Microsoft Edge vs Naver Whale (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Microsoft Edge grades higher than Naver Whale: 3.6 against 3.2 out of 4.0.
Checked Oct 5, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Oct 10, 2026 and Nov 13, 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.
Naver Whale
Naver's browser with an AI sidebar and built-in video calls
Free
Which one is for you
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
Pick Naver Whale if
- Fits if you already use NAVER mail or stocks and want them in a sidebar
- Works for comparing two pages side by side in one window
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you do not use NAVER services, since many features are tied to them
- Not for you if you need deep English documentation: the English site is a thin front page
- Watch out: minimums are Windows 10, macOS 13, Android 8, iOS 16 and Ubuntu 14.04 64-bit
- Watch out: Windows and macOS also have beta builds, so check which you install
How we grade them
| 3.6GPAMicrosoft EdgeExcellent | 3.2GPANaver WhaleVery good | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | 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. | AFree to download, with no paid plans listed, so under 60% of this category's cheapest quarter. |
| Free plan and trial | 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. | AThe browser for five platforms, with Whale ON video calls and the AI sidebar, is listed free. |
| Features | 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. | CAI sidebar, dual tab, gestures and video calls, but the listing says many features are tied to NAVER services and accounts. |
| Ease of use | 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. | BNo rating on record. You install a browser and use it, and system minimums are listed from Windows 10 and macOS 13. |
| Platforms and integrations | 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. | BWindows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS builds are listed, though the only named connection is to NAVER's own services. |
| Best for | Windows users who want Copilot in the browser | a free browser with an AI sidebar |
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: Microsoft Edge and Naver Whale. How we grade
Price against what you get
Microsoft Edge has no paid plan and scores 3.3 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. Naver Whale has no paid plan and scores 2.7.
Microsoft Edge scores higher for the same starting price. Of the other browsers on the chart, none scores higher than Microsoft Edge for less, and none scores higher than Naver Whale for less.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
Where they differ
- Microsoft Edge also covers password manager and passkeys.
- Naver Whale also covers chat assistant, video calls and ad and tracker blocking.
In commonFree planWindowsmacOSLinuxiOSAndroidAI featuresWeb browser
At a glance
| Microsoft Edge | Naver Whale | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Starts at | Free | Free |
| Free plan | 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 to download. The site lists no paid plans. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Microsoft | NAVER Corp. |
| Price read from | apps.apple.com | whale.naver.com |
| Checked | Oct 5, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
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.
Naver Whale
- The English site is a thin front page; many features are tied to NAVER services and accounts.
- Minimum systems listed: Windows 10, macOS 13, Android 8, iOS/iPadOS 16 and Ubuntu 14.04 64-bit.
- Beta builds are offered for Windows and macOS.
Key features
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.
Naver Whale
- Whale AI
- Ask questions about the current page in the sidebar, with summarizing, translating and pulling in an open tab.
- Sidebar
- Quick access to NAVER services such as mail and stocks, plus tools like translate, without switching tabs.
- Dual Tab
- Browse and compare two pages side by side in one window.
- Whale ON
- Built-in video conferencing that the site describes as needing no install and having no time limits.
- Clean Web and safety tools
- Blocks intrusive ads, and offers Safe Browsing and malware protection for downloads.
- Mouse gestures and Quick Search
- Gesture controls for navigation and instant search or translation of selected text.
Plans
Microsoft Edge
Free$0
The full browser on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android, with Copilot built in and sync between signed-in devices.
Naver Whale
Free$0
Browser downloads for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS, with Whale ON video calls and the AI sidebar included.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Microsoft Edge or Naver Whale?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Microsoft Edge and Naver Whale are free to use.
Which has a free plan, Microsoft Edge or Naver Whale?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Microsoft Edge and Naver Whale have a free plan.
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.