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The Microsoft Edge Insider’s Guide

Everything we know about Microsoft Edge in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.

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ToolGPAOctober 2026

Microsoft Edge

The Insider’s Guide

Microsoft's browser with the Copilot assistant built in

Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among browsers, read from Microsoft Edge’s own pages.

Made by Microsoft · checked Oct 5, 2026 · toolgpa.com

3.6GPA

Contents

  1. 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
  2. 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
  3. 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
  4. 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
  5. 05After you payGetting your money back, getting out, and getting help
  6. 06The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
  7. 07Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
  8. 08About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it

ToolGPA put this guide together from Microsoft Edge’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Microsoft Edge’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 5, 2026.

Part 01 · Overview

Welcome

What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first

3.6

GPA, above 10 of the 15 other browsers we grade

Microsoft Edge is Microsoft's web browser for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android, with the Copilot assistant built in. Copilot summarizes pages, compares information across open tabs and groups past browsing into Journeys, while Microsoft Password Manager, Defender SmartScreen and InPrivate browsing cover security and privacy. Tabs, favorites and passwords sync between devices that are signed in to Edge.

To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Microsoft Edge, taken from its own pages and our grades.

Sign in and tabs, favorites and passwords appear on their own.
From our grade for ease of use
  1. 1

    Best for Windows users who want Copilot in the browser

    There's no ad blocker on the list, and Microsoft says features and extensions vary by device, market and operating system.

  2. 2

    It is free

    Microsoft Edge has no paid plan at all. 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.

  3. 3

    It runs on 5 platforms

    Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android.

  4. 4

    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.

  5. 5

    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.

  6. 6

    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.

  7. 7

    A 3.6 GPA, above 10 of 15

    That is against the other browsers we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.

  8. 8

    Keep it

    Microsoft Edge is free, so making your own would save you nothing.

  9. 9

    What users like

    Reviewers who use the iPhone app in place of Safari or Chrome describe it as quick and dependable at loading the sites they visit.

Microsoft Edge at a glance

Pricing
Free
Free plan
Yes
Free trial
None stated
Runs on
macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android
Made by
Microsoft
Category
Browsers
Our grade
3.6 GPA, excellent
Store rating
4.7 on the App Store, 586,007 ratings

The report card

Best for Windows users who want Copilot in the browser

Edge is Microsoft's browser, free on Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone and Android, with Copilot built in to summarize a page or compare what's in your open tabs. But Copilot comes with usage limits, and higher limits, agents and multi-step tasks need a Microsoft 365 subscription from $9.99. There's no ad blocker on the list, and Microsoft says features and extensions vary by device, market and operating system.

ToolGPA report cardMicrosoft EdgeGraded Oct 10, 2026
SubjectGradeComment
Value for moneyAFree 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 trialAFree 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.
FeaturesBThe 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 useA4.7 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 integrationsBWindows, 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.
Grade point averageExcellent, out of 4.03.6

An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.

Who Microsoft Edge is for

  • 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

Who it is not for

  • 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

Good to know

Good for

  • 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

  • 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.

What people say

  • 4.7on the App Store, from 586,007 ratings

What they like

  • Reviewers who use the iPhone app in place of Safari or Chrome describe it as quick and dependable at loading the sites they visit.

What they don’t

  • Reviewers list glitches in the iPhone and iPad app, such as tabs that close unexpectedly, odd zooming when the screen is rotated and a read-aloud voice that drops in quality.

10 App Store reviews of the iPhone and iPad app, five of them more than three years old. The Hacker News comments read were mostly about Microsoft, not about using the browser

Part 02 · Pricing

What it costs

Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved

Free

No paid plan at all

Microsoft Edge is free to use.

Free on all five platforms, Copilot included, with no paid version of the browser at all.
From our grade for value for money

  • Free

    $0

    The full browser on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android, with Copilot built in and sync between signed-in devices.

The 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.

Read from apps.apple.com on Oct 5, 2026.

