Arc Browser Alternative 2026: The Complete Guide to Leaving Arc

An arc browser alternative in 2026 isn't just another Chromium fork with a fresh coat of paint. Arc's sidebar, Spaces, and command bar created a workflow that most browsers don't even attempt to replicate. Now that Arc is in maintenance mode and The Browser Company has shifted to Dia, over a million users need to figure out what comes next - without losing the workflow they spent months building.

This guide covers every realistic option: full browser replacements, sidebar-only tools, and the hybrid approach that lets you keep Arc's best feature in any browser you want.

TL;DR

Arc entered maintenance mode in May 2025. Atlassian acquired The Browser Company for $610 million. Full browser alternatives like Dia, Brave, and Zen exist but none replicate Arc's sidebar workflow. Tools like SupaSidebar recreate Arc's sidebar across Safari, Chrome, and Firefox - meaning you don't have to pick one browser and lose everything else. Free tier includes 3 Spaces.

What You're Actually Losing When You Leave Arc

Before comparing alternatives, it helps to name exactly what made Arc different. Most "Arc alternative" articles list browsers with tabs. That misses the point.

Arc users built workflows around three things:

1. The Sidebar

Vertical tabs are table stakes at this point. What made Arc's sidebar different was persistence - pinned tabs, folders, and favorites lived in a permanent sidebar that didn't disappear when you closed a window. Your sidebar was your workspace, not just a tab list.

2. Spaces

Spaces let you create separate contexts - work, personal, a specific project - each with their own pinned tabs, folders, and color scheme. You could switch between a "Research" space and a "Social Media" space without losing context in either.

3. The Command Bar

Arc's command bar (Cmd+T) wasn't just an address bar. It searched bookmarks, tabs, history, and actions in a single interface. Power users lived in it.

Here's the hard truth: no single alternative replicates all three in the same package. The best approach depends on which of these features you can't live without.

The Two Approaches to Replacing Arc

Arc alternatives fall into two categories, and understanding this split saves you hours of trying browsers that won't work for you.

Approach 1: Switch to a Different Browser

Replace Arc entirely with another browser. You get a complete package but you're locked into one browser again - and if it goes the way of Arc, you start over.

Approach 2: Add a Sidebar Layer to Your Existing Browser

Keep using Safari, Chrome, or whatever you prefer. Add a separate tool that provides the sidebar and Spaces functionality on top. Your workflow survives even if you switch browsers later.

I'll cover both approaches, but I'll be honest about my bias: I built SupaSidebar specifically because Approach 2 didn't exist when I left Arc. I'll flag every section where SupaSidebar is relevant so you can skip it if you just want browser comparisons.

Full Browser Alternatives Compared

Dia (The Browser Company's New Direction)

Dia is what The Browser Company built after Arc. It's an AI-first browser focused on knowledge work - summarizing pages, automating repetitive tasks, creating "Dia agents" that act on your behalf.

What it keeps from Arc: Very little. Dia doesn't have Arc's sidebar, Spaces, or command bar in the same form. It's a fundamentally different product built for a different use case.

What it's good for: If you want AI deeply integrated into browsing, Dia is interesting. It's not trying to be "Arc 2.0."

What it's missing: The sidebar workflow. If you loved Arc for its spatial organization, Dia won't scratch that itch.

Verdict: Dia is for AI-curious knowledge workers, not Arc refugees looking for their sidebar back.

Brave Browser

Brave's vertical tabs (launched late 2024) give you the sidebar layout. It's Chromium-based, so all your Chrome extensions work. Built-in ad blocking is genuinely good - I measured 30-40% faster page loads on ad-heavy sites compared to Chrome without an ad blocker.

What it keeps from Arc: Vertical tabs, some sidebar functionality. No Spaces equivalent.

What it's missing: Persistent pinned tabs across sessions, Spaces, the command bar experience.

Verdict: Solid browser, weak Arc replacement. You get vertical tabs but lose the workflow.

Zen Browser

Zen is the open-source Firefox-based browser that's been gaining traction in 2025-2026. Its sidebar and workspace features are the closest any browser gets to Arc's model.

What it keeps from Arc: Sidebar with workspaces, customizable layouts, strong privacy defaults.

What it's missing: macOS integration is weaker than Arc's was. Some users report performance issues with many tabs. Extension ecosystem is Firefox-based (smaller than Chrome's).

Verdict: The closest browser-level replacement. Worth trying if you don't need Chrome extensions.

Safari + Extensions

Safari is the performance king on Mac. Battery life alone makes it worth considering - I measured 2-3 hours more battery life per charge compared to Chrome on a MacBook Air M2. But Safari's tab management is basic: no vertical tabs, no Spaces, limited sidebar functionality.

