Should You Make the Switch?

Web browsers have always been a sector dominated by big names, but Google’s Chrome, Apple’s Safari, and Microsoft’s Bing have a new competitor in Arc. The concept behind this hyper-personalized browser, developed by The Browser Company, is to provide a customizable web experience and act as the web’s operating system, integrating online content with apps and files.

Pricing

Arc is a freeware web browser. It’s available for free to all Mac and Windows users. Arc is also available for iPhone,  iPad, and Android users in a stripped-down version.

Is Arc available for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS?

As of January 2025, Arc is available for Mac and Windows but not Linux.

Arc is mainly designed as a desktop browser; therefore, its mobile iOS version for iPhones, iPads, and Android has some limitations.

SEE: The U.K.’s competition watchdog in November alleged Apple’s WebKit browser engine restricts competition and consumer choice.

Key features of the Arc browser

Not only has The Browser Company invested in a modern design, but Arc has a wide range of features for advanced and nonadvanced users.

Going vertical with tabs

The main features of most web browsers are always positioned at the top in a horizontal structure, but in Arc, everything a user needs is on a left panel.  This includes the search bar, tab list, bookmarks, apps, and more. The vertical placement of the browser’s features creates an original design and frees up space while allowing users to multitask. For example, a user could browse in Arc during a video meeting.

Arc can be customized and organized extensively. Tabs can be pinned, and “Spaces” can be created to manage tabs. The browser also offers split-screen mode.

Design, design, design

Everything in Arc is oriented toward user experience. From colors and themes to layouts, users can play with the browser’s settings intuitively, remixing components effortlessly.

Boosts

With Arc’s Boosts, users can save and share their themes and customizable browsing experiences with other users. Arc shares the best Boosts users create in a central gallery.

More advanced users with HTML, CSS, HTML, and JavaScript knowledge can modify known websites and even remove entire sections of sites such as YouTube, TikTok, and Gmail. The original websites aren’t modified; the only aspect that changes is how users see that website when they deploy a Boost.

Currently, Arc hasn’t faced legal problems due to giving users the power to change websites; however, media like Engadget have referred to this feature as capable of ” … vandalizing any website.”

Rapid onboarding

Setting up Arc Browser is a fast and intuitive process that only takes a few steps. From the start, users are asked to choose a color and theme, create their account, and import bookmarks and other web browser data if they want. The browser can also sync between devices with its proprietary functionality. Arc Sync.

A browser or an OS? Why not both?

The Browser Company wants its browser to be the “web’s operating system.” To meet this goal, the company innovates and creates different apps integrated within the web browser. Apps can be used without ever leaving the browser.

Apps and Easels

Arc can integrate known apps such as Gmail and Google Calendar and present them to users as apps instead of web pages by placing quick access on the left panel.

Additionally, the browser has its own apps. The Easel feature is used to create smart whiteboards; users can draw, write, add images, take screenshots, and collect and share ideas while browsing the internet. The Easel features include tools for typing and drawing and each Easel can be kept private, shared with others, and even posted online.

Arc has a notebook app that can be accessed from the left panel. Other apps and features of the Arc Browser include:

• Little Arc: A small floating window that allows users to quickly browse new tabs without cluttering their workspace.
• Proactive tab management: This feature automatically closes tabs that haven’t been used in a while, keeping the browser tidy, and cleanup time can be customized.
• Ad blocker: This feature blocks ads to improve browsing experiences and safety while speeding up the browser.
• Smart picture-in-picture: Users can watch videos in a floating window while multitasking.
• Listen to music while browsing: Users can play music or podcasts when browsing the web and integrate apps such as Spotify into their browsers.
• Arc Search: This is a version of the Arc browser for mobile devices. Users can sync Spaces and pinned tabs between Arc Search and the main browser.
• Tidy Tabs: Organize tabs with one click.
• Instant Links: Use Search + Shift after typing a query in the search bar to bring up the top results for that query.
• Peek: A preview of a Pinned or Favorited Tab will appear when a user clicks on the link from the tab.

