Microsoft Edge vs Thorium Browser
Microsoft Edge
microsoft.comThorium Browser
github.comSide by side
| Figure | Microsoft Edge | Thorium Browser |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | — |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · Web browsers | 9.1 (#9) | 7.5 (#127) |
| Performance | Sleeping tabs pause inactive background pages to reduce CPU and memory use. | The project site reports an 8–38% performance improvement over vanilla Chromium depending on benchmark and operating system. |
| Product | Microsoft Edge is a web browser available across desktop and mobile devices. | Thorium is a Chromium fork intended to behave like Google Chrome, with its own patches and enhancements. |
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.
Thorium Browser
Thorium Browser has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.