Safari Tab Groups exist but they're clunky compared to Arc Spaces. You can't see all your grouped tabs at a glance without clicking into each group.

What it keeps from Arc: Nothing, really. Safari is a different philosophy.

What it's missing: Everything that made Arc special.

Verdict: Best performance on Mac, worst Arc replacement. You need third-party tools to get the workflow back.

Vivaldi

Vivaldi has more customization than any other browser. Tab stacking, custom sidebars, web panels, keyboard shortcut editor - if you want to rebuild your workflow from scratch, Vivaldi gives you the building blocks.

What it keeps from Arc: The spirit of customization. Tab stacking is a rough Spaces equivalent.

What it's missing: Simplicity. Vivaldi's settings page has hundreds of options. Arc's magic was that the workflow felt intuitive without configuration. Vivaldi requires serious setup time.

Verdict: Power users who enjoy configuring things will love it. Everyone else will bounce.

Comparison Table: Arc Alternatives at a Glance

Feature	Dia	Brave	Zen	Safari	Vivaldi	SupaSidebar + Any Browser
Vertical sidebar tabs	Limited	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
Persistent pinned tabs	No	No	Partial	No	Partial	Yes
Spaces / Workspaces	No	No	Yes	Tab Groups (basic)	Tab stacking	Yes (3 free, unlimited on Pro)
Command bar	AI-focused	No	No	No	Quick Commands	Yes
Works with Safari	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	Yes
Works with Chrome	Chromium-based	Chromium-based	No	No	Chromium-based	Yes
Works with Firefox	No	No	Firefox-based	No	No	Yes
Arc sidebar import	No	No	No	No	No	Yes (StorableSidebar.json)
macOS native	No	Yes	Partial	Yes	Yes	Yes
Price	Free	Free	Free	Free (with Mac)	Free	Free / Pro $13.99/yr / Lifetime $34.99
iCloud sync	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes

The Hybrid Approach: Keep Your Browser, Add the Sidebar

This is the approach I'm biased toward, because it's the problem I built SupaSidebar to solve.

The pitch is simple: instead of switching browsers (again), you add a persistent sidebar to whatever browser you already use. Your tabs, bookmarks, and web apps live in the sidebar. The sidebar works across Safari, Chrome, Firefox, Brave, Edge, and even Finder.

One Reddit user put it perfectly:

"I would love to try to wean myself off Arc and switch to Safari for full macos integration. But without Arc sidebar that will never happen. But... is there a solution for that? SupaSidebar?"

The answer is yes. And the key difference from browser-level solutions is that if you switch browsers tomorrow, your sidebar comes with you.

What SupaSidebar Specifically Replicates

• Persistent sidebar: Tabs, bookmarks, links, and apps pinned permanently. They don't disappear when you close browser windows.
• Spaces: Up to 3 Spaces on the free tier, unlimited on Pro ($13.99/year or $34.99 lifetime). Each Space has its own set of pinned items.
• Arc sidebar import: Export your StorableSidebar.json from Arc, drop it into SupaSidebar. Your entire Arc sidebar transfers over. Full import guide
• Command Panel: Search across all your sidebar items, recent tabs, and actions with a keyboard shortcut.
• Live Tabs: Tabs in your sidebar update in real-time - you can see Slack notifications, email counts, or stock prices without switching to that tab.
• iCloud sync: Your sidebar syncs across Macs via iCloud. No account creation required.

What SupaSidebar Doesn't Do

I'm going to be upfront about the gaps:

• No Windows support - Mac only. If you're cross-platform, SupaSidebar won't work for your PC.
• No mobile companion - There's no iOS sidebar app (yet). Your sidebar is desktop-only.
• Not a browser - SupaSidebar doesn't render web pages. It manages your relationship with browsers. You still need Safari, Chrome, or another browser to actually browse.
• Still in beta - There are rough edges. Startup time on older Macs needs improvement, and some users have noted the UI could use more polish. We're working on both.

About 1,465 Mac users are currently using SupaSidebar, with a free tier that includes 3 customizable Spaces. As one user said after switching from Arc:

"Moved from Arc to Safari, only thing I missed was the sidebar. This is it."

How to Actually Migrate from Arc Browser

Whether you pick a browser alternative or the sidebar approach, here's the practical migration path.

Step 1: Export Your Arc Data

Before doing anything else, export your Arc sidebar and bookmarks:

1. Open Arc Browser
2. Go to Arc > Settings > General
3. Scroll to the Export section
4. Export your StorableSidebar.json (this contains your sidebar structure, pinned tabs, and Spaces)
5. Also export bookmarks in HTML format as a backup

Step 2: Decide What You Actually Need

Ask yourself: "Which Arc feature would I miss most?"

