Technology · head to head
Microsoft Edge vs Vim
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
- -
Vim
Technology
Highly configurable text editor built to enable efficient text editing
- 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.; Vim configuration system uses keyboard mappings with no graphical interface for settings
- They diverge on capability: Microsoft Edge covers Internet Explorer mode, Vim covers Modal editing.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Microsoft Edge and Vim actually diverge.
| Attribute | Microsoft Edge | Vim |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Web | Linux, Unix, macOS, Windows |
| Founded | Unknown | 1988 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (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 Vim
- Modal editing
- Extensive customization
- Plugin support
- Macro recording
- Split windows
- Syntax highlighting
- Search and replace
- Command history
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 Vim
- Microsoft 365 organisations that want browser sessions covered by Purview DLP and conditional access without a separate secure browser productnot Vim
- Fleets managed through Intune that need one browser configured by the same console as the rest of the desktopnot Vim
- Users who work with many tabs at once and want vertical tabs and automatic tab suspension without installing extensionsnot Vim
Vim
- Code editingnot Microsoft Edge
- Configuration filesnot Microsoft Edge
- System administrationnot Microsoft Edge
- Remote editingnot Microsoft Edge
- Terminal-based developmentnot 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.
Vim
- Configuration system uses keyboard mappings with no graphical interface for settings
- Requires browsing documentation to modify even basic settings
- Lacks sensible defaults for many common configurations
- Plugin ecosystem stability varies widely depending on custom configuration complexity
Pricing, plan by plan
Microsoft Edge
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Microsoft Edge review.
Vim
Free- FreeFree
- Powerful text editing
- Extensive customization
- Plugin ecosystem
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 Vim if
- You need modal editing.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Linux, Unix, macOS, Windows.
- You also want extensive customization.
Questions people ask
- Is Microsoft Edge or Vim better?
- Neither clearly leads. Microsoft Edge starts at Free and Vim at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Microsoft Edge or Vim?
- Microsoft Edge starts at Free and Vim at Free.
- Does Microsoft Edge or Vim run on more platforms?
- Microsoft Edge runs on Web. Vim runs on Linux, Unix, macOS, Windows.
- 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 Vim is typically brought in for.
- What can Microsoft Edge do that Vim cannot?
- Microsoft Edge covers Internet Explorer mode, Enterprise Mode Site List, Entra ID integration, Purview DLP for browsing. Vim covers Modal editing, Extensive customization, Plugin support, Macro recording.
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.
Vim: Is Vim free and open source?
Yes, Vim is free and open source, distributed under a charityware license. The creator requested donations to ICCF Holland, a non-profit supporting AIDS victims in Uganda. All donations are forwarded to ICCF.
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.
Vim: What platforms does Vim support?
Vim runs on Unix-like systems (Linux, macOS, BSD), Windows (7, 8, 10, 11), VMS, and is available through package managers or standalone installation on all major operating systems.
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.
Vim: Who maintains Vim now?
Vim was created by Bram Moolenaar, who passed away on August 3, 2023. Christian Brabandt is the current lead maintainer, and the project continues with volunteer contributors.
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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