Yab vs Chrome

We make Yab, so read it as our side.facts checked Oct 9 ↓

Yab, 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.

Chrome is Google’s browser on every desktop and phone, with Gemini built in. Its auto browse agent works in your own signed-in Chrome on a paid Google AI plan, in the US and India.

The short answer

Pick Yabours
  • if you miss Arc and want spaces, pins and folders kept, on a Mac
  • if you already pay for Claude or ChatGPT and want it to work in your signed-in tabs
  • if you want Claude Code, Codex or Cursor to drive a real browser over MCP
Pick Chrome
  • if you live in Google’s apps and want Gemini across Gmail, Calendar and your tabs
  • if you pay for Google AI Pro and want an agent in your own signed-in browser
  • if you need the same browser on Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone and Android

At a glance

Yab and Chrome, side by side.

Yab vs Chrome
WhatYabGoogle Chrome
Made bySerafim KorablevGoogle
StatusUpdatedUpdated
Runs onMacMac, Windows, Linux, iPhone and Android
Phone appNot yetiPhone, iPad and Android; syncs tabs, bookmarks, passwords and history
PriceFree; its AI runs on your own Claude or ChatGPT planFree, with Gemini; its auto browse agent needs Google AI Pro $19.99/month or Ultra
AIAn agent that works in pages, on your Claude or ChatGPT planAn agent that works in pages, on its own AI service
Driven by outside agentsMCP and a command lineMCP and a command line
EngineWebKitChromium
Tabs down the sideYesA setting
SpacesYesNo
Split ViewYesYes
ExtensionsChrome Web StoreChrome Web Store
Ad blockerBuilt inNo
Open sourceNoNo

Checked October 9, 2026 on each maker’s own pages, linked under Sources. Prices are per month, in US dollars.

Where they differ

What separates them, area by area. Where one plainly has more, it says who; where it comes down to taste, it says so.

AIa matter of taste

Both have an agent that works in your pages. Yab’s agent works in tabs of its own beside yours, signed in as you, on your Claude or ChatGPT plan; Send, Pay and Delete wait for your yes. Gemini chats about your tabs and sums up pages and videos; auto browse clicks, types and fills forms in your own Chrome, on Google AI Pro or Ultra, in the US and India. Yab runs on the Claude or ChatGPT plan you already pay for; the other on its own AI.

Agents like Claude Code and Codexeven

Yab can be driven over MCP and a command line, through yab mcp and the yab command, for Claude Code, Codex, Cursor and any MCP client. Chrome can be driven over MCP and a command line, through Google’s Chrome DevTools MCP, which starts its own profile unless you let it attach to your Chrome.

Tabs and windowsYab leads

Yab has tabs down the side, spaces, Split View, folders in the sidebar and tabs that sleep. Chrome has tabs down the side as a setting, Split View, folders in the sidebar and tabs that sleep.

Priceeven

Yab: Free; its AI runs on your own Claude or ChatGPT plan. Chrome: Free, with Gemini; its auto browse agent needs Google AI Pro $19.99/month or Ultra.

Where it runsChrome leads

Yab runs on Mac. Chrome runs on Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone and Android. On a Mac, Yab needs macOS 15.4 or later and Chrome needs macOS 13 or later. Yab has no phone app yet. On the phone, Chrome: iPhone, iPad and Android; syncs tabs, bookmarks, passwords and history.

Engine and extensionsa matter of taste

Yab is built on WebKit, the engine Safari uses; Chrome on Chromium, as Chrome is. Both take extensions from the Chrome Web Store.

PrivacyYab leads

Yab has an ad blocker built in. Yab has no account and no server of ours between you and your sites; what your agent reads goes to Anthropic or OpenAI under your account. Chrome has no ad blocker of its own. Tabs you share with Gemini go to Google; with Keep Activity on, chats are kept 18 months by default and may be reviewed and used to train models.

Where Chrome is better

Chrome comes out ahead on where it runs. It is also the better pick if you:

  • Live in Google’s apps and want Gemini across Gmail, Calendar and your tabs
  • Pay for Google AI Pro and want an agent in your own signed-in browser
  • Need the same browser on Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone and Android

The catch with each

Real limits, from the makers’ own words and our own use.

Google Chrome

  • Auto browse needs Google AI Pro ($19.99 a month) or Ultra, in the US and India only
  • Gemini needs a signed-in Google account
  • With Keep Activity on, people may review your Gemini chats and Google may train on them
  • No ad blocker of its own

Yab, honestly

  • Mac only: macOS 15.4 or later, no Windows, iPhone or Android
  • New: first released in September 2026
  • Its AI needs a Claude or ChatGPT plan; ChatGPT’s free plan may work with low limits
  • WebKit, as in Safari: a site tested only in Chrome can misbehave
  • Closed source

What changed lately

  • September 25, 2026Yab: First release
  • April 7, 2026Chrome: Vertical tabs began rolling out as an option
  • February 19, 2026Chrome: Split view for two tabs in one window
  • January 28, 2026Chrome: Auto browse agent launched in preview for Google AI Pro and Ultra in the US

Moving from Chrome to Yab

Yab brings Chrome’s pinned and open tabs, passwords, cards, bookmarks, history, extensions and your sign-ins, from every profile. It reads Chrome’s files on your Mac; nothing goes through a server, and Chrome stays as it was.

Questions

Is Yab free?

Yes. Free; its AI runs on your own Claude or ChatGPT plan.

Is Google Chrome free?

Yes, with limits on its AI. Free, with Gemini; its auto browse agent needs Google AI Pro $19.99/month or Ultra.

Which has an AI agent, Yab or Chrome?

Both. Yab’s agent works in tabs of its own beside yours, signed in as you, on your Claude or ChatGPT plan; Send, Pay and Delete wait for your yes. Gemini chats about your tabs and sums up pages and videos; auto browse clicks, types and fills forms in your own Chrome, on Google AI Pro or Ultra, in the US and India.

Which runs on Windows, Yab or Chrome?

Chrome does. Yab runs on Mac.

Do Yab and Chrome have phone apps?

Chrome does. Yab has no phone app yet. On the phone, Chrome: iPhone, iPad and Android; syncs tabs, bookmarks, passwords and history.

Can I move from Chrome to Yab?

Yes. Yab brings Chrome’s pinned and open tabs, passwords, cards, bookmarks, history, extensions and your sign-ins, from every profile.

More comparisons

Yab, Yet Another Browser.

Free for the Mac. Arc’s sidebar, your own Claude or ChatGPT as the agent, Chrome extensions on WebKit.