What the app costs elsewhere

Each country’s App Store price for “Microsoft 365 Premium”, against $19.99 in the United States, in dollars at the day’s rate. The four cheapest and the four dearest of 11.

CountryPrice thereIn dollarsAgainst the US
Turkey₺719,99$14.6427% less
Philippines₱ 1,090.00$17.3513% less
IndonesiaRp 330ribu$18.468% less
Canada$26.99$18.975% less
Australia$33.00$23.0415% more
Germany22,00 €$24.6523% more
United Kingdom£18.99$25.1126% more
South AfricaR429.00$25.9530% more

Part 03 · Features

What it does

Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it

5

Places it runs: macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android

Microsoft's browser with the Copilot assistant built in. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: AI features, password manager, passkeys, web browser.

No ad blocker on the list, and Microsoft says features vary by device and market.
From our grade for features
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.

Where it runs

  • macOS
  • Windows
  • Linux
  • iOS
  • Android

What it works with

  • Microsoft Copilot
  • Microsoft 365
  • Bing
  • Microsoft Rewards
  • Adblock Plus

Microsoft Edge is made by Microsoft.

Part 04 · Standing

Where it stands

Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own

10/15

Other browsers it is graded above

Microsoft Edge's GPA of 3.6 is higher than 10 of the 15 other browsers we grade, and level with 2.

It stands best on ease of use (A, above 10 of 15) and worst on features (B, above 7).

Microsoft Edge has no paid plan.

On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 3.3 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.

Each grade against the category

Every bar is all 16 browsers we grade, cut by the letter each got. Microsoft Edge’s own letter is outlined.

  • AValue for moneyAbove 8 of 15
  • AFree plan and trialAbove 5 of 15
  • BFeaturesAbove 7 of 15
  • AEase of useAbove 10 of 15
  • BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 7 of 15

Price against what you get

Each dot is one of 15 browsers. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Microsoft Edge is the marked dot.

C2.0B3.0A4.0Free$2$5$10$20More for lessCosts more, scores moreCosts less, scores lessCosts more, scores lessMicrosoft EdgeBraveVivaldiFirefoxShift

What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →

Keep it, or make your own?

Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.

Keep it

Microsoft Edge is free, so making your own would save you nothing.

And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces. It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 3.6 is higher than 10 of the 15 other browsers we grade.

What you could not

  • A web browser.
  • A password vault, the last thing anyone should make for themselves.
  • Passkeys, which rest on security you cannot improvise.
  • Apps for macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android that stay in step with each other.
  • It plugs into other products, Microsoft Copilot, Microsoft 365 and Bing among them.
  • AI features, unless you pay a model provider for each request yourself.
  • The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.

What this rests on. Microsoft Edge’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.

Part 05 · Refunds

After you pay

Getting your money back, getting out, and getting help

–Refunds
CSupport

What happens once you have paid: whether you can get your money back, how to leave, and how to reach a person when something goes wrong. Each is graded from Microsoft Edge’s own terms and help pages.

Leaving Microsoft Edge

–Grade

Not graded · checked Oct 18, 2026

Edge is a free download, so there is no plan to end and nothing to claim back. The only thing you sign up for is sync, and Microsoft documents how to switch it off and sign out in a few clicks. Getting your data back off Microsoft's servers is a second, separate job on the privacy dashboard, and the help page warns that clearing data while sync is on wipes it from every device at once.

Closing your account

There is no plan to cancel. Signing in is what turns on sync, and Microsoft's article says you stop it by going to Settings, then Profiles, then Sign out, or by turning individual data types off under Profiles and Sync. On the mobile app the same article says you choose Sign out and turn off sync.

