Microsoft Edge vs Mozilla Firefox
Microsoft Edge
microsoft.com
Mozilla Firefox
firefox.comSide by side
| Figure | Microsoft Edge | Mozilla Firefox |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | Yes |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · Web browsers | 9.1 (#9) | 9.0 (#11) |
| Browser engine | chromium | gecko |
| Built-in ad blocking | Yes | Yes |
| Cross-device sync | Edge syncs passwords, favorites, and settings across Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. | Yes |
| Extensions | Edge supports extensions from Microsoft Edge Add-ons and extensions designed for Google Chrome. | Firefox extensions add browser features and tools, with thousands of free extensions available through addons.mozilla.org. |
| Extension support | both | own_store |
| Founded | 1975 | 2004 |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Supported platforms | both | both |
| Privacy | Edge includes tracking prevention with selectable protection levels. | Firefox's privacy notice says browsing history, form data, temporary files and cookies are processed on the device unless the notice says otherwise. |
| Product | Microsoft Edge is a web browser available across desktop and mobile devices. | Firefox is a web browser that Mozilla describes as fast, private and useful across devices. |
| Security | Microsoft Defender SmartScreen helps identify and block known phishing sites, malicious downloads, and suspicious content. | Firefox uses Google Safe Browsing to protect against malicious downloads and phishing attacks, and validates web pages and technical data with certificate authorities. |
| Tracking protection | standard | standard |
Plans
In their own words
Microsoft Edge
Microsoft Edge is a free web browser for desktop and mobile devices, available on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, and the web. It uses Chromium, supports extensions, and includes ad blocking and tracking prevention with selectable protection levels. Copilot can summarize pages, answer questions, compare options, and help with tasks using open-tab context. Other listed tools include AI-powered tab cleanup, theme creation from words, and a scareware blocker. Security features help block phishing and malware; Password Monitor can alert users if saved passwords appear in an online leak. Sleeping tabs pause inactive pages to reduce CPU and memory use. Energy Saver may provide an average of 25 more minutes of battery life, though results vary with settings and use. Mac features include Spotlight search, Touch ID, trackpad gestures, and macOS visuals. Edge also offers an in-game browser for PC gaming and access to free Microsoft 365 web apps. Feature availability and functionality may vary by device, market, and browser version.
Mozilla Firefox
Mozilla Firefox is a free, open-source web browser that uses the Gecko engine. It is available on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, and as a browser extension, and its download page lists availability in more than 90 languages. Standard tracking protection and built-in ad blocking are included. Total Cookie Protection isolates cookies so they cannot follow users between websites, while Tab Groups organize open tabs by project, mood, or task. A Mozilla account can sync bookmarks, passwords, and open tabs across devices. Firefox also offers access to multiple AI chatbots in one place, letting users choose whether to use them. Thousands of free extensions are available through addons.mozilla.org. Mozilla’s privacy notice says browsing history, form data, temporary files, and cookies are processed on the device unless stated otherwise. Automated translation and PDF alt-text suggestions use downloaded language models locally; Firefox says those features do not send page content, PDFs, images, or tab URLs to Mozilla. Firefox is listed at free.