Arc alternatives.
Arc is The Browser Company’s Chromium browser for Mac and Windows that put tabs down the side, with spaces, folders and Split View. It has had no new features since May 2025; it still gets security fixes, and its makers point people to Dia.
No new features since May 2025; Chromium security updates still come, the latest on October 8, 2026. What Arc has that people look for elsewhere: tabs down the side, spaces, folders in the sidebar, Split View, AI chat about pages, Chrome extensions, a Windows version and a free price. Below, 7 browsers ranked by how much of that they keep, and Yab.
Arc alternatives, one by one
Yab
oursYab, Yet Another Browser, is a free Mac browser that keeps everything from Arc (tabs down the side, spaces, folders, Split View) and gives your Claude or ChatGPT plan an agent that works in your signed-in tabs.
Keeps: tabs down the side, spaces, folders in the sidebar, Split View, AI chat about pages, Chrome extensions and a free price. Misses: a Windows version.
Pick it if you miss Arc and want spaces, pins and folders kept, on a Mac. The catch: Mac only: macOS 15.4 or later, no Windows, iPhone or Android.
Dia
Dia is the AI browser The Browser Company builds now instead of Arc. It is Chromium-based, for Macs with Apple silicon and, since October 2026, Windows, and its AI chats with your tabs and the tools you connect.
Keeps: tabs down the side (as a setting), spaces, folders in the sidebar, Split View, AI chat about pages, Chrome extensions, a Windows version and a free price.
Pick it if you want the current browser from Arc’s makers, with Arc import and tabs down the side as a setting. The catch: AI costs $20 or $100 a month for new users; the free plan has none after a 14-day trial.
Zen Browser
Zen is a free, open-source browser built on Firefox that brings Arc’s layout, tabs down the side with spaces, folders and Split View, to Mac, Windows and Linux.
Keeps: tabs down the side, spaces, folders in the sidebar, Split View, a Windows version and a free price. Misses: AI chat about pages and Chrome extensions.
Pick it if you want Arc’s layout, free and open source. The catch: Releases are still labeled beta.
Vivaldi
Vivaldi is a Chromium browser with a setting for nearly everything, mail, calendar and feeds built in, a free Proton VPN and no AI by design, on every desktop and phone.
Keeps: tabs down the side (as a setting), spaces, folders in the sidebar, Split View, Chrome extensions, a Windows version and a free price. Misses: AI chat about pages.
Pick it if you want mail, calendar, feeds, notes and a VPN in the browser. The catch: No AI assistant or agent, by design.
Aside
Aside is an AI agent browser from a Y Combinator startup, on Chromium, for Mac and Windows. Its agent does multi-step work in the sites you are signed in to, on Aside’s own models or your ChatGPT or Claude plan.
Keeps: tabs down the side, spaces, folders in the sidebar, Split View, AI chat about pages, Chrome extensions, a Windows version and a free price.
Pick it if you want an agent for multi-step work across your signed-in sites, on Mac or Windows. The catch: The free plan has 500 AI credits a month; more is Pro at $20 or Max at $200.
SigmaOS
SigmaOS is a Mac browser on WebKit that treats tabs like a to-do list, in workspaces down the side, with an AI assistant called Airis.
Keeps: tabs down the side, spaces, Split View, AI chat about pages, Chrome extensions and a free price. Misses: folders in the sidebar and a Windows version.
Pick it if you want workspaces and tabs you mark done, on a Mac. The catch: Mac only.
Microsoft Edge
Edge is Microsoft’s Chromium browser on every desktop and phone, with Copilot built in. Since Copilot Mode was retired in May 2026, its agent, Browse with Copilot, comes with Microsoft 365 Premium in the US.
Keeps: tabs down the side (as a setting), spaces, folders in the sidebar, Split View, AI chat about pages, Chrome extensions, a Windows version and a free price.
Pick it if you use Microsoft 365 and want Copilot in the browser. The catch: Browse with Copilot needs Microsoft 365 Premium ($19.99 a month) and is US only.
Opera
Opera One is Opera’s free Chromium browser on every desktop and phone, with a free browser VPN, an ad blocker, messengers in the sidebar and Opera AI. Its agents are in a separate browser, Opera Neon.
Keeps: tabs down the side (as a setting), spaces, folders in the sidebar, Split View, AI chat about pages, Chrome extensions, a Windows version and a free price.
Pick it if you want a free browser VPN and an ad blocker built in. The catch: Opera AI only chats and sums up; agents need Opera Neon at $19.90 a month.
