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Arc alternatives: 6 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Arc: stops working on 22 December 2026, and no new accounts can be created. We ranked 6 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Arc, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Dia currently ranks first.

Arc has been discontinued. Sunsetting: no new accounts since 22 October 2026; the macOS and Windows apps stop working on 22 December 2026.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Dia logoDiaFree plan + paidNomacOS, Windows4 of 466.5
2Zen Browser logoZen BrowserOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux4 of 462.6
3Vivaldi logoVivaldiFreeNoWindows, macOS, Linux +24 of 459.6
4Microsoft Edge logoMicrosoft EdgeFreeNoWindows, macOS, Linux +24 of 455.3
  1. Dia logo

    1. DiaTop pick

    Best for: Former Arc users and knowledge workers who want AI built into their browser

    Free plan + paidmacOS, Windows

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Arc

    The official replacement from the same team, with direct import of Spaces, tabs and passwords.

    Pros

    • Imports Arc Spaces, tabs and passwords directly
    • Free browser tier with no AI features required
    • End-to-end encrypted sync

    Cons

    • AI features need a paid plan
    • No Linux or mobile apps
    • Young product still changing quickly
    Visit Dia Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Dia a good Arc alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Free plan
    Better Browser, free
    Checked Oct 25, 2026diabrowser.com(opens source in a new tab)
    AI plan
    $10/month (Better Answers)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026diabrowser.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    macOS and Windows
    Checked Oct 25, 2026diabrowser.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Engine
    Chromium
    Checked Oct 25, 2026diabrowser.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Zen Browser logo

    2. Zen Browser

    Best for: Arc fans who want a similar sidebar layout on Firefox, without AI

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Arc

    Arc-style sidebar, workspaces and split view, open source on Firefox.

    Pros

    • Workspaces, split view and compact mode built in
    • Firefox engine with full uBlock Origin support
    • Free and open source on all desktop platforms

    Cons

    • No mobile app
    • Smaller team, so updates can lag Firefox
    • Some rough edges in newer features
    Visit Zen Browser Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Zen Browser a good Arc alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Price
    Free and open source
    Checked Oct 25, 2026zen-browser.app(opens source in a new tab)
    Licence
    MPL-2.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    macOS, Windows, Linux
    Checked Oct 25, 2026zen-browser.app(opens source in a new tab)
    Key features
    Workspaces, Compact Mode, Glance, Split View
    Checked Oct 25, 2026zen-browser.app(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Vivaldi logo

    3. Vivaldi

    Best for: Power users who want deep customisation and built-in mail, calendar and feeds

    FreeWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Arc

    Vertical tabs, workspaces and tiling in a long-established browser.

    Pros

    • Tab stacking, tiling and vertical tabs built in
    • Mail, calendar, feed reader and ad blocker included
    • Independent company with no ad-tracking business

    Cons

    • Many options can overwhelm
    • Interface can feel slower than plain Chromium
    • Not fully open source
    Visit Vivaldi Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Vivaldi a good Arc alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Ad and tracker blocking
    Built in
    Checked Oct 25, 2026vivaldi.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Business model
    No tracking, independent
    Checked Oct 25, 2026vivaldi.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Licence
    Not under one open-source licence
    Checked Oct 25, 2026help.vivaldi.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Built-in ad blocker
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026vivaldi.com(opens source in a new tab)
  4. Microsoft Edge logo

    4. Microsoft Edge

    Best for: Windows users and Microsoft 365 organisations that want a managed Chromium browser

    FreeWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android

    55.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from Arc

    Vertical tabs and split screen in a widely supported Chromium browser.

    Pros

    • Sleeping tabs and efficiency mode save memory and battery
    • Runs Chrome extensions
    • Strong enterprise management and Microsoft 365 integration

    Cons

    • Pushes Bing, shopping and Microsoft services
    • Telemetry on by default
    • Interface can feel cluttered with extra features
    Visit Microsoft Edge Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.363
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Microsoft Edge a good Arc alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Memory saving
    Sleeping tabs
    Checked Oct 25, 2026microsoft.com(opens source in a new tab)
    AI assistant
    Copilot
    Checked Oct 25, 2026microsoft.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Desktop platforms
    Windows, Mac, Linux
    Checked Oct 25, 2026microsoft.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Mobile platforms
    Android, iPhone
    Checked Oct 25, 2026microsoft.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Arc alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Dia logo

Best Arc alternative for most people

Dia

The official replacement from the same team, with direct import of Spaces, tabs and passwords.

Zen Browser logo

Best Arc alternative for a free option

Zen Browser

Arc-style sidebar, workspaces and split view, open source on Firefox.

Orion logo

Best Arc alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Orion

Native Mac browser with vertical tabs and low battery use.

Zen Browser logo

Best Arc alternative for open source

Zen Browser

Arc-style sidebar, workspaces and split view, open source on Firefox.

Vivaldi logo

Best Arc alternative for Mac

Vivaldi

Vertical tabs, workspaces and tiling in a long-established browser.

Microsoft Edge logo

Best Arc alternative for Windows

Microsoft Edge

Vertical tabs and split screen in a widely supported Chromium browser.

Zen Browser logo

Best Arc alternative for Linux

Zen Browser

Arc-style sidebar, workspaces and split view, open source on Firefox.

Vivaldi logo

Best Arc alternative for iPhone and Android

Vivaldi

Vertical tabs, workspaces and tiling in a long-established browser.

Arc alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Arc?

Dia ranks first right now. The official replacement from the same team, with direct import of Spaces, tabs and passwords. Zen Browser and Vivaldi follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Arc?

Yes. Dia (free plan + paid), Zen Browser (open source), Vivaldi (free) and SigmaOS (free) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Arc?

Yes: Zen Browser.

Which Arc alternatives work on Linux?

Zen Browser, Vivaldi and Microsoft Edge run on Linux.

Why do people switch from Arc?

The complaints we hear most: stops working on 22 December 2026; no new accounts can be created; only basic updates until shutdown.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Arc, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.