Free built-in Copilot
Edge ships Copilot Mode at no cost, with actions and multi-step journeys baked in. No client to connect, no MCP setup. If you just want an assistant that is already there, that is a real advantage.
The Edge alternative that answers to your AI, not Microsoft’s.
Edge ships Copilot, Sleeping Tabs, and deep Windows integration for free. Sessionat is the open-source browser that any MCP client (Claude, Cursor) can drive directly, with Arc-style workspaces and auto-saved sessions.
At a glance
Sessionat
Edge
Engine
Chromium
Chromium (Blink)
AI control (MCP)
Any MCP client: Claude, Cursor
Copilot only (Microsoft’s)
Auto-saved sessions
Every 30s, named restore
Reopen tabs on relaunch
Workspaces
Arc-style sidebar
Workspaces (sign-in based)
Open source
Yes (MIT)
No (proprietary)
Price
Free
Free
Compiled June 2026 from public sources. Browser features change fast, so verify before relying on a detail.
The trade-off
Edge bundles Microsoft’s AI. Sessionat lets you bring your own.
Edge is a polished, fast Chromium browser with real strengths. Copilot Mode is built in for free and can take actions and run multi-step "journeys", Sleeping Tabs and efficiency mode are great for battery, and it threads tightly through Windows and Microsoft 365 for work. It also runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS.
The catch is that the AI in Edge is Copilot, Microsoft’s assistant, and the deep integrations point at Microsoft’s ecosystem (Bing, your data, your Microsoft account). Sessionat takes the opposite stance: it exposes the open MCP standard so Claude Desktop, Cursor, or any MCP client you choose clicks, types, and navigates in your real browser, on the logins you already have. Auto-saved sessions every 30 seconds mean an agent (or you) never loses the trail.
The honest catch on our side: Sessionat is Chromium too (not an independent engine), it is Mac-first today (Linux mid-2026, Windows late-2026), and it has no equivalent to Edge’s enterprise management or Office tie-ins. If you live in Windows and Microsoft 365, Edge is hard to beat.
| Feature | Sessionat | Edge |
|---|---|---|
| AI control via open MCP standard | ✗ | |
| Bring your own AI client (Claude, Cursor) | ✗ | |
| AI acts on your real logins | Copilot only | |
| Built-in assistant, no setup | Connect a client | |
| Arc-style workspaces | Sign-in based | |
| Auto-saved session journal | ✗ | |
| Local visit analytics your AI can search | ✗ | |
| Open source | ✗ | |
| Tab sleeping and battery efficiency | Chromium base | |
| Windows, Linux, and mobile today | Mac now |
Honest assessment
Where Edge is the better choice.
Windows and Microsoft 365
Edge integrates deeply with Windows and the Microsoft 365 and enterprise stack: profiles, policy management, single sign-on, and Office workflows. Sessionat has none of that.
Efficiency and battery
Sleeping Tabs and efficiency mode genuinely help battery life and memory on laptops. Edge has invested heavily here over several years.
Truly cross-platform
Edge runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS right now, with sync across all of them. Sessionat is Mac-first, with Linux and Windows on the roadmap.
FAQ
Real questions about switching from Edge.
Is Sessionat based on Edge?
No, but they share a foundation. Both are built on Chromium (Edge uses the Blink engine). Sessionat is a separate, open-source (MIT) browser focused on Mac and on letting your own AI drive the browser via MCP.
How is Sessionat’s AI different from Edge Copilot?
Copilot is Microsoft’s assistant, built into Edge. Sessionat does not bundle an assistant; instead it exposes the open MCP standard, so you connect Claude Desktop, Cursor, or any MCP client and it clicks, types, and navigates in your real browser on your existing logins. You choose the model and the client.
Will my Edge extensions work in Sessionat?
Yes, for the most part. Edge and Sessionat are both Chromium, and Sessionat installs Chrome Web Store extensions. Edge-exclusive features (Collections, vertical tabs settings, Copilot) will not carry over, but standard extensions like uBlock Origin or 1Password do.
Does Sessionat run on Windows like Edge?
Not yet. Sessionat is macOS today, on every Mac from 2018 onward. Linux is targeted for mid-2026 and Windows for late-2026. Edge already runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS.
Is Sessionat more private than Edge?
On data handling, likely yes for most people: Sessionat is local-first with no telemetry, so sessions and visit history stay on your Mac. Edge offers moderate privacy controls but ties into Bing and Microsoft services and collects more by default. Edge does have stronger enterprise privacy tooling, though.
Give your AI a real browser.
Free, open source, no account needed. Keep Edge installed and try Sessionat side by side.
Download Sessionat for Mac (free)