myBrowser
Native macOS browser on WebKit with an Arc-style sidebar, Spaces with profiles, iCloud sync and Arc import.
myBrowser is a native macOS browser written in Swift (SwiftUI and AppKit) on WebKit (WKWebView). It follows Arc's layout: a vertical sidebar with a favorites grid, pinned sites and nested folders, daily tabs that archive themselves, Spaces with their own colour and profile, split view, and a command bar. It imports Arc spaces and Chrome-family bookmarks, installs Chrome Web Store extensions through WebKit's web extension API, and syncs the sidebar through iCloud (CloudKit). The README calls it a work in progress. The repo has no licence file and no separate website.
57% Arc feature parity (yes = 1, partial = ½).
Built-in AI
No AI
No AI features: the product plan lists AI as out of scope, and the source has no AI provider, chat or summary code.
github.comNot counted in Arc parity: some people want AI, some avoid it.
Bloat check
None found
No ads, wallet, feed or account. Only Sparkle's daily update check runs; iCloud sync is opt-in and idle until turned on.
github.comAds, crypto, paid upsells, news feeds, default-on telemetry, required accounts.
Organization
| Feature | myBrowser | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vertical sidebarTabs live in a vertical sidebar that is the main tab UI and can be hidden. | ✓ | ✓ | Vertical sidebar is the tab UI: favorites grid, pinned tree, then today's tabs; can be hidden.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 items, tabs, colour and icon; two-finger swipe on the sidebar 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. | ◐ | ✓ | Each Space gets its own profile (isolated cookies); no picker to share one, only Arc import does.github.com |
| Global favoritesPinned icons at the top of the sidebar shared by every Space (Zen calls them Essentials). | ◐ | ✓ | Favicon grid at the top of the sidebar, but each item belongs to one Space, not shared across them.github.com |
| Pinned tabs & foldersPer-space pinned tabs that act like bookmarks, with nested folders. | ✓ | ✓ | Per-Space pinned sites with nested folders and drag and drop.github.com |
| Auto-archive tabsUnpinned tabs close automatically after a set time and stay recoverable in an archive. | ✓ | ✓ | Unpinned tabs archive after 12 h, 24 h (default), 7 d or 30 d, or never; searchable archive list.github.com |
| Space themesPer-space colour or gradient themes. | ✓ | ✓ | Each Space has one of nine preset colours that tints the sidebar; no gradients.github.com |
Browsing
| Feature | myBrowser | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Split ViewTwo or more tabs side by side in one window. | ✓ | ✓ | Two to four panes side by side or stacked, shown as one sidebar row; draggable dividers.github.com |
| Link previewOpen a link in an overlay without leaving the current page (Zen calls it Glance). | ✕ | ✓ | Not in the README feature list or docs; no link-preview overlay found in the source tree.github.com |
| Mini windowA small, chrome-less window for links opened from other apps or a quick search. | ✕ | ✓ | Links from other apps open as a new tab in the main window; no mini window.github.com |
| Command barA ⌘T palette that searches tabs, history, bookmarks and browser commands. | ◐ | ✓ | Searches the current Space's tabs and pins, opens URLs, web search and split/archive actions; no history.github.com |
| Link routingRules that send links from other apps to a chosen space or profile. | ✕ | ✓ | Registers as an http/https handler; external links just open as a new tab in the selected Space.github.com |
| Site customizationPer-site custom CSS/JS, or zapping elements off a page. | ✕ | ✓ | No per-site CSS/JS or element zapper in the README or source tree.github.com |
| Auto picture-in-picturePlaying video pops out into picture-in-picture automatically when you switch tabs. | ✓ | ✓ | On by default: leaving a tab or the window moves a playing video into system PiP.github.com |
Compatibility & migration
| Feature | myBrowser | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arc importImports Arc spaces, pinned tabs and folders. | ✓ | – | Imports Arc spaces, emoji and colours, pinned tabs, nested folders and favorites from StorableSidebar.json.github.com |
| Chrome extensionsInstalls extensions from the Chrome Web Store. | ✓ | ✓ | Installs from the Chrome Web Store, .crx, .xpi, .zip or a folder via WKWebExtension; WebKit gaps remain.github.com |
| DRM (Widevine)Netflix, Disney+, Spotify web and other DRM video/audio play. Chromium forks need a Google Widevine licence. | ? | ✓ | FairPlay/Widevine playback needs a running build; not checked. |
| PasskeysWebAuthn passkeys, Touch ID and the system/iCloud keychain. | ◐ | ✓ | Release lacks Apple's browser passkey entitlement; passkeys work only via the 1Password extension.github.com |
| SyncSpaces, pinned tabs and settings sync across devices. | ✓ | ✓ | iCloud (CloudKit) syncs Spaces, profiles, favorites and pins between Macs; tabs stay local; labelled beta.github.com |
| Mobile appiPhone, iPad or Android app that shares spaces with desktop. | ✕ | ◐ | macOS only; iPhone is listed as out of scope for now.github.com |
Extras
| Feature | myBrowser | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in ad blockerAd and tracker blocking without installing an extension. | ✕ | ✓ | Nothing bundled; installed uBlock Origin is bridged to WebKit content rules, with no default blocker.github.com |
Extension support
Which extension formats and stores run, beyond the Chrome Web Store row above. Not counted in Arc parity.
| Feature | myBrowser | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manifest V2 extensionsThe older extension format Chrome removed in 2025. Needed for full uBlock Origin and other extensions that block requests. | ◐ | ✕ | Loads MV2; WebKit drops blocking webRequest, so uBO blocks via a content-rule bridge instead.github.com |
| Manifest V3 extensionsThe current extension format used by the Chrome Web Store (and supported by Firefox and Safari). | ✓ | ✓ | Accepts and runs MV3 on WKWebExtension; some WebKit API gaps remain (e.g. notifications).github.com |
| Firefox add-onsAdd-ons from addons.mozilla.org or .xpi files install and run. | ◐ | ✕ | Manual .xpi import only (unzipped and loaded by WebKit); no addons.mozilla.org install flow.github.com |
| Safari extensionsSafari web extensions (the App Store extension apps Safari uses) install and run. | ◐ | ✕ | README lists Safari extensions, but source only loads folders, zip, xpi and crx; no App Store lookup.github.com |