Arc Browser Alternative: Where to Go Before Arc Shuts Down
Nemo · · 5 min read
The right Arc browser alternative depends on which part of Arc you used every day. For the closest thing, The Browser Company points Arc users to Dia, and your data moves over directly. Fans of vertical tabs and spaces should look at Zen or Vivaldi, and Safari is already on your Mac. And if what you loved was a keyboard-first window with very little chrome and a split view, Monok is worth a try next to whichever you pick.
Is Arc really going away?
Arc is going away for good, on a fixed date. The Browser Company stopped adding features to Arc in May 2025 to focus on Dia, and on October 23, 2026 it announced the end of Arc:
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| October 23, 2026 | New Arc accounts can no longer be created |
| November 23, 2026 | Arc Search on iOS and Android loses its AI features, sign-in and tab sync |
| December 22, 2026 | Arc on macOS and Windows stops working; accounts are deactivated |
Personal data is deleted within 30 days after that. So “keep using it until something breaks” is no longer an option: the date is fixed.
What did Arc do that you will miss?
Before you choose, write down the three Arc habits you use most. For most people they come from this list:
- The sidebar: vertical tabs, pinned tabs and favorites on the left.
- Spaces: separate sets of tabs for work and personal.
- The Command Bar: one box on Cmd+T or Cmd+L for URLs, tabs and actions.
- Split View: two or more pages side by side in one window.
- A quiet window: no toolbar, the page takes almost everything.
- Chrome extensions, because Arc runs on Chromium.
No single browser copies all of these. The habits you write down decide the winner, not a feature count.
Which Arc browser alternatives are there on Mac?
| Browser | Engine | Closest to Arc in | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dia | Chromium | Same company, direct import of spaces, tabs and extensions | AI-first, a different interface from Arc |
| Safari | WebKit | Built in, tab groups, syncs with iPhone | No vertical sidebar, Safari extensions only |
| Zen | Gecko (Firefox) | Vertical tabs, workspaces, a calm window | Firefox add-ons instead of Chrome extensions |
| Vivaldi | Chromium | Vertical tabs, tab tiling, deep settings | Busy interface out of the box |
| Orion | WebKit | Vertical tabs, a Mac-native feel | Extension support varies |
| Monok | WebKit (the system’s) | Magic Bar, split panes, almost no chrome | Early preview: no extensions, no sync, no import |
If extensions you rely on only exist for Chrome, stay in the Chromium column: Dia or Vivaldi. If you want out of Chromium entirely, Safari, Orion and Monok use WebKit, and Zen uses Firefox’s engine. The post on browser engines explains why that choice matters for compatibility and memory.
Where does Monok fit for Arc users?
Monok is a small Mac browser that keeps the part of Arc a lot of developers liked most: the page owns the window and the keyboard does the work.
- Magic Bar instead of an address bar. Cmd+L opens it over the page with the current address, Cmd+N opens it empty. It is the closest thing here to Arc’s Command Bar. The no address bar post walks through it.
- Panes instead of Split View. Cmd+D splits right, Shift+Cmd+D splits down, and each pane is a page, a native terminal running your own shell, or a Files pane. It works like tmux; see the tmux cheat sheet for the idea.
- Favorites with folders in the thin top bar (Cmd+B), and saved tab layouts that bring back a tab with its panes.
- Ad and tracker blocking built in, from EasyList and EasyPrivacy, as described in the network-level blocking post.
- Small. Measured on version 0.1.0 on an Apple M5 Pro: 32 MB of memory for the app at idle, before WebKit’s page processes.
What it does not do yet matters just as much for someone leaving Arc: there is no vertical sidebar, no spaces, no extensions, no sync and no bookmark import, and it runs only on macOS 14 or later. If any of those is on your list of three habits, use Monok as a second browser for work with a terminal, not as your only one.
How do I move from Arc without losing anything?
Do this before December 22, while Arc still opens:
- Decide on your main browser first. If it is Dia, use its import; The Browser Company says bookmarks, extensions, passwords, history, spaces and tab groups move over.
- Export passwords to your password manager or to the new browser, and check that a couple of logins work.
- Write down your pinned tabs per space. Most other browsers bring over bookmarks, not Arc’s sidebar layout.
- List your extensions and check each one exists for the new browser’s engine.
- Try the new setup for a week while Arc still works, so a missing piece shows up before the deadline.
If your day is half browser, half terminal, keep Monok open next to the main pick during that week and see whether the panes replace a window or two. The best browser for Mac guide has a wider comparison if none of the above fits.
Try it: download Monok for Mac, free while in preview.
FAQ
When does Arc stop working?
On December 22, 2026, for the macOS and Windows apps. Arc Search on phones loses AI features, sign-in and sync on November 23, 2026.
What is the closest browser to Arc?
Dia, made by the same company, with direct import of your Arc data. Zen and Vivaldi are the closest outside it if you want vertical tabs.
Can I keep using Chrome extensions after Arc?
Yes, in a Chromium browser such as Dia, Chrome or Vivaldi. Safari, Zen and Monok do not install from the Chrome Web Store; Orion supports some Chrome extensions, not all.
Is Monok free?
Yes, while in preview. Get it on the download page.