Dia
Arc's official successor from The Browser Company: Profiles, Tab Groups, Arc import, optional paid AI.
Dia is a Chromium-based browser from The Browser Company, the team behind Arc, and is the browser Arc users are being moved to ahead of Arc's 22 December 2026 sunset. Arc Spaces become Profiles, Arc folders become pinned Tab Groups, and an importer brings over Spaces, pinned tabs, history, passwords and extensions. The browser itself is free; the built-in AI chat and assistant features require paid plans after a 14-day trial. It runs on macOS and Windows.
71% Arc feature parity (yes = 1, partial = ½).
Built-in AI
AI-first
Chat, Skills and Morning Brief are built into the command bar and sidebar, with no off switch; the free plan after the 14-day trial has no AI.
diabrowser.comNot counted in Arc parity: some people want AI, some avoid it.
Bloat check
3 things you didn't ask for
- Paid upsellsAfter the 14-day trial AI features pause and Dia prompts you to upgrade ($10 or $100/mo) when you reach for one.diabrowser.com
- Telemetry on by defaultPrivacy policy: feature-usage events and IP/device data are collected automatically for analytics; content data is used to improve Dia unless you opt out.diabrowser.com
- Account requiredYou sign up and sign in to use Dia; sign-in runs on Atlassian's identity system. No account-free mode is documented.diabrowser.com
No ads or wallet found; the built-in ad and tracker blocker is on by default and the privacy policy says no targeted advertising.
Ads, crypto, paid upsells, news feeds, default-on telemetry, required accounts.
Organization
| Feature | Dia | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vertical sidebarTabs live in a vertical sidebar that is the main tab UI and can be hidden. | ◐ | ✓ | Sidebar layout is optional; Dia opens with a top tab bar. Importing from Arc switches to the sidebar.resources.arc.net |
| SpacesSeveral workspaces per window, each with its own pinned and open tabs, switched by swipe or shortcut. | ✓ | ✓ | Called Profiles: each has its own tabs; swipe or Ctrl+1–9 to switch.resources.arc.net |
| 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 logins/tabs but can optionally share data; imported Spaces of one Arc profile share logins.resources.arc.net |
| Global favoritesPinned icons at the top of the sidebar shared by every Space (Zen calls them Essentials). | ◐ | ✓ | Bundle 1.56.0: Favorites dock + Arc favorites import exist; container is keyed by space_id, so per Profile.releases.diabrowser.com |
| Pinned tabs & foldersPer-space pinned tabs that act like bookmarks, with nested folders. | ◐ | ✓ | Pinned tabs plus pinned Tab Groups (from folders), but Dia does not nest Tab Groups.resources.arc.net |
| Auto-archive tabsUnpinned tabs close automatically after a set time and stay recoverable in an archive. | ◐ | ✓ | Bundle 1.56.0: Clean Tabs thresholds 12h/24h/3d/7d, per profile; off by default, tabs go to Recently Closed.releases.diabrowser.com |
| Space themesPer-space colour or gradient themes. | ✓ | ✓ | Per-Profile colour themes with an intensity setting.diabrowser.com |
Browsing
| Feature | Dia | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Split ViewTwo or more tabs side by side in one window. | ✓ | ✓ | Arc's Split View carried over; each pane has its own nav bar.resources.arc.net |
| Link previewOpen a link in an overlay without leaving the current page (Zen calls it Glance). | ✕ | ✓ | Not available; official advice is to open the link and use Split View.resources.arc.net |
| Mini windowA small, chrome-less window for links opened from other apps or a quick search. | ✕ | ✓ | Little Arc has no Dia equivalent.resources.arc.net |
| Command barA ⌘T palette that searches tabs, history, bookmarks and browser commands. | ✓ | ✓ | Command Bar listed as 'Same' as Arc; it also routes to AI chat or Google.resources.arc.net |
| Link routingRules that send links from other apps to a chosen space or profile. | ✓ | ✓ | Rules route incoming links to a Profile (Settings → Advanced); added in 1.56 on Mac and Windows.diabrowser.com |
| Site customizationPer-site custom CSS/JS, or zapping elements off a page. | ✕ | ✓ | Boosts do not exist in Dia and do not import from Arc.resources.arc.net |
| Auto picture-in-picturePlaying video pops out into picture-in-picture automatically when you switch tabs. | ✓ | ✓ | Bundle 1.56.0: auto-PiP on tab switch with global and per-site off switches; Meet has its own flag.releases.diabrowser.com |
Compatibility & migration
| Feature | Dia | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arc importImports Arc spaces, pinned tabs and folders. | ✓ | – | Imports Spaces (as Profiles), Favorites, pinned tabs, folders (as Tab Groups); Easels and Boosts excluded.resources.arc.net |
| Chrome extensionsInstalls extensions from the Chrome Web Store. | ✓ | ✓ | Chrome Web Store extensions work; legacy Manifest V2 extensions are no longer supported.resources.arc.net |
| DRM (Widevine)Netflix, Disney+, Spotify web and other DRM video/audio play. Chromium forks need a Google Widevine licence. | ✓ | ✓ | Bundle 1.56.0: Widevine CDM installed via component updater (not bundled); ArcCore.sig + EME key system present.releases.diabrowser.com |
| PasskeysWebAuthn passkeys, Touch ID and the system/iCloud keychain. | ✓ | ✓ | iCloud Keychain passkeys supported on Mac since 1.4.0; Windows support not documented.diabrowser.com |
| SyncSpaces, pinned tabs and settings sync across devices. | ✓ | ✓ | Syncs Profiles, bookmarks, favorites, settings and extensions between Mac and Windows.diabrowser.com |
| Mobile appiPhone, iPad or Android app that shares spaces with desktop. | ✕ | ◐ | Mac and Windows only; iPhone tabs can only be handed off to Dia on Mac via Handoff.diabrowser.com |
Extras
| Feature | Dia | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in ad blockerAd and tracker blocking without installing an extension. | ✓ | ✓ | Built-in ad and tracker blocker, included in the free plan.diabrowser.com |
Extension support
Which extension formats and stores run, beyond the Chrome Web Store row above. Not counted in Arc parity.
| Feature | Dia | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manifest V2 extensionsThe older extension format Chrome removed in 2025. Needed for full uBlock Origin and other extensions that block requests. | ✕ | ✕ | Dia 1.17.0 (2026-02) dropped MV2; Chromium 157 also blocks it with no flag.diabrowser.com |
| Manifest V3 extensionsThe current extension format used by the Chrome Web Store (and supported by Firefox and Safari). | ✓ | ✓ | Chrome Web Store extensions work on Chromium 157, which loads MV3 natively.resources.arc.net |
| Firefox add-onsAdd-ons from addons.mozilla.org or .xpi files install and run. | ✕ | ✕ | Chromium-based: Firefox .xpi add-ons are not CRX packages, so its installer rejects them.chromium.googlesource.com |
| Safari extensionsSafari web extensions (the App Store extension apps Safari uses) install and run. | ✕ | ✕ | Safari extensions are app extensions that only Safari loads; Chromium 157 has no loader for them.developer.apple.com |