Last updated: 2026-07-01
Arc Browser is a Chromium-based desktop browser from The Browser Company that replaces the tab bar with a vertical sidebar, grouping tabs, bookmarks, and apps into separate Spaces. Boosts let users restyle any site's colors, fonts, and layout with custom CSS, HTML, and JavaScript, and Easel adds a built-in whiteboard for collecting screenshots and notes while browsing.
About Arc Browser
Arc is a Chromium browser built by The Browser Company, founded in 2019 and acquired by Atlassian for $610 million in September 2025. It replaces the traditional tab bar with a vertical sidebar that groups tabs, bookmarks, and apps into Spaces, keeping work, personal browsing, and side projects in separate views without a second window. Built-in tools include Easel (a whiteboarding canvas), Boosts (per-site CSS, HTML, and JavaScript overrides), and Instant Links for jumping straight to URLs. Privacy is on by default, with no ad tracking. In May 2025, The Browser Company put Arc into maintenance mode to focus on Dia, its newer AI-native browser. Arc still receives security and Chromium updates, but no new features are in active development. It runs on Mac and Windows, with Arc Search as a companion app on iOS and Android.
Pricing
Arc is completely free. No premium tiers or subscription required. The Browser Company plans future monetization through premium and team features, but core Arc remains free indefinitely.
Key Features
- Sidebar Navigation: All browser controls consolidated in a vertical left sidebar, freeing up screen space for content and enabling side-by-side viewing of multiple websites
- Spaces & Profiles: Organize tabs into distinct workspaces for different contexts (work, study, hobbies) with customizable themes and separate browser profiles for different identities
- Split View: View up to four tabs simultaneously in split-screen mode, enabling advanced multitasking without opening multiple windows
- Boosts: Customize how you see any website using CSS, HTML, and JavaScript; change colors, fonts, remove sections, and share your modifications with others
- Easel: Built-in whiteboarding tool for collecting screenshots, URLs, drawings, and text to brainstorm and organize ideas while browsing
- AI Features (Arc Max): AI-powered tools including 5-second link previews, automatic tab tidying, smart download renaming, and ChatGPT integration via Command Bar
Pros
- Distinctive vertical sidebar design that maximizes screen space and reduces tab clutter
- Organization tools built around Spaces, Profiles, and Split View support real multitasking
- Privacy-first architecture with no tracking of visited sites or search queries
- Highly customizable interface with themes, Boosts, and extensive personalization options
- Built-in creative tools like Easel for collaborative brainstorming and annotation
Cons
- Steep learning curve due to an unconventional UI paradigm different from traditional browsers
- Auto-archiving of tabs after inactivity (maximum 30 days) may frustrate users who keep tabs long-term
- Limited mainstream adoption means fewer resources and a smaller community compared to Chrome or Safari
- In maintenance mode since The Browser Company shifted focus to Dia, so no new features are being actively developed
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Arc Browser cost in 2026?
Arc costs nothing: there is no paid tier, subscription, or usage cap. The Browser Company has said future revenue may come from team or premium features later, but ordinary use of Arc is expected to stay free.
Does Arc Browser track my browsing?
No. Privacy is on by default, so Arc does not log which sites you visit or what you search for the way ad-supported browsers do. This applies to every user automatically; there is no separate privacy tier to opt into.
What are the best alternatives to Arc Browser?
The main hokai-listed alternative is Google Disco, Google Labs' experimental Chromium browser that turns open tabs into no-code GenTabs mini apps using Gemini 3, though it remains a closed macOS-only beta. Outside hokai, mainstream Chromium browsers like Chrome and Edge offer a conventional tab bar instead of Arc's sidebar and Spaces model.
How does Arc Browser compare to Google Disco in 2026?
Arc is a stable, free browser now in maintenance mode, while Google Disco is Google Labs' actively developed but closed macOS-only beta built around turning tabs into Gemini-generated GenTabs mini apps. Pick Arc for a cross-platform browser you can use today; pick Google Disco only if you have macOS beta access and want Gemini-driven tab automation.
How do you get started with Arc Browser?
Download Arc from arc.net for Mac or Windows and sign in to get started; iOS and Android users can install the companion Arc Search app instead. The sidebar, Spaces, Boosts, and Easel are all available immediately after setup, with no separate onboarding steps.
Top Alternatives
- Google Disco: Pick Arc for a free, stable sidebar browser on Mac and Windows today; pick Google Disco for its closed-beta, Gemini-powered GenTabs experiment on macOS.