  1. In Edge, open Settings and more, then Settings
  2. Go to Profiles, then Sync, and turn off sync
  3. To delete the synced data first, open Privacy, search, and services, then Clear browsing data
  4. Go back to Profiles and select Sign out
Stated on support.microsoft.com
What you keep afterwards

Microsoft's article on browser history says Clear browsing data covers history, downloads list, cookies and site data, cached files, saved passwords, autofill data and site permissions, and that history, passwords and autofill go from every synced device when sync is on. Data held in the cloud is deleted separately on Microsoft's privacy dashboard, and deleting it there does not remove it from your device.

Stated on support.microsoft.com

In your favour

  • Nothing is charged for the browser, so there is nothing to cancel and nothing to refund.
  • Signing in is optional, and the sync settings are a toggle per data type.
  • Microsoft documents a separate privacy dashboard for the copy it keeps in the cloud.
  • The help page tells you to clear the synced data before you sign out, in that order.

Watch out for

  • Clear browsing data while sync is on and it goes from every device signed in to that account.
  • Deleting data on the privacy dashboard leaves the copy on your device untouched.
  • Signing out stops the syncing but does not by itself remove what Microsoft already holds.
  • Where an organisation installed Edge for you, Microsoft sends you to your administrator.

Customer support

CGrade

Ordinary · checked Oct 18, 2026

Edge gets a large, free help site and a public Microsoft Q&A tag where other people answer, and that is the whole offer. Microsoft's general Contact Us page does lead to live chat, but Edge is not one of the products it lists, so there is no queue of its own to join and no hours or reply time anywhere. For a browser that costs nothing, that is the ordinary arrangement.

Ways to get help

  • Live chat

    Microsoft's Contact Us page asks you to sign in, pick a product, and work through self-help before offering live chat with a Microsoft specialist. Edge is not among the products it lists, so you would go in through the link for a product that is not shown.

    Stated on support.microsoft.com

  • Help centre

    Microsoft Edge help and learning, open to anyone without signing in, with articles grouped into getting started, privacy and security, personalising, troubleshooting and the iOS and Android apps.

    Stated on support.microsoft.com

  • Community or forum

    The Microsoft Edge tag on Microsoft Q&A, a public forum where anyone can post a question about the browser and other users or Microsoft staff reply.

    Stated on learn.microsoft.com

Not listed on Microsoft Edge’s pages: phone, email, contact form or ticket.

When people answer

Its pages do not say.

How fast it says it replies

Its pages do not say.

What depends on your plan

Its pages do not say.

In your favour

  • The help site is detailed, free and readable without signing in.
  • Microsoft Q&A is public, busy and carries answers from Microsoft staff as well as users.

Watch out for

  • Edge is not one of the products on Microsoft's Contact Us page, so there is no route made for it.
  • No page states hours or a reply time for anything to do with Edge.
  • There is no email address, no ticket form and no phone number for the browser.
  • Anything the articles miss means posting in a public forum and waiting.

What these two grades rest on. Read on 18 October 2026: Microsoft's Edge help articles on signing in to sync, viewing and deleting browser history and what to do when Edge is not working, the Edge help and learning site, the Microsoft Q&A tag for Edge, and Microsoft's general Contact Us page. Edge has no paid plan, so there is no billing or refund page to read. Nobody here closed an account or contacted its support. They are graded apart from the five that make the GPA. How we grade refunds and support.

Part 06 · Alternatives

The alternatives

The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side

Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Brave and Opera

The 5 tools Microsoft Edge is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.

  • 3.6GPA

    Google Chrome

    Free

    Google's free browser for desktop and mobile, with Gemini built in.

      Microsoft Edge and Google Chrome compared in full
    • 3.8GPA

      Firefox

      Free

      Free, open-source browser from Mozilla with tracker blocking built in.

      • Firefox is open source and end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
      • Microsoft Edge also covers passkeys.
      Microsoft Edge and Firefox compared in full
    • 3.2GPA

      Safari

      Free

      Apple's built-in browser for Mac, iPhone, iPad and Apple Vision Pro.

      • Only Microsoft Edge lists Windows, Linux and Android apps.
      • Microsoft Edge also covers password manager.
      • Safari also covers read later.
      Microsoft Edge and Safari compared in full
    • 3.8GPA

      Brave

      Free plan · from $3.00/mo

      Open-source browser that blocks ads and trackers by default.

