The Browser Company shipped Arc to enthusiastic reception, then quietly pivoted to Dia and put Arc on life support in 2025. Anyone who lived in Arc’s sidebar-first layout, pinned tabs that folded away, spaces per project, split view for two tabs, is now shopping for a browser that gets vertical tabs and workspace separation right. Seven Arc browser alternatives on desktop below cover the specific reasons Arc caught on: opinionated tab management, a real sidebar (not a toolbar with tabs stapled to it), and workspace containers that survive restarts.
Why people leave Arc now
Arc’s problems are not features, they are momentum. The Browser Company has said Arc will keep getting security updates but no meaningful new work. Bookmarks, easels, and the mobile app all showed the pattern before Dia’s announcement. When the extensions ecosystem stops keeping up with Chrome and the AI features drift to a different product, staying on Arc becomes a rearguard action. The browsers below are actively shipping.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Engine | Free plan | Standout feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zen Browser | Closest Arc feel on Firefox | Gecko | Yes | Workspaces and split view |
| Vivaldi | Every setting exposed | Chromium | Yes | Panels and tab tiling |
| Sidekick | Web app dock | Chromium | Yes | Sidekick apps sidebar |
| Opera One | AI-first Chromium | Chromium | Yes | Tab islands and Aria |
| Floorp | Firefox with Arc DNA | Gecko | Yes | Vertical tabs and workspaces |
| Orion | WebKit with Chrome extensions | WebKit | Yes | Extension compatibility |
| SigmaOS | macOS work browser | Chromium | Yes | Workspaces and inbox model |
The alternatives
Zen Browser, the closest Arc feel
Zen Browser is the Arc alternative to try first. Built on Firefox, Zen ships a sidebar-first layout, workspace containers that behave like Arc’s spaces, split view for two-tab side-by-side reading, and a compact toolbar that hides until hovered. The team ships weekly, and Firefox’s extension ecosystem covers everything Chrome does not.
The container tabs isolate cookies per workspace, which was one of Arc’s overlooked strengths.
Where it falls short: Firefox extension performance sometimes trails Chrome. The onboarding is still rough for non-technical users.
Pricing:
- Free, open source (MPL 2.0).
- vs Arc: closer to the original vision than anything else, without maintenance-mode risk.
Migrating from Arc: Zen imports Chrome bookmarks and history. Arc’s spaces need to be recreated manually as Zen workspaces.
Bottom line: the default pick for Arc refugees who want a browser being actively built.
Vivaldi, the every-setting-exposed pick
Vivaldi is the Arc alternative for anyone who thought Arc was too opinionated. Vivaldi ships vertical or horizontal tabs, tab stacking, tab tiling (Arc’s split view, up to four tabs), panels that dock the sidebar, and enough settings to lose an afternoon in. Chromium base means every Chrome extension works.
Vivaldi’s built-in mail, calendar, and RSS reader are worth trying; they turn the browser into an all-in-one work console.
Where it falls short: the density can be overwhelming. It is not the browser you hand to your parents.
Pricing:
- Free.
- vs Arc: more configurable, less opinionated design.
Migrating from Arc: Vivaldi imports Chrome bookmarks and history. Workspaces map to Vivaldi’s workspaces feature (yes, same name).
Download: Site
Bottom line: the pick if you want to configure your own layout.
Sidekick, the web app dock
Sidekick is the Arc alternative for people who live in web apps. The sidebar functions as a launcher for Gmail, Notion, Linear, Figma, and similar, with each opening as a persistent panel instead of a tab. It solves the “seventeen open tabs of one Slack workspace” problem elegantly.
Where it falls short: the free tier caps some features. Sidekick’s own account is required.
Pricing:
- Free with limits.
- Paid: Sidekick Pro around $10/mo.
- vs Arc: better web app model, weaker overall browsing.
Migrating from Arc: import from Chrome. Pin your web apps in the sidebar; browsing tabs sit separately.
Download: Site
Bottom line: the pick for a work-first browser where every app is a first-class citizen.
Opera One, the AI-first pick
Opera One is the Arc alternative for anyone who wants Arc’s AI ambitions in a browser that still works. Aria (Opera’s AI assistant) is integrated across the sidebar, tab islands group related tabs automatically, and the sidebar hosts pinned messenger web apps.
