Helio Guard vs Microsoft Purview in Edge
Microsoft Purview can block sensitive text and files going to AI sites, inside Edge for Business, on Windows PCs managed by Intune. Helio Guard works in Chrome and Edge on any Windows PC, with or without Intune, and it can take the sensitive part out instead of blocking the whole message.
Most comparisons are written by one of the two companies, and that company wins. This one is too. So every claim about the other product links to its own pages, with the date we checked, and we list where Helio Guard falls short. Checked 6 October 2026.
Side by side
| What | Helio Guard | Microsoft Purview in Edge |
|---|---|---|
| Browser | Windows PCs, in Chrome and Edge | Edge for Business only 1 |
| PCs | A setup file on each PC, or one signed package through Helios, Intune, Group Policy or any RMM | Windows 10 and 11 managed by Intune, signed in with a work account, for AI sites the business does not manage 1 |
| Price | £1 a person a month, from 5 people. 14-day free trial, no card. Partner rates for IT providers. | Managed apps: in Microsoft 365 E5, £51.60 a user a month paid yearly 3. AI sites the business does not manage: $0.50 per 10,000 requests, pay-as-you-go 4. Microsoft is removing that requirement from late October 2026 5 |
| What it does with sensitive data | Takes it out, warns, stops it, or just records. Optionally, staff can send it anyway after picking a reason | Allow or block, and audit 1 |
| AI sites covered | ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Copilot, Perplexity, DeepSeek, Mistral, Grok, Poe, Meta AI and more | A list of 19, including ChatGPT, Gemini, DeepSeek, Grok, Meta AI and Perplexity 1 |
| Size limits | Files up to 20 MB, and PDFs up to 200 pages | Up to 4 MB of text and 3 MB files are checked 1 |
| Setting up | A setup file on each PC, or one signed package through Helios, Intune, Group Policy or any RMM | Purview policies, plus Intune and Edge management, with admin roles in each 1 |
| Your own clients' names | Your client list, scrambled before it is saved. A client's name becomes "Client A" for the AI and comes back when the answer is copied | Exact data match looks for your own records, scrambled before upload. A name counts only next to a number Purview already recognises, such as an ID number 2 |
Where Microsoft Purview in Edge is the better pick
If every PC is on Intune, everyone uses Edge, and you already pay for Microsoft 365 E5 with someone to run Purview, it keeps everything inside Microsoft 1. Helio Guard is for everyone else: Chrome as well as Edge, PCs with or without Intune, a published price, and set up in minutes.
What Helio Guard does differently
- Chrome too. Most staff use Chrome. Helio Guard works in Chrome and Edge.
- No Intune needed. Install it with a setup file, or through Helios, Intune, Group Policy or any RMM.
- Takes it out, not just blocks. A card number becomes a label and the question still goes. Client names become stand-ins.
- One price, no meters. £1 a person a month. No pay-as-you-go bill to estimate.
Where Helio Guard falls short
- Windows only for now. No Mac.
- Chrome and Edge only. Not Firefox, Brave or Safari.
- It does not yet switch off the AI built into browsers, such as Gemini in Chrome.
- It does not yet scan Microsoft 365 for AI apps that staff have given access to.
- It checks with fixed rules, not a language model. It is precise on the things it knows and does not guess.
- Scanned PDFs with no text in them have nothing to read, so they go through.
- It is new. It launched in 2026 and is in early access.
Common questions
Can Microsoft Purview stop staff pasting into ChatGPT?
Yes, in Edge for Business on Windows PCs managed by Intune, for the AI sites on Microsoft's list. Until late October 2026 that is billed pay-as-you-go, at $0.50 per 10,000 requests.
Do I need Microsoft 365 E5 for Helio Guard?
No. Helio Guard works with any Microsoft 365 plan, or none. It needs Windows and Chrome or Edge.
Sources
- Microsoft Learn: Data Loss Prevention for cloud apps in Edge for Business. Checked 6 October 2026.
- Microsoft Learn: exact data match sensitive information types. Checked 6 October 2026.
- Microsoft 365 E5, UK price. Checked 6 October 2026.
- Azure price list: Microsoft Purview In Transit Protection, $0.00005 a request. Checked 6 October 2026.
- Microsoft 365 message centre MC1470881 (public copy). Checked 6 October 2026.