Camber
Free, open-source Arc-style browser on Electron for Mac, Windows and Linux, with an Arc importer.
Camber (written lowercase, "camber") is an Electron browser made by one developer after Arc's shutdown announcement. It copies Arc's vertical sidebar, spaces, pinned tabs and folders, favorites, command bar, split view, Peek, little windows and Air Traffic Control-style link rules, and imports spaces, profiles, favorites, pinned tabs and folders from Arc's sidebar file. It runs stock Electron (Chromium 156), so Widevine DRM is missing and Netflix, Disney+ and Spotify web do not play. It has no sync, Boosts, ad blocker or AI, and builds are unsigned. Idle tabs unload after an hour by default.
50% Arc feature parity (yes = 1, partial = ½).
No AI
No AI features: the README says so, and the source and dependencies contain no AI code.
github.comNot counted in Arc parity: some people want AI, some avoid it.
None found
No ads, wallet, feed, upsell or account. Only own network call is a GitHub release check (main.js L156-L173); no analytics or crash SDK among the three dependencies.
github.comAds, crypto, paid upsells, news feeds, default-on telemetry, required accounts.
Organization
| Feature | Camber | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vertical sidebarTabs live in a vertical sidebar that is the main tab UI and can be hidden. | ✓ | ✓ | Vertical sidebar is the only tab UI; View > Toggle Sidebar (Cmd/Ctrl+S) hides it.github.com |
| SpacesSeveral workspaces per window, each with its own pinned and open tabs, switched by swipe or shortcut. | ✓ | ✓ | Each space has its own pinned and open tabs; Cmd+Ctrl+Left/Right (Ctrl+Alt on Win/Linux) switches.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. | ◐ | ✓ | Profiles are separate, shareable sessions, but only Arc import assigns them; new spaces use 'default'.github.com |
| Global favoritesPinned icons at the top of the sidebar shared by every Space (Zen calls them Essentials). | ◐ | ✓ | Icon grid is per profile, not global, and filled only by Arc import; no way to add a favorite in the app.github.com |
| Pinned tabs & foldersPer-space pinned tabs that act like bookmarks, with nested folders. | ◐ | ✓ | Per-space pinned tabs (Cmd+D) and nested folders, but folders only arrive via Arc import; none can be created.github.com |
| Auto-archive tabsUnpinned tabs close automatically after a set time and stay recoverable in an archive. | ◐ | ✓ | Unpinned tabs close after 12 h or 24 h (or never); closed tabs are gone, there is no archive list.github.com |
| Space themesPer-space colour or gradient themes. | ◐ | ✓ | Each space has its own colour tint, from a fixed list or imported from Arc; no theme picker.github.com |
Browsing
| Feature | Camber | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Split ViewTwo or more tabs side by side in one window. | ◐ | ✓ | Two tabs of a space side by side (Tab > Split with…); no more than two panes.github.com |
| Link previewOpen a link in an overlay without leaving the current page (Zen calls it Glance). | ◐ | ✓ | Shift+click a favorite or Cmd+Shift+click a pinned tab previews it; links inside pages do not peek.github.com |
| Mini windowA small, chrome-less window for links opened from other apps or a quick search. | ✓ | ✓ | Links from other apps with no routing rule open in a small window; Cmd+O moves the page into a space.github.com |
| Command barA ⌘T palette that searches tabs, history, bookmarks and browser commands. | ◐ | ✓ | Cmd+T searches open tabs, takes a URL or web search, and runs 'split'; no history, bookmarks or commands.github.com |
| Link routingRules that send links from other apps to a chosen space or profile. | ✓ | ✓ | Per-site rules (subdomains included) send links from other apps to a chosen space.github.com |
| Site customizationPer-site custom CSS/JS, or zapping elements off a page. | ✕ | ✓ | README lists Boosts as a known gap.github.com |
| Auto picture-in-picturePlaying video pops out into picture-in-picture automatically when you switch tabs. | ✓ | ✓ | A playing video pops out when you leave its tab and returns on coming back; on by default, can be turned off.github.com |
Compatibility & migration
| Feature | Camber | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arc importImports Arc spaces, pinned tabs and folders. | ✓ | – | Imports spaces, profiles, favorites, pinned tabs, folders and today tabs; not history, passwords or Boosts.github.com |
| Chrome extensionsInstalls extensions from the Chrome Web Store. | ◐ | ✓ | Installs from the Chrome Web Store via Electron's extension layer; 1Password is documented as not working.github.com |
| DRM (Widevine)Netflix, Disney+, Spotify web and other DRM video/audio play. Chromium forks need a Google Widevine licence. | ✕ | ✓ | No Widevine: Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+ and Spotify web do not play; no module in the app bundle.github.com |
| PasskeysWebAuthn passkeys, Touch ID and the system/iCloud keychain. | ? | ✓ | |
| SyncSpaces, pinned tabs and settings sync across devices. | ✕ | ✓ | README lists sync as a known gap; state is a local state.json.github.com |
| Mobile appiPhone, iPad or Android app that shares spaces with desktop. | ✕ | ◐ | Releases are Mac, Windows and Linux installers only.github.com |
Extras
| Feature | Camber | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in ad blockerAd and tracker blocking without installing an extension. | ✕ | ✓ | No ad or tracker blocking in the source or dependencies; not on the feature list.github.com |
Extension support
Which extension formats and stores run, beyond the Chrome Web Store row above. Not counted in Arc parity.
| Feature | Camber | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manifest V2 extensionsThe older extension format Chrome removed in 2025. Needed for full uBlock Origin and other extensions that block requests. | ✕ | ✕ | Web Store installs refuse MV2 (library default); no unpacked loading. No patch restoring MV2.github.com |
| Manifest V3 extensionsThe current extension format used by the Chrome Web Store (and supported by Firefox and Safari). | ◐ | ✓ | Installs, but Electron lists no declarativeNetRequest, so MV3 content blockers cannot block.github.com |
| Firefox add-onsAdd-ons from addons.mozilla.org or .xpi files install and run. | ✕ | ✕ | Chrome-format only (Chrome Web Store installs); no Firefox add-on install path.github.com |
| Safari extensionsSafari web extensions (the App Store extension apps Safari uses) install and run. | ✕ | ✕ | Chrome-format extensions only; Electron has no Safari extension host.github.com |