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Arc vs Google Chrome
Which is the better browsers for Mac in 2026?
We compared Arc and Google Chrome across 5 key factors including price, open-source status, and community adoption. Both Arc and Google Chrome are excellent browsers. Read our full breakdown below.
Arc
Browser designed for the way we use the internet in 2025
Free
VS
Google Chrome
Web browser by Google
Free
Visual Comparison
Arc
Arc — Official Website
Google Chrome
Google Chrome — Official Website
Our Verdict
Both Arc and Google Chrome are excellent browsers. Arc is better for users who prefer polished experiences, while Google Chrome excels for those who value established ecosystems.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Arc | Google Chrome |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Open Source | No | No |
| Monthly Installs | N/A | N/A |
| GitHub Stars | N/A | N/A |
| Category | Web Browsers | Web Browsers |
Quick Install
Arc
brew install --cask arcGoogle Chrome
brew install --cask google-chromeLearn More
In-Depth Overview
What is Arc?
Developed by The Browser Company, Arc is not merely a browser but a reimagining of how we interact with the internet. Launching initially with a waitlist that generated massive hype, by 2026 Arc has matured into a stable, robust platform that challenges the decades-old 'horizontal tab' interface. Built on the Chromium engine (the same backbone as Chrome), Arc ensures 100% compatibility with websites and extensions but wraps it in a radically different user interface. Its defining feature is the collapsible Sidebar, which houses vertical tabs, bookmarks (Pinned Tabs), and Spaces—distinct profiles that allow users to separate cookies, logins, and histories for different contexts. Arc treats the browser as an operating system. Features like 'Little Arc' allow for quick look-ups without cluttering the main workspace, while 'Split View' enables tiling of up to four windows within a single tab frame. By 2026, Arc has deeply integrated 'Arc Max,' a suite of AI tools that act as a proactive concierge—tidying tab names, summarizing content, and enabling natural language queries for browser settings. It represents a shift from passive browsing to active workspace management, designed specifically with the high aesthetic and functional standards of the Mac ecosystem in mind.
Detailed Feature Comparison
Tab Management & Organization
CriticalArcExcellent
Arc revolutionizes tab management with vertical tabs and 'Spaces.' Instead of shrinking tabs, Arc keeps them legible in a sidebar. Pinned tabs act like mini-apps, remaining persistent, while 'Today' tabs auto-archive after 12-24 hours, preventing clutter accumulation. The ability to rename tabs automatically using AI adds a layer of clarity that manual management cannot match. It forces a cleaner workflow.
Verdict: Arc's vertical structure and auto-archiving logic fundamentally solve the problem of tab overload.
Interface Design & Customization
HighArcExcellent
Arc allows for 'Boosts,' which let users inject custom CSS and Javascript to permanently alter the look of any website (e.g., removing YouTube Shorts). The browser chrome (sidebar) can be completely hidden, offering a true full-screen immersion. The usage of translucency and native macOS design language makes it feel like a premium piece of software rather than a utility.
Verdict: Arc offers unparalleled customization with Boosts and a UI that respects the user's desire for focus.
AI Integration (Arc Max vs Gemini)
HighArcExcellent
Arc Max features are subtle but high-impact. 'Five Second Previews' summarize links on hover, saving clicks. 'Tidy Tab Titles' renames ambiguous filenames into readable labels. The 'Ask on Page' feature allows you to CMD+F with natural language questions. It feels like the browser is quietly anticipating needs rather than shouting for attention with a large chatbot sidebar.
Verdict: Arc wins for navigational AI that speeds up browsing; Chrome wins for generative content creation.
Productivity Tools (Split View/Spaces)
CriticalArcExcellent
Arc's native Split View is best-in-class, allowing users to drag and drop tabs to create vertical or horizontal splits instantly. Combined with Spaces (which switch cookies/logins per profile seamlessly), a user can have a 'Work' space with Slack and Jira split-screened, and a 'Personal' space with YouTube, switching between them with a swipe. It replaces the need for multiple window instances.
Verdict: Arc's native split view and swipeable Spaces make it a vastly superior productivity dashboard.
Extension Ecosystem
HighArcGood
Since Arc is built on Chromium, it supports the entire Chrome Web Store library. Extensions generally work flawlessly. However, because extension icons are tucked away in the URL bar or a submenu in the sidebar to maintain minimalism, accessing extension-heavy workflows (like wallet popups or SEO tools) can require one extra click compared to Chrome’s always-visible toolbar.
Verdict: Chrome wins purely on UI accessibility for extensions, though capability is identical.
Cross-Platform Sync
HighArcFair
By 2026, Arc has a Windows client and a mobile companion app (Arc Search), but the experience is still heavily Mac-optimized. Sync works well for tabs and simple data, but it lacks the granular history and deep state synchronization of the Google ecosystem. It is a 'Mac-first' product trying to be cross-platform, rather than a native ubiquity.
Verdict: Chrome is the undisputed king of cross-device continuity and synchronization.
Privacy & Tracking
MediumArcGood
The Browser Company positions itself as a user-agent, not an ad-tech company. Arc includes built-in ad and tracker blocking capabilities and doesn't rely on selling user data for revenue. Its business model (likely future enterprise tiers) aligns better with user privacy than an ad-supported model. However, being Chromium-based, it still carries some underlying Google architectural dependencies.
Verdict: Arc wins for users who want to minimize their data footprint with Google.