      • Brave is open source, according to its own site.
      • Microsoft Edge also covers passkeys.
      • Brave also covers video calls.
      Microsoft Edge and Brave compared in full
    • 3.6GPA

      Opera

      Free plan · from $4/mo

      Browser with a built-in ad blocker, free VPN and sidebar messengers.

      • Microsoft Edge also covers password manager and passkeys.
      • Opera also covers screenshots.
      Microsoft Edge and Opera compared in full

    Part 07 · Questions

    Quick answers

    The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two

    15

    Questions, each answered in a line or two

    The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.

    Is Microsoft Edge free?

    Yes. Microsoft Edge is free to use.

    How much does Microsoft Edge cost?

    Microsoft Edge lists one plan. Free: $0.

    What platforms does Microsoft Edge work on?

    Microsoft Edge is available on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android.

    How is Microsoft Edge rated?

    Microsoft Edge's iPhone and iPad app averages 4.7 out of 5 from 586,007 ratings on the App Store in the United States, as read on Oct 7, 2026.

    Is Microsoft Edge any good?

    We have not tested Microsoft Edge, so this is what reviewers say. Often praised: Reviewers who use the iPhone app in place of Safari or Chrome describe it as quick and dependable at loading the sites they visit.

    Is Microsoft Edge open source?

    Microsoft Edge is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 5, 2026.

    What does Microsoft Edge integrate with?

    Microsoft Edge's listing names Microsoft Copilot, Microsoft 365, Bing, Microsoft Rewards and Adblock Plus.

    Who makes Microsoft Edge?

    Microsoft Edge is made by Microsoft.

    What are the alternatives to Microsoft Edge?

    The closest alternatives to Microsoft Edge in our directory are Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Brave and Opera.

    How do I close a Microsoft Edge account?

    There is no plan to cancel. Signing in is what turns on sync, and Microsoft's article says you stop it by going to Settings, then Profiles, then Sign out, or by turning individual data types off under Profiles and Sync.

    What happens to my data if I leave Microsoft Edge?

    Microsoft's article on browser history says Clear browsing data covers history, downloads list, cookies and site data, cached files, saved passwords, autofill data and site permissions, and that history, passwords and autofill go from every synced device when sync is on.

    How do I contact Microsoft Edge support?

    Microsoft Edge's pages list these ways to get help: live chat, help centre and community or forum.

    How does Microsoft Edge compare with other browsers?

    Microsoft Edge's GPA of 3.6 is higher than 10 of the 15 other browsers we grade, and level with 2.

    Is Microsoft Edge good value for money?

    ToolGPA grades Microsoft Edge A for value for money. Microsoft Edge has no paid plan.

    Could I make my own version of Microsoft Edge?

    Microsoft Edge is free, so making your own would save you nothing. And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.

    Where this guide comes from

    The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Microsoft Edge’s own pages on Oct 5, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Microsoft's own pages on 5 October 2026, and its App Store rating. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-04-12.

    Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Microsoft. Prices change, so check microsoft.com before you buy.

    Part 08 · About

    About ToolGPA

    Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it

    3,189

    Tools graded, in 94 categories

    ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.

    Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.

    • 3,189

      tools graded

    • 94

      categories

    • 426

      price changes on record

    • 579

      apps priced in 12 countries

    What else is on toolgpa.com

    Scan for the live page

    Prices and grades as they are today

    Quoting this guide?

    Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:

    ToolGPA, "Microsoft Edge: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 5, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/microsoft-edge

    Know someone choosing between browsers?

    Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/microsoft-edge/guide

    ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa

    See our other guides

    The best-graded browsers after Microsoft Edge, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.

    ToolGPA

    Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.

    Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›

    Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Microsoft Edge’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Microsoft Edge is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Microsoft. Prices and plans change: check microsoft.com before you buy.