Mobile Companion

Arc has a mobile version called Mobile Companion, a stripped, lightweight app for users to take their Spaces and Tabs anywhere. The mobile app is available for iPhones via the Apple App Store or Android phones via Google Play.

Profiles

Using Arc, users can create customized Profiles. The Profile feature allows users to switch from work to school or personal mode with only one click. Each profile can store multiple login credentials and save browsing history and cookies. The Profile feature can also be customized with themes, colors, Spaces, and tabs.

Privacy

Besides the ad blocker, Arc has strong built-in privacy features and a robust privacy policy. The company doesn’t keep track of online activity or behaviors, doesn’t store or track what a user types, and promises not to sell data to third parties.

Users can control cookies and change other privacy and security settings by going to Preferences | General | Privacy Preferences. In the General Preferences window, users can change their default search engine and turn search suggestions on or off.

SEE: Quick Glossary: Web Browsers (TechRepublic Premium)

Why should I use Arc instead of Chrome?

A major differentiator between Arc and Chrome is privacy. While Chrome shares data with Google on users’ browsing habits, location, and other personal information, Arc doesn’t track browsing history and doesn’t sell information to advertisers; however, Arc has an optional AI-enabled mode, Arc Max, which shares data with organizations such as Perplexity and OpenAI.

Arc has been praised for its speed and convenience.

Does the Arc browser use a lot of memory?

The Arc browser has been criticized for putting more strain on RAM than other browsers. When testing both browsers on Mac with the same tabs open — TechRepublic, YouTube, Reddit, and Wikipedia —Chrome used about 660 MB, and Arc used 320 MB.

What is the controversy with the Arc browser?

The Arc controversy most likely refers to an August 2024 security breach. A researcher called xyz3va pointed out Arc’s misuse of Firebase, a database-as-a-backend service, could be exploited to allow an attacker to execute code through another user’s account. The flaw was never exploited, and The Browser Company addressed it just a day after the researcher reported it. In response, they repaired many issues that contributed to the flaw, planned to stop using Firebase, and expanded their security team.

Arc browser’s pros

• Unique: Arc is a one-of-a-kind browser; it looks and feels like no other browser in the market, and its entire experience is unique.
• Fast performance: Arc is fast, thanks to its optimized engine and the ability to put tabs to sleep.
• User-friendly interface: The intuitive graphical interface makes navigating and organizing your screen easy.
• Privacy-focused: Arc is designed with privacy in mind. It has a built-in ad blocker and tracker blocker, and the company doesn’t collect personal data.
• Open source: Arc is open source, meaning anyone can contribute to its development. The Arc web browser runs on the same Chromium engine — an open-source browser project — as Google Chrome.
• Free

Arc browser’s cons

• Learning curve: Arc is so unique and different that it may take time for users to feel comfortable with it and learn how to use it.
• Mobile: Mobile versions are stripped down. And, it’s only available for the iPhone.
• Limited availability: Windows versions will be available in the winter of 2023. Availability for Linux and other OS have yet to be announced.

Alternatives to the Arc browser

The market offers several alternatives to Arc for users who want a different web browsing experience and to go beyond traditional, well-established brands. In this sector, three solutions stand out: Vivaldi, Brave, and Waterfox.

Vivaldi

Vivaldi is the strongest competitor of Arc. Both browsers offer highly personalized web browsing experiences. Vivaldi’s features and user interface are customizable and optimized for speed and privacy. Vivaldi is available for Windows, Linux, Mac, Android, and iOS.

Brave

Known for its extreme privacy focus, Brave offers a solid option for those concerned about how browsers manage their data. Brave is free and open-source and will automatically block sites, ads, and website trackers. Brave is available for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS.

Waterfox

Waterfox is a popular open-source web browser for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It offers enhanced privacy tracking protection features and is a fork of Firefox. The browser has outstanding performance, as it’s lightweight software. Waterfox’s design is user-centered, minimalistic, and decluttered.

Review methodology

To write this review and evaluate Arc, we examined sites that compile aggregate data based on verified user reviews. we scoured through the official Arc site and test-drove the browser and its alternatives. Arc’s features, user-friendliness, strengths, cons, price availability, and more were carefully evaluated.

Megan Crouse updated this article in January 2025.