Ortix
Native Mac WebKit browser with spaces, profiles, Collections and Arc import, plus a built-in AI agent.
Ortix is a closed-source native macOS browser on the system WebKit engine, made by SystemBionic, an independent company founded in 2025. It uses a vertical sidebar (or a compact rail) with named spaces that each hold their own tabs and pinned tabs, a profile per space that can be shared or kept separate, fold-away Collections, split view with up to four panes, a Cmd+T Quick Search with a calculator, a floating Mini Browser and a sidebar media dock with an audio mixer. It imports Arc spaces and tabs, installs extensions from the Chrome Web Store, blocks ads and trackers, supports passkeys behind Touch ID and syncs through iCloud. EVVE, its built-in AI, runs on local models or your own API key. The free plan limits you to 3 spaces; Ortix Pro ($5.99/month, or included with Setapp) adds unlimited spaces, the agentic EVVE, grammar help, the audio mixer and Auto Picture in Picture. The build is Apple-silicon only, needs macOS 26, and has no mobile app.
67% Arc feature parity (yes = 1, partial = ½).
AI optional
EVVE chat and agent need a downloaded local model or your own API key; nothing goes through the maker's servers. Agentic EVVE needs Pro ($5.99/mo).
systembionic.comNot counted in Arc parity: some people want AI, some avoid it.
2 things you didn't ask for
- Telemetry on by defaultAnonymous install signal and a ~30-minute active-user heartbeat are sent by default; opt-out in app settings.systembionic.com
- Paid upsellsFree tier capped at 3 spaces; auto PiP, audio mixer and agentic EVVE are Pro ($5.99/mo), bought and unlocked inside the app.systembionic.com
No ads, wallet or feed found. Account is optional: onboarding offers to create one for Pro and sync, and it can be skipped.
Ads, crypto, paid upsells, news feeds, default-on telemetry, required accounts.
Organization
| Feature | Ortix | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vertical sidebarTabs live in a vertical sidebar that is the main tab UI and can be hidden. | ✓ | ✓ | Vertical sidebar or compact rail is the main tab UI; Option+Cmd+S toggles it, hover reveals it.systembionic.com |
| SpacesSeveral workspaces per window, each with its own pinned and open tabs, switched by swipe or shortcut. | ✓ | ✓ | Named, coloured spaces each with own tabs and pinned tabs; free plan allows 3, Pro unlimited.systembionic.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. | ✓ | ✓ | Pick a profile per space; spaces can share cookies, stay separate, or chain to one profile.systembionic.com |
| Global favoritesPinned icons at the top of the sidebar shared by every Space (Zen calls them Essentials). | ◐ | ✓ | Pinned tabs are per space; Favourites are a home-page grid, not a shared sidebar row.systembionic.com |
| Pinned tabs & foldersPer-space pinned tabs that act like bookmarks, with nested folders. | ◐ | ✓ | Per-space pinned tabs plus fold-away Collections; nested pinned folders not documented.systembionic.com |
| Auto-archive tabsUnpinned tabs close automatically after a set time and stay recoverable in an archive. | ◐ | ✓ | Idle tabs are unloaded only under memory pressure; no archive or time setting found.systembionic.com |
| Space themesPer-space colour or gradient themes. | ✓ | ✓ | Each space has its own colour and, since 7.1, its own wallpaper; no gradient theme picker.systembionic.com |
Browsing
| Feature | Ortix | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Split ViewTwo or more tabs side by side in one window. | ✓ | ✓ | Up to four panes in four layouts with draggable seams.systembionic.com |
| Link previewOpen a link in an overlay without leaving the current page (Zen calls it Glance). | ◐ | ✓ | Quick View popover opens links from the right-click menu and catches login popups; no hover preview.systembionic.com |
| Mini windowA small, chrome-less window for links opened from other apps or a quick search. | ◐ | ✓ | Floating always-on-top Mini Browser exists; not documented as default for other apps' links.systembionic.com |
| Command barA ⌘T palette that searches tabs, history, bookmarks and browser commands. | ◐ | ✓ | Cmd+T Quick Search covers web, tabs, history, bookmarks and maths; no browser commands listed.systembionic.com |
| 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. | ? | ✓ | |
| Auto picture-in-picturePlaying video pops out into picture-in-picture automatically when you switch tabs. | ✓ | ✓ | Auto Picture in Picture is a paid Pro feature ($5.99/mo or Setapp); the free plan has no auto PiP.systembionic.com |
Compatibility & migration
| Feature | Ortix | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arc importImports Arc spaces, pinned tabs and folders. | ✓ | – | Imports Arc spaces and tabs (one of 24 browsers), at first launch or later from Settings.systembionic.com |
| Chrome extensionsInstalls extensions from the Chrome Web Store. | ✓ | ✓ | Add an extension in one step from its Chrome Web Store page.systembionic.com |
| 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. | ✓ | ✓ | Passkeys use the system Passwords/iCloud keychain behind Touch ID.systembionic.com |
| SyncSpaces, pinned tabs and settings sync across devices. | ✓ | ✓ | iCloud sync of bookmarks, tabs and Spaces.systembionic.com |
| Mobile appiPhone, iPad or Android app that shares spaces with desktop. | ✕ | ◐ | Mac-only; SystemBionic's iOS app Xified is a separate, non-browser product.systembionic.com |
Extras
| Feature | Ortix | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in ad blockerAd and tracker blocking without installing an extension. | ✓ | ✓ | Free plan includes ad and tracker blocking plus a video ad blocker; default state not checked.systembionic.com |
Extension support
Which extension formats and stores run, beyond the Chrome Web Store row above. Not counted in Arc parity.
| Feature | Ortix | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manifest V2 extensionsThe older extension format Chrome removed in 2025. Needed for full uBlock Origin and other extensions that block requests. | ◐ | ✕ | App lists blocking webRequest as unsupported, so no full uBlock Origin; MV2 loading not tested.api.systembionic.com |
| Manifest V3 extensionsThe current extension format used by the Chrome Web Store (and supported by Firefox and Safari). | ✓ | ✓ | Chrome Web Store MV3 extensions install and run on WebKit's extension engine; not all tested.systembionic.com |
| Firefox add-onsAdd-ons from addons.mozilla.org or .xpi files install and run. | ◐ | ✕ | Settings accepts .xpi packages by file or URL; no addons.mozilla.org install flow found.api.systembionic.com |
| Safari extensionsSafari web extensions (the App Store extension apps Safari uses) install and run. | ? | ✕ |