14 DAY TRIAL // Google Chrome continues to be the number one desktop browser worldwide, according to figures provided by NetMarketShare, while Microsoft’s Edge, which is the new Windows 10 default, still has a hard time becoming a more powerful rival to third-party apps.
In March 2018, Google Chrome remained the leading browser with a share of 61.77%, which means that more than 6 in 10 PCs are actually running this browser and not the default one. With Windows obviously the top desktop operating system, it’s pretty clear that the majority of users replace Microsoft Edge with Google Chrome, and it’s no wonder why.
Microsoft Edge is still substantially behind its rivals in terms of features and third-party add-on support, and Redmond’s update system, which brings new improvements for the browser with the release of Windows 10 feature update, means users have to wait up to six months for new versions.
The Microsoft Edge struggle
This is one of the reasons Edge is currently the fourth browser in the charts, with a share of just 4.46%. Mozilla Firefox is the runner-up, but far behind Google Chrome, with just 10.52% share.
With 4.52% share, Microsoft Edge has nearly the same market share as Apple’s Safari, currently available at 4.14% and which is exclusively available on macOS systems.
Microsoft has often been criticized for its rather aggressive push for Edge browser, as the company turned to tactics like notifications displayed on the desktop to convince users to give it a try and not switch to Google Chrome.
But judging from these numbers, this strategy hasn’t worked and Google Chrome will be a tough nut to track, especially given its huge market share right now and the frequent updates that it receives.
The next major update for Microsoft Edge update will land this month with the release of the Windows 10 Spring Creators Update.