Arc
Browser designed for the way we use the internet in 2025
Install with Homebrew
brew install --cask arc
Arc — Official Website
Quick Take: Arc
Arc is not dead. It is a maintained, feature-frozen classic. Spaces, vertical tabs and Split View still shine for people who already built workflows around them, and Chromium security rebases continue. It is not the future of The Browser Company; that is Dia, especially after Atlassian's 2025 acquisition. Rating reflects excellent workspace UX discounted for maintenance mode and frozen AI. Existing fans can stay with eyes open. New buyers who want this company's product should choose Dia. Everyone else should pick an actively developed alternative (Zen, Brave, Safari, Chrome) instead of installing Arc out of 2023 hype. Score stays in the mid-3s because the product is excellent at a job the vendor is no longer hiring it to do.
Best For
- •EXISTING users who rely on Spaces, auto-archiving and Split View and accept Chromium-only updates
- •Not recommended as a first browser purchase in 2026, prefer Dia (Browser Company) or Zen/Brave/Safari/Chrome for active development
Arc Browser for Mac in 2026: maintenance mode, not dead
Is Arc dead? No. Is Arc still the browser you should install new in August 2026? Usually no. Arc from The Browser Company remains downloadable for Mac and Windows, still runs Spaces, Split View, Boosts, Little Arc and Air Traffic Control, and still receives Chromium security and stability rebases. What stopped on 27 May 2025 is feature development. Official arc.net now leads with Dia, "the next evolution of Arc," and states plainly that Arc receives Chromium updates only. For active security patches and enterprise-grade protection, the company points buyers to Dia. That is the answer people searching "Arc browser", "is Arc dead", or "Arc vs Dia" need in the first screen. Atlassian agreed to acquire The Browser Company in September 2025 and completed the deal in October 2025. Product energy stayed on Dia (macOS Apple Silicon AI browser), not on reviving Arc's roadmap. Existing Spaces fans can keep Arc as a daily driver while Chromium notes are their security changelog. New buyers who want this company's future should download Dia. People who want an actively developed vertical-tab experience without an Atlassian-owned roadmap usually evaluate Zen Browser, Brave, Safari or Chrome instead. Arc's innovations did not vanish. Horizontal tabs still break down past a couple dozen pages; Arc organises Pinned and Today tabs in a collapsible sidebar, with Spaces for Work/Personal contexts and optional Profiles for isolated cookies and logins. The honest 2026 framing is maintenance continuity plus Chromium patches, not innovation. This page covers install steps, configuration that still pays off, Dia versus Zen decision points, and when staying on Arc is rational versus nostalgic.
Arc, Dia, and Zen: how to decide in 2026
Three different questions get mixed up in search. "What is Arc?" is a product description. "Is Arc dead?" is a status check. "What should replace Arc?" is a migration decision. Answer them separately. Arc is a Chromium-based browser with a custom Mac UI (Swift) that made vertical tabs, Spaces and auto-archiving feel native. It still does that job. Dead would mean downloads gone, sync shut off, or an announced kill date. None of those are the official story in August 2026. Frozen means no new feature work since the May 2025 members letter from CEO Josh Miller, with Chromium rebases only. Dia is the company successor. It is AI-native, actively developed, and the download arc.net promotes. It is not a pixel-perfect Arc clone. Early adopters often note that sidebar Spaces DNA is partial or evolving, while chat-with-tabs and briefs are the centre of gravity. If you loved Arc's workspace model more than AI chrome, test Dia before you assume it restores muscle memory. Zen Browser is the community pick when people want vertical tabs and active development on a Firefox base without Browser Company accounts. Brave and Safari win when privacy defaults or battery life beat sidebar workflows. Chrome wins when enterprise policy and extension certainty matter more than Spaces. Migration cost is the silent killer. Export bookmarks, screenshot Space layouts, copy Boost CSS, and list Air Traffic Control rules before you uninstall anything. Dual-boot Arc and Dia for a week if you are on Apple Silicon. Intel Mac users should not assume Dia is available; Dia's public story targets Apple Silicon on recent macOS.
