Softwr

Technology · head to head

Microsoft Edge vs Storybook

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
Storybook logo

Storybook

Technology

Build component driven UIs faster

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.; Storybook requires JavaScript framework knowledge for full utilization
  • They diverge on capability: Microsoft Edge covers Internet Explorer mode, Storybook covers Component isolation.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Microsoft Edge and Storybook differ
AttributeMicrosoft EdgeStorybook
Pricing modelfreeUnknown
PlatformsWebWeb, React Native, iOS, Android, Flutter
FoundedUnknown2017

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 Storybook

  • Component isolation
  • Interactive development
  • Visual testing
  • Documentation generation
  • Accessibility testing
  • Interaction testing
  • Addons ecosystem
  • Hot module reloading

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

Storybook

  • Component developmentnot Microsoft Edge
  • Design system documentationnot Microsoft Edge
  • Visual regression testingnot Microsoft Edge
  • UI component showcasenot Microsoft Edge
  • Team collaborationnot 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.

Storybook

  • Requires JavaScript framework knowledge for full utilization
  • Limited native support for non-web platforms compared to specialized tools

Pricing, plan by plan

Microsoft Edge

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Microsoft Edge review.

Storybook

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Storybook review.

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 Storybook if

  • You need component isolation.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, React Native, iOS, Android, Flutter.
  • You also want interactive development.
Storybook review

Questions people ask

Is Microsoft Edge or Storybook better?
Neither clearly leads. Microsoft Edge starts at Free and Storybook at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Microsoft Edge or Storybook?
Microsoft Edge starts at Free and Storybook at Free.
Does Microsoft Edge or Storybook run on more platforms?
Microsoft Edge runs on Web. Storybook runs on Web, React Native, iOS, Android, Flutter.
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 Storybook is typically brought in for.
What can Microsoft Edge do that Storybook cannot?
Microsoft Edge covers Internet Explorer mode, Enterprise Mode Site List, Entra ID integration, Purview DLP for browsing. Storybook covers Component isolation, Interactive development, Visual testing, Documentation generation.

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.

Storybook: Is Storybook free and open source?

Yes, Storybook is completely free and open source with source code hosted on GitHub. It has 2,282 contributors and approximately 83.58 million monthly installations.

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.

Storybook: What frameworks does Storybook support?

Storybook integrates with React, Vue, Angular, Svelte, and has been extended to support React Native, Android, iOS, and Flutter for mobile development.

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.

Storybook: What are the main capabilities of Storybook?

Storybook enables component development in isolation, interaction testing, visual testing, documentation, and sharing components with designers and stakeholders.

Source
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.

Storybook: How is Storybook maintained?

Storybook is maintained by a community of 2,282 contributors. It originated from a startup called Kadira, was handed to the community in 2017, and has been community-driven since Storybook 3.0.

Source
Microsoft Edge: Does it run on Linux?

Yes, there are official Linux builds. Some Windows-specific features, including IE mode, are not available there.

Share

Related pages

More on Microsoft Edge

More on Storybook

Keep looking

Other head to heads