Ardia
Free open-source Chromium browser for Mac: Arc's sidebar, Dia's polish, uBlock Origin built in, no AI.
Ardia is a free, open-source Mac browser that pairs Arc's sidebar with Dia's look, built on Chromium 156 with ungoogled-chromium/Helium privacy patches. Each Arc space imports as its own profile, and profiles are swipeable workspaces with their own pinned tabs, logins and themes. It has no Widevine, so streaming sites open in WebKit, and sync runs end-to-end encrypted through a folder in iCloud Drive. It requires Apple silicon and macOS 14 or later.
83% Arc feature parity (yes = 1, partial = ½).
Built-in AI
No AI
No built-in AI; the README tracks Dia parity as "everything but its AI".
github.comNot counted in Arc parity: some people want AI, some avoid it.
Bloat check
1 thing you didn't ask for
- Telemetry on by defaultOne anonymous "opened today" count (version, macOS, chip) goes to ardia.dev even with sharing off; crash and usage stats are opt-in.github.com
No ads, wallet, feed, upsell or account; sync is a folder you pick. Full crash and usage sharing is off unless you turn it on.
Ads, crypto, paid upsells, news feeds, default-on telemetry, required accounts.
Organization
| Feature | Ardia | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vertical sidebarTabs live in a vertical sidebar that is the main tab UI and can be hidden. | ✓ | ✓ | Tabs and address bar live in the sidebar, left or right; ⌘S auto-hides it.github.com |
| SpacesSeveral workspaces per window, each with its own pinned and open tabs, switched by swipe or shortcut. | ✓ | ✓ | Each profile is a Space with its own pinned and open tabs; swipe or ⌃1–9 to switch.github.com |
| Profiles per Space (shareable)Each Space can use its own browser profile (separate cookies, logins, history), and one profile can be shared by several Spaces. | ◐ | ✓ | Space = profile (1:1). New profiles can share another's data store, but each is still its own Space.github.com |
| Global favoritesPinned icons at the top of the sidebar shared by every Space (Zen calls them Essentials). | ◐ | ✓ | Top Apps are per profile; shared only by profiles with shared data that opt in (off by default).github.com |
| Pinned tabs & foldersPer-space pinned tabs that act like bookmarks, with nested folders. | ✓ | ✓ | Per-profile pinned tabs and pinned groups that nest; Arc folders import as nested groups.github.com |
| Auto-archive tabsUnpinned tabs close automatically after a set time and stay recoverable in an archive. | ✓ | ✓ | Optional auto clean-up after 12h/24h/7d/30d/custom; cleaned tabs stay in Recently Cleaned for 7 days.github.com |
| Space themesPer-space colour or gradient themes. | ✓ | ✓ | Per-profile gradient themes (up to 3 stops, grain, texture, translucency); Arc themes can be imported.github.com |
Browsing
| Feature | Ardia | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Split ViewTwo or more tabs side by side in one window. | ✓ | ✓ | Up to three panes (MAX_SPLIT_PANES = 3), side by side or stacked.github.com |
| Link previewOpen a link in an overlay without leaving the current page (Zen calls it Glance). | ✓ | ✓ | Shift-click (or Option-click, configurable) a link to open it in a Peek card; it can become a tab.github.com |
| Mini windowA small, chrome-less window for links opened from other apps or a quick search. | ✓ | ✓ | Little Ardia (⌥⌘N) is a one-page window; links from other apps open in it by default.github.com |
| Command barA ⌘T palette that searches tabs, history, bookmarks and browser commands. | ✓ | ✓ | ⌘L (and ⌘T with the Arc preset) opens a bar searching tabs, history, bookmarks and commands.github.com |
| Link routingRules that send links from other apps to a chosen space or profile. | ✓ | ✓ | hooks.json rules route links by URL pattern and source app to a profile; no GUI, needs Settings approval.github.com |
| Site customizationPer-site custom CSS/JS, or zapping elements off a page. | ◐ | ✓ | No Boosts editor or zap; per-site userscripts only via the separate ardia CLI, or extensions.github.com |
| Auto picture-in-picturePlaying video pops out into picture-in-picture automatically when you switch tabs. | ✓ | ✓ | Audible video floats into picture-in-picture when you switch tabs; on by default.github.com |
Compatibility & migration
| Feature | Ardia | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arc importImports Arc spaces, pinned tabs and folders. | ✓ | – | Reads Arc's StorableSidebar.json: spaces with themes, pinned tabs, nested folders, favorites.github.com |
| Chrome extensionsInstalls extensions from the Chrome Web Store. | ✓ | ✓ | Chrome Web Store installs work; Ardia relabels the button to Add to Ardia.github.com |
| DRM (Widevine)Netflix, Disney+, Spotify web and other DRM video/audio play. Chromium forks need a Google Widevine licence. | ◐ | ✓ | No Widevine CDM; 15 streaming sites (Netflix, Spotify…) auto-open in WebKit with FairPlay.github.com |
| PasskeysWebAuthn passkeys, Touch ID and the system/iCloud keychain. | ◐ | ✓ | Touch ID passkeys work; iCloud Keychain passkeys wait on Apple's browser entitlement.github.com |
| SyncSpaces, pinned tabs and settings sync across devices. | ✓ | ✓ | E2E-encrypted folder sync (iCloud Drive by default): profiles, pins, bookmarks, history, passwords, settings.github.com |
| Mobile appiPhone, iPad or Android app that shares spaces with desktop. | ✕ | ◐ | Mac only; the repo's apps/ holds no mobile app, and the README says Apple silicon Macs only.github.com |
Extras
| Feature | Ardia | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in ad blockerAd and tracker blocking without installing an extension. | ✓ | ✓ | Full uBlock Origin 1.75.4 bundled in every profile; cookie-banner lists are a Settings toggle.github.com |
Extension support
Which extension formats and stores run, beyond the Chrome Web Store row above. Not counted in Arc parity.
| Feature | Ardia | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manifest V2 extensionsThe older extension format Chrome removed in 2025. Needed for full uBlock Origin and other extensions that block requests. | ✓ | ✕ | Helium's extensions-manifestv2 patch lifts Chromium's MV2 block; full uBlock Origin (MV2) is bundled.github.com |
| Manifest V3 extensionsThe current extension format used by the Chrome Web Store (and supported by Firefox and Safari). | ✓ | ✓ | Stock Chromium 156 runs MV3 (max manifest version 3); no Ardia or Helium patch removes it.chromium.googlesource.com |
| Firefox add-onsAdd-ons from addons.mozilla.org or .xpi files install and run. | ✕ | ✕ | Chromium only installs Chrome-format (.crx) extension downloads; Firefox .xpi add-ons don't install.chromium.googlesource.com |
| Safari extensionsSafari web extensions (the App Store extension apps Safari uses) install and run. | ✕ | ✕ | Safari web extensions ship as Safari app extensions; Chromium has no host for them.developer.apple.com |