History & Background
Invite-only roots, 2023 public Mac launch, 2024 Windows, Arc Max and Arc Search experiments, then the May 26-27 2025 member letter: stop feature development, keep Chromium security/stability, pour energy into Dia. September-October 2025 brought Atlassian ownership without reversing the Arc freeze. Public messaging on arc.net now foregrounds Dia while still offering Arc Mac/Windows downloads, which matches the "usable but not the future" stance this guide takes. Wikipedia and major outlets summarize the same arc: maintenance mode, then Atlassian ownership, with Dia as the active bet.
How It Works
Chromium for web compat and extensions; Swift UI for the opinionated chrome; ADK shared infrastructure also underpins Dia, which is why open-sourcing Arc was declined. Maintenance mode therefore means rebasing Chromium and fixing related breakages, not inventing new sidebar approachs. Practically, when a site breaks, the fix path is "wait for the next Chromium rebase," not "file a feature request for a new sidebar mode." Power users who understand that constraint report higher satisfaction than those still waiting for Arc Max Act III.
Ecosystem & Integrations
Arc Search on mobile, Boost galleries and Arc Max were the extended ecosystem. AI-forward work moved to Dia. Third-party communities still share Boosts and Space templates, but official innovation velocity is elsewhere. Dia currently targets macOS 14+ on Apple Silicon, so Intel Mac Arc users cannot assume a 1:1 successor on the same machine, another reason maintenance continuity matters for that cohort even as the company pivots.
Future Development
There is no Arc feature roadmap. Track macOS/Windows release notes for Chromium bumps. Product roadmap language from The Browser Company now describes Dia. Long-term Arc survival is "keep it secure and usable," not "Arc 2.0." If you need a written policy for a team: allow Arc for individuals who already depend on Spaces; standardize new hires on Dia (Apple Silicon) or Chrome/Safari/Zen depending on security baselines; do not budget for Arc feature training in 2026 onboarding.
Key Features
Spaces and Profiles
Spaces are separate browsing contexts you switch between with a swipe or shortcut, each with its own pinned tabs, folders and color theme. Profiles isolate cookies, logins and history. Assign different Profiles per Space to stay logged into work and personal Google accounts simultaneously without Chrome-profile juggling. This remains Arc's strongest still-working differentiator in maintenance mode.
Pinned Tabs and Auto-Archiving
Tabs are Pinned (permanent sidebar shortcuts) or Today (temporary). Today tabs auto-archive after a configurable window (default 12 hours), which forces intentionality and kills Chrome-style tab hoarding. Archived tabs stay searchable. The behavior is unchanged under maintenance, still the workflow many power users refuse to give up.
Command Bar
Cmd+T opens Arc's Spotlight-like Command Bar for URLs, open tabs across Spaces, bookmarks, extensions and actions. Keyboard-first users can avoid sidebar clicking entirely. Feature development has stopped, but the Command Bar remains fully functional.
Split View
Drag tabs into side-by-side splits, up to four panes, for docs beside localhost, design comps beside tickets, or notes beside video. Panes share the sidebar so you can swap content without spawning more windows. Still one of the cleanest built-in split implementations among Chromium browsers.
Little Arc
Links from Slack, Mail, or other apps can open in Little Arc, a floating mini-window. Glance, dismiss, or promote to a full tab. Combined with Air Traffic Control routing, external links interrupt less than dumping into a 40-tab main window.
Boosts
Per-domain CSS/JS customizations, hide Shorts shelves, zap trending sidebars, restyle fonts, without installing a one-off extension for every site. Boosts persist and remain usable; do not expect a new Boosts marketplace or editor overhaul while Arc is frozen.
Air Traffic Control
Rule-based routing sends github.com to Development, figma.com to Design, Docs to Work and so on. Set once; external links land in the right Space automatically. Still the automation layer Chrome never shipped.
