Whenever I hear the phrase, ‘most popular browsers,’ the first one that comes to mind is Google Chrome. But immediately afterward, Microsoft Edge is the one I think of, even though many consider it underrated. I’ve used Edge for several years, and to this day, I don’t understand why it’s not as popular as Chrome.

For example, Microsoft Edge offers AI-powered Copilot integration, vertical tabs, collections, and split screen, which have helped me boost my productivity without installing additional extensions. Thanks to the split-screen feature, I can compare things like two phones I’m considering buying and see which one is best. For tab management, Edge’s vertical tabs help in two key ways.

Vertical tabs give you a wider look at your workflow

The tabs display more of the page’s title for an easier find

Using Microsoft Edge’s vertical tabs has made finding a specific tab much easier for me. In other browsers, I would squint at the tiny icons and still click the wrong tab. In Edge, I can pin the vertical tab bar open, so I always see the full name of the site I’m on. I just hover over the tabs and click the pin icon in the top-right corner. If I ever get tired of the expanded tabs, I can collapse them with the ‘Collapse pane’ option in the same spot.

I find the vertical tabs much more visually appealing on my bigger monitor, since the extra room lets me see everything at a glance without it looking cramped. That's how it feels on my laptop’s smaller display: cluttered. I prefer to keep them collapsed to get a little more room, regardless of screen size, especially when I’m trying to focus on a single main window.

Use Collections to keep all your research in one place

Save Pages, add Quick Notes for better organization

I use Collections when a topic has too many ideas to keep in my head. Instead of leaving a row of tabs open, I start a collection and drag the pages I know I’ll need into it. The small previews and titles are enough to remind me what each link is about without having to open everything again. I recently did this for a Windows 11 article and kept the Microsoft sites I needed handy. In Edge, I just click the ‘Add current page’ option above the preview in the right pane to save the page.

Edge also lets you rename items in a collection by clicking the three dots above them. I can then reorder those items by importance by dragging each to the desired position. This is very helpful, since project priorities can change. I love that I can add images to a collection without cluttering it with unnecessary text or links. Collections are a feature I know I’ll keep using, and they also let you add a note that appears right below your saved links.

Copilot in Microsoft Edge brings answers in the sidebar

Ask about the page you’re on without opening extra tabs

When browsing, I always find something I need to research. In Edge, I can click Copilot if I need more information on a subject. If I need to investigate something important, I make sure to double-check the answer, since mistakes can happen. I can lower that risk by telling it to get information only from known, trustworthy sources, such as Google or Microsoft support pages, and to avoid others.

Most of the time, I use Copilot on pages I already have opened. If a support article is long, I highlight the part I care about and ask it to summarize in an easy-to-understand way. Other times, I ask it to pull the pros and cons from a page or turn the wall of text I’m reading into a short checklist so I can scan through it faster. Since the answer stays in the sidebar, I don’t lose my place on the site. When I needed Copilot to think more deeply, I chose the Think Deeper option so the answer had more context and broke things into sections.

Split screen lets you compare pages side by side

Keep both sites open without jumping between tabs

The Split Screen feature in Edge is one I regularly use to compare two files or two devices. For example, I’m searching for my next phone and comparing two models side by side to see if the upgrade was worth it was a huge help. I could easily see the difference between the two phones without switching tabs. I could also adjust the sides and leave it right where I wanted.

The Split Screen feature is visible as soon as I click on the three dots at the top. So, enabling it isn’t necessary, which is great for those who are just getting started with the browser. When I click the dots on each side, I can access more options, but the option I liked most was ‘Switch left and right tabs’ because it lets me set things up the way I want them quickly.

Why Edge has earned a permanent spot in my setup

Microsoft Edge may not be the first browser most people think of, but the features I’ve talked about are what keep it pinned to my taskbar. I wouldn’t be surprised if, over time, they push other browsers to catch up or add similar tools. Edge isn't perfect, but it fits how I work, and I’ll continue to use it.