# Arc vs Brave Published January 1, 2026 · Updated August 10, 2026 Brave is the top pick for most Mac users looking at browsers. It is free and open-source and installs in one Homebrew command. Arc is the stronger choice if you want browser. As of September 2026, both install with brew install --cask arc and brew install --cask brave-browser. For most Mac users in 2026, Brave is the better choice for browsers because it is free and open source, so you can inspect, self-host, and trust the code. Both install with a single Homebrew command, so the switching cost is low. Choose Arc instead if you want browser. ## Head to head | Factor | Arc | Brave | | --- | --- | --- | | Price | Free | Free | | Open Source | No | Yes | | Replaces | — | — | | Best for | browser, modern, spaces | browser, privacy, crypto | | Install | brew install --cask arc | brew install --cask brave-browser | | Category | Web Browsers | Web Browsers | ## Arc Browser designed for the way we use the internet in 2025 Install: `brew install --cask arc` [Arc on Bundl](https://bundl.run/apps/arc) ## Brave Privacy-focused browser with built-in ad blocking Install: `brew install --cask brave-browser` [Brave on Bundl](https://bundl.run/apps/brave-browser) ## Features - **Development status & security cadence.** Brave wins on being alive as a product. Arc is maintenance-mode. - **Privacy & tracking protection.** Brave is the privacy specialist. - **Tab & workspace UX.** Arc still wins pure workspace UX nostalgia; Dia aims to inherit this energy. - **Built-in AI.** Brave Leo is the maintained AI assistant on this comparison's Brave side; Dia is the Browser Company AI bet. - **Performance & memory.** Similar Chromium realities; blocking can help Brave on noisy sites. - **Extensions & compatibility.** Brave is safer for long-term extension ecosystems. - **Platforms & pricing.** Brave wins active multi-platform free browsing. - **Company roadmap & ownership.** Brave owns a living roadmap; Arc's roadmap moved to Dia. ## FAQ ### Arc vs Brave: which should I install in 2026? Brave, unless you already live in Arc and accept maintenance mode. Arc.net itself steers new security-conscious users toward Dia. ### Brave vs Arc: is the answer different? No. Query order does not change the living-product winner. Brave is actively developed; Arc is Chromium updates only. ### Arc browser vs Brave: who wins privacy? Brave, primarily because Shields ships aggressive blocking by default and the privacy roadmap is still moving. ### Arc vs Brave vs Dia: who wins? Brave for independent private Chromium. Dia for Browser Company AI UX on Apple Silicon. Arc only as a temporary hold for existing Spaces addicts. ### Is Arc discontinued? Not fully shut off. Feature development stopped; official messaging pushes Dia for active security patches while Arc continues Chromium updates. ### Did Atlassian buy The Browser Company? Atlassian announced a definitive agreement in September 2025 to acquire The Browser Company for about $610 million, with Dia positioned as the strategic browser. ### Is Brave free? Yes. Optional Leo Premium is $14.99/month or $149.99/year; VPN is $9.99/month or $99.99/year. Core browsing does not require payment. ### Should Arc users move to Dia or Brave? Dia if you want Browser Company AI UX on a supported Mac. Brave if you want Shields-first private Chromium with broad platform support. ### Does Brave have vertical tabs? Yes, Brave continues improving tab tools, though Arc's Spaces remain more distinctive for spatial organisation. ### Can I import Arc data into Brave? Use standard Chromium bookmark and password export/import, then rebuild Spaces manually as profiles or tab groups. ### Is Arc still safe to use? Arc continues Chromium updates per official copy, but the company points to Dia for active security patches. Teams with strict browser standards should prefer actively developed options. ### What changed since mid-2025? Arc entered maintenance mode, Dia became the company's focus, and Atlassian announced the acquisition agreement. Comparing Arc as a living rival to Brave is outdated. ## Sources - [Arc from The Browser Company](https://arc.net/) - [Dia browser](https://www.diabrowser.com/) - [Brave browser](https://brave.com/) - [Brave Leo](https://brave.com/leo/) - [How do I use Brave Leo?](https://support.brave.app/hc/en-us/articles/20958609786637-How-do-I-use-Brave-Leo) - [Brave premium](https://brave.com/premium/) - [Brave AI browsing blog](https://brave.com/blog/ai-browsing/) - [Welcoming The Browser Company to Atlassian](https://www.atlassian.com/blog/announcements/atlassian-acquires-the-browser-company) - [Atlassian to buy Arc developer The Browser Company for $610M](https://techcrunch.com/2025/09/04/atlassian-to-buy-arc-developer-the-browser-company-for-610m/) - [Arc Browser vs Brave 2026 analysis](https://www.sigmabrowser.com/blog/arc-browser-vs-brave-privacy-productivity-arcs-future-in-2026) ## Related - [Arc vs Google Chrome](https://bundl.run/compare/arc-vs-chrome) - [Arc vs Firefox](https://bundl.run/compare/arc-vs-firefox) - [Arc vs Safari](https://bundl.run/compare/arc-vs-safari) - [Arc vs Zen Browser](https://bundl.run/compare/arc-vs-zen-browser) - [Arc vs Vivaldi](https://bundl.run/compare/arc-vs-vivaldi) - [Arc vs Microsoft Edge](https://bundl.run/compare/arc-vs-microsoft-edge) - [Orion Browser vs Arc](https://bundl.run/compare/orion-vs-arc) - [Brave vs Google Chrome](https://bundl.run/compare/brave-vs-chrome) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://bundl.run/#organization", "name": "Bundl.run", "url": "https://bundl.run", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://bundl.run/og-image.png", "width": 1200, "height": 630 }, "description": "The Ninite for Mac. 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