Lilo
Free, open-source Mac browser on WebKit with Arc-style Spaces, Chrome extensions and terminal tabs.
Lilo is a native Mac browser written in Swift and AppKit on the WebKit engine that ships with macOS, with its sidebar and settings in Svelte. It keeps Arc's sidebar model: Spaces with their own profiles, pinned tabs and folders, favorites, Peek, a Little window, split view, a command bar, link rules and auto-archived tabs. It imports Arc spaces, folders and favorites straight from the Arc app data, installs Manifest V3 extensions from the Chrome Web Store, and blocks ads by default. It has no account, sync, telemetry or built-in model; terminal tabs and a local MCP server let your own AI agents drive it. It is a Mac-only public beta that needs macOS 26 or later, and DRM video runs through FairPlay only.
79% Arc feature parity (yes = 1, partial = ½).
AI optional
No model of its own. Agent control (MCP server) and sidebar chats with your own agents are both off until you enable them in Settings.
github.comNot counted in Arc parity: some people want AI, some avoid it.
None found
Privacy policy: no account, sync, telemetry or analytics, and no project server. No ads, wallet, feed or upsells found; update checks send only the version.
github.comAds, crypto, paid upsells, news feeds, default-on telemetry, required accounts.
Organization
| Feature | Lilo | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vertical sidebarTabs live in a vertical sidebar that is the main tab UI and can be hidden. | ✓ | ✓ | Tabs sit in a left sidebar by default; they can also go right, top or bottom.github.com |
| SpacesSeveral workspaces per window, each with its own pinned and open tabs, switched by swipe or shortcut. | ✓ | ✓ | Spaces with emoji and colour, each with its own tabs; swipe between them; private Spaces forget on close.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. | ✓ | ✓ | Every Space has a profileId; profiles hold their own cookies and extensions and can be shared by Spaces.github.com |
| Global favoritesPinned icons at the top of the sidebar shared by every Space (Zen calls them Essentials). | ◐ | ✓ | Favorite tiles are stored per Space; Arc import copies them into each Space of a profile.github.com |
| Pinned tabs & foldersPer-space pinned tabs that act like bookmarks, with nested folders. | ✓ | ✓ | Per-Space pinned section; folders nest up to five levels and can be locked.github.com |
| Auto-archive tabsUnpinned tabs close automatically after a set time and stay recoverable in an archive. | ✓ | ✓ | Idle unpinned tabs are archived after 12 h by default (0 = never), set per Space; archive is searchable.github.com |
| Space themesPer-space colour or gradient themes. | ✓ | ✓ | Each Space has its own colour, colour mode (fixed, time, page, wallpaper) and material (solid, glass, grain).github.com |
Browsing
| Feature | Lilo | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Split ViewTwo or more tabs side by side in one window. | ✓ | ✓ | Up to four tabs side by side, restored on relaunch.github.com |
| Link previewOpen a link in an overlay without leaving the current page (Zen calls it Glance). | ✓ | ✓ | Shift-click any link, or a pinned tab's link to another site, opens it in an overlay.github.com |
| Mini windowA small, chrome-less window for links opened from other apps or a quick search. | ✓ | ✓ | Little window opens from any app with a global shortcut and can be the target for external links.github.com |
| Command barA ⌘T palette that searches tabs, history, bookmarks and browser commands. | ✓ | ✓ | Cmd+T field searches tabs, history, bookmarks, Spaces and actions, ranked by use.github.com |
| Link routingRules that send links from other apps to a chosen space or profile. | ✓ | ✓ | Rules by host or URL text send links from other apps to a chosen Space or the Little window.github.com |
| Site customizationPer-site custom CSS/JS, or zapping elements off a page. | ◐ | ✓ | Hide Element zaps a page element per site; no custom per-site CSS or JS of its own.github.com |
| Auto picture-in-picturePlaying video pops out into picture-in-picture automatically when you switch tabs. | ✓ | ✓ | On by default: leaving the app or tab during playback or a call starts picture-in-picture.github.com |
Compatibility & migration
| Feature | Lilo | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arc importImports Arc spaces, pinned tabs and folders. | ✓ | – | Reads Arc's StorableSidebar.json: spaces, pinned tabs, folders, splits, favorites; plus cookies, history.github.com |
| Chrome extensionsInstalls extensions from the Chrome Web Store. | ✓ | ✓ | One-click Chrome Web Store install on WebKit's extension runtime; Manifest V3 only, no blocking webRequest.github.com |
| DRM (Widevine)Netflix, Disney+, Spotify web and other DRM video/audio play. Chromium forks need a Google Widevine licence. | ◐ | ✓ | FairPlay works as in Safari; Widevine and PlayReady are rejected. Streaming services not hand-tested.github.com |
| PasskeysWebAuthn passkeys, Touch ID and the system/iCloud keychain. | ✕ | ✓ | 0.19.0 bundle lacks Apple's browser passkey entitlement, so WebAuthn (passkeys, security keys) is refused.github.com |
| SyncSpaces, pinned tabs and settings sync across devices. | ✕ | ✓ | No account or server by design, so nothing syncs between devices.github.com |
| Mobile appiPhone, iPad or Android app that shares spaces with desktop. | ✕ | ◐ | Mac app only; the site says there is no mobile app.getlilo.app |
Extras
| Feature | Lilo | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in ad blockerAd and tracker blocking without installing an extension. | ✓ | ✓ | Content blocker on by default: EasyList, EasyPrivacy and uBlock Origin lists with cosmetic filtering.github.com |
Extension support
Which extension formats and stores run, beyond the Chrome Web Store row above. Not counted in Arc parity.
| Feature | Lilo | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manifest V2 extensionsThe older extension format Chrome removed in 2025. Needed for full uBlock Origin and other extensions that block requests. | ✕ | ✕ | Manifest validation rejects anything but MV3 ('only MV3 is supported'); MV2 is listed as missing.github.com |
| Manifest V3 extensionsThe current extension format used by the Chrome Web Store (and supported by Firefox and Safari). | ✓ | ✓ | Runs MV3 on WKWebExtension plus Lilo's own APIs; webRequest is observe-only, so no blocking.github.com |
| Firefox add-onsAdd-ons from addons.mozilla.org or .xpi files install and run. | ✕ | ✕ | Extensions come from the Chrome Web Store; no addons.mozilla.org or .xpi install path in the code.github.com |
| Safari extensionsSafari web extensions (the App Store extension apps Safari uses) install and run. | ✕ | ✕ | Extensions come from the Chrome Web Store; no Safari .appex or app-bundle install path in the code.github.com |