Opera has been shipping for decades and the funding is stable.
Where it falls short: Opera is Norwegian-owned but the browser is now controlled by Kunlun Tech, and past privacy concerns follow the brand. Not everyone will trust it with sensitive work.
Pricing:
- Free.
- vs Arc: better AI features, weaker privacy story.
Migrating from Arc: Opera imports Chrome data directly. Tab islands are automatic; you don’t have to organize them.
Download: Site
Bottom line: the pick if AI-in-the-sidebar was Arc’s appeal to you.
Floorp, the Firefox-with-Arc-DNA pick
Floorp is the Arc alternative for anyone happy on Firefox who wants Arc’s UI ideas. The Japanese-maintained browser ships vertical tabs, workspaces, dual sidebar layouts (browsing and reader), and a split-view mode. The Firefox base means everything a Firefox user expects works.
Where it falls short: documentation is mostly Japanese with community translations. Small development team.
Pricing:
- Free, open source.
- vs Arc: less polished but closer to a Firefox power user’s setup.
Migrating from Arc: import Firefox or Chrome bookmarks. Workspaces map cleanly.
Bottom line: the pick if Firefox extensions matter and Zen is too new.
Orion, the WebKit choice
Orion is the Arc alternative for macOS users who want a browser that runs Chrome extensions on WebKit. Kagi’s browser gets both Chrome and Firefox extensions working on Apple’s engine, which is unique. Vertical tabs, split view, and a focus mode round out the Arc-comparable feature set.
Where it falls short: extension compatibility is not perfect. Some Chrome extensions don’t work; battery life is the tradeoff for using WebKit.
Pricing:
- Free.
- Paid: Orion+ for around $5/mo with sync and unlimited profiles.
- vs Arc: better battery life on Mac, less polished extension story.
Migrating from Arc: Orion imports from Chrome and Safari directly.
Download: Site
Bottom line: the pick for macOS users who want a native-feeling browser.
SigmaOS, the macOS work browser
SigmaOS is the Arc alternative for Mac users who want the workspace model as the centerpiece. Sites open in a workspace panel with an inbox for background reading, split view supported, and command-palette navigation. It feels closer to a work app than a browser.
Where it falls short: macOS only. Free tier is limited to two workspaces.
Pricing:
- Free with limits.
- Paid: SigmaOS Pro around $10/mo.
- vs Arc: better mac-native feel, no cross-platform.
Migrating from Arc: import bookmarks; recreate workspaces.
Download: Site
Bottom line: the pick if you want Arc’s ideas taken further, only on macOS.
How to choose
Pick Zen Browser for the closest Arc replacement across platforms. Pick Vivaldi if you want to configure your own layout. Pick Sidekick if web apps dominate your day. Pick Opera One if the AI in the sidebar was the point. Pick Orion for a Mac WebKit browser with real extension support. Pick SigmaOS for macOS-only workspace obsession. Stay on Arc only if you have a workflow that no other browser matches, and accept that new features are not coming.
FAQ
Is Arc really discontinued?
The Browser Company has said Arc will get security updates but no significant feature work. New product effort has moved to Dia. It is not deleted, but it is not a growing product.
What is the closest browser to Arc?
Zen Browser is the closest single-app match, with sidebar-first layout, workspaces, and split view on a Firefox base. Vivaldi comes second for anyone who values configurability over aesthetic fidelity.
Can I use Arc extensions in another browser?
Arc uses Chrome extensions. Every Chromium-based Arc alternative (Vivaldi, Sidekick, Opera One, SigmaOS) runs them directly. Zen and Floorp use Firefox extensions; most Chrome extensions have Firefox equivalents.
What is the best free Arc alternative?
Zen Browser, Vivaldi, and Floorp are free with no meaningful feature caps. Zen is the closest match for the specific Arc feel; Vivaldi has the deepest feature list.
Does Dia replace Arc?
Dia is a separate product The Browser Company is building, focused on AI-driven browsing. It is not a straight upgrade path for Arc users; Arc’s workspaces, split view, and vertical tabs are not carried over.
