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Technology · head to head

Microsoft Edge vs PyCharm

Microsoft Edge logo

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
-
Full reviewWebsite
PyCharm logo

PyCharm

Technology

The IDE for Professional Python Development

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

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.; PyCharm exact pricing for Pro edition not available on homepage
  • They diverge on capability: Microsoft Edge covers Internet Explorer mode, PyCharm covers Intelligent code editor.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Microsoft Edge and PyCharm actually diverge.

Attributes where Microsoft Edge and PyCharm differ
AttributeMicrosoft EdgePyCharm
Pricing modelfreesubscription
PlatformsWebWindows, Macos, Linux
FoundedUnknown2010

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 PyCharm

  • Intelligent code editor
  • Smart code navigation
  • Fast and safe refactorings
  • Debugging and testing
  • VCS integration
  • Scientific development tools
  • Web development support
  • Database tools

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 PyCharm
  • Microsoft 365 organisations that want browser sessions covered by Purview DLP and conditional access without a separate secure browser productnot PyCharm
  • Fleets managed through Intune that need one browser configured by the same console as the rest of the desktopnot PyCharm
  • Users who work with many tabs at once and want vertical tabs and automatic tab suspension without installing extensionsnot PyCharm

PyCharm

  • Python developmentnot Microsoft Edge
  • Data science projectsnot Microsoft Edge
  • Web developmentnot Microsoft Edge
  • Machine learningnot Microsoft Edge
  • Scientific computingnot 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.

PyCharm

  • Exact pricing for Pro edition not available on homepage
  • Community edition free but limited to open-source projects only
  • Professional edition pricing requires visiting buy page

Pricing, plan by plan

Microsoft Edge

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Microsoft Edge review.

PyCharm

Free
  • CommunityFree
    • Intelligent Python editor
    • Graphical debugger and test runner
    • Navigation and refactoring
  • Professional$24.9/month
    • Everything in Community
    • Web development frameworks
    • Database tools

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.
Microsoft Edge review

Choose PyCharm if

  • You need intelligent code editor.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Linux.
  • You also want smart code navigation.
PyCharm review

Questions people ask

Is Microsoft Edge or PyCharm better?
Neither clearly leads. Microsoft Edge starts at Free and PyCharm at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Microsoft Edge or PyCharm?
Microsoft Edge starts at Free and PyCharm at Free.
Does Microsoft Edge or PyCharm run on more platforms?
Microsoft Edge runs on Web. PyCharm runs on Windows, Macos, Linux.
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 PyCharm is typically brought in for.
What can Microsoft Edge do that PyCharm cannot?
Microsoft Edge covers Internet Explorer mode, Enterprise Mode Site List, Entra ID integration, Purview DLP for browsing. PyCharm covers Intelligent code editor, Smart code navigation, Fast and safe refactorings, Debugging and testing.

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.

PyCharm: How much does PyCharm cost?

PyCharm offers a free Community edition plus a Professional edition with a one-month free trial of Pro features included. Exact Pro pricing is available on JetBrains' buy page.

Source
Microsoft 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.

PyCharm: Is there a free version of PyCharm?

Yes, PyCharm Community Edition is completely free. All new downloads also include one month of PyCharm Professional included free.

Source
Microsoft 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.

Microsoft 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.

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