Search
Free, open-source WebKit Mac browser: tabs on top or in a sidebar, Spaces, pins and one-click Arc import.
Search is a native macOS browser written in Swift on the system WebKit engine, made by Office Commun, a Paris design studio, and pitched on its site as an Arc alternative. Tabs run across the top or down a side column that folds away, with pinned tabs as letters, squares or rows, optional spaces with their own sign-ins, pins shared by every space, profiles, a two-page Split View, peek on Shift-click, tab groups, and tabs that close themselves after a set time. It imports Arc's spaces, pinned tabs, favourites and folders plus bookmarks, history, passwords and extensions from Chromium browsers and Firefox. It installs Chrome Web Store extensions on WebKit's extension engine (macOS 15.4+), blocks ads in WebKit's networking layer, floats video above other apps when you leave its tab, and supports passkeys. Many Arc-style habits are off until turned on in Settings. It has no sync, account, telemetry or built-in AI, and no mobile app. It is a notarized, MIT-licensed build with separate Apple silicon and Intel downloads; the app is under 10 MB.
62% Arc feature parity (yes = 1, partial = ½).
No AI
No AI in the release: the AI add-on is compiled out (AI.shipped = false), so there is no Settings page, menu item or AI request.
github.comNot counted in Arc parity: some people want AI, some avoid it.
None found
No ads, wallet, feed, upsells or account; no telemetry, analytics or crash reports. Only pages, favicons, searches (Google default) and an update check leave the Mac.
searchbrowser.appAds, crypto, paid upsells, news feeds, default-on telemetry, required accounts.
Organization
| Feature | Search | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vertical sidebarTabs live in a vertical sidebar that is the main tab UI and can be hidden. | ◐ | ✓ | Tabs sit across the top by default; ⇧⌘S moves them to a left or right column that ⌘S folds away.github.com |
| SpacesSeveral workspaces per window, each with its own pinned and open tabs, switched by swipe or shortcut. | ✓ | ✓ | Off until enabled in Settings › Tabs; each space has its own pins and tabs; swipe or ⌃1–⌃9 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. | ✓ | ✓ | A space shares its profile's sign-ins or gets its own; a profile groups spaces with its own history.github.com |
| Global favoritesPinned icons at the top of the sidebar shared by every Space (Zen calls them Essentials). | ✓ | ✓ | Pins in every space (default once Spaces are on) show above each space's own; Keep in Every Space.github.com |
| Pinned tabs & foldersPer-space pinned tabs that act like bookmarks, with nested folders. | ◐ | ✓ | Per-space pins as squares or rows; folders are flat tab groups of open tabs, not nested or pinned.github.com |
| Auto-archive tabsUnpinned tabs close automatically after a set time and stay recoverable in an archive. | ◐ | ✓ | Unpinned tabs close after 12 h, 1 d, 1 w or 30 d (default never); no archive view, only Recently Closed.github.com |
| Space themesPer-space colour or gradient themes. | ◐ | ✓ | Light, dark or Mac appearance only; a space has a name and icon but no colour theme.github.com |
Browsing
| Feature | Search | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Split ViewTwo or more tabs side by side in one window. | ◐ | ✓ | Two pages side by side per tab slot; a third page is not supported yet.github.com |
| Link previewOpen a link in an overlay without leaving the current page (Zen calls it Glance). | ✓ | ✓ | Shift-click a link (key configurable) opens it in a panel over the page; keep it as a tab or dismiss.github.com |
| Mini windowA small, chrome-less window for links opened from other apps or a quick search. | ◐ | ✓ | Small window for links from other apps exists but is off unless enabled in Settings › General.github.com |
| Command barA ⌘T palette that searches tabs, history, bookmarks and browser commands. | ◐ | ✓ | Address field matches open tabs, history, bookmarks; ⌘K lists tabs; 9 app commands, off by default.github.com |
| Link routingRules that send links from other apps to a chosen space or profile. | ✕ | ✓ | Not in 1.0.10; 'Send links to a space' is only an unmerged pull request on the roadmap.github.com |
| Site customizationPer-site custom CSS/JS, or zapping elements off a page. | ◐ | ✓ | Only hide-anything (⇧⌘H): click an element to hide it per site by CSS selector; no custom CSS or JS.github.com |
| Auto picture-in-picturePlaying video pops out into picture-in-picture automatically when you switch tabs. | ✓ | ✓ | A playing video floats into a small window above all apps when you leave its tab; on by default.github.com |
Compatibility & migration
| Feature | Search | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arc importImports Arc spaces, pinned tabs and folders. | ✓ | – | Bring Things Over reads Arc's StorableSidebar.json: spaces, pinned tabs, favourites and folders.github.com |
| Chrome extensionsInstalls extensions from the Chrome Web Store. | ✓ | ✓ | Add to Search on Chrome Web Store pages; CRX signature checked; needs macOS 15.4 for WebKit's engine.github.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. | ✓ | ✓ | Browser passkey entitlement: Touch ID, iCloud Keychain or password app, phone QR code, security keys.github.com |
| SyncSpaces, pinned tabs and settings sync across devices. | ✕ | ✓ | No sync, account or cloud; everything stays on the Mac.github.com |
| Mobile appiPhone, iPad or Android app that shares spaces with desktop. | ✕ | ◐ | Mac-only; Windows and Linux are listed as not planned and there is no iOS or Android app.github.com |
Extras
| Feature | Search | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in ad blockerAd and tracker blocking without installing an extension. | ✓ | ✓ | WebKit content-rule blocker for ads and trackers, on by default, switchable per site.github.com |
Extension support
Which extension formats and stores run, beyond the Chrome Web Store row above. Not counted in Arc parity.
| Feature | Search | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manifest V2 extensionsThe older extension format Chrome removed in 2025. Needed for full uBlock Origin and other extensions that block requests. | ◐ | ✕ | WebKit loads MV2 manifests, but Search adds no blocking webRequest, so no full uBlock Origin.github.com |
| Manifest V3 extensionsThe current extension format used by the Chrome Web Store (and supported by Firefox and Safari). | ✓ | ✓ | MV3 extensions install from the Chrome Web Store; declarativeNetRequest is