Has Microsoft Edge just slipped up in the browser wars?

Burn baby burn
(Image credit: Future)

The battle for web browser supremacy continues to rumble on as Microsoft Edge and Firefox scrap for users across the world.

The latest global browser market share figures for August 2021 from Statcounter claim that Firefox has clawed back ground on its main rival, with its 3.55% share just behind Edge on 3.57%.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Google Chrome still leads the way with users across the world, taking 64.94% of the total market share, with Safari in second place on 18.75%.

Edge vs Firefox

The news marks the latest point in the tightly-fought battle between Mozilla and Microsoft as both scrap for market share.

Microsoft Edge finally overtook Firefox back in June 2021 after months of growth, but the gap between the two browsers has closed in recent weeks.

Safari, which dominates Apple's macOS devices, has seen a steady growth in recent months, perhaps aided by consumers and business workers alike upgrading their hardware and software ahead of a return to the office. The browser has now seen its market share increase for three months running.

Elsewhere, Opera rounded out the top five, taking 2.17% market share in August 2021, and Internet Explorer's grim decline continued - although Statcounter found that 0.58% of users are still using the now incredibly outdated browser.

Microsoft will now be hoping to pull away from Firefox as 2021 continues, with the launch of Windows 11 in October possibly set to send usage of Edge (which will ship as the pre-installed browser on the platform) to greater numbers than ever before.

The browser is set to get a major makeover for the launch of Windows 11, with a redesigned interface bringing it into line with the new software's stripped-back design.

Microsoft has also given Edge a host of upgrades for the browser, including a secure password generator, in-built price comparison toolvertical tab bar and more.

Mike Moore
Deputy Editor, TechRadar Pro

Mike Moore is Deputy Editor at TechRadar Pro. He has worked as a B2B and B2C tech journalist for nearly a decade, including at one of the UK's leading national newspapers and fellow Future title ITProPortal, and when he's not keeping track of all the latest enterprise and workplace trends, can most likely be found watching, following or taking part in some kind of sport.

Read more
Google Chrome with Christmas theme in Windows 11
I've used Edge, Firefox, and Opera, and yet after ten years in tech journalism, I still come back to Chrome
Woman using credit card whilst sitting at a desk with a laptop and mobile phone in view
Best web browser of 2025
A laptop screen showing the new ChatGPT-powered Bing search engine
Microsoft claims Edge had a great year, boasts soaring browser user numbers
Browser
The future of mobile browsers: time for a new model?
Woman using a Windows computer with Microsoft Edge
Microsoft’s Project Phoenix could make Edge look better than ever in Windows 11 – but I’m not sure it’s enough to take the fight to Google Chrome
Woman using a Windows computer with Microsoft Edge
Microsoft gets rid of ‘Edge uninstall’ advice page after facing criticism over it having nothing to do with removing the app, and just promoting the browser instead
Latest in Software & Services
TinEye website
I like this reverse image search service the most
A person in a wheelchair working at a computer.
Here’s a free way to find long lost relatives and friends
A white woman with long brown hair in a ponytail looks down at her computer in a distressed manner. She is holding her forehead with one hand and a credit card with the other
This people search finder covers all the bases, but it's not perfect
That's Them home page
Is That's Them worth it? My honest review
woman listening to computer
AWS vs Azure: choosing the right platform to maximize your company's investment
A person at a desktop computer working on spreadsheet tables.
Trello vs Jira: which project management solution is best for you?
Latest in News
Nintendo Switch 2 Joy-Con up-close from app store
Nintendo's new app gave us another look at the Switch 2, and there's something different with the Joy-Con
cheap Nintendo Switch game deals sales
Nintendo didn't anticipate that Mario Kart 8 Deluxe was 'going to be the juggernaut' for the Nintendo Switch when it was ported to the console, according to former employees
Three angles of the Apple MacBook Air 15-inch M4 laptop above a desk
Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) review roundup – should you buy Apple's new lightweight laptop?
Witchbrook
Witchbrook, the life-sim I've been waiting years for, finally has a release window and it's sooner than you think
Amazon Echo Smart Speaker
Amazon is experimenting with renaming Echo speakers to Alexa speakers, and it's about time
Shigeru Miyamoto presents Nintendo Today app
Nintendo Today smartphone app is out now on iOS and Android devices – and here's what it does