ARC Browser : The best alternative to Safari and Google Chrome
You are very likely already familiar with Google Chrome, but most people generally do not know about the Arc browser... Or maybe just by name.
It is actually a true operating system for the Internet that offers a bunch of features you won’t be able to live without.
The Origins
At the origin of the Arc browser is a company: The Browser Company of New York. Its mission is simple: to invent the future of the internet and provide a solution to the increasingly complex and feature-laden browsers that we encounter.
The idea is to offer a browser that completely adapts to everyone's unique needs.
In a few points:
- Enhanced security
- Faster page loading
- Built-in ad blocker
- Omnipresent artificial intelligence
A Chromium Base
You might not know this, but Google Chrome (and the Brave browser) actually use an open-source engine called Chromium behind the scenes.
This engine enables the full execution of the browser. It’s somewhat like two cars having the same engine: they appear different but have the same towing capabilities.
This might seem trivial, but it’s a real advantage: all the extensions you use with Google Chrome are actually fully compatible with Arc.
You can even download them from the official Google store.
Similarly, this means you can use the latest Chromium features and thus read codes using the latest versions of programming languages (especially HTML and CSS).
An Innovative Interface
From the download of Arc, you will notice a fundamental difference: the tabs are on the left.
This is an adaptation to implement but proves very interesting when—as most people do—you end up with dozens of open tabs: you end up not finding the right page.
With Arc, you will see the full name of the website page you are visiting on the internet.
Moreover, if you also end up having tabs that you haven't opened for weeks, know that there is good news: Arc can automatically sort and remove inactive tabs on your behalf.
This option is completely adjustable and configurable. By default, Arc removes all inactive tabs after 12 hours.
Mastering Workspaces
A well-organized browser is a boosted experience and productivity.
If you also try to categorize your tabs into groups, know that Arc has an even more optimal feature: workspaces.
These spaces allow us to categorize tabs:
- For work (Google, Canva, ChatGPT, ...)
- For entertainment (Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, ...)
- For travel (Booking, ANA, Google Sheets, ...)
- And as many names as you want.
Additionally, for each workspace, you will also have the ability to set a specific color: useful for easily finding what you’re looking for.
Thanks to workspaces, you will no longer need to hassle with opening and closing other groups in your browser: the entire interface changes to show only the tabs useful to you.
A Beautifully Designed System
Do you need tabs open permanently? Arc has completely rethought the bookmarks system by creating pins: these are tabs that are placed at the top of your space and are never deleted by Arc.
You can, for example, use these bookmarks for very specific spaces. An example of a "content creation" space for Believemy automatically includes these tabs:
- The publication automation site (FeedHive)
- The content creation site (Figma)
- The collaboration site (Asana)
Then, beneath these bookmarks, temporary tabs for content creation such as Wikipedia pages, Reddit results, images on Freepik, or other things can slide in. These tabs will be deleted by Arc after 12 hours of inactivity.
If you want to set a tab for all your workspaces, you can also add an "application".
These applications are essentially tabs that are placed at the top of your workspaces and are stored in memory by Arc to be used and updated in real-time across all your workspaces.
For example, a Mail application will allow Arc to detect every second if you receive a new email in your tab. It will therefore display a small dot on the icon of this last one to notify you of the new email. No more needing to check your inboxes every hour.
Integrated Artificial Intelligence
Arc is directly equipped with powerful artificial intelligence features that allow you to be even more productive.
For example, it allows you to discover page summaries just by hovering over links on the SERP (search engine results pages).
But that’s not all: Arc will find the page to open in your browser on your behalf without you needing to explicitly click on it in search engines.
This is a feature that allows you to type in the command bar what you want: for example, "Believemy JavaScript Training".
Once this keyword is typed, Arc will understand what you’re searching for and directly display the official Believemy site with the presentation of the JavaScript training.
Collaborative Tools
Another feature offered by Arc is called Easel.
This is actually a smart and collaborative dashboard. It allows you, for example, to take screenshots of a website that will automatically update.
Yes, yes, you’re not dreaming.
It is an extremely useful feature when you want to share KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) with other members of your team, for example.
For instance, at Believemy, the statistics of all registered members, subscribers, and time spent on each training are available in real-time on an Easel. Very practical at the beginning of the month to see all key figures at once while saving hours of research (as we also add social media statistics).
A Long List of Features
In reality, it would take an entire course to present all the possibilities offered by the Arc browser: but for the occasion, here are some of the most important ones.
The Library
With the library, Arc completely replaces your file manager (Finder on Mac). At least for everything related to your browser.
You can, for example, very quickly find a downloaded document or even an Easel, a screenshot, or a text.
Split View
This is directly integrated by the Arc browser! You can place two tabs side by side and work on creating a publication for a network with resources on the right if you want, for example.
You can also increase or decrease the size of a part of the Split View as Apple offers with Split View on their systems.
Little Arc
This feature allows you to open a small window to quickly visit a page of your choice. It’s a miniature version of the Arc browser.
The main advantage is that you won’t need to clutter your main window.
For example, when you click on a link in an email, Arc will open this page in a window with Little Arc. The reason is simple: it knows that we generally won’t keep this tab open for long and that it’s just to quickly see what the person sent us.
Do you perhaps want to keep this page open longer? A small click on a button will move the page to your current workspace.
The Boosts
Here, let your imagination and creativity run wild.
This is a possibility offered by the Arc browser to allow you to change the style of a website, replace its content, or inject new features. Obviously, this is especially interesting for developers.
Picture-in-Picture Mode
Do you know that video that pops into a small corner of your computer when you click on it on a Mac? Arc manages it too!
If you open a YouTube video but switch tabs, you can continue watching your video in a corner of your browser and resize or remove it if necessary.
A Always-Up-to-Date Browser
Last small thing to mention. The team behind the Arc browser releases updates every week with new features and small details that enhance the experience and productivity during use.
This is a simple clarification, but it’s quickly addictive to see the advancements made by The Browser Company team.
Each week, you will have a summary of the new changes that have been made.
Conclusion
Arc is an extremely versatile browser for both Mac and Windows. However, keep in mind that it generally consumes three times more RAM than other browsers like Google Chrome.
Nowadays, with increasingly powerful computers, this is no longer a problem for more and more people, but you should still keep it in mind.
If you want to download Arc, you can do so here.
