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SupaSidebar vs Sidebar Browsers
Arc, Zen, and Vivaldi are browsers with sidebars. SupaSidebar is a sidebar that works with every browser - without replacing the one you already use.
Feature-by-feature comparison
See how SupaSidebar compares to Arc Browser, Zen Browser, and Vivaldi across every major feature
| Features | Arc Browser | Zen Browser | Vivaldi | SupaSidebar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sidebar with pinned items Pin your most-used links for instant access | Yes Pin frequently visited sites in the vertical tab sidebar | Yes Pin frequently visited sites in the vertical sidebar | Yes Pin frequently visited sites and web panels in the sidebar | Yes Pin links, apps, and files for instant one-click access |
| Spaces / Workspaces Organize links and tabs by project or context | Yes Spaces separate tabs and pinned items by context | Yes Zen Spaces let you switch between separate browsing contexts | Partial Tab Stacks group tabs together but lack full workspace isolation | Yes Create unlimited spaces to separate projects and contexts |
| Command palette Fuzzy search across tabs, bookmarks, files, and apps | Yes Command Bar searches Arc tabs, history, and bookmarks | No No command palette - navigation is mouse-driven | Partial Quick Commands searches Vivaldi tabs and settings only | Yes Fuzzy search across tabs, bookmarks, files, and apps |
| Works with any browser Use alongside Safari, Chrome, Firefox, and more | No Arc is a browser itself - it does not work alongside others | No Zen is a browser itself - it does not work alongside others | No Vivaldi is a browser itself - it does not work alongside others | Yes Works alongside Safari, Chrome, Firefox, Brave, Edge, and more |
| Live Tabs across browsers See open tabs from all browsers in one panel | Partial Shows own tabs only - cannot see tabs from other browsers | Partial Shows own tabs only - cannot see tabs from other browsers | Partial Shows own tabs only - cannot see tabs from other browsers | Yes Shows live tabs from every open browser in one unified panel |
| Air Traffic Control Auto-route links to specific browsers or spaces | Partial Can route links to Arc Spaces but not to external browsers | No No link routing rules - all links open in Zen | No No link routing rules - all links open in Vivaldi | Yes Auto-routes links to specific browsers or spaces by rule |
| Native macOS app Built with Swift and SwiftUI | Partial Chromium-based - not a native macOS app, higher RAM usage | Partial Runs on Gecko (Firefox engine) - not a native macOS app | Partial Chromium-based - not a native macOS app, higher RAM usage | Yes Built with Swift and SwiftUI for native macOS performance |
| Smart Folders Auto-organized folders based on custom rules | No No smart folders - tabs and bookmarks are organized manually | No No smart folders - bookmarks are organized manually | No No smart folders - bookmarks are organized manually | Yes Smart Folders auto-organize links based on custom rules |
| AI-powered tags Local AI tagging with on-device models | No No AI tagging - Arc development is discontinued | No No AI tagging - tags and labels are applied manually | No No AI tagging - tags and labels are applied manually | Yes On-device AI automatically tags links using local models |
| Files, folders, and apps in sidebar Drag anything from Finder into the sidebar | No Sidebar holds browser tabs and bookmarks only - no local files | No Sidebar holds browser tabs and bookmarks only - no local files | Partial Sidebar holds web panels only - no local files or apps | Yes Drag files, folders, and apps from Finder into the sidebar |
| iCloud Sync Syncs sidebar across all your Macs | Partial Uses Arc account sync - not iCloud, requires a Browser Company account | Partial Uses Firefox Sync - not iCloud, requires a Mozilla account | Partial Uses Vivaldi Sync - not iCloud, requires a Vivaldi account | Yes Syncs your entire sidebar across all your Macs via iCloud |
| Privacy-first (local data) Nothing leaves your Mac unless you enable sync | No Arc syncs data to the cloud by default via your account | Yes Data stays local by default; Firefox Sync is opt-in | Yes Data stays local by default; Vivaldi Sync is opt-in | Yes All data stays on your Mac by default - sync is opt-in |
| Active development | No Arc Browser was discontinued in 2025 - no new features | Yes Actively developed open-source project with frequent updates | Yes Actively developed with a long track record of updates | Yes Actively developed with regular feature releases |
| Overall | Discontinued | Browser (Firefox) | Browser (Chromium) | Best Choice |
Sidebar with pinned items
Pin your most-used links for instant access
Pin links, apps, and files for instant one-click access
Pin frequently visited sites in the vertical tab sidebar
Pin frequently visited sites in the vertical sidebar
Pin frequently visited sites and web panels in the sidebar
Spaces / Workspaces
