026, only Microsoft Edge lists a Linux app. Both list macOS, Windows, iOS and Android apps. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.