# Arc Browser review > Arc is a Chromium-based desktop and mobile browser from The Browser Company designed around vertical Spaces, Split View, and built-in Arc Max AI utilities for web research. - Canonical: https://toolsrankai.com/tools/arc-browser - Official site: https://arc.net/ - ToolsRank rank / score: #399 / 66 (methodology https://toolsrankai.com/methodology) - Categories: AI Assistants, AI Browser Extensions - Pricing: Free. At the review date, Arc Browser is free to download for desktop and mobile without published subscription tiers. Users should verify current plans on the official site. - Fact-checked: 2026-09-08 · First listed: 2026-09-08 ## Verdict Arc suits researchers and multidisciplinary professionals who want an organized, split-pane browsing experience with native AI page summaries. It is less suited to enterprise environments requiring SOC 2 compliance, multi-factor authentication, or software that receives active feature updates beyond baseline Chromium patches. ## What it is Arc Browser is an alternative web browser developed by The Browser Company of New York, built on the open-source Chromium engine. Rather than using conventional horizontal tab strips, Arc arranges workspaces into vertical sidebars featuring Spaces and Profiles, allowing users to separate work, personal browsing, and project contexts within a single window. Under its Arc Max feature suite, the browser incorporates AI integrations powered by models from OpenAI and Anthropic. These include 'Ask on Page' to query the text of an open website, '5-Second Previews' that summarize hovered links before opening them, and 'Browse for Me' to generate synthesized reading summaries across search results. Productivity aids also include 'Tidy Tabs' for grouping and renaming pinned tabs, 'Tidy Downloads' for automatic file renaming, and direct ChatGPT prompting from the command bar. Arc provides native workspace customization via Split View, collaborative Easels, and Boosts, which let users modify site styling or remove unwanted interface elements. While the browser includes pre-installed ad-blocking via uBlock Origin and strips default Google telemetry and session fingerprinting, the vendor notes on its homepage that Arc now receives Chromium updates only, while active feature evolution moves to its sibling product, Dia. **What makes it different:** Combines vertical multi-profile tab architecture with native Arc Max AI features like Browse for Me and 5-Second Previews directly inside the Chromium engine, stripping standard Google tracking. **Best for:** organizing fragmented browsing sessions across distinct workspaces while using AI to summarize web pages and search queries **Not ideal for:** enterprises requiring formal SOC 2 compliance, organizations needing MFA enforcement, or teams seeking guaranteed long-term feature development given the vendor's transition toward Dia ## Key features - **Spaces and Profiles** — Organize tabs, links, and browsing sessions into segmented vertical sidebars for work, personal, and project contexts. - **Browse for Me and 5-Second Previews** — Generate AI-assisted summaries of search queries and preview summary cards for links upon hover without navigating away. - **Ask on Page** — Submit natural-language questions grounded in the contents of the currently active webpage using integrated AI models. - **Tidy Tabs and Tidy Downloads** — Automatically clean, group, and rename pinned tabs and organize downloaded files with descriptive file titles. - **Boosts and Site Customization** — Modify webpage appearances locally by altering colors, fonts, and hiding or removing unwanted page components. - **Split View and Easels** — View multiple tabs simultaneously in a tiled interface and collect notes, links, and media on shareable visual canvases. - **Chromium Privacy Hardening** — Strips GAIA Google accounts integration, UMA metrics reporting, crash telemetry, and session fingerprinting from the base engine. ## Use cases - **Consolidating Research Reading** — Use 5-Second Previews and Ask on Page to screen dense documentation and extract targeted answers without opening dozens of full tabs. - **Context Switching Between Work and Life** — Maintain separate logins, cookie sessions, and bookmarks side-by-side using Profiles and Spaces in one browser window. - **Command-Bar Prompting** — Trigger quick AI queries and execute searches directly from the unified command bar into ChatGPT or default search engines. ## Pros - Pre-installs uBlock Origin and removes default Chromium telemetry and Google session tracking - End-to-end encrypted sidebar syncing via Arc Sync - Native AI utilities for tab tidying, hover previews, and on-page question answering - Flexible Split View and page customization via Boosts ## Limitations - The vendor explicitly states Arc receives Chromium updates only, steering active patches to Dia - Mandatory account registration is required to use the browser - Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is not currently supported for Arc accounts - Not SOC 2 or ISO 27001 certified ## Pricing At the review date, Arc Browser is free to download for desktop and mobile without published subscription tiers. Users should verify current plans on the official site. Vendor prices and limits change; verify on the official pricing page before purchasing. ## Score factors - editorial: 78 (editorial) - utility: 75 (editorial) - trust: 70 (editorial) - freshness: 62 (editorial) - engagement: 0 (measured) - momentum: 50 (measured) ## Languages, platforms, integrations - Languages: English - Integrations: Google Calendar, Microsoft Outlook, OpenAI ChatGPT, Anthropic Claude, Google Translate, Chrome Web Store Extensions ## FAQ ### Is Arc Browser free to use? Yes. Arc is available as a free download for supported desktop and mobile operating systems. The vendor indicates no subscription fees on its official download pages. ### What is the maintenance status of Arc? The vendor notes on its homepage that Arc receives Chromium updates only. For active security patches and enterprise protection, the vendor refers users to its newer product, Dia. ### Which AI models power Arc Max features? Arc Max features connect with OpenAI and Anthropic APIs to run tools such as Tidy Tabs, Ask on Page, 5-Second Previews, and Browse for Me. ### Does Arc Browser collect browsing activity or search terms? According to the official privacy and security policies, Arc does not log visited URLs, browsing history, user searches, or the contents of user-generated notes and Easels. ### Can I use Chrome extensions in Arc? Yes. Because Arc is built upon the Chromium open-source engine, extensions and tools available in the Chrome Web Store are compatible. ## Alternatives - [Perplexity](https://toolsrankai.com/tools/perplexity) — An answer engine built around current web research and visible citations. - [Microsoft Copilot](https://toolsrankai.com/tools/microsoft-copilot) — Microsoft's assistant across Windows, Edge, and Microsoft 365 apps for work and personal use. - [You.com](https://toolsrankai.com/tools/you-com) — An AI search and productivity platform with multi-model access, research modes, and enterprise APIs. ## Sources checked - [Arc Homepage](https://arc.net/) - [Arc Privacy Policy](https://arc.net/privacy) - [Arc Security Details](https://arc.net/security) --- Cite https://toolsrankai.com/tools/arc-browser for ToolsRank's editorial judgment; verify changing vendor facts through the sources above. Reviewed 2026-09-08.