Organize links and tabs by project or context
Create unlimited spaces to separate projects and contexts
Spaces separate tabs and pinned items by context
Zen Spaces let you switch between separate browsing contexts
Tab Stacks group tabs together but lack full workspace isolation
Command palette
Fuzzy search across tabs, bookmarks, files, and apps
Fuzzy search across tabs, bookmarks, files, and apps
Command Bar searches Arc tabs, history, and bookmarks
No command palette - navigation is mouse-driven
Quick Commands searches Vivaldi tabs and settings only
Works with any browser
Use alongside Safari, Chrome, Firefox, and more
Works alongside Safari, Chrome, Firefox, Brave, Edge, and more
Arc is a browser itself - it does not work alongside others
Zen is a browser itself - it does not work alongside others
Vivaldi is a browser itself - it does not work alongside others
Live Tabs across browsers
See open tabs from all browsers in one panel
Shows live tabs from every open browser in one unified panel
Shows own tabs only - cannot see tabs from other browsers
Shows own tabs only - cannot see tabs from other browsers
Shows own tabs only - cannot see tabs from other browsers
Air Traffic Control
Auto-route links to specific browsers or spaces
Auto-routes links to specific browsers or spaces by rule
Can route links to Arc Spaces but not to external browsers
No link routing rules - all links open in Zen
No link routing rules - all links open in Vivaldi
Native macOS app
Built with Swift and SwiftUI
Built with Swift and SwiftUI for native macOS performance
Chromium-based - not a native macOS app, higher RAM usage
Runs on Gecko (Firefox engine) - not a native macOS app
Chromium-based - not a native macOS app, higher RAM usage
Smart Folders
Auto-organized folders based on custom rules
Smart Folders auto-organize links based on custom rules
No smart folders - tabs and bookmarks are organized manually
No smart folders - bookmarks are organized manually
No smart folders - bookmarks are organized manually
AI-powered tags
Local AI tagging with on-device models
On-device AI automatically tags links using local models
No AI tagging - Arc development is discontinued
No AI tagging - tags and labels are applied manually
No AI tagging - tags and labels are applied manually
Files, folders, and apps in sidebar
Drag anything from Finder into the sidebar
Drag files, folders, and apps from Finder into the sidebar
Sidebar holds browser tabs and bookmarks only - no local files
Sidebar holds browser tabs and bookmarks only - no local files
Sidebar holds web panels only - no local files or apps
iCloud Sync
Syncs sidebar across all your Macs
Syncs your entire sidebar across all your Macs via iCloud
Uses Arc account sync - not iCloud, requires a Browser Company account
Uses Firefox Sync - not iCloud, requires a Mozilla account
Uses Vivaldi Sync - not iCloud, requires a Vivaldi account
Privacy-first (local data)
Nothing leaves your Mac unless you enable sync
All data stays on your Mac by default - sync is opt-in
Arc syncs data to the cloud by default via your account
Data stays local by default; Firefox Sync is opt-in
Data stays local by default; Vivaldi Sync is opt-in
Active development
Actively developed with regular feature releases
Arc Browser was discontinued in 2025 - no new features
Actively developed open-source project with frequent updates
Actively developed with a long track record of updates
Overall
Frequently asked questions
What is the best sidebar browser for Mac?
It depends on what you need. If you want a sidebar that works with every browser, SupaSidebar is the only option - it adds a sidebar to Safari, Chrome, Firefox, and any other browser. If you want a full browser replacement, Zen Browser (Firefox-based) and Vivaldi (Chromium-based) both have built-in sidebars. Arc Browser had the best sidebar UX but stopped development in 2025.
Is SupaSidebar a browser?
No. SupaSidebar is a native macOS sidebar app that works alongside any browser. Arc, Zen, and Vivaldi are all full browsers - you have to switch to them. SupaSidebar lets you keep your current browser and adds the sidebar on top.
Can I use SupaSidebar with Zen Browser or Vivaldi?
Yes. SupaSidebar works with any browser, including Zen and Vivaldi. You get SupaSidebar's features (spaces, command panel, air traffic control, live tabs across all browsers) on top of whichever browser you use.
Which sidebar browser has the best privacy?
SupaSidebar stores everything locally on your Mac by default - nothing leaves your device unless you enable iCloud sync. Zen Browser (built on Firefox) also has strong privacy defaults. Vivaldi collects minimal data. Arc Browser (Chromium-based, now discontinued) had cloud-based sync with less transparency.
Is SupaSidebar free?
SupaSidebar has a free tier with 3 spaces and all core features. Pro unlocks unlimited spaces, iCloud sync, and early access to new features.
Detailed comparisons
One sidebar for all your browsers
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