Blanc
A minimal Chromium browser with one floating Island, Spaces and an Arc importer; free and open source.
Blanc is an Electron browser by Bananify, a solo-maintained studio. It swaps the tab strip and toolbar for one floating 'Island' pill with tabs, search and slash commands, with optional vertical tabs. It has free Blanc Spaces (saved tab sets with colour and symbol), tab groups, Glance cards, a two-pane Split View, a Mini Window, link-routing rules and an opt-in tab Archive. Bring Your Tabs imports Arc Spaces, pinned and Today tabs, folders as groups and top-row Favorites from the sidebar file. Ad and tracker blocking is on by default, with full uBlock Origin optional; no other extensions can be installed. It runs castLabs' Electron with Widevine, has end-to-end encrypted sync and an iPhone app, and has no AI.
67% Arc feature parity (yes = 1, partial = ½).
Built-in AI
No AI
Blanc ships no AI assistant or agent browser.
github.comNot counted in Arc parity: some people want AI, some avoid it.
Bloat check
2 things you didn't ask for
- Telemetry on by defaultAnonymous launch ping with a random install ID, plus first-day events, is on by default; opt out in Settings. No browsing data is sent.github.com
- Paid upsellsStart Page shows a dismissible Patron upgrade pill that returns after 90 days. Patron is optional support and unlocks nothing.github.com
No ads, wallet, feed or account; sync needs no account.
Ads, crypto, paid upsells, news feeds, default-on telemetry, required accounts.
Organization
| Feature | Blanc | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vertical sidebarTabs live in a vertical sidebar that is the main tab UI and can be hidden. | ◐ | ✓ | Vertical tabs are an optional layout; the default is a floating 'Island' pill, not a sidebar.github.com |
| SpacesSeveral workspaces per window, each with its own pinned and open tabs, switched by swipe or shortcut. | ✓ | ✓ | Each space keeps its own tabs, groups and pinned tabs plus a colour and symbol; switch from the Island.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. | ◐ | ✓ | Local profiles split cookies and logins, but a space lives inside one profile and cannot pick another.github.com |
| Global favoritesPinned icons at the top of the sidebar shared by every Space (Zen calls them Essentials). | ◐ | ✓ | Pinned tabs are saved per space; 'Favorites' are bookmarks, not a top row shared by all spaces.github.com |
| Pinned tabs & foldersPer-space pinned tabs that act like bookmarks, with nested folders. | ◐ | ✓ | Per-space pinned tabs and named groups, but groups are flat; Arc's nested folders get flattened.github.com |
| Auto-archive tabsUnpinned tabs close automatically after a set time and stay recoverable in an archive. | ✓ | ✓ | Off by default; at 12 h to 30 d idle loose tabs go to a 30-day Archive (500 max), restorable from ⌘L.github.com |
| Space themesPer-space colour or gradient themes. | ◐ | ✓ | Each space has a colour and the Start Page can match it; no per-space theme for the whole window.github.com |
Browsing
| Feature | Blanc | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Split ViewTwo or more tabs side by side in one window. | ◐ | ✓ | Two panes only, made from a tab's Split menu or Glance's 'Keep as split'.github.com |
| Link previewOpen a link in an overlay without leaving the current page (Zen calls it Glance). | ✓ | ✓ | Open Link in Glance shows a link as a movable, resizable card over the page; can open as a tab.github.com |
| Mini windowA small, chrome-less window for links opened from other apps or a quick search. | ◐ | ✓ | Mini Window opens from File menu or an opt-in shortcut; links from other apps never open in it.github.com |
| Command barA ⌘T palette that searches tabs, history, bookmarks and browser commands. | ✓ | ✓ | ⌘L/Ctrl+L panel searches tabs, groups, Spaces, Favorites and history and runs slash commands.github.com |
| Link routingRules that send links from other apps to a chosen space or profile. | ✓ | ✓ | Domain or 'contains' rules send links from other apps to a profile, a Space or a private tab.github.com |
| Site customizationPer-site custom CSS/JS, or zapping elements off a page. | ◐ | ✓ | No custom CSS/JS; the optional uBlock Origin brings an element picker/zapper.github.com |
| Auto picture-in-picturePlaying video pops out into picture-in-picture automatically when you switch tabs. | ? | ✓ |
Compatibility & migration
| Feature | Blanc | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arc importImports Arc spaces, pinned tabs and folders. | ✓ | – | Imports chosen Spaces' pinned and Today tabs, folders as groups, and top-row Favorites; no history.github.com |
| Chrome extensionsInstalls extensions from the Chrome Web Store. | ✕ | ✓ | No Chrome Web Store installs; only a bundled uBlock Origin runs, as the Arc-switch page says.blanc.day |
| DRM (Widevine)Netflix, Disney+, Spotify web and other DRM video/audio play. Chromium forks need a Google Widevine licence. | ✓ | ✓ | castLabs Electron plays Widevine since v1.43; Windows needs x64. Netflix tried on Apple Silicon only.github.com |
| PasskeysWebAuthn passkeys, Touch ID and the system/iCloud keychain. | ◐ | ✓ | macOS only: Touch ID passkeys stay on that Mac (Secure Enclave); no iCloud keychain.github.com |
| SyncSpaces, pinned tabs and settings sync across devices. | ✓ | ✓ | End-to-end encrypted sync of Favorites, settings, open tabs and, opt-in, up to 25 Spaces.github.com |
| Mobile appiPhone, iPad or Android app that shares spaces with desktop. | ◐ | ◐ | iPhone app (App Store) pairs by QR for Favorites and tabs; Spaces don't sync to it; no Android.github.com |
Extras
| Feature | Blanc | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in ad blockerAd and tracker blocking without installing an extension. | ✓ | ✓ | Blanc Blocker (EasyList, EasyPrivacy) is on by default; full uBlock Origin is an optional choice.github.com |
Extension support
Which extension formats and stores run, beyond the Chrome Web Store row above. Not counted in Arc parity.
| Feature | Blanc | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manifest V2 extensionsThe older extension format Chrome removed in 2025. Needed for full uBlock Origin and other extensions that block requests. | ◐ | ✕ | Only a bundled, pinned uBlock Origin 1.75.0 (MV2) loads; users cannot install MV2 extensions.github.com |
| Manifest V3 extensionsThe current extension format used by the Chrome Web Store (and supported by Firefox and Safari). | ✕ | ✓ | No general extension installation, and no Chrome Web Store support.github.com |
| Firefox add-onsAdd-ons from addons.mozilla.org or .xpi files install and run. | ✕ | ✕ | No general extension installation; no Firefox add-on path.github.com |
| Safari extensionsSafari web extensions (the App Store extension apps Safari uses) install and run. | ✕ | ✕ | No general extension installation; Safari extensions are not hosted.github.com |