Microsoft has quietly begun dangling tangible rewards in front of Windows 11 users as part of a new push to keep people inside its browser and search ecosystem: a promotional Bing card promising
up to 1,300 Microsoft Rewards points for trying Microsoft Edge, redeemable for gift cards, subscriptions or charitable donations.
Background
Microsoft’s marketing experiments around Edge and Bing have been escalating for years. Once a quiet attempt to nudge users toward Microsoft’s built-in browser, the effort now mixes product messaging, loyalty incentives and targeted promo cards surfaced inside Bing search results — sometimes at the moment a user searches for a competing browser such as Chrome. Those promotional units vary (comparison checklists, “try Edge” CTAs, or rewards-backed offers) and appear to be
A/B tested and regionally targeted rather than universally deployed.
Why this matters: web browser choice remains a core battleground. Google Chrome dominates the landscape, while Edge struggles to gain share despite being the Windows default and sharing Chromium code with Chrome. Market-share figures differ by measurement method and timeframe, but independent trackers show Chrome holding a large lead while Edge accounts for a single-digit to low-double-digit share depending on the dataset. For example, StatCounter’s desktop figures in mid‑2025 put Chrome well ahead and Edge in the low double digits, while some alternative datasets show Edge under 10% on desktop; market-share claims that place Chrome above 78% and Edge below 9% are
source-dependent and may not be accurate across all metrics or regions.
What Microsoft is offering — the mechanics of the ad and the reward
How the offer appears
- The promotional card is surfaced within Bing search results when users search for terms like “Chrome” or “download Chrome.”
- The card can be a media‑rich unit with a prominent headline, a side‑by‑side checklist comparing Edge and Chrome, and a clear call-to-action: “Try Microsoft Edge.”
- In at least one documented instance, the card explicitly states the reward: “Earn 1,300 Microsoft Rewards points by trying Edge.” The same card highlights redemption options, including gift cards and donation opportunities.
What 1,300 Microsoft Rewards points buy
Microsoft Rewards points are not cash, but they are redeemable for a variety of digital goods and benefits:
- Retail and digital gift cards (Amazon, Microsoft store credit, gaming platforms).
- Subscriptions (limited-time offers for services like Spotify or Xbox Game Pass when available regionally).
- In-game currency or digital items (Roblox/Robux bundles have appeared historically in the Rewards catalogue, though inventory and point requirements vary significantly by region).
- Donations to registered non‑profits (Microsoft’s redemption portal lists charity redemption options).
Crucially, redemption values fluctuate by region and availability. Community and forum reporting repeatedly show that popular gift cards can go in and out of stock and that the point-to-value conversion changes across markets. That makes a fixed-point figure (e.g., 1,300 points) both
tangible and
limited in purchasing power — useful for small digital redemptions, but unlikely to buy a high-value item on its own.
Other redemption uses cited in the promotion
- Microsoft’s promotional card suggests users could donate points to one of “over 2 million nonprofits,” or — more practically relevant to Windows users — redeem points to enroll in Microsoft’s Extended Security Updates (ESU) or otherwise extend Windows 10 consumer support through a Rewards redemption path where available. The ESU-for-points option (1,000 points to enroll) has been discussed in consumer-facing reporting and community forums as part of Microsoft’s consumer ESU rollout.
Context: why Microsoft is doing this
Competition for user attention is fierce
Google Chrome’s broad install base and established ecosystem make it the default choice for many users. Microsoft’s commercial reality is straightforward: keeping users in Microsoft Search and Microsoft Edge preserves ad revenue, data signals, platform leverage and a path to upsell bundled features (copilot integrations, WebUI capabilities, Defender overlaps). Buying or incentivizing trial usage is an extension of classic distribution tactics — only now it uses loyalty points and in‑product promotional real estate.
Product and ecosystem goals
- Drive Edge trial and retention metrics by reducing the friction to try a new browser.
- Reinforce Microsoft Rewards engagement, increasing searches and Edge sessions that generate ongoing user behavior signals.
- Build narrative around Edge advantages (security features, integrated AI personalization, built-in privacy/secure network tools) while making the comparison visually simple and repetitive for users who encounter it frequently.
Independent verification and data points
To evaluate the claims and put them in perspective, these independent data points matter:
- StatCounter’s June 2025 desktop metrics show Chrome retaining a dominant share on desktop while Edge claims a mid‑single to low‑double-digit share depending on the time window used. These numbers vary by region and measurement method.
- Cloudflare Radar and other telemetry systems report differing shares (Cloudflare measures traffic differently), highlighting that browser “market share” is not a single fixed number and depends heavily on the dataset, geography, and measurement methodology. Claims that peg Chrome at more than 78% and Edge below 9% should therefore be treated as snapshot-specific, not universal truth.
- WindowsLatest reproduced screenshots and reported the 1,300‑point reward card; community reproductions and forum reports corroborate its presence in at least some accounts and regions. Microsoft’s Rewards redemption catalog confirms the product types listed in the card — gift cards, subscription redemptions and charity donations — are real options, though availability is dynamic.
- Microsoft’s consumer ESU program — introduced as a way to offer one more year of security patches for Windows 10 devices — included enrollment paths that mention a Rewards redemption option for consumers. Reporting from specialist outlets and community forums documents a 1,000‑point redemption option as part of the consumer ESU enrollment choices. This explains the promotional card’s reference to using points for Windows support.
Critical analysis: strengths of this approach
1) Immediate incentive moves behavior
A targeted, high‑visibility reward (1,300 points) is a palpable nudge. For users on the fence about switching browsers, a concrete, redeemable benefit is more persuasive than a feature comparison. Behavioral economics shows that immediate, tangible rewards often outrank abstract claims about security or privacy when it comes to first‑time adoption.
