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Should I Use Microsoft Edge Add-ons?

microsoftedge.microsoft.com·Analyzed 1 hour ago·Based on 11 sources

Make Microsoft Edge your own with extensions that help you personalize the browser and be more productive.

Depends

Depends

Use it if you browse with Edge — it is free, built in, and every listing is reviewed.

Free built-in store for Edge users. Not on Edge? Irrelevant — Chrome Web Store extensions work anyway.

Confidence: Medium

Free

Store price

No cost to browse or install extensions

Supported

Chrome extensions

Chrome-designed extensions install in Edge

Every extension

Listing review

Curation review before publishing

Available

User ratings

Ratings plus written reviews on listings

Value for money5

Store is free; extensions cost nothing to install

Ease of use4

One-click installs from inside Edge

Feature depth3

Smaller catalog than Chrome; Chrome extensions compensate

Security posture4

Listings curated; malicious sideloaded extensions blocked

Pros

  • Free to browse and install extensions³
  • Every extension passes Microsoft's curation review before listing¹
  • Users can rate and review extensions on each listing¹
  • Expedited reviews for high-quality developers since February 2025²
  • Installs Chrome-designed extensions, covering catalog gaps³

Cons

  • Catalog smaller than Chrome Web Store's; niche extensions often missing⁸
  • Extension quality varies; permissions must be checked before installing⁹
  • Review process historically slowed extension updates and launches⁷

Gotchas

  • mediumHistoric complaint: slow review turnaround; expedited process only arrived February 2025²
  • mediumEnterprise admins must separately allowlist and manage employee extensions⁴
  • lowCatalog gaps: check the Chrome Web Store before assuming an extension is missing10
  • lowGuess: individual extensions may carry their own subscriptions; store itself is free³

Best for

  • Daily Edge browser users
  • Productivity extension hunters
  • Security-conscious users
  • IT-managed Edge deployments

Not for

  • Chrome or Firefox users — wrong store entirely
  • Niche-extension shoppers — Chrome Web Store is the bigger catalog
  • Developers wanting instant publishing — every update passes review
  • Anyone not running Edge; it has no standalone value

Companies that use it

  • Bitwarden
  • Trend Micro
  • Text Blaze⁸

Pricing

Store access

Free

  • Browsing and installing extensions is free
  • Individual extensions may charge separately
  • Developers publish via Microsoft Partner Center

Security

No known public vulnerabilities found in the sources reviewed.

What users say

Reddit users treat the store as fine but secondary, recommending ad-blockers and cross-checking the Chrome Web Store.

“Definitely an ad-blocker. I kinda gravitate toward Adguard instead of uBlock Origin, but that doesn't mean the latt”
— Reddit, r/edge
“I'd advise to check out if they're offered on edge store too, and in that case look for”
— Reddit, r/edge

Alternatives

Compare Microsoft Edge Add-ons with each alternative.

Full analysis

Based on 22 public sources: Microsoft docs, Reddit threads, security coverage, and buyer guides.

Sources

  1. Curation and review process for extensions at Microsoft Edge Add-onslearn.microsoft.com
    official
  2. Empowering Microsoft Edge Add-ons developers with faster reviewsblogs.windows.com
    official
  3. Add, turn off, or remove extensions in Microsoft Edgesupport.microsoft.com
    official
  4. Manage Microsoft Edge extensions in the enterpriselearn.microsoft.com
    official
  5. Developer policies for the Microsoft Edge Add-ons websitelearn.microsoft.com
    security
  6. Microsoft Edge to block malicious sideloaded extensionsbleepingcomputer.com
    security
  7. Microsoft accelerates Edge Add-ons reviews with new expedited processneowin.net
    news
  8. 15 Best Microsoft Edge Extensions to Install in 2026blaze.today
    review
  9. 17 Best Microsoft Edge Extensions (Actually Useful)usevoicy.com
    review
  10. Should I get extensions from the Edge add-ons store or the Chrome store?reddit.com
    review
  11. r/edge: new to edge, any must-have extensions?reddit.com
    review

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