Top 15 Arc Browser Replacements Now That It's Gone
The best browsers and Chrome extensions to fill the Arc-shaped hole in your workflow
Arc Browser changed how people thought about web browsing. Sidebar tabs, workspaces, split views, a command bar that actually worked - it felt like the future. Then The Browser Company stopped development in mid-2025, pivoted to an AI-first browser called Dia, and was ultimately acquired by Atlassian. Arc still runs and gets security patches, but no new features are coming.
If you're one of the loyal Arc users now searching for a new home, this guide is for you. I've tested every major alternative and split them into two categories: full browser replacements that give you a similar experience out of the box, and Chrome extensions that can recreate Arc's best features inside the browser you already use.
What Made Arc Special
Before we look at alternatives, here are the Arc features people loved most:
- Sidebar tabs - Tabs lived on the left instead of across the top
- Spaces - Separate workspaces for different contexts (Work, Personal, Research)
- Split view - Two pages side-by-side in one window
- Command bar - Spotlight-like search for everything (Cmd+T)
- Boosts - Custom CSS/JS to modify any website's appearance
- Auto-archiving tabs - Unused tabs fade away automatically
- Built-in ad blocking - No extension needed
- Clean, minimal UI - Chrome without the chrome
Quick Navigation
Full Browser Replacements
1. Zen Browser
The closest thing to Arc. Zen is a Firefox-based browser built from the ground up with a sidebar tab interface, workspaces, split view, and a clean minimal design. If you loved Arc, Zen will feel like home.
Why it's the #1 pick: It's the only browser that replicates nearly every Arc feature natively. Sidebar tabs, workspace containers, split view, compact mode - it's all there. Plus, being Firefox-based means better privacy and support for Firefox extensions.
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux
2. Vivaldi
The power user's browser. Vivaldi is the most customizable browser on the planet. Every pixel can be configured. Tab stacking, tiling, a built-in mail client, calendar, RSS reader, and note-taking - it does everything Arc did and more.
Why it's great for Arc users: Tab stacking works like Arc's Spaces. Tab tiling replicates split view. The quick commands bar (F2) is Arc's command bar. The web panels sidebar lets you pin sites just like Arc's sidebar pins. It just takes more setup.
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS
3. Brave
Privacy-first with built-in ad blocking. Brave strips out ads and trackers by default, loads pages faster, and has a clean interface that Arc users will appreciate. It's Chromium-based, so all your Chrome extensions work.
Why it's great for Arc users: The built-in ad blocker was one of Arc's best features, and Brave's Shields is even better. Vertical tabs are available (enable in settings), and the sidebar supports pinned sites. It lacks native workspaces, but extensions like Workona fill that gap.
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS
4. Microsoft Edge
The surprising contender. Edge has quietly become one of the best browsers available. Native vertical tabs, workspaces, split screen, collections, and a Copilot sidebar make it a legitimate Arc replacement that's already installed on most machines.
Why it's great for Arc users: Edge's vertical tabs mode transforms the browser into something that looks a lot like Arc. Workspaces (called "Edge Workspaces") let you organize tabs by project. Split screen puts two pages side-by-side. And since it's Chromium-based, all Chrome extensions work.
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS
5. Opera One
AI-powered with tab islands. Opera One introduced "Tab Islands" - an automatic tab grouping system that clusters related tabs together visually. Combined with the built-in sidebar, free VPN, and Aria AI assistant, it's a modern, feature-rich browser.
Why it's great for Arc users: Tab Islands are Opera's answer to Arc's auto-organizing. The sidebar panel lets you pin messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram, Messenger) just like Arc's sidebar. Flow lets you send content between devices. It's less customizable than Vivaldi but more polished out of the box.
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS
6. Floorp
Firefox with sidebar tabs built in. Floorp is a Firefox fork that adds sidebar tab management, workspaces, and a flexible sidebar - features Firefox users have been requesting for years. It feels like what Firefox should have been.
Why it's great for Arc users: Native sidebar tabs without any extensions, workspace switching, and Firefox's superior privacy model. It supports all Firefox extensions, including uBlock Origin with full Manifest V3 capabilities. Lightweight and fast.
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux
7. SigmaOS
Built for workspaces from day one. SigmaOS was designed around the concept of workspaces before Arc even launched. Every tab belongs to a workspace, split view is native, and the keyboard-first design makes it blazing fast to navigate.
Why it's great for Arc users: If workspaces were your favorite Arc feature, SigmaOS is the closest match. The workspace model is more robust than Arc's Spaces, with better tab organization and split-view support. SigmaOS even has a dedicated Arc Migration Tool that transfers your Spaces, pinned pages, cookies, and browsing history. The free tier is usable for basic workflows.
Platforms: macOS (Windows in beta)
8. Orion (by Kagi)
WebKit-based with Chrome + Firefox extension support. Orion is the only browser that runs on Apple's WebKit engine while supporting both Chrome and Firefox extensions natively. Zero telemetry, built-in ad blocking, and excellent battery life on Mac.
Why it's great for Arc users: If you're on Mac and want the best battery life plus access to the full Chrome extension library, Orion is hard to beat. Vertical tabs, split view, and a compact interface give it Arc-like vibes. Being WebKit-based means it integrates perfectly with macOS.
Platforms: macOS, iOS
9. Dia Browser (Arc's Official Successor)
Built by the same team, but a different vision. Dia is what The Browser Company built after Arc. It's an AI-first browser focused on conversational browsing - chat with your tabs, AI-powered research, writing assistance, and context-aware suggestions. Built on Chromium.