Arc Max (Frozen AI Suite)
Arc Max historically included Tidy Tab Titles, Five Second Previews and Ask On Page. In maintenance mode these AI surfaces are largely frozen; Ask On Page has been removed with Dia positioned as the AI-forward replacement. Treat remaining Max helpers as legacy conveniences, not a roadmap.
Easels (Legacy Canvas)
Easels remain available as a lightweight canvas for screenshots, quotes and visual research boards with links back to sources. Like other Arc creations, Easels are not receiving major new collaboration features; use them if they already fit your research style, not as a Miro replacement you expect to grow.
Who Should Use Arc?
1Full-Stack Developer (Existing Arc User)
Three Spaces, Frontend, Backend, Personal, with separate Profiles. Split View keeps localhost beside docs. Air Traffic Control routes Jira links from Slack into Backend. They stay on Arc because the workspace muscle memory still works, while watching Chromium-only release notes for security rebases rather than new features.
2Freelancer Managing Multiple Clients
One Space and Profile per client keeps Slack workspaces and Drive accounts from cross-wiring. Sidebar colors provide instant context. If they need new Browser Company AI features, they trial Dia on Apple Silicon alongside Arc rather than expecting Arc Max to grow.
3Researcher or Grad Student
A Thesis Space with pinned Scholar and library tabs; Little Arc for citation skimming; Easels for visual collection. Auto-archiving prevents research rabbit holes. New students choosing a browser in 2026 should prefer Safari, Chrome, Zen, or Dia unless they specifically want Arc's sidebar model knowing it is static.
4IT / Security-Conscious Lead
A team lead asks whether Arc is still safe. They read arc.net's Chromium-only disclaimer, confirm recent macOS release notes show engine bumps and decide existing fans may continue with auto-update enabled while new corporate deployments standardize on Dia or managed Chrome. Arc Max AI is disabled in policy discussions because Ask On Page is gone and remaining helpers are not under active hardening narratives.
5Someone googling is Arc browser dead
They want a yes/no. Give them: not dead, feature-frozen since 27 May 2025, Chromium updates only, company points new security investment at Dia, Atlassian owns The Browser Company since October 2025. Then offer the stay-or-leave tree above.
6Arc power user evaluating Dia vs Zen
They dual-install Dia for AI tab chat and Zen for sidebar experiments while Arc remains the pinned daily driver for a month. They export Boost CSS and Space screenshots on day one so exit cost stays low if a Chromium rebase breaks a critical extension.
How to Install Arc on Mac
Arc remains downloadable for Mac and Windows from arc.net and installable via Homebrew. Installation still works; understand you are installing a maintenance-mode browser that will not gain new features.
Install via Homebrew or arc.net
Run brew install --cask arc, or download Arc for Mac from https://arc.net/. Dia is offered prominently on the same site if you want the actively developed Browser Company product instead.
Create an Arc Account
Launch Arc and sign in with email. An account is required for sidebar sync and persistence, still Arc's most controversial requirement and unchanged in maintenance mode.
Import from Your Current Browser
Import bookmarks, history and Chrome extensions. Chromium compatibility means the Chrome Web Store still works even though Arc's UI layer is frozen.
Set Default Browser (Optional)
System Settings → Desktop & Dock → Default web browser. Enabling Arc as default turns on Little Arc for external links. New buyers who prefer Dia should set Dia as default instead.
Pro Tips
- • Read the latest Arc for macOS release notes, expect Chromium security bumps, not feature changelogs.
- • Spend time on Spaces and Air Traffic Control on day one if you commit to Arc's model.
- • Set auto-archive to 24 hours while adjusting if 12 hours feels aggressive.
- • If you need AI browsing features, install Dia (Apple Silicon) rather than waiting on Arc Max.
Configuration Tips
Set Up Air Traffic Control First
Settings → Links → Air Traffic Control. Route github.com, figma.com and docs.google.com to the right Spaces so Slack and email links stop polluting your current context. This setup still pays off daily even without new Arc features.
