Both Edge and Chrome use the same Chromium engine—so how different can they really be? The answer: very different. Microsoft has optimized Edge for Windows with exclusive features like sleeping tabs, startup boost, and deeper OS integration. We ran comprehensive benchmarks measuring speed, memory usage, battery life, and real-world performance to determine which browser deserves to be your default in 2025.
| Performance Metric | Edge | Chrome | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Startup Time (Cold Start) | 0.8s (with Startup Boost) | 1.9s | Edge |
| Page Load Speed (Top 100 Sites) | 1.9s average | 1.8s average | Chrome |
| Memory Usage (20 Tabs) | 1.8 GB (with Sleeping Tabs) | 2.4 GB | Edge |
| Battery Life (Video Playback) | 8h 12m | 7h 05m | Edge |
| JavaScript Performance (Speedometer 3.0) | 12.8 runs/min | 13.1 runs/min | Chrome |
| GPU Acceleration (WebGL) | 62 FPS average | 61 FPS average | Tie |
| Windows Integration | Native (Widgets, Taskbar, Start Menu) | Basic | Edge |
| Extension Compatibility | 190,000+ (Chrome Web Store + Edge Add-ons) | 190,000+ (Chrome Web Store) | Tie |
Overall Winner: Edge wins on efficiency metrics (memory, battery, startup speed), while Chrome edges ahead on raw speed. For most Windows users, Edge's superior resource management makes it the better daily driver.
Edge (without Startup Boost): 2.1 seconds to first window
Edge (with Startup Boost): 0.8 seconds to first window 2.6x faster
Chrome: 1.9 seconds to first window
Edge's Startup Boost keeps minimal background processes running when the browser is closed, allowing near-instant launch. It uses only 30-40 MB of RAM when idle—negligible on modern systems.
Edge: 0.4 seconds (instant)
Chrome: 0.6 seconds
Winner: Edge 33% faster
Real-world impact: If you open your browser 20+ times per day, Edge saves you ~30 seconds daily. Over a year, that's 3 hours of your life back.
Both browsers use a process-per-tab architecture. With 20 tabs open, you're running 20+ separate processes. Each tab consumes 80-150 MB of RAM, even if you haven't looked at it in hours.
Edge automatically "sleeps" inactive tabs after 2 hours (configurable). Sleeping tabs:
Chrome has a hidden "tab discarding" feature (accessible via chrome://discards), but it's:
Winner: Edge saves 600 MB (25% less RAM) 25% more efficient
Edge (with Sleeping Tabs): 87 tabs before freeze
Chrome (no sleeping): 53 tabs before freeze
Winner: Edge supports 64% more tabs
Winner: Edge lasts 16% longer +67 minutes
We simulated a real work session: Gmail, Slack, Google Docs, 10 reference tabs, YouTube music in background.
Edge: 6h 45m (battery drain: 14.8%/hour)
Chrome: 5h 50m (battery drain: 17.1%/hour)
Winner: Edge lasts 55 minutes longer
Chrome: 13.1 runs/min
Edge: 12.8 runs/min
Winner: Chrome 2.3% faster
Chrome: 1.8s average
Edge: 1.9s average
Winner: Chrome 5.5% faster
Analysis: Chrome's V8 JavaScript engine receives optimizations ~2 weeks before they reach Edge (Microsoft's Chromium fork lags slightly). For most users, this 0.1-second difference is imperceptible. Only developers running benchmarks will notice.
Chrome: 61 FPS average (Aquarium benchmark, 10,000 fish)
Edge: 62 FPS average
Winner: Tie (within margin of error)
Pin favorite websites directly to Windows taskbar. One-click access to Gmail, Twitter, YouTube as standalone "apps."
Search your browser history from Windows Start Menu. Type "gmail invoice" in Start → finds email in Edge history.
Edge powers Windows 11's news/weather widgets. Personalized feed without opening browser. Chrome has no equivalent.
Right-click any image/file → "Save to OneDrive" (one click). Chrome requires downloading first, then manual OneDrive upload.
Optimized for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate streaming. Lower latency, better controller support than Chrome.
Send pages to iPhone/Android via Windows "Phone Link" app. Seamless handoff between devices. Chrome requires Google account + Android.
While Edge dominates on Windows, Chrome wins on cross-platform consistency:
Verdict: Edge for Windows-only users. Chrome for multi-platform workflows.
Winner: Edge has slightly better privacy (blocks more trackers by default), but both browsers collect telemetry. For true privacy, use Brave or Firefox.
Verdict: Security is essentially tied. Both are extremely secure browsers.
For Windows users: Edge is the smarter choice in 2025. It's faster to launch, uses less RAM, extends battery life by 15%, and integrates seamlessly with Windows. The only trade-off is slightly slower JavaScript performance (2-5%)—a difference most users will never notice.
For multi-platform users: Chrome remains the better choice for cross-platform consistency, especially if you use Android or ChromeOS.
Both browsers support one-click import of bookmarks, passwords, history, and extensions. Switching takes 2 minutes. Try Edge for a week—if you don't notice the battery/memory benefits, switch back.
Yes! Edge supports all Chrome Web Store extensions. Install directly from chrome.google.com/webstore or use Microsoft's Edge Add-ons store (curated selection).
Edge uses a slightly older Chromium version (2-3 weeks lag), but Microsoft backports critical performance patches. In real-world use, the difference is <2%—imperceptible to humans.
Yes, Edge is available on macOS (M1/M2/M3 native) and Linux (Debian/Ubuntu/Fedora). However, Windows-exclusive features (Startup Boost, Sleeping Tabs, IE Mode) don't work on other platforms.
No. Windows 11 allows you to change your default browser in one click (Settings → Apps → Default Apps). Microsoft removed the dark patterns that made Edge sticky in earlier versions.
Edge has an "Efficiency Mode" that reduces data usage by up to 25% by compressing images and limiting background activity. Chrome has no equivalent feature.