Arc Browser Interactive Demo
Arc Browser is a Chromium-based browser built by The Browser Company that rethinks how you organize and interact with the web. It replaces traditional tab bars with Spaces, a sidebar, and a Command Bar for keyboard-first navigation.
What is Arc Browser?
Arc Browser is a web browser developed by The Browser Company, launched publicly in 2022 for macOS and later expanded to Windows. It is built on Chromium, which means it supports Chrome extensions while introducing a completely different interface philosophy. Instead of a horizontal tab bar, Arc organizes open pages in a collapsible sidebar, separating pinned tabs from temporary ones.
Arc introduces Spaces as a way to group tabs and bookmarks by context, such as work, personal projects, or specific clients. Each Space can have its own set of pinned sites, making it easy to switch between entirely different browsing environments without mixing unrelated tabs. Split View lets users display two pages side by side within a single window.
Boosts are one of Arc's most technically interesting features. They allow users to inject custom CSS or JavaScript into any website, permanently changing its appearance or behavior. Easels are an internal canvas for collecting screenshots, links, and notes. Arc Search, available on mobile, can summarize web pages rather than just loading them. The browser is free for all users.
How to get started with Arc Browser
- 1
Download and install Arc
Go to arc.net and download the installer for macOS or Windows. The installation process is standard and takes under two minutes.
- 2
Sign in and set up your profile
Arc requires an account to sync settings across devices. Sign in with Google or create a Browser Company account during the onboarding flow.
- 3
Create your first Space
Click the plus icon at the bottom of the sidebar to create a Space. Name it for a specific context, such as a work project or personal browsing, and assign a color.
- 4
Pin your most-used sites
Drag tabs to the pinned section at the top of the sidebar within each Space. Pinned tabs stay open permanently and load instantly when clicked.
- 5
Try a Boost on a site you visit daily
Right-click any page and select New Boost. Use the CSS editor to hide a sidebar, change font sizes, or remove ads. Save the Boost and it will apply every time you visit that site.
Explore more Arc Browser guides
Step-by-step interactive demos and tutorials for Arc Browser.
Who is Arc Browser most useful for?
Arc Browser fits people who work across many contexts simultaneously and find traditional tab management genuinely disruptive. Designers, developers, and researchers who routinely have 30+ tabs open across different projects benefit from Spaces and the sidebar's visual organization. The keyboard-driven Command Bar appeals to users who prefer not to lift their hands from the keyboard mid-task.
Power users who want to modify how specific websites look and behave will find Boosts particularly compelling. If you rely on a tool with a cluttered UI or need to remove distracting elements from a page you visit daily, Boosts offer a level of personalization that no mainstream browser provides out of the box. The built-in notes and Easels reduce context-switching for people who frequently clip content while researching.
Teams creating walkthroughs of browser-based tools often use Supademo to record Arc sessions, since the browser's clean interface reduces visual noise in demos. That said, Arc works best for individuals comfortable with a learning curve, since its interface diverges significantly from Chrome or Firefox conventions.
Arc Browser competes with other Chromium and non-Chromium browsers that take different approaches to tab and workflow management.
Chrome has the largest extension ecosystem and the most compatibility testing from web developers. Its interface is deliberately conventional, which makes it familiar but offers little in the way of organizational innovation.
Firefox is the major non-Chromium alternative, meaning it uses a different rendering engine. Mozilla's independent development makes it the choice for users who want to support browser engine diversity and get solid built-in privacy protections.
Safari is pre-installed on macOS and iOS and tends to use significantly less battery than Chromium browsers on Apple hardware. Its tab groups feature offers some organizational capability, though it lacks the depth of Arc's Spaces.
Brave ships with a built-in ad and tracker blocker that operates at the network level, resulting in noticeably faster page loads on ad-heavy sites. It also includes a built-in crypto wallet and Tor integration for private windows.
FAQs on Arc Browser
Commonly asked questions about Arc Browser. Have more? Reach out and our team will be happy to help.
Is Arc Browser free?
Arc Browser is completely free to download and use. The Browser Company has not introduced paid tiers for the desktop browser, though the company has explored other monetization strategies. There are no feature restrictions tied to payment.
Does Arc Browser work on Windows?
Arc Browser does work on Windows, though the Windows version launched later than the macOS version and has historically had fewer features at parity. The core functionality, including Spaces, the sidebar, and the Command Bar, is available on both platforms.
Can I use Chrome extensions in Arc Browser?
Arc Browser supports Chrome extensions because it is built on Chromium. You can install extensions directly from the Chrome Web Store and they function the same way they do in Chrome.
What are Spaces in Arc Browser?
Spaces in Arc Browser are isolated browsing environments within the same window. Each Space has its own pinned tabs, bookmarks, and theme color. Switching between Spaces is equivalent to switching between completely different browsing contexts without opening a new window.
How are Boosts different from browser extensions?
Boosts in Arc Browser are per-site CSS and JavaScript overrides you write or import yourself. Unlike extensions, which apply globally or across categories of sites, Boosts target a single URL or domain. They are useful for hiding interface elements, changing fonts, or adding small functional tweaks to specific pages.
How does Arc compare to other browsers like Chrome or Firefox?
Arc Browser differs from Chrome and Firefox primarily in its interface design and organizational model. Chrome and Firefox use horizontal tab bars; Arc uses a vertical sidebar with Spaces. For a closer look at how Arc works in practice, you can explore the Arc Browser interactive demo.