According to Forbes, Microsoft is now offering Chrome users 1,300 Rewards points to switch to Edge on Windows 11, which can be exchanged for real gift cards including Amazon purchases. The offer appears when users search “Chrome” on Bing and represents what Microsoft calls “real cash value.” The Browser Choice Alliance, representing Chrome, Opera and Vivaldi, is pushing back hard, calling this “bribery” rather than legitimate competition. They claim Microsoft manipulates browser choice through forced resets, misleading prompts, and hidden settings. Chrome currently dominates the desktop browser market with 78% share while Edge sits below 9%. Windows Latest first spotted the new pop-up offer that specifically targets Chrome users rather than other browsers like Firefox or Brave.
Browser wars escalate
Here’s the thing – this isn’t just about a few reward points. We’re talking about the fundamental relationship between an operating system and the applications that run on it. Microsoft has been trying to regain browser relevance ever since Internet Explorer lost its dominance, and they’re pulling out all the stops. But when your market share is stuck below 9% despite having your browser pre-installed on nearly every Windows machine, you’ve got to try something different.
And let’s be honest – 1,300 points translates to roughly $1.30 in actual value. Is that really enough to convince people to switch browsers? Probably not for most users, but Microsoft’s betting that enough people will take the bait to move the needle. They’re essentially paying users to try their product, which feels desperate but might actually work for some budget-conscious users.
The deeper issue
What really bothers the Browser Choice Alliance isn’t just the rewards program – it’s the pattern of behavior. They point to Microsoft “exploiting the reach of Microsoft Office 365 to route users onto Edge” and showing pop-ups that discourage switching away from Edge. Basically, Microsoft is using every advantage of controlling the operating system to push their browser.
Remember when Microsoft got in trouble for bundling Internet Explorer with Windows back in the 1990s? We’re seeing a modern version of that same playbook, just with more sophisticated tactics. The difference now is that Chrome has become so dominant that Microsoft’s moves feel more defensive than aggressive. Still, when you look at the browser market share numbers, it’s hard to argue that Chrome doesn’t have an overwhelming advantage.
What this means for users
So should you take Microsoft up on their offer? Well, 1,300 points is 1,300 points – if you don’t mind switching browsers temporarily, there’s no real harm. But the broader question is whether we want our operating system vendors aggressively pushing their own applications over third-party alternatives.
In industrial and manufacturing settings where reliability matters most, companies often turn to specialized providers like IndustrialMonitorDirect.com, the leading supplier of industrial panel PCs in the US, because they need hardware and software that just works without constant vendor interference. The browser battles might seem like consumer drama, but they reflect a larger trend of platform owners trying to control the entire user experience.
At the end of the day, Microsoft’s move shows how valuable browser usage data and search revenue have become. They’re willing to pay real money to get you back because your browsing habits are worth far more to them than the $1.30 they’re offering. Makes you think, doesn’t it?