What each keeps of Arc
Arc has all of these. Which alternative has which.
| Browser | Tabs down the side | Spaces | Folders | Split View | AI chat | Chrome extensions | Windows | Free |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yab | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Dia | A setting | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Zen Browser | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Vivaldi | A setting | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Aside | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| SigmaOS | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Microsoft Edge | A setting | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Opera | A setting | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Questions
Is Arc still being updated?
No new features since May 2025; Chromium security updates still come, the latest on October 8, 2026.
What is the best Arc alternative?
It depends on what you used Arc for. For tabs down the side and spaces: Zen. For an AI agent: Aside. Free, on Windows too: Dia. On a Mac, Yab keeps the sidebar and adds an agent on your own Claude or ChatGPT plan; it is ours, so weigh that.
Is there a free alternative to Arc?
Yes. Free to use: Dia, Zen, Vivaldi, Aside, SigmaOS, Edge and Opera, and Yab. Some charge for their AI: see each one’s price above.
Which Arc alternatives run on Windows?
Dia, Zen, Vivaldi, Aside, Edge and Opera. Yab is Mac only.
Compared with Arc
- Arc home page (Chromium updates only, Mac and Windows downloads)
- Letter to Arc members, 2025-05-26
- Arc for macOS release notes
- Arc for Windows release notes
- Arc macOS update feed (minimum macOS 13.0; universal binary)
- Arc unsupported devices
- Arc Max help article
- Arc import help article
- Arc ad blocking and Manifest V3
- Arc saved passwords
- Why Arc needs an account
- Arc Spaces
- Arc Split View
- Arc Folders
- Arc Search for iOS and Android
- Arc Search on the App Store (1.48.0, 2026-08-12)
- Arc Search for Android release notes
- Arc privacy policy
- Atlassian completes acquisition of The Browser Company (Business Wire)
- Arc Help: Arc Sync (what syncs, not on Android)
- Google Play: Arc Search (updated Sep 1, 2026)
- Arc Help: Arc Search for iOS release notes (iPad layout, June 20, 2024)
- TidBITS: Arc Search iPhone app now syncs Arc sidebar tabs (2024-04-29)
- Yab Manual: Bringing in from another browser
- Yab Manual: Connecting Claude or ChatGPT
- Yab Manual: Extensions
- Yab Manual: Yab’s tools over MCP
- Yab Manual: Privacy
- Dia plans and pricing FAQ
- Dia home page (macOS and Windows, ad and tracker blocking)
- Dia changelog (Chromium M155, Windows 1.0, tab sleep, sidebar or top tabs, AppleScript, memory retired)
- Dia release notes 1.52.0 (Oct 8, 2026)
- Dia download FAQ (import from Chrome, Safari, Edge, Arc)
- Dia security (AI providers, retention, local storage)
- MacRumors: Dia generally available, macOS 14 and Apple silicon
- PiunikaWeb: Dia $20 and $100 plans (Aug 18, 2026)
- Dia home page: ’Available for macOS and Windows’
- PiunikaWeb: Dia ’iPhone Tabs’ menu spotted, no public app (2026-08-25)
- Zen home page
- Zen download page (macOS universal, Windows, Linux; beta)
- Zen 1.23.2b release (macOS universal dmg; Info.plist minimum 10.15)
- Zen 1.23.1b release (Firefox 157.0.1)
- Zen license (MPL-2.0)
- Zen AI preferences (all off)
- Zen welcome flow (Firefox import wizard)
- Firefox import from another browser
- Zen 1.15b release (folders)
- Zen 1.19b release (live folders)
- Zen 1.22b release (sync)
- Zen 1.12.9b release (tab unloader uses Firefox tab discarding)
- Zen FAQ (no mobile plans, donations)
- Zen Workspaces
- Zen Split View
- Zen Extensions (addons.mozilla.org)
- Zen Privacy and Security (Firefox password manager, tracking protection)
- Zen privacy policy
- Firefox 157 system requirements
- Vivaldi features
- Vivaldi download (macOS 13+, universal; Windows, Linux, Android, iOS)
- Vivaldi macOS update feed (8.2.4133.84, minimum 13.0)
- Vivaldi desktop releases
- Vivaldi 8.2 release
- Vivaldi 8.0 release
- Vivaldi 7.8 release (no AI)
- Proton VPN built into Vivaldi, 2025-03-27
- Proton VPN for Vivaldi help
- Vivaldi tracker and ad blocker
- Vivaldi Memory Saver (automatic tab hibernation)
- Vivaldi Workspaces
- Vivaldi Tab Tiling
- Vivaldi Tab Stacks
- Vivaldi Tab Bar position
- Vivaldi import and export
- Is Vivaldi open source?
