Chrome vs Edge: Which Offers Better Features and Security?

How to pick the best Internet browser?

Before we start comparing Chrome and Edge, let’s briefly outline the impact of your browser on your privacy, security, and overall experience when surfing the web. Here are the most crucial aspects to consider before making your final choice.

1. Performance. Your browser is not the only thing that impacts your connection quality (for example, your Internet may be slow if you open too many tabs or if your Internet provider throttles you). But indeed, it does affect your connection speed. Besides, some browsers consume more Random Access Memory (RAM) than others, affecting your device’s performance.
2. User experience. Every browser has its specific features supposed to make your online experience smoother and more satisfying. They include interface design, navigation, customization options, extensions, device compatibility, and more.
3. Online privacy. Most browsers (except the most privacy-focused ones, such as Tor) collect and store quite a lot of information about you and your device. In particular, they detect your IP address, operating system, plugins, hardware data, and more. In the best-case scenario, you’re able to manage access to this information and prevent third parties from tracking you (for instance, collecting your cookies and monitoring your location). However, not all browsers have a transparent approach to users’ privacy. 
4. Protection against cyber threats. A good browser should offer various tools and built-in features to help you shield yourself from various online dangers, from browser fingerprinting and malware to phishing scams and distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks.

For more details on how to choose the best Internet browser for your privacy, check out our detailed guide on this topic. And if you want to learn whether Firefox is any better than Chrome, you can find the answer in our recent blog post.  

Now that you know what’s worth your attention when picking a web browser, let’s kick off our comparison. 

Microsoft Edge vs. Chrome. A brief overview

To save you time, here’s a brief comparison of the main Edge and Chrome characteristics. Later, we will look into their key features, as well as performance and security aspects, in more detail.

As you can see, these two browsers are pretty similar in their essential functionality. Moreover, they even have the same Chromium-based software license. But still, Chrome and Edge are distinct in their more specific characteristics, from RAM consumption to the level of privacy and security they provide. So, let’s dive deeper into the Edge vs. Chrome differences.  

Round 1. Performance

Let’s begin our comparison with the Chrome vs. Edge performance overview. Both browsers are pretty fast in terms of loading speeds and overall connection quality. To check this point, we ran a browser speed test while playing the same video and looked up the results. Here is Google Chrome performance score:

And here is Microsoft Edge score, according to the same speed testing tool:

As for memory consumption, Chrome is traditionally considered one of the most “RAM-hungry” browsers. Many complaints on forums and social networks like Quora prove this statement:

And even more complaints on Reddit:

Why is Chrome using so much RAM?
by u/hellothere564738 in pcmasterrace

So, why does Chrome use so much RAM? Here are several most probable reasons:

1. Too many browser extensions are turned on.
2. Too many tabs are opened.
3. You didn’t clear your browsing history, cookies, and other data.
4. Some malware is secretly sitting in the browser.

But anyway, in the Chrome vs. Edge RAM usage battle, Edge definitely takes the lead. In particular, the Microsoft browser has convenient efficiency mode that saves your battery’s life, and the sleeping tabs feature that automatically deactivates tabs you’re not currently using.

To be more specific here, we tested both browsers in terms of RAM consumption intensity in Activity Monitor on a macOS device. Here is the result of our experiment:

🏆 Who wins: Edge

Round 2. Key features

Although the main functions of most web browsers are the same, each offers some unique perks to improve ease of use and the overall online experience. Now, let’s compare Chrome and Edge in terms of their most notable features.

• Usability. Chrome and Edge generally have similar interfaces with quite a few distinctive features. Both enable users to divide tabs into groups to facilitate navigation (in Edge, you can also group tabs vertically). Also, you can create bookmarks (favorites in Edge) and lists. Edge also has an interesting collections option to organize your ideas into extra groups.

• Search. Apparently, Chrome has Google as a default search engine. In contrast, Edge comes with Bing. But anyway, you can change this in your browser settings if you like.

• Compatibility. Chrome and Edge are compatible with most types of devices and operating systems, including macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, and Linux. Chrome also supports ChromeOS – an operating system designed by Google. Meanwhile, Edge is the default browser on Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S.  

• Integrations and synchronization. Edge is deeply integrated with Microsoft products, offering a smooth synchronization across your accounts on Windows devices. Chrome, in turn, relies heavily on the Google ecosystem, offering more streamlined access to all of its solutions, from Google Drive and Google Photos to Gmail and Google Maps.

• Extensions. Chrome Web Store has more than 130 000 extensions for every taste and color. Edge has its own extension marketplace – Edge Add-on Store – with nearly 11,000 extensions. But here is the thing – you can set up any Chrome extensions on any Chromium-based browser, including Edge, while Edge add-ons aren’t available for Chrome users.

