If you have ever seen something while browsing and surprised what it was or where to get it, you are in the same boat like me. Thankfully, browser vision tools such as Google lens and Microsoft Copilot Vision in Chrome are to help here – but which is better?
Google Lens is built in Chrome and it is also available as smartphone app. By June 12, till 2025, the Copilot vision was equally limited to microsoft edge, only accessible through Copilot vision flagHowever, Microsoft’s Copilot vision update means that you can use its AI vision tool in Windows 10 and Windows 11, although it is limited to US-based users at the time of writing.
I run the same webpage through Google lens and Copilot vision, to compare how quickly and correctly identify objects and make useful suggestions. I used a blog post on shirt material and post a plant shared in a Facebook group. For blog posts, I focused on section on Oxford Cloth.
Both Google Lens and Copilot Vision immediately recognized objects, recognizing the plant as the Moringa plant; However, how they describe the Oxford shirt were variations. Google Lens described it as a nylon Black Oxford Fabric, while Copillot Vision called it Oxford shirt and fabric.
The real difference showed what he did next.
If you are trying to find or buy what you are looking at, then Google lens is more useful. This suggested similar items, offered clicking product links, and directed me to store and blog posts where I could learn more or shop. The layout made it easier to browse without leaving the page, with all the results that appear in a sidebar.
Copilot vision product does not provide suggestions or directs you to external sources. It recognizes what is on the page and you can answer any question about it. It was quite fun to learn about health benefits Moringa oleiferaAs is identified in Facebook posts. I asked if I could put it in my living room, and said, “Maybe not.” In that, the Copilot vision is very useful if you only want to understand something you are seeing, but not great if you are expecting to find or buy it.
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Imitation of text, translate and ask questions
Next, I tested both devices on the work -related tasks, such as copying, translating and asking follow -up questions. I used a dual-language German-English learning PDF and a scanned image of a back of my ID card to see how well each tool handle the text in different formats.
Google lens excels in extracting and translating texts from images and documents. I was able to copy the text from the image and immediately translated it to the sidebar, which if you are working with foreign language documents or want to grab a phone number, name or ID number, it is very good. You can also use the sidebar to detect search results, get quick definitions, or enter more keywords to search for related information. Everything is in the side panel, and it is easy to see what you are highlighting.
On the other hand, as an app, Copilot Vision, does not allow you to copy the text and only provides oral translation, which means that you cannot copy or note it as you can do with translations provided by Google lens. But this was surprisingly good in handling real -time conversation with the lesson. For example, when I opened up my ID image (which I intentionally showed upside down), I asked Copillot Vision to read what was on the page. This suggested it to rotate and zoom in. Once I did so, it read the text and even provided a German translation when I asked it.
Regarding the follow -up questions about the text on the page, Copilot Vision can provide you any explanation about what you are seeing. You have to ask your questions and receive orally answers (on-screen, through conjunctival reactions), though.
However, the update of Kopilot Vision on June 12 is likely to change all this. As MicrosoftThe Copilot vision now includes “highlights”, which I feel too much that the result page of Google lens, is docked on the right side of your screen. Highlights also take it one step forward, and can take the material useful from your apps, browsers and documents to the surface; Originally, anything on your PC that you share with Copilot Vision. Microsoft states that you will not have to indicate the Copilot vision to help – it will suggest relevant functions and files based on your activity.
Unfortunately, I have been unable to test it at the time of writing at the time of writing in the US.
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Which app provides better insight into webpage and PDF?
Copilot Vision was actually standing out when I tried to analyze full webpages. I tested both tools on a full PDF book and a YouTube video page, especially Mkbhd’s wwdc impressionTo see how well they can summarize and provide insight on broader materials.
The Google lens is mostly limited to the individual elements you click (text, object and image). Once you highlight something, it can show you more information or similar results, but it does not process the entire page or PDF. Therefore, I can only highlight the title of the book or cover page to achieve similar results.
Meanwhile, the Copilot vision is designed to explain everything on the page at once. This answered my question about the main point of the author, navigated in the major section, and even highlighted the relevant sentence (although it is likely to be due to large file size, to reduce the requests after this example and to reduce the requests).
Its performance sometimes lags behind with large files, but it is clearly designed to interact with whole pages and large content.
When I tested the video page, Copilot Vision briefly stated what MKBHD said and how the video was being received. Even these views and choice provide data. Conversely, I can only expose Mkbhd’s picture or video title with Google lens to search.
Google Lens vs. Copilot Vision: Which is the best for you?
Google lens and microsoft copilot vision are both powerful tools, but they fundamentally serve different objectives. Instead of being universally better, the right choice depends on how you use your browser vision tool.
Choose Google lens if you want:
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Immediately identify products, clothes, or plants and find out where to buy them
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Copy and translate the text directly from images, webpages or documents
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Use a clean, sidebar-based layout to browse links and definitions without leaving the page
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Get quick visual search results and google’s AI overview without much interaction
It is simple, straightforward and ideal to get quick answers about what you see while browsing.
If you want, choose Copilot Vision:
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Talk with complex documents, videos or full webpages
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Ask detailed follow -up questions about what you are reading or watching
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Combally, explain or discuss the text with a friendly AI chatbot
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Use a docated interface that provides more information based on what is on your screen (again, if you have recent updates)
Copilot vision does not just recognize what you are looking at. It wants to interact with you completely about it.
In terms of availability and access, the Google lens is independent and is integrated into chrome without perfectly use restrictions. On the other hand, Copilot vision, requires microsoft edge with competent features, and unless you consider upgrading to Copilot Pro, you will only be able to use some time per day.
For me, I find myself more often using Google lens, and this is what I choose the best. Most of the time, I just want to recognize something quickly and move forward, whether it is a product, a word, or an image. Google lens does this immediately without any friction. The fact that it is free to reach Chrome (and as a smartphone app), and no additional setup is required, it creates the most practical tool for everyday browsing. While Copilot Vision has its own strength, Google Lens wins due to its simplicity.