Adjust Archive Timing to Your Style
Settings → General → Archive tabs after. Start at 24 hours, then tighten to 12 once comfortable. Long archive windows reintroduce the tab chaos Arc was designed to prevent.
Master the Command Bar (Cmd+T)
Use Cmd+T for tab search across Spaces, navigation and extension commands. With no new UI experiments coming, keyboard fluency is how Arc stays fast versus Chrome.
Create Useful Boosts for Frequent Sites
Hide distracting modules on YouTube, Reddit, or LinkedIn with Boosts. They remain a durable customization layer while extension-based theming stays available via Chrome Web Store.
Color-Code Your Spaces
Distinct Space colors prevent accidental cross-context mistakes, still valuable for freelancers and dual-account workflows that Dia Profiles also target for new adopters.
Plan a Dual-Browser Escape Hatch
Export critical Boosts and keep a Chromium or Safari profile ready. Maintenance mode is stable until it is not, having bookmarks and extension lists outside Arc prevents panic if a future Chromium rebase conflicts with a must-have workflow.
Alternatives to Arc
Arc is maintenance-only. Choose successors and peers based on whether you want Browser Company DNA, privacy, or classic Chromium.
Dia
Official successor from The Browser Company (now under Atlassian). macOS Apple Silicon AI browser with active development, security focus and enterprise-oriented messaging. Recommended for new buyers who want this team's product future rather than a frozen Arc install.
Zen Browser
Firefox-based productivity browser with vertical tabs and community momentum. Strong pick if you want an actively developed sidebar-style workflow without Chromium or a mandatory Browser Company account.
Brave
Chromium with built-in shields and frequent releases. Keeps a traditional tab model, choose Brave for privacy and currency, not Arc-like Spaces.
Safari
Best battery life and OS integration on Mac. No Arc Spaces, but continuous Apple development and privacy defaults. Prefer Safari when efficiency beats sidebar workflows.
Chrome
Default extension ecosystem and enterprise management. Horizontal tabs and weak workspace primitives are why Arc existed; Chrome remains the safe actively developed baseline.
SigmaOS
Curated Mac browser alternative with workspace-oriented UX. Consider only if you specifically want a maintained indie productivity browser and have evaluated Dia/Zen first.
Pricing
Arc remains free for personal use, Spaces, Split View, Boosts, Little Arc and whatever Arc Max remnants still ship are included without a freemium gate. Historical Arc for Teams monetization is not a reason to adopt Arc today; The Browser Company's commercial energy is on Dia. There is no purchase that "unlocks" a return to active Arc feature development.
Pros
- ✓Spaces + Profiles still solve multi-context browsing better than stock Chrome
- ✓Vertical sidebar with auto-archiving keeps daily tabs intentional
- ✓Split View, Little Arc, Boosts and Air Traffic Control remain fully usable
- ✓Chromium extension compatibility preserved during maintenance
- ✓Still downloadable for Mac and Windows with ongoing Chromium security rebases
- ✓Clear official status: Chromium-only updates, so you are not guessing in silence
Cons
- ✗Maintenance mode since May 27, 2025, Chromium/security/stability only; no new features
- ✗Official guidance pushes Dia for active security patches and enterprise-grade protection
- ✗Arc Max AI largely frozen; Ask On Page removed in favor of Dia
- ✗Mandatory account login; Chromium battery cost vs Safari; no Linux
- ✗Dia is not a drop-in Spaces clone; Arc fans often need a real trial before calling it a replacement
Community & Support
r/ArcBrowser and long-time members still trade Boost configs and Space setups, but conversation shifted after the May 2025 letter toward "how do I keep this working?" and Dia comparisons. Bugfixes and Chromium rebases continue; feature wishlist threads do not. Atlassian's October 2025 acquisition closed ownership questions without promising an Arc renaissance, community consensus matches the company line: maintain Arc if you love it, adopt Dia or another active browser if you need a future. Support channels still triage crashes tied to Chromium bumps and members document which extensions break after rebases. The healthier threads share migration playbooks: export Boost CSS, screenshot Space layouts and dual-boot Dia for AI tab chat while Arc remains the pinned-app shell. Treat social nostalgia as signal that the workspace model worked, not as evidence a feature revival is coming. When you read "Arc is dead" headlines, translate them to "feature development stopped." Downloads, sync and Chromium patches are a different claim. Community migration threads that share Boost CSS and Space screenshots are more useful than nostalgia posts. If a thread cannot show a current arc.net screenshot of the Chromium-only notice, treat the doom claim as unverified.
