Loading…
Environment
Arc
“The browser that truly rethinks the web interface: Spaces, sidebar, Boosts.”
From €0Try Arc
Quick summary
Ideal forDevelopers and creatives on macOS who juggle many projects and contexts
Use caseBrowsing organized into dedicated spaces (work, personal, project) with a smart sidebar
StrengthSpaces + Boosts = radical organization and customization without extensions
WeaknessUncertain future since The Browser Company's pivot in late 2024
Arc is the most innovative browser of the decade, despite a blurry future since the announced pivot to a new AI project.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Spaces: fully separated environments (work, personal, client) with their own sidebar
- Boosts: CSS/JS customization of any site without a third-party extension
- Tabs close automatically after 12h: the end of tab hoarding
- Universal command (Cmd+T): navigation, search, notes from a single shortcut
- Chromium-based: 100% compatible with Chrome extensions
Cons
- The Browser Company announced in late 2024 that Arc would no longer get major new features
- Only available on macOS and iOS (no viable Windows/Linux version)
- Cloud sync is mandatory: no 100% local option
- RAM: ~700 to 1200 MB depending on how many spaces are open
- Real learning curve during the first 2 weeks
Pricing
Arc
€0/month
- Multiple Spaces
- Sidebar with tabs and bookmarks
- Boosts (CSS/JS customization of sites)
- Built-in quick note
- Split view
- Universal command (Cmd+T)
- Compatible with all Chrome extensions
Everyone: there is no paid plan
Why Arc is in my stack
Before
Chrome, with 50+ tabs open at all times, and worse: my personal, freelance, nonprofit, gaming and work Google accounts all mixed in the same window. To switch between two contexts, I had to log out and back in or juggle Chrome profiles.
The problem
No way to separate one context from another. A client session next to a Steam tab, the nonprofit's admin dashboard next to my personal Gmail, and an overloaded tab bar that killed all focus. Chrome full-screen saved nothing because everything stayed stacked in the same place.
Why this tool won
I jumped on Arc during the beta thanks to the student program, drawn in by Spaces. Five spaces, one per context: personal admin, gaming, work, freelance business, and the GIGA Games nonprofit. Each Space has its own Google/Steam/admin accounts, its sidebar, its favorites. Instant switching between the five, full-screen per Space: a new era.
Concrete result
Never again a client session next to a Steam tab, or a personal Gmail next to the nonprofit's account. My accounts never cross, and the mental switch takes one keystroke.
How I use it day to day
Case #1 · Switching between my 5 Spaces
Context In a single day: personal admin, gaming, work, freelance business, GIGA Games nonprofit.
How Cmd+1..5 between Spaces. Each Space has its own Google/Steam/admin accounts, its sidebar, its pinned tabs. No logging out and in, no contamination.
Result My accounts never get mixed. Switching between contexts takes one keystroke instead of several minutes.
Case #2 · Customizing the SaaS I use
Context To hide useless sections in dashboards (Stripe, Coolify, Vercel) or bend a UI that annoys me.
How I create a Boost (CSS or JS) directly in Arc, no extension. A few CSS rules to hide a nav, change a color, add a shortcut.
Result My daily tools are tailored to me. A few seconds saved × dozens of times a day.
Case #3 · Split view for docs
Context When I code while reading docs (Next.js, Flutter, Stripe API).
How Docs on the left, terminal/code in IntelliJ on the right. Or two doc tabs side by side to compare.
Result No more repeated Cmd+Tab. My eyes stay on a single window.
Case #4 · Universal command (Cmd+T)
Context For everything: opening a tab, finding an existing tab, running a search, creating a note.
How Cmd+T then I type what I'm looking for. Arc figures out whether it's an already open tab, a favorite, a URL, or a search.
Result No more duplicate tabs. Everything is 2 keystrokes away.
Main features
Spaces
Separate browsing environments with their own sidebar, favorites and tabs
Separate work, personal and client projects without mixing tabs
Limit: No cross-device sync of Spaces on mobile
Boosts
Injects CSS or JavaScript on any site to modify it
Hide unwanted UI, change colors, add shortcuts on SaaS tools
Split View
Display two web pages side by side in the same window
Compare documentation, work with an editor and a preview at the same time
Quick note
Notepad available with 1 shortcut, linked to the browsing context
Take notes during a research session without leaving the browser
Comparison with the alternatives
Each alternative has its own page. See all comparisons.
Safari
Better at:Battery consumption, iCloud integration, Apple Silicon performance
Worse at:Tab organization, customization, developer tools
Safari for battery life. Arc for everyday productivity.
Chrome
Better at:Extension ecosystem, advanced DevTools, universal compatibility
Worse at:Organization, RAM usage (~30% more than Arc), design
Chrome for maximum compatibility. Arc for the daily experience.
Brave
Better at:Native privacy (built-in ad blocker), available on Windows/Linux/Android
Worse at:Organization, creative features, UX
Brave for privacy and cross-platform compatibility. Arc for productivity.
Compatibility
Frequently asked questions
Is Arc free?
Yes, entirely free. There is no paid plan.
Does Arc work on Windows?
A Windows version exists but has been sidelined since The Browser Company's pivot. Not recommended.
Will Arc disappear?
The Browser Company confirmed that Arc would remain available and maintained, but that new features would go to a future AI browser.
Is Arc secure?
It is based on Chromium. Sync goes through The Browser Company's servers: data is encrypted in transit.
Final verdict
Value for money: Excellent
“The best browser for productivity on macOS despite an uncertain future since The Browser Company's pivot.”
I recommend it toDevelopers and creatives on macOS who want a browser organized by project.
Not suited forWindows/Linux users, or anyone who wants a browser that is actively developed long term.