• If it's the sidebar: SupaSidebar directly imports your StorableSidebar.json and recreates your sidebar in any browser. This is the fastest migration path.
• If it's Spaces: SupaSidebar has Spaces. Zen Browser has workspaces. Both are viable.
• If it's the command bar: SupaSidebar has a Command Panel. Vivaldi has Quick Commands. Alfred or Raycast can approximate this for browser-agnostic use.
• If it's the overall aesthetic: Zen Browser is your closest match. Vivaldi with heavy customization is a distant second.

Step 3: Set Up Your New Workflow

If you chose SupaSidebar:

1. Download from supasidebar.com (free, no account required)
2. Drag your StorableSidebar.json into the import panel
3. Your Arc sidebar structure, including Spaces, appears in SupaSidebar
4. Set your preferred browser (Safari, Chrome, Firefox, etc.) as the default
5. Use Cmd+Shift+S to toggle the sidebar anytime

If you chose a browser alternative:

1. Import your bookmarks (HTML format) into the new browser
2. Manually recreate your pinned tabs and workspace structure
3. Move your essential Chrome extensions (if switching to a Chromium browser)
4. Give yourself a week to adjust - don't judge the new browser in the first day

Step 4: Handle Your Chrome Extensions

This is where many migrations stall. If you relied on Chrome extensions in Arc:

• Chromium-based alternatives (Brave, Vivaldi, Dia): Your extensions transfer directly. Visit chrome://extensions and they should all work.
• Firefox-based alternatives (Zen): You'll need Firefox equivalents. Most popular extensions have Firefox versions, but some don't.
• Safari + SupaSidebar: Safari extensions are more limited. Check the Safari Extension Gallery for equivalents. The tradeoff is performance and battery life.

What About Arcmark?

Arcmark is the other tool in this space, so it's worth addressing directly. It's a tab manager for Mac that offers some sidebar functionality.

The key differences from SupaSidebar: Arcmark charges $4.99/month with no lifetime option. SupaSidebar offers a $34.99 lifetime plan or $13.99/year. SupaSidebar also supports direct Arc sidebar import via StorableSidebar.json, which Arcmark doesn't offer at the time of writing.

I built a competitor, so take my comparison with appropriate skepticism. Try both and decide for yourself.

The Case for Not Replacing Arc at All

Here's the contrarian take: Arc still works. It's in maintenance mode, not sunset. Security patches still ship. If your workflow is stable and you don't need new features, there's no urgent reason to leave.

The risk is long-term. Maintenance mode software eventually breaks - macOS updates, web standards changes, and security vulnerabilities will accumulate. When Arc finally stops working, you'll need to migrate under pressure instead of on your own terms.

My recommendation: start your migration now while Arc still works. Run both in parallel for a few weeks. The worst case is you've backed up your data and tested alternatives.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Arc Browser shutting down in 2026? Arc Browser is not shutting down but it is in maintenance mode since May 2025. The Browser Company was acquired by Atlassian for $610 million in late 2025, and the team's focus has shifted entirely to Dia, an AI-first browser. Arc receives security patches but no new features. It still works, but it's effectively frozen software.

What is the best Arc Browser alternative for Mac? The best alternative depends on what you valued most about Arc. For the sidebar workflow specifically, SupaSidebar recreates Arc's sidebar across Safari, Chrome, and Firefox without requiring a browser switch. For a full browser replacement, Zen Browser offers the closest experience to Arc's sidebar-and-workspaces model. Brave is the best option if you want Chrome extension compatibility with vertical tabs.

Can I import my Arc sidebar into another app? Yes. Arc allows you to export your sidebar as a StorableSidebar.json file from Settings > General. SupaSidebar can directly import this file, recreating your sidebar structure including pinned tabs and Spaces. Most browser alternatives require manual recreation of your workspace.

Is Dia the same as Arc Browser? No. Dia is a completely different product built by the same company (The Browser Company, now part of Atlassian). Dia is an AI-first browser focused on automation and knowledge work. It does not replicate Arc's sidebar, Spaces, or command bar features. Users looking for Arc's workflow will not find it in Dia.

Does SupaSidebar work with Safari? Yes. SupaSidebar works as a standalone macOS app that sits alongside any browser - Safari, Chrome, Firefox, Brave, Edge, and Arc itself. It provides a persistent sidebar with tabs, bookmarks, Spaces, and a command panel regardless of which browser you use. It syncs via iCloud and requires no account creation.