Luma
Free Windows browser from Italy with workspaces, tabs in a sidebar and built-in tracker and ad blocking.
Luma is a free Chromium browser for Windows made by a small independent team in Italy and pitched as an Arc alternative. Tabs sit in a sidebar (or on top, or in a dock) grouped into workspaces with their own colour and symbol, with Essentials shared across workspaces, split view of up to four pages, Alt+click link previews, a Ctrl+K command palette, compact mode and a mini player. Trackers, ads, third-party cookies and cookie banners are blocked from first launch with uBlock Origin and EasyList lists. It has no account and no telemetry, and optional sync goes only to a folder or WebDAV server you choose, end-to-end encrypted. It imports Arc history and open tabs, and turns Arc spaces and pinned tabs into bookmark folders. It is a closed-source Electron app (Chromium 156), the installer is not code-signed yet, and only Windows is published.
60% Arc feature parity (yes = 1, partial = ½).
No AI
No AI features, and none planned: the docs say Luma has no account, no telemetry and no AI.
lumabrowser.devNot counted in Arc parity: some people want AI, some avoid it.
None found
Maker states no account, telemetry, own ads, rewards, crypto wallet or sponsored tiles. Closed source, so not verifiable in code.
lumabrowser.devAds, crypto, paid upsells, news feeds, default-on telemetry, required accounts.
Organization
| Feature | Luma | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vertical sidebarTabs live in a vertical sidebar that is the main tab UI and can be hidden. | ✓ | ✓ | Tabs sit in a sidebar by default; top row and dock are options, and Ctrl+Alt+C hides it (compact mode).lumabrowser.dev |
| SpacesSeveral workspaces per window, each with its own pinned and open tabs, switched by swipe or shortcut. | ✓ | ✓ | Workspaces keep their own tabs and pinned tabs; switch by Ctrl+Alt+arrows, 2-finger swipe or dock.lumabrowser.dev |
| 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. | ◐ | ✓ | A workspace can use a container (own cookies and logins, shared history); profiles are separate windows.lumabrowser.dev |
| Global favoritesPinned icons at the top of the sidebar shared by every Space (Zen calls them Essentials). | ✓ | ✓ | Essentials are tiles above the workspace and stay in every workspace.lumabrowser.dev |
| Pinned tabs & foldersPer-space pinned tabs that act like bookmarks, with nested folders. | ◐ | ✓ | Pinned tabs belong to a workspace; tab groups exist but are not nested pinned folders.lumabrowser.dev |
| Auto-archive tabsUnpinned tabs close automatically after a set time and stay recoverable in an archive. | ◐ | ✓ | Close unused tabs after 12 h to 7 days (off by default); they go to Recently closed, no archive view.lumabrowser.dev |
| Space themesPer-space colour or gradient themes. | ◐ | ✓ | Each workspace has its own colour, used as a thin line, tab mark and dock tint; tint slider is global.lumabrowser.dev |
Browsing
| Feature | Luma | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Split ViewTwo or more tabs side by side in one window. | ✓ | ✓ | Two to four tabs side by side via Ctrl+F9, drag to page edge or the tab menu.lumabrowser.dev |
| Link previewOpen a link in an overlay without leaving the current page (Zen calls it Glance). | ✓ | ✓ | Alt+click or right-click a link opens it in a preview over the page; keep it as a tab or split.lumabrowser.dev |
| Mini windowA small, chrome-less window for links opened from other apps or a quick search. | ? | ✓ | |
| Command barA ⌘T palette that searches tabs, history, bookmarks and browser commands. | ✓ | ✓ | Ctrl+K searches commands, tabs, workspaces, bookmarks, history, settings and downloads.lumabrowser.dev |
| Link routingRules that send links from other apps to a chosen space or profile. | ? | ✓ | |
| Site customizationPer-site custom CSS/JS, or zapping elements off a page. | ◐ | ✓ | Block element hides parts of a page per site and keeps your own filter rules; no custom CSS or JS.lumabrowser.dev |
| Auto picture-in-picturePlaying video pops out into picture-in-picture automatically when you switch tabs. | ✓ | ✓ | A video playing with sound pops out when you leave its tab; on by default, can be turned off.lumabrowser.dev |
Compatibility & migration
| Feature | Luma | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arc importImports Arc spaces, pinned tabs and folders. | ◐ | – | Imports Arc history, open tabs and passwords; spaces and pinned tabs become bookmark folders.lumabrowser.dev |
| Chrome extensionsInstalls extensions from the Chrome Web Store. | ✓ | ✓ | Installs from the Chrome Web Store; a short list of Chrome-only APIs is missing.lumabrowser.dev |
| DRM (Widevine)Netflix, Disney+, Spotify web and other DRM video/audio play. Chromium forks need a Google Widevine licence. | ? | ✓ | |
| PasskeysWebAuthn passkeys, Touch ID and the system/iCloud keychain. | ? | ✓ | |
| SyncSpaces, pinned tabs and settings sync across devices. | ◐ | ✓ | Optional E2E sync to a folder or WebDAV: bookmarks, history, open tabs, settings; not workspaces or passwords.lumabrowser.dev |
| Mobile appiPhone, iPad or Android app that shares spaces with desktop. | ? | ◐ |
Extras
| Feature | Luma | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in ad blockerAd and tracker blocking without installing an extension. | ✓ | ✓ | Trackers, ads, third-party cookies and cookie banners blocked by default from first launch.lumabrowser.dev |
Extension support
Which extension formats and stores run, beyond the Chrome Web Store row above. Not counted in Arc parity.
| Feature | Luma | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manifest V2 extensionsThe older extension format Chrome removed in 2025. Needed for full uBlock Origin and other extensions that block requests. | ◐ | ✕ | Runs MV2, but built-in blocking comes first so webRequest cannot override it; uBlock Origin Lite is offered.lumabrowser.dev |
| Manifest V3 extensionsThe current extension format used by the Chrome Web Store (and supported by Firefox and Safari). | ✓ | ✓ | Docs list MV3 support including declarativeNetRequest; a few Chrome-only APIs are missing.lumabrowser.dev |
| Firefox add-onsAdd-ons from addons.mozilla.org or .xpi files install and run. | ✕ | ✕ | Chrome Web Store installs and unpacked Chrome extensions only; no Firefox add-on path in the docs.lumabrowser.dev |
| Safari extensionsSafari web extensions (the App Store extension apps Safari uses) install and run. | ✕ | ✕ | Chrome-format extensions only; no Safari extension support in the docs.lumabrowser.dev |