Arc Browser Review (2025): Should You Switch?

Web browsers have always been a field dominated by the big names, but Google’s Chrome, Apple’s Safari, and Microsoft’s Bing are new contenders. Arc. The concept behind this hyper-personalized browser developed by the browser company is to provide a customized 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 is available for free to all Mac and Windows users. Arc is also available in a stripped down version for iPhone, iPad and Android users.

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

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

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

See: UK competition watchdog accused in November Apple’s WebKit browser The engine limits competition and consumer choice.

Key Features of Arc Browser

Not only has the browser company invested in a modern design, but Arc has a wide range of features for advanced and non-advanced users alike.

Go vertical with tabs

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

The arc can be customized and managed on a large scale. Tabs can be pinned, and “Spaces” can be created to organize tabs. The browser also offers a split-screen mode.

Design, design, design

Everything in Arc is based on user experience. From colors and themes to layouts, users can intuitively play with browser settings, easily remixing components.

Increases

With Arc’s Boosts, users can save and share their themes and customized browsing experiences with other users. Ark shares the best user-created boosts in one. Main Gallery.

More advanced users with knowledge of HTML, CSS, HTML, and JavaScript can modify known websites and even remove entire sections of sites like YouTube, TikTok, and Gmail. are The original websites have not been modified. The only aspect that changes is how users view the website when they apply a boost.

Currently, Arc has not faced legal issues for allowing users to switch websites. However, like the media Engadget This feature is described as being able to “…crash any website”.

Faster onboarding

Setting up Arc Browser is a quick and intuitive process that takes just 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 own proprietary functionality. Arc Sync.

A browser or OS? Why not both?

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

Apps and easels

Arc can integrate popular apps like Gmail and Google Calendar and present them to users as apps rather than web pages, with quick access on the left panel.

Additionally, Browser It has its own apps. 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. Easel features include typing and drawing tools, and each Easel can be kept private, shared with others, and posted online.

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

• Short arc: A small floating window that allows users to quickly browse new tabs without cluttering their workspace.
• Active tab management: This feature automatically closes tabs that haven’t been used in a while, keeping the browser clean and the cleanup time can be customized.
• Ad Blocker: This feature blocks ads to improve browsing experience and security while speeding up the browser.
• Image in Smart Image: Users can watch videos in a floating window while multitasking.
• Listen to music while browsing: Users can play music or podcasts while browsing the web and integrate apps like Spotify into their browsers.
• Arc search: This is a version of Arc Browser for mobile devices. Users can synchronize spaces and pinned tabs between ArcSearch and the main browser.
• Clear Tabs: Organize tabs with one click.
• Quick Links: Use Search + Shift after typing a question in the search bar to bring up the top results for that question.
• peep: A preview of the pinned or favorite tab will appear when the user clicks the link from the tab.

Mobile companion

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

Profiles

Using Arc, users can create custom profiles. The profile feature allows users to switch from work to school or personal mode with just 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

In addition to an ad blocker, Ark has strong built-in privacy features and a strong privacy policy. The company does not monitor online activity or behavior, does not store or track user data, and promises not to sell data to third parties.

Users can control cookies and change other privacy and security settings by visiting 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 Arch instead of Chrome?

A major difference between the arc and Chrome There is privacy. While Chrome shares data with Google on users’ browsing habits, location and other personal information, Arc does not track browsing history and does not sell the information to advertisers. However, Arc has an optional AI-enabled mod, Arc Max, which shares data with organizations like Perplexity and OpenAI.

Arch has been praised for its speed and convenience.

Does Arc Browser use a lot of memory?

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

What is the conflict with Arc Browser?

The Ark controversy most likely refers to the August 2024 security breach. A researcher called xyz3va Arch identified an exploit in Firebase, a database-as-a-backend service, that could be exploited to allow an attacker to execute code through another user account. The flaw was never exploited, and was fixed by the browser company. Just one day After being informed by the researcher. In response, they fixed many of the issues that led to the flaw, planned to stop using Firebase, and expanded their security team.

Pros of Arc Browser

• Unique: Arc is a type of browser. It looks and feels like no other browser on the market, and the whole experience is unique.
• Fast performance: Arc is fast, thanks to its optimized engine and ability to sleep tabs.
• User friendly interface: Intuitive graphical interface makes it easy to navigate and organize your screen.
• Privacy Focused: Ark is designed with privacy in mind. It has a built-in ad blocker and tracker blocker, and the company does not collect personal data.
• Open Source: Arch is open source, meaning anyone can contribute to its development. Arc Web Browser runs on the same Chromium engine – an open source browser project – as Google Chrome.
• free

Disadvantages of Arc Browser

• Learning curve: Arc is so unique and different that it can take time for users to get comfortable with it and learn how to use it.
• Mobile: The mobile version is taking away. And, it’s only available for iPhone.
• Limited Availability: Windows versions will be available in the winter of 2023. Availability for Linux and other OS is yet to be announced.

Alternatives to Arc Browser

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

Vivaldi

Vivaldi is Ark’s strongest rival. Both browsers offer highly personalized web browsing experiences. Vivaldi’s features and user interface are customized 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.

Water Fox

Water Fox is a popular open source web browser for Windows, macOS and Linux. It offers better privacy tracking protection features and is a fork of Firefox. The performance of the browser is excellent, as it is a lightweight software. Waterfox’s design is user-centric, minimal and uncluttered.

Review the procedure.

To write this review and review the Arc, we reviewed sites that compile aggregate data based on verified user reviews. We scoured the official Arc site and tested the browser and its alternatives. Arc features, user-friendliness, power, disadvantages, price availability, and more are carefully reviewed.

Megan Krause updated this article in January 2025.