Orb
Free, MIT-licensed Electron browser for Apple Silicon Macs with Spaces, profiles, Boosts and a command bar.
Orb is an alpha browser by one developer, built on Electron 45 (Chromium) and React, and pitched as a calmer, private take on Arc. It has Spaces with their own tabs and pinned tabs, profiles you can assign to Spaces, per-site CSS/JS Boosts with an element picker, a Cmd+K command bar, a two-pane split view, and an ad and tracker blocker that is on by default. Tabs are horizontal by default; a vertical side-tab rail is a setting. Extensions load only as unpacked folders, there is no Chrome Web Store install, no Arc importer (the README claims one, the site says it is not in the build), no sync, and no Widevine. Builds are arm64-only and unsigned, so macOS needs an Open Anyway step on first launch.
43% Arc feature parity (yes = 1, partial = ½).
No AI
No built-in AI: no assistant, model or API-key code in the source, and none in the README feature list.
github.comNot counted in Arc parity: some people want AI, some avoid it.
None found
No ads, wallet, feed, upsells, account or analytics. The app's own only request is a GitHub release check; filter lists come from their publishers.
github.comAds, crypto, paid upsells, news feeds, default-on telemetry, required accounts.
Organization
| Feature | Orb | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vertical sidebarTabs live in a vertical sidebar that is the main tab UI and can be hidden. | ◐ | ✓ | Spaces rail on the left, but tabs default to a horizontal strip; vertical side tabs are an optional setting.github.com |
| SpacesSeveral workspaces per window, each with its own pinned and open tabs, switched by swipe or shortcut. | ✓ | ✓ | Named Spaces each hold their own tabs and pinned tabs; Ctrl+1 to 5 and next/previous commands switch.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 picks a profile with its own cookie partition; several Spaces can share one profile.github.com |
| Global favoritesPinned icons at the top of the sidebar shared by every Space (Zen calls them Essentials). | ◐ | ✓ | Essentials are start-page shortcuts scoped per Space (default) or per profile, never global.github.com |
| Pinned tabs & foldersPer-space pinned tabs that act like bookmarks, with nested folders. | ◐ | ✓ | Pinned tabs are per Space, but tab groups are flat and named; there are no nested pinned folders.github.com |
| Auto-archive tabsUnpinned tabs close automatically after a set time and stay recoverable in an archive. | ◐ | ✓ | Idle background tabs unload after a fixed 10 minutes and stay in the strip; there is no archive.github.com |
| Space themesPer-space colour or gradient themes. | ◐ | ✓ | Paper, Sage and Night themes plus an accent colour are global; a Space only has a colour swatch.github.com |
Browsing
| Feature | Orb | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Split ViewTwo or more tabs side by side in one window. | ◐ | ✓ | Split view from the tab context menu holds exactly two panes with a draggable divider.github.com |
| Link previewOpen a link in an overlay without leaving the current page (Zen calls it Glance). | ◐ | ✓ | Glance previews a hovered link in a floating panel, but only via a hidden-by-default toolbar button.github.com |
| Mini windowA small, chrome-less window for links opened from other apps or a quick search. | ✕ | ✓ | External links 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. | ◐ | ✓ | Cmd+T/Cmd+K bar searches tabs, history, Spaces, profiles, URLs and commands, but not bookmarks.github.com |
| Link routingRules that send links from other apps to a chosen space or profile. | ✕ | ✓ | Default-browser links open in the current window; there are no per-site routing rules.github.com |
| Site customizationPer-site custom CSS/JS, or zapping elements off a page. | ✓ | ✓ | Per-domain Boosts take CSS and JS, and an element picker writes selectors.github.com |
| Auto picture-in-picturePlaying video pops out into picture-in-picture automatically when you switch tabs. | ◐ | ✓ | Picture-in-picture is a manual toggle from the menu or a command; it never starts on tab switch.github.com |
Compatibility & migration
| Feature | Orb | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arc importImports Arc spaces, pinned tabs and folders. | ✕ | – | README lists an Arc importer, but the site says it is not in the build and the code has none.browserorb.vercel.app |
| Chrome extensionsInstalls extensions from the Chrome Web Store. | ◐ | ✓ | Only unpacked extension folders load from disk; no Chrome Web Store install.github.com |
| DRM (Widevine)Netflix, Disney+, Spotify web and other DRM video/audio play. Chromium forks need a Google Widevine licence. | ✕ | ✓ | Plain electron dependency, no Widevine/castLabs build; bundle not inspected.github.com |
| PasskeysWebAuthn passkeys, Touch ID and the system/iCloud keychain. | ? | ✓ | |
| SyncSpaces, pinned tabs and settings sync across devices. | ✕ | ✓ | No sync and no account; data stays on the Mac.browserorb.vercel.app |
| Mobile appiPhone, iPad or Android app that shares spaces with desktop. | ✕ | ◐ | macOS only; no mobile app.browserorb.vercel.app |
Extras
| Feature | Orb | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in ad blockerAd and tracker blocking without installing an extension. | ✓ | ✓ | EasyList, uBlock filters and EasyPrivacy are enabled by default and block in the main process.github.com |
Extension support
Which extension formats and stores run, beyond the Chrome Web Store row above. Not counted in Arc parity.
| Feature | Orb | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manifest V2 extensionsThe older extension format Chrome removed in 2025. Needed for full uBlock Origin and other extensions that block requests. | ◐ | ✕ | Unpacked MV2 folders may load, but Electron lists no blocking webRequest, so blockers fail.github.com |
| Manifest V3 extensionsThe current extension format used by the Chrome Web Store (and supported by Firefox and Safari). | ◐ | ✓ | Unpacked MV3 folders load, but Electron lists no declarativeNetRequest, so MV3 blockers cannot block.github.com |
| Firefox add-onsAdd-ons from addons.mozilla.org or .xpi files install and run. | ✕ | ✕ | Only Chromium-format unpacked folders load; no Firefox add-on path.github.com |
| Safari extensionsSafari web extensions (the App Store extension apps Safari uses) install and run. | ✕ | ✕ | Electron has no Safari extension host; only unpacked Chromium folders load.github.com |