Yes, this really is free money from Microsoft. What to know.

Microsoft has launched a new rewards program offering Chrome users “real cash value” points to switch to Edge browser[1]. When users search for “Chrome” on Bing, they receive a prompt offering 1,300 Microsoft Rewards points that can be exchanged for gift cards, including on Amazon[1:1].

The Browser Choice Alliance, representing Chrome, Opera and Vivaldi, criticizes this as Microsoft’s latest tactic to manipulate browser choice, following earlier practices like “forced resets, misleading prompts, and hidden settings”[1:2].

The market context shows why Microsoft is pursuing this strategy - Edge holds less than 9% market share compared to Chrome’s 78%[1:3]. The rewards program appears targeted specifically at Chrome users, with Windows Latest noting “we’re not seeing ads for other browsers, such as Opera, Firefox or Brave”[1:4].

  1. Forbes - Microsoft Offers Chrome Users ‘Real Cash’ Rewards To Change Browser ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  • Grimy@lemmy.world
    12·
    4 hours ago

    Quick google search tells me that is about a buck fifty.

    Maybe if they paid me that for every minute I use their browser, I would give in.