- Vivaldi browser privacy policy
- Vivaldi Help: Sync browser data on iOS
- Vivaldi Help: Sync browser data on Android
- Vivaldi blog: Introducing Vivaldi on iOS (Sep 28, 2023)
- Vivaldi on the App Store (iPhone and iPad)
- Vivaldi on Google Play
- Aside home page
- Aside pricing
- Aside download page (macOS and Windows)
- Aside help: Get started (macOS 15 or later, import)
- Aside help: Manage your subscription
- Aside help: Configure AI providers
- Aside help: CLI, MCP and REPL
- Aside help: Browser basics (split tabs)
- Aside help: Password autofill and AI access policy
- Aside help: Privacy (analytics default on)
- Aside Browser changelog (Chromium, Windows, Memory Saver, imports, Intel fix)
- Aside components changelog (ad blocking, Sept 21 2026)
- Aside privacy policy (June 23 2026)
- Y Combinator company page
- Aside job listing: MTS, Mobile Engineer (iOS), build the iOS app from the ground up
- PiunikaWeb (Jul 20, 2026): Aside team member says a mobile app will ship soon
- SigmaOS home page
- SigmaOS upgrade (plans)
- SigmaOS download (macOS only)
- SigmaOS update feed (appcast)
- SigmaOS 1.19.0 update notes
- SigmaOS 1.17.0 update notes (password manager)
- SigmaOS common questions
- SigmaOS docs: ad blockers and WebKit+
- SigmaOS docs: migrating from Arc
- SigmaOS privacy policy
- TechCrunch: SigmaOS turns to AI features for monetization (2024-03-26)
- Launch HN (Aug 16, 2021): founder says iOS and iPadOS are on the roadmap
- Edge blog: new updates, Copilot Mode retired (2026-05-13)
- Microsoft Support: Browse with Copilot
- Edge policy: AllowBrowsingWithCopilot (macOS 148+)
- Microsoft Support: getting started with Copilot in Edge
- Copilot in Edge page (free limits, upgrade)
- Microsoft 365 plans compared (US prices)
- Edge supported operating systems
- Edge vertical tabs (Windows and macOS)
- Edge policy: SplitScreenEnabled (macOS 117+)
- Edge policy: SleepingTabsEnabled
- Microsoft Support: getting started with Edge Workspaces
- Microsoft Support: Collections retirement
- Edge Secure Network VPN
- Edge for Mac page (Secure Network, password management, sleeping tabs)
- Microsoft Support: Chrome extensions in Edge
- Microsoft Support: what’s imported to Edge (Chrome)
- Microsoft Support: import from Safari on macOS
- Microsoft Learn: Chrome DevTools MCP with Edge
- Playwright MCP (Microsoft, --browser msedge, --extension)
- Playwright CLI (Microsoft)
- Microsoft Support: Sign in to sync Microsoft Edge across devices
- Microsoft Learn: Configure Microsoft Edge enterprise sync
- Microsoft Edge on the App Store (iPhone and iPad)
- Microsoft Edge on Google Play
- Opera blog: Opera AI comes to Opera One, GX and Air
- Opera AI feature page
- Opera blog: Browser Connector
- Opera press: Browser Connector (2026-04-16)
- Opera blog: Opera 133 stable, vertical tabs (2026-07-23)
- Opera blog: how vertical tabs work
- Opera blog: Opera One R3
- Opera blog: new native ad blocker (2026-05-14)
- Opera free VPN page
- Opera Workspaces page (split screen, messengers)
- Opera Help: features (tab snoozing, messengers, workspaces)
- Opera Help: security and privacy (ad blocker, VPN)
- Opera Help: Password Manager
- Opera Help: import browsing data
- Opera Help FAQ: Chrome Web Store extensions
- Opera system requirements
- Opera Neon subscription
- Opera blog: Neon free plan for outside agents (2026-08-14)
- Opera blog: Opera One for iOS brings full synchronization (Jul 9, 2026)
- Opera: Sync your Opera browsers
- Opera: Flow / My Flow
- Opera Help (iOS): Connect your computer and phone with Flow
- Opera Browser with VPN on the App Store (iPhone and iPad)
- Opera: Private Web Browser on Google Play
Yab, Yet Another Browser.
Free for the Mac. Arc’s sidebar, your own Claude or ChatGPT as the agent, Chrome extensions on WebKit.