Environment · €0
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Arc
The browser that truly rethinks the web interface: Spaces, sidebar, Boosts.
- Category
- Environment
- Pricing
- €0 · Free
- My rating
- 4.7 out of 5
In short
Arc is the most innovative browser of the decade, despite a blurry future since the announced pivot to a new AI project.
- Ideal for
- Developers and creatives on macOS who juggle many projects and contexts
- Use case
- Browsing organized into dedicated spaces (work, personal, project) with a smart sidebar
Why I use it
- 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 every day
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.
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.
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.
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.
What it costs
Entry price: €0. Prices taken from the official site, excluding tax.
| Plan | Per month | Per year | For whom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arc | €0 | – | Everyone: there is no paid plan |
Alternatives I ruled out
| Alternative | Why I did not keep it |
|---|---|
| Safari | Safari for battery life. Arc for everyday productivity. Better at: Battery consumption, iCloud integration, Apple Silicon performance Worse at: Tab organization, customization, developer tools |
| Chrome | Chrome for maximum compatibility. Arc for the daily experience. Better at: Extension ecosystem, advanced DevTools, universal compatibility Worse at: Organization, RAM usage (~30% more than Arc), design |
| Brave | Brave for privacy and cross-platform compatibility. Arc for productivity. Better at: Native privacy (built-in ad blocker), available on Windows/Linux/Android Worse at: Organization, creative features, UX |
Strengths and limits
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
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
Compatibility
- macOS : compatible
- Windows : not compatible
- Linux : not compatible
- iOS : compatible
- Android : not compatible
- Browser : not compatible
- Chrome ext. : compatible
- API : not compatible
- n8n : not compatible
- Zapier : not compatible
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
The best browser for productivity on macOS despite an uncertain future since The Browser Company's pivot.
- I recommend it to
- Developers and creatives on macOS who want a browser organized by project.
- Not suited for
- Windows/Linux users, or anyone who wants a browser that is actively developed long term.
- Value for money
- Excellent · 4.7 out of 5
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