Technology · head to head
Microsoft Edge vs Postgres
Microsoft Edge
Technology
Microsoft's Chromium-based browser, distinguished by IE mode for legacy applications and by its integration with Microsoft 365 management.
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Microsoft Edge outside the European Economic Area, Edge cannot be uninstalled from Windows, and Windows components such as Widgets, help links and taskbar search results open in it whatever the default browser is set to, so an organisation standardising on Chrome still has to manage and patch Edge.; Postgres each major version is supported for only 5 years after its initial release, after which it is end-of-life
- They diverge on capability: Microsoft Edge covers Internet Explorer mode, Postgres covers ACID compliance.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Microsoft Edge and Postgres actually diverge.
| Attribute | Microsoft Edge | Postgres |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | free | open-source |
| Platforms | Web | Linux, Windows, Macos, Docker |
| Founded | Unknown | 1996 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Technology).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Microsoft Edge
- Internet Explorer mode
- Enterprise Mode Site List
- Entra ID integration
- Purview DLP for browsing
- Intune and Group Policy
- Vertical tabs and Workspaces
- Sleeping tabs
- Chrome extension compatibility
Only in Postgres
- ACID compliance
- Complex queries
- Foreign keys
- Triggers
- Views
- Stored procedures
- JSON/JSONB support
- Full-text search
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Microsoft Edge
- A Windows estate with intranet applications that still require Internet Explorer, where IE mode buys years before a rewritenot Postgres
- Microsoft 365 organisations that want browser sessions covered by Purview DLP and conditional access without a separate secure browser productnot Postgres
- Fleets managed through Intune that need one browser configured by the same console as the rest of the desktopnot Postgres
- Users who work with many tabs at once and want vertical tabs and automatic tab suspension without installing extensionsnot Postgres
Postgres
- Running a general purpose relational database for applicationsnot Microsoft Edge
- Self-hosting an open source SQL database with no licence feenot Microsoft Edge
- Workloads needing extensions, JSON and full text search in one enginenot Microsoft Edge
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Microsoft Edge
- Outside the European Economic Area, Edge cannot be uninstalled from Windows, and Windows components such as Widgets, help links and taskbar search results open in it whatever the default browser is set to, so an organisation standardising on Chrome still has to manage and patch Edge.
- It is Chromium downstream, so Manifest V3 applies exactly as it does in Chrome; full-strength blocking extensions cannot run, and Microsoft's add-ons store adds a second review process rather than a workaround.
- Almost all of its advantage is conditional on Microsoft 365 and Entra ID; a Google Workspace or AWS-centred organisation gets Chromium plus Microsoft's promotional surfaces and none of the Purview, Intune or conditional access value.
- Consumer-facing features including Copilot, the Discover pane, shopping notifications and sidebar apps default to on and reappear after feature updates, so suppressing them requires a maintained policy set rather than a one-off configuration.
- IE mode is a bridge with a maintenance owner attached: the Enterprise Mode Site List must be curated by somebody, and MSHTML receives security fixes but no new capability, so an application parked there gains nothing and its eventual rewrite is only deferred.
- By default browsing data feeds Microsoft services for Copilot, Discover and shopping features, which in a regulated environment turns the deployment into a policy exercise before it can be approved.
Postgres
- Each major version is supported for only 5 years after its initial release, after which it is end-of-life
- Major version upgrades break on-disk compatibility and require a full dump and reload or the pg_upgrade tool
- New major versions ship about once a year, so staying supported means a disruptive upgrade cycle
- Minor releases contain only frequently-encountered bug fixes, low-risk fixes, security issues and data corruption fixes, so feature gaps are not addressed within a major version
- There is no vendor SLA; commercial support must be bought separately from third party professional services listed by the project
Pricing, plan by plan
Microsoft Edge
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Microsoft Edge review.
Postgres
Free- Community EditionFree
- Full database features
- No limitations
- Community support
Which should you pick?
Choose Microsoft Edge if
- You need internet explorer mode.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want enterprise mode site list.
Choose Postgres if
- You need acid compliance.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Linux, Windows, Macos, Docker.
- You also want complex queries.
Questions people ask
- Is Microsoft Edge or Postgres better?
- Neither clearly leads. Microsoft Edge starts at Free and Postgres at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Microsoft Edge or Postgres?
- Microsoft Edge starts at Free and Postgres at Free.
- Does Microsoft Edge or Postgres run on more platforms?
- Microsoft Edge runs on Web. Postgres runs on Linux, Windows, Macos, Docker.
- Can I use Microsoft Edge for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Microsoft Edge best used for?
- Microsoft Edge is most often used for a windows estate with intranet applications that still require internet explorer, where ie mode buys years before a rewrite, microsoft 365 organisations that want browser sessions covered by purview dlp and conditional access without a separate secure browser product, fleets managed through intune that need one browser configured by the same console as the rest of the desktop, users who work with many tabs at once and want vertical tabs and automatic tab suspension without installing extensions. Of those, a windows estate with intranet applications that still require internet explorer, where ie mode buys years before a rewrite and microsoft 365 organisations that want browser sessions covered by purview dlp and conditional access without a separate secure browser product are not what Postgres is typically brought in for.
- What can Microsoft Edge do that Postgres cannot?
- Microsoft Edge covers Internet Explorer mode, Enterprise Mode Site List, Entra ID integration, Purview DLP for browsing. Postgres covers ACID compliance, Complex queries, Foreign keys, Triggers.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Microsoft Edge: Can I uninstall Edge from Windows?
In the European Economic Area, yes, because the Digital Markets Act requires it. Elsewhere you cannot, and several Windows components will continue to open it regardless of your default browser.
Postgres: How much does PostgreSQL cost to use?
PostgreSQL is completely free to download, install, and use. No licensing fees, subscription costs, or per-seat charges apply. The database is open source under the PostgreSQL License. Source: https://www.postgresql.org
SourceMicrosoft Edge: How long will Internet Explorer mode be supported?
Microsoft has committed to supporting IE mode in Edge through at least 2029. It is a migration window rather than a permanent home, since the underlying MSHTML engine gets security fixes but no new capability.
Postgres: Are there commercial PostgreSQL support options available?
Official PostgreSQL (the project) is free. Commercial PostgreSQL services such as hosting, professional support, training, and managed database services are offered by third-party vendors, not the PostgreSQL project itself. Source: https://www.postgresql.org
SourceMicrosoft Edge: Do Chrome extensions work?
Yes. Edge installs extensions from the Chrome Web Store as well as its own store. Manifest V3 restrictions apply identically, so extensions that Chrome no longer supports do not work here either.
Postgres: Do I need a license to use PostgreSQL commercially?
No. PostgreSQL is open source under the PostgreSQL License, which permits free commercial use without royalties, licensing fees, or support obligations. Source: https://www.postgresql.org
SourceMicrosoft Edge: Is it worth deploying if we are not a Microsoft 365 organisation?
Usually not for the management features, which depend on Entra ID, Intune and Purview. Without that stack it is Chromium with a different interface and additional Microsoft promotion.
Microsoft Edge: Does it run on Linux?
Yes, there are official Linux builds. Some Windows-specific features, including IE mode, are not available there.
Related pages
More on Microsoft Edge
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