Alternatives / Arc
Looking for an open source Arc alternative? We compared 8 open source browsers by license, engine, workspaces, vertical tabs, privacy, and platforms. Arc itself is closed source, and these browsers range from Firefox and Chromium forks with spaces and vertical tabs to an independent browser engine still in early development.
Written by Maxime DERAME
Last updated:
| Alternative | Best for | License |
|---|---|---|
| Zen Browser | Closest to Arc: vertical tabs, spaces, and split view | MPL-2.0 |
| Helium | Privacy-first Chromium browser | GPL-3.0 |
| Brave | Chromium browser with built-in ad blocking | MPL-2.0 |
| Flow | Spaces and Chrome extensions (slower development) | GPL-3.0 |
| Waterfox | Tree-style tabs and no telemetry | MPL-2.0 |
| LibreWolf | Hardened privacy | MPL-2.0 |
| Midori Browser | Lightweight privacy browser with workspaces | MPL-2.0 |
| Ladybird | Independent browser engine (pre-alpha) | BSD-2-Clause |
We looked for open-source browsers that overlap with Arc's core: a sidebar-style tab layout, spaces or workspaces for organizing browsing, and a clean interface. We verified each project's license, recent activity, stars, engine, and platforms in its repository. Arc is a closed-source Chromium browser, so we compare which alternatives offer vertical tabs and workspaces, and flag early-stage and slower projects. See our methodology for the full criteria.
Ladybird is a new, independent browser engine built from scratch, with no Blink, WebKit, or Gecko code. Its README says it is in a pre-alpha state and only suitable for developers, so it cannot replace Arc as a daily browser yet.
Zen Browser is the closest: a Firefox-based browser with vertical tabs, split views, workspaces, and extensive customization. Flow offers spaces, profiles, and a command palette on Chromium, but its last commit was in May 2026, so its development is slower. Helium and Brave are Chromium browsers focused on privacy, with limited Arc-style tab features.
Zen, Waterfox, LibreWolf, and Midori use the Gecko engine from Firefox, so they support Firefox add-ons. Helium, Brave, and Flow use Chromium and support Chrome extensions, and Helium keeps Manifest V2 extension support. Ladybird uses its own engine.
Zen, Brave, Waterfox, LibreWolf, and Midori are MPL-2.0. Helium and Flow are GPL-3.0, and Ladybird is BSD-2-Clause.
Waterfox and LibreWolf ship without telemetry, and LibreWolf hardens Firefox further and includes uBlock Origin. Helium has no analytics and no built-in sync or password manager by design. Brave blocks ads and trackers by default, but it includes optional Brave Rewards and cryptocurrency features that some users dislike.
Zen, Helium, Brave, Waterfox, LibreWolf, Midori, and Ladybird were updated within days of this update. Flow's last commit was in May 2026, so it is slower.
Arc is a proprietary browser from The Browser Company, which has shifted its focus to other products, leaving Arc with limited new development. It is closed source and requires an account for some features. Open-source browsers let you inspect the code, avoid vendor decisions about the product's future, and choose privacy settings and tab layouts that fit you.
| Alternative | Engine | License | Vertical tabs and spaces | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zen Browser | Gecko (Firefox) | MPL-2.0 | Yes | Closest to Arc |
| Helium | Chromium | GPL-3.0 | Limited | Privacy with Chrome extensions |
| Brave | Chromium | MPL-2.0 | Vertical tabs | Built-in blocking |
| Flow | Chromium | GPL-3.0 | Spaces | Spaces and extensions |
| Waterfox | Gecko (Firefox) | MPL-2.0 | Tree-style tabs | Tab hierarchy and privacy |
| LibreWolf | Gecko (Firefox) | MPL-2.0 | No | Hardened privacy |
| Midori Browser | Gecko (Firefox) | MPL-2.0 | Workspaces | Lightweight browsing |
| Ladybird | Own engine (pre-alpha) | BSD-2-Clause | No | Engine diversity |
Want the closest Arc-style experience
Zen is a Firefox-based browser with vertical tabs, split views, workspaces, and Zen Mods, under MPL-2.0.
Want a privacy-first Chromium browser
Helium blocks ads and trackers by default, has no analytics, and keeps Manifest V2 extension support.
Want built-in ad blocking on Chromium
Brave blocks ads and trackers by default and syncs across devices, with optional Rewards features.
Want spaces and a command palette on Chromium
Flow offers profiles, multiple spaces, and a command palette, but its development has slowed since May 2026.
Want tab hierarchy for research
Waterfox has tree-style tabs, no telemetry, and no AI features.
Want maximum privacy hardening
LibreWolf removes telemetry, includes uBlock Origin, and resists fingerprinting, at the cost of some compatibility.
Want an independent browser engine
Ladybird builds a new engine from scratch, but it is pre-alpha and not ready for daily use.