Why it's on this list: It's made by the same people who built Arc, so the craftsmanship is there. However, Dia is not "Arc 2.0" - it deliberately doesn't carry over Spaces, sidebar tabs, or Boosts. If you loved Arc's organizational features, Dia won't scratch that itch. But if you're curious about what Arc's creators think the future of browsing looks like, it's worth trying.
Platforms: macOS (Apple Silicon only)
10. Firefox + Tree Style Tab
The DIY approach. Firefox with the Tree Style Tab extension gives you a sidebar tab tree that shows tab hierarchy (which tab opened which). Add a few more extensions and you can replicate most of Arc's workflow.
Why it's great for Arc users: Firefox's Multi-Account Containers work like Arc's Spaces - separate cookies and sessions per container. Tree Style Tab provides the sidebar tab interface. Sideberry is an even more polished alternative. Add uBlock Origin and you've got a privacy powerhouse.
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS
Chrome Extensions That Replicate Arc
Don't want to switch browsers? These Chrome extensions bring Arc's best features to Google Chrome (and any Chromium-based browser).
11. Workona Tab Manager
Arc's Spaces, rebuilt for Chrome. Workona organizes your tabs into workspaces that you can switch between instantly. Each workspace saves its tabs, so you can close them and restore the full workspace later.
Arc features it replaces: Spaces/workspaces, tab saving, and context switching. The free tier gives you 5 workspaces, which is enough for most people. If you only install one extension from this list, make it Workona.
12. Arcify
The most direct Arc clone for Chrome. Arcify brings Arc-inspired vertical tab spaces to Chrome. Organize tabs by spaces, pin favorites, drag tabs between spaces and folders. The companion "Arcify Spotlight" extension adds an overlay search bar for navigating tabs, bookmarks, and history - just like Arc's Cmd+T.
Arc features it replaces: Spaces, pinned sidebar tabs, and the command bar. This is the closest you'll get to Arc's core workflow without leaving Chrome. Open source and available on GitHub.
13. Side Space
Arc's sidebar with AI built in. Side Space adds a vertical tab sidebar panel to Chrome with Spaces/workspaces and AI agent capabilities for smart browsing. The sidebar stays visible for quick tab switching, and the AI features go beyond what Arc ever offered.
Arc features it replaces: Sidebar tab management and Spaces. The AI browsing features are a bonus Arc didn't have. Pairs well with Stylebot for the full Arc-replacement stack.
14. Tab Resize - Split Screen Layouts
Arc's split view for any browser. Tab Resize splits your browser window into predefined layouts - side by side, grid, or custom arrangements. One click gives you two pages next to each other, just like Arc's split view.
Arc features it replaces: Split view / side-by-side browsing. It uses separate windows rather than in-browser panes, but the result is the same. Great for comparing content, referencing documentation while coding, or multitasking.
15. Stylebot
Arc's Boosts for Chrome. Stylebot lets you write custom CSS for any website and have it apply automatically every time you visit. Change fonts, hide elements, adjust colors - modify the web to look the way you want.
Arc features it replaces: Boosts (website customization). Stylebot is actually more powerful than Boosts was - you get full CSS control with a visual editor. Hide annoying sidebars, make text bigger, remove distracting elements permanently.
Feature Comparison
| Browser | Sidebar Tabs | Workspaces | Split View | Ad Blocker | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zen Browser | Native | Native | Native | Via extension | Free |
| Vivaldi | Native | Tab Stacks | Tab Tiling | Built-in | Free |
| Brave | In settings | Via extension | Via extension | Built-in | Free |
| Edge | Native | Native | Native | Via extension | Free |
| Opera One | Tab Islands | Workspaces | Via extension | Built-in | Free |
| Floorp | Native | Native | Via extension | Via extension | Free |
| SigmaOS | Native | Native | Native | Built-in | Freemium |
| Orion | Native | Via extension | Native | Built-in | Free |
My Recommendation
Which One Should You Pick?
- Closest to Arc: Zen Browser - it's the most Arc-like experience you'll find
- Most powerful: Vivaldi - if you want to configure every detail
- Best privacy: Brave or Firefox + Tree Style Tab
- Lowest friction: Edge with vertical tabs enabled - it's already on your machine
- Stay on Chrome: Arcify + Workona + Side Space extensions
- Mac users: Orion for battery life, Zen for the full Arc experience
The truth is, no single browser perfectly replicates Arc. Arc's magic was in how everything worked together seamlessly. But the browser landscape has evolved significantly since Arc launched, and many of these alternatives now offer features Arc never had.
My personal recommendation? Try Zen Browser first. It's free, open-source, and the closest thing to an "Arc 2.0" that exists. If you need Chrome extension compatibility, Vivaldi or Brave with a few extensions will get you 90% of the way there.
Migration Tips for Arc Users
1. Export Your Bookmarks First
Before Arc fully shuts down, export your bookmarks (Settings > General > Export Bookmarks). Every browser on this list can import them. Don't lose your pinned tabs and saved sites.
2. Recreate Your Spaces
Write down your Arc Spaces and what tabs belong in each. Then recreate them as workspaces (Zen, Vivaldi) or tab groups (Chrome, Edge) in your new browser. It takes 10 minutes and saves days of reorganizing later.
3. Give It Two Weeks
Any new browser will feel wrong for the first few days. Muscle memory for shortcuts, tab management, and navigation takes time to rewire. Commit to two weeks before judging. Most people find they've adapted (and often prefer the new setup) by then.
The Post-Arc Browser Landscape
Arc's legacy isn't the browser itself - it's that it proved people want more from their browser than tabs across the top and a URL bar. Every major browser has added features inspired by Arc, and new browsers like Zen are carrying the torch forward.
The browser you choose matters less than finding one that fits your workflow. Try a couple from this list, invest an hour setting it up properly, and you'll wonder why you didn't switch sooner.
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