Developer Tools
MediumArcGood
Arc includes the standard Chromium DevTools, so functionality is identical to Chrome. However, the UI wrapper can sometimes get in the way. Docking DevTools to the right or bottom in a frameless window like Arc can sometimes feel cramped or visually disjointed compared to the native window handling in Chrome. It is fully capable but feels slightly secondary.
Verdict: Chrome remains the preferred, reliable environment for hardcore web development.
Who Should Choose Which?
1The Product Designer
Arc
For a designer, the browser is a workspace. Arc's ability to have a 'Design Inspiration' Space with pinned references, split-view for comparing live sites with Figma, and the aesthetic appreciation of the UI itself makes it the perfect fit. The ability to hide the UI chrome completely allows the designer to focus entirely on the visual content without distraction.
2The Full-Stack Developer
chrome
Developers need predictability and standard compliance. Chrome is the standard. Using Chrome ensures that what they build is exactly what the majority of users see. The robust, detachable DevTools, combined with the immediate accessibility of extensions (like React DevTools or Redux) in the toolbar, streamlines the debugging loop better than Arc's slightly more buried interfaces.
3The University Student
Arc
Students juggle diverse contexts: specific classes, research papers, and social life. Arc's Spaces allow a student to have a 'History 101' Space and a 'Personal' Space. The Split View is invaluable for having a research paper open on one side and a Google Doc on the other within the same window. Arc Max's 'Ask on Page' is also a superpower for quickly finding citations in long PDFs.
4The Corporate Project Manager
chrome
This persona lives in Google Workspace. Calendar, Meet, Drive, and Sheets are their OS. Chrome's integration with these tools is native and reliable. The ability to group tabs for different projects is sufficient, and the reliability of screen sharing via Chrome in Google Meet (without permissions friction) makes it the safe, professional choice for the corporate environment.
5The Tech-Literate Minimalist
Arc
This user hates clutter. They practice 'Inbox Zero.' Arc’s auto-archive feature, which cleans up tabs that haven't been used in 12 hours, aligns perfectly with their philosophy. The ability to rename tabs to simple nouns and hide the sidebar creates a digital Zen garden that Chrome’s perpetually cluttered tab strip simply cannot emulate.
6The Cross-Ecosystem User
chrome
This user has a MacBook for work, a Windows PC for gaming, and a Samsung phone. They need to send a tab from their phone to their desktop instantly. They need their passwords to autofill on every device. Arc cannot bridge these gaps effectively yet. Chrome creates a single digital identity that travels with the user across every hardware boundary.
Migration Guide
Arc → Chrome
Moving back to Chrome is relatively simple but feels like a downgrade in organization. First, export your bookmarks from Arc (Arc Menu > Settings > Import/Export). In Chrome, use the 'Import Bookmarks and Settings' tool. You will lose your Spaces and Split Views, as Chrome has no equivalent. You will need to recreate your workflows using Chrome 'Tab Groups.' Re-install your extensions from the Web Store. Note that your 'Pinned Tabs' from Arc should be moved to the Chrome Bookmarks Bar, as Chrome does not have a persistent vertical pin section. You will likely miss the Command Bar, so consider installing an extension like 'Omni' to replicate that functionality.
Chrome → Arc
The transition to Arc is automated and welcoming. Upon installation, Arc will ask to import data from Chrome. It pulls in your bookmarks, passwords, history, and extensions automatically. The biggest shift is mental: mapping your 'Bookmark Bar' folders to Arc 'Spaces.' Take time to set up a 'Personal' Space and a 'Work' Space. Learn the shortcuts: CMD+S to toggle the sidebar, CMD+T to open a new tab/search. Pin your most-used apps (Gmail, Slack) to the top of the sidebar. Give yourself 3 days to adjust to vertical tabs; after that, horizontal tabs will look archaic.
Pro Tips
When migrating, do not try to replicate your old workflow exactly. If moving to Arc, embrace the 'Archive' feature—don't be afraid to let tabs close. If moving to Chrome, lean heavily into 'Tab Groups' and 'Saved Groups' to mimic the organization you had in Arc. Use a password manager like 1Password or Bitwarden to make switching browsers painless in the future.
Final Verdict
Overall Winner
Arc
9.2/10
Winner
8.8/10
Runner-up
In 2026, Arc represents the necessary evolution of the web browser. It has successfully identified that the modern web is not just a document viewer, but an application platform. By solving the 'tab overload' crisis with vertical tabs and auto-archiving, and by integrating AI as a navigational aid rather than a gimmick, Arc offers a significantly superior user experience for Mac users. It feels like a tool built for the future. Chrome remains a formidable, reliable, and necessary utility—especially for developers and cross-platform families—but it feels like software from a bygone era compared to the fluid workspace Arc provides. For Bundl users looking for the best Mac app experience, Arc is the clear recommendation.
Bottom Line: Switch to Arc if you want a calm, organized, and powerful workspace; stick with Chrome if you need developer ubiquity or seamless Windows/Android sync.
Video Tutorials
Arc Browser | A Quick Tour of Arc Basics
The Browser Company • 324.5K views
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
Generally, yes, but the gap has narrowed by 2026. Arc is built on Chromium but adds a rich layer of native Swift UI elements, animations, and AI features on top. This additional overhead can lead to 10-15% higher energy consumption compared to a vanilla Chrome instance, especially if using features like Split View heavily. However, for most M-series Mac users (M3/M4 chips), this difference is negligible in daily use. Chrome is technically more efficient due to ruthless background throttling, but Arc's productivity benefits often outweigh the slight battery cost for power users.
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