2) Leverages owned channels and loyalty loops
Microsoft controls the display inventory of Bing and Edge and can orchestrate an integrated funnel: search → promotional card → Edge trial → Rewards accrual → redemption. This closed-loop approach tightens the funnel and makes conversions measurable.
3) Low cash cost, potentially high impact
The monetary equivalent of 1,300 Microsoft Rewards points is small compared to direct ad buys or cash incentives. But because the promotion is tightly targeted and surfaced at key decision moments, the ROI — measured by increased Edge installs or daily active use — could be favorable.
Risks and downsides
1) Regulatory and competition scrutiny
Microsoft’s use of owned channels to promote its own browser — especially with incentives tied to switching decisions — risks regulatory attention. Rival browsers and regulators have previously complained about Microsoft’s distribution practices; complaints are ongoing in multiple jurisdictions and have led to antitrust probes in the past. The tactic may amplify those concerns and provoke fresh inquiries.
2) Reputation and user backlash
Many Windows users report fatigue over repeated prompts and “dark pattern” nudges. Aggressive push tactics that feel like coercion — even with a reward — can erode trust and build resentment. That risk is amplified when users discover the reward has limited real‑world value or is regionally restricted.
3) Reward economics and perception
While 1,300 points is a concrete offer, the actual purchasing power is uneven. Redemption availability can be limited by stock, region, or changing catalogue prices; certain popular redemptions (Amazon gift cards, high-value game credits) may be temporarily unavailable. Users who feel misled by promotional fine print may view the offer as bait‑and‑switch.
4) Anti‑competitive optics
If the promotional units are accessible only to Microsoft’s own products (as some reporting suggests), the move crosses from marketing into platform power — a grey area regulators and competitors monitor closely. The plain‑spoken question: should a platform owner be allowed to use system-level prime real estate to favor its own apps? The answer is increasingly contested in multiple jurisdictions.
What this means for Windows users
Practical takeaways
- If you encounter the promotional Bing card and want the reward, check the Rewards catalogue in your region to confirm the redemption options before taking any steps. Reward availability and point‑to‑value conversions vary by country and can change quickly.
- Microsoft Rewards points cannot be cashed out — they are best used as a form of store credit, gift card redemption or donations.
- The offer may be regionally targeted and intermittent. If you don’t see the card, you may be outside the test cohort or in a market where the promotion is not active.
Security and privacy considerations
- Trying Edge to earn points requires downloading and using the browser; this is a low‑risk action technically, but any change in default browser and search behavior can affect data flows and the telemetry associated with your activity.
- Be mindful of sign-in and account linkages: Microsoft Rewards and ESU enrollment often require a Microsoft account, which also ties back to cloud backups and account‑bound services that may alter your privacy posture.
The competitive landscape: is this a turning point?
This rewards push is tactical rather than transformative. Microsoft is not attempting to make Edge materially different at a technology level solely through this promotion; it’s using incentives to reduce the cost of trial and the friction of switching. The substance of browser choice still rests on performance, extension compatibility, privacy guarantees and ecosystem lock‑ins.
However, the browser wars are evolving: a new wave of AI‑centric browsers and search experiences — often tightly integrated with their own large language models and agents — threatens to rewrite what “browser” even means. Microsoft’s short‑term play to nudge users with Rewards looks like a defensive move to preserve usage while it builds the deeper, strategic work of AI integrations (Copilot, Gemini-competitors, WebUI improvements) into Edge and Windows. Expect future tactics to foreground AI differentiators more than gift-card carrots.
Regulatory outlook and what to watch
- Complaints from rival browser vendors or industry groups: these could trigger fresh antitrust inquiries, especially if promotional units are shown to exclude third‑party advertisers from similar in‑product placements.
- Regional differences in enforcement: the EU and Brazil have both shown interest in Microsoft’s bundling and default behaviors; local rules (Digital Markets Act, national antitrust authorities) will shape whether Microsoft can run these tests broadly.
- Platform‑level remedies: regulators could demand clearer opt‑outs, more neutral presentation of competing browsers, or limit the use of account‑tied incentives for core system components.
How to respond as an informed user
- If you value choice, verify download sources: always get Chrome (or other browsers) from the official vendor pages rather than relying on a search result snapshot that may include promoted cards.
- Check Microsoft Rewards redemption lists before assuming a points offer buys a given item. Popular gift cards can be out of stock; smaller redemptions often remain the reliable option.
- If you’re worried about privacy or account linking, consider installing an alternative browser and setting your preferred search engine explicitly in both Windows and the browser settings.
Conclusion
Microsoft’s new Rewards-backed Bing cards are a clear escalation: a low-cost, high-visibility nudge designed to convert curiosity into trial and to funnel more attention into Edge and Bing. The offer — which in some instances promises 1,300 Microsoft Rewards points for trying Edge — is real in at least some markets and is backed by Microsoft Rewards redemption mechanics that allow points to be swapped for gift cards, subscriptions, or donations. But the campaign sits at the intersection of marketing effectiveness and platform power. It will probably move some users temporarily, and it may help Edge look healthier in short-term telemetry. At the same time, it raises questions about fairness, transparency and regulatory exposure — and the actual monetary value of the rewards is modest and subject to regional inventory constraints.
For Windows users, the sensible approach is pragmatic: if a short-term reward is appealing and the redemptions suit your needs, the offer is worth considering. If you care primarily about long-term control, privacy and neutrality, treat the promotion as exactly what it is — a strategic nudge from an ecosystem owner with a lot to gain by keeping you inside its products.
Source: Forbes
Free Gift Cards—Microsoft Confirms New Offer For Windows Users