5 reasons why Microsoft Edge is better than Chrome

It might be hard to believe, but Microsoft has finally atoned for the sins of Internet Explorer. Last year, the company hit the restart button on its web browser efforts, releasing a new version of Microsoft Edge to replace the one that shipped with Windows 10. This new version is based on the same code as Chrome’s browser. Google, so it offers performance and works with all the same extensions.

If Microsoft had simply cloned Chrome, it didn’t deserve much more than a browser wars trophy. But Edge is more than just an imitator. Since launching last year, Microsoft has amassed all kinds of useful features that Chrome lacks, so much so that I happily use it as my primary browser.

If you’ve ever canceled Edge, due to past trauma with Internet Explorer or Microsoft’s shady software update tactics, here’s why you should consider using the browser for good.

Vertical tabs

With a single click, Microsoft Edge can organize your browser tabs on the left side of the screen rather than at the top. It’ll probably feel weird at first – and you might get irritated that it doesn’t reclaim any space above the address bar – but stick with it for a few weeks and you might never want to go back. . Arranging tabs vertically means you can display more of them on the screen without losing sight of the page titles, and you can temporarily hide the sidebar by clicking the left arrow at the top when you need more space to. navigate.

Microsoft

Install sites as apps

Click on the “…” menu button and select “Applications” and you will see an option to install the current site as an application on your desktop. This allows the site to launch in its own window without the usual menu clutter, and you can add it to both your Start menu and your taskbar. This feature has fundamentally changed the way I use the web, allowing me to quickly access services like Gmail and Notion without losing them in a sea of ​​tabs. While Chrome offers a similar capability, Edge turns web apps into a featured attraction, with a single menu to see what you’ve installed and manage their permissions.

Jared Newman / IDG

Convenient reading functions

By pressing F9 on any web page, or clicking the page icon on the right side of the address bar, a reader mode clears ads and lets you adjust the text. There is also a “Read Aloud” feature – accessed through the Reader Mode menu or by pressing Ctrl-Shift-U – which converts text to speech on any web page. You can adjust the playback speed and even choose from a bunch of voices.

Jared Newman / IDG

Collections

Think of this feature as a more sophisticated type of bookmark folder, with richer page descriptions, thumbnail images, and notes. By clicking on the [+] The button at the top right of the screen displays the collections sidebar menu. From there you can start a new collection and click “Add Current Page” to start building links. You can also right-click any tab and select “Add all tabs to a new collection”, saving all of your open tabs at once. It’s a great way to save your current browser window without leaving all of your tabs open for ages.

Jared Newman / IDG

Tracking protection

While Google is reluctant to remove tracking cookies from Chrome, Microsoft allows you to block third-party cookies now. The privacy section of Edge’s settings menu offers three levels of aggressiveness for blocking, as well as an option to always use the strictest setting for your incognito browsing sessions. Blocking these trackers can prevent websites from constantly collecting information about you while you are browsing the web.

Jared Newman / IDG

Where Edge always annoys

The only thing that really annoys me about Edge is how well Microsoft packs it with Bing and Bing related services out of the box. Changing these defaults requires some research.

Defining Google as a search engine, for example, requires a trip to Settings> Privacy, search and services, then clicking Address bar and search at the bottom of the menu. You can change the search engine here, the new tab page will still use Bing unless you change the Search on new tabs Possibility of Address bar as well as. If you are setting up multiple computers, you will need to change these settings on each because Microsoft does not synchronize them.

Likewise, the new tab page displays news and information from Microsoft, unless you press the gear icon in the top right and choose a Custom layout, and then select Disabled content from the drop-down menu. (You can also try defining a new, different tab page, like Tabliss.)

Finally, I could take or leave Microsoft’s foray into shopping-related features like price tracking and discounts for online purchases. You might find these features useful, but with so many other ways to shop smarter online, Edge’s features can be a nuisance as well. The good news is that you can turn them off by going to Settings> Privacy, search and services, then uncheck Save time and money with Shopping in Microsoft Edge.

But once it’s fully deflated and unbinged, Edge is finally worth using for good. Don’t let minor annoyances – or decades-old browser grievances – keep you from having a better alternative to Chrome.

A version of this column originally appeared in Advisorator, Jared’s newsletter for practical technical advice. Sign up to receive free advice delivered straight to your inbox.