That said, both browsers have many features and provide access to a wide range of helpful add-ons. But since Chrome is better integrated into other popular Google products and offers much more extensions, we will give it our preference in this round.

🏆 Who wins: Chrome

Round 3. Privacy and security

Everyone knows that Google and its services aren’t quite privacy-friendly. The sad truth is that this corporation collects tons of customer information, from their browsing habits and likes to location history – all for spreading even more ads. Of course, the Chrome browser allows users to adjust some privacy-related settings – but that’s definitely not enough to conclude that your data is safe when using Chrome. 

As for Edge, it’s pretty much the same here. The Microsoft browser offers slightly more flexible and transparent privacy settings. But still, both browsers are based on the same technology – Chromium – which is not entirely open-source. Therefore, there’s always a way for somebody to get their hands on your private data without you knowing.

Also, both browsers offer a private mode option – the Incognito Mode in Chrome and InPrivate in Edge. However, note that neither is actually private. This solution doesn’t prevent third parties, including your Internet service provider (ISP), employer or school administrator, and websites you visit, from monitoring your Internet activities.

And what about Chrome vs. Edge security? Both provide a basic set of functions to protect users from potential risks. They include the following ones:

• Default HTTPS-Only support
• Malicious website detection
• Malware detection features
• Password manager
• Privacy sandbox

The only thing that makes Chrome slightly safer than Edge is that it provides more frequent updates addressing potential security flaws and vulnerabilities. However, when it comes to withstanding some more advanced risks (and protecting your online privacy, as well), you still need some extra solutions, such as premium antivirus software and a virtual private network (VPN).

To sum up, Chrome and Edge aren’t your best options if you’re looking for a highly secure and privacy-focused browser. Instead, it’s worth considering some other solutions, such as Firefox, Brave, LibreWolf, or Tor.

🏆 Who wins: Draw  

Round 4. VPN

Neither Chrome nor Edge has a built-in VPN solution – at least for now. Edge has recently announced that their Cloudflare-based Edge Secure Network will soon be launched. In turn, Chrome also offers a VPN – but only for Google One subscribers.

🏆 Who wins: Draw

But do you really need a VPN when browsing? The short answer is yes – and here’s why.

• A VPN encrypts your traffic. It means that all of your Internet activities, such as messages and Google requests, are transformed into gibberish. As a result, third parties can’t see what you’re up to online.
• A VPN enhances your security. A good VPN is a powerful tool against various cyber threats, from phishing attacks and scams to public Wi-Fi risks, such as man-in-the-middle attacks and evil twin networks. 
• A VPN hides your IP. Therefore, nobody can track where you actually are. It’s the best way to change your user location on Chrome or Edge and surf the Internet without strict limitations (for example, you can access geo-blocked content while traveling).

However, it’s important to note that free and built-in VPNs (including browser-based ones) often lack the power and efficiency to protect users’ private data and surf the web with peace of mind. Luckily, there’s a way out – even two ways, in fact. Let’s look at them in more detail.

VPN browser extension

A VPN browser extension works on the browser level (protects your traffic within a specific browser only). However, it’s still worth it if you need to conceal your digital identity, encrypt your data, or get rid of intrusive ads. 

VeePN offers browser extensions for Chrome, Edge, and Firefox. They include a vast number of handy features, including anti-malware and anti-tracking functions, Ad Blocker, WebRTC Blocker, and Smart Location. Also, you gain access to 10 servers across 6 countries. 

Full VPN app

A full VPN client is a solution that covers the entire traffic on your device. It protects not only a single browser, but also other browsers and apps you’re using. For example, VeePN VPN is a great option that comes with multiple privacy and security features, including the following ones: 

• Top-grade AES-256 encryption 
• NetGuard (stops third-party tracking, annoying ads, and malware-infected sites)
• Kill Switch (prevents potential data leakage when your VPN connection is down)
• Split Tunneling (allows you to select which of your traffic should go through a VPN tunnel).

On top of that, VeePN is available for almost any device and platform, including a VPN for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, and more. 

Microsoft Edge vs. Google Chrome: Which is better?

To sum up, both Edge and Chrome have a bunch of goodies, including convenient interfaces, synchronization and compatibility across various devices, and overall usability. Chrome offers significantly more extensions, but you can get them when using Edge, as well. 

But when it comes to security and personal data protection, our today‘s contestants are far from perfect. Therefore, it’s worth considering a more privacy-friendly browser. Also, you can empower yourself with a robust VPN like VeePN. It encrypts your data, making it nearly impossible for hackers, snoopers, and other third parties to compromise your Internet activities.

Just choose a suitable VeePN plan and surf the web securely, no matter which browser you prefer.

Written by VeePN Research Lab VeePN Research Lab is dedicated to provide you latest posts about internet security and privacy.

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