Video Tutorials
Getting Started with Arc
More Tutorials
This Free App Is a Game-Changer For Students | Arc Set Up & Tutorial
Koi • 243.7K views
How to Install Arc Browser on macOS
Ajoy Kumar • 98 views
Switching to a MacBook for Arc Browser ❤️
Efficient App (Alex & Andra) • 17.7K views
Frequently Asked Questions about Arc
About the Author
Expert Tips for Arc
Say "maintenance, not dead" up front, Arc still opens, syncs Spaces and takes Chromium patches; the failure mode is expecting new features or Arc Max growth.
Community power users who live in multi-Space setups are the ones who rationally stay; everyone else migrates to Dia or Zen within a few months of noticing frozen AI.
Hands-on: Air Traffic Control + Split View still beat stock Chrome for client work, but recommend Dia on Apple Silicon when demos need AI chat across tabs.
Release notes are the right primary source for "is Arc updated?", look for Chromium version bumps, not feature essays.
Write the stay-or-leave rule on a sticky note: keep Arc for muscle memory, choose Dia for vendor future, choose Zen for open vertical tabs, choose Safari for battery. Mixing those goals is how people thrash for months.
Related Technologies & Concepts
Related Topics
Productivity Browsers
Browsers designed for workflow organization and multitasking.
Sources & References
Fact-CheckedLast verified: Aug 9, 2026
Key Verified Facts
- Arc entered maintenance mode around May 27, 2025; The Browser Company stated it continues Chromium upgrades and security fixes but is not actively developing new Arc features.[cite-letter, cite-verge]
- Official arc.net states Arc receives Chromium updates only and directs users seeking active security patches and enterprise-grade protection to Dia.[cite-arc, cite-dia]
- Atlassian agreed to acquire The Browser Company in September 2025 and completed the acquisition in October 2025; product focus remains Dia.[cite-techcrunch, cite-businesswire, cite-wikipedia]
- Arc remains a free individual Chromium+Swift browser with Spaces, Split View and related workspace features still downloadable for Mac/Windows.[cite-arc, cite-wikipedia]
- Arc for macOS release notes continue to document 2024-2026 Chromium-oriented updates during the maintenance period.[cite-release-notes]
- 1Arc from The Browser Company
Accessed Aug 9, 2026
- 2Dia Browser
Accessed Aug 9, 2026
- 3Arc for macOS 2024-2026 Release Notes
Accessed Aug 9, 2026
- 4Arc (web browser), Wikipedia
Accessed Aug 9, 2026
- 5Letter to Arc members 2025 (The Browser Company)
Accessed Aug 9, 2026
- 6The Browser Company explains why it stopped developing Arc, The Verge
Accessed Aug 9, 2026
- 7Atlassian to buy The Browser Company for $610M, TechCrunch
Accessed Aug 9, 2026
- 8Atlassian Completes Acquisition of The Browser Company
Accessed Aug 9, 2026
- 9Dia browser official site
Accessed Aug 9, 2026
Research queries: Arc browser maintenance mode May 2025 Dia; Atlassian Browser Company acquisition October 2025; Arc macOS Chromium release notes 2026; arc.net Chromium updates only Dia; Arc vs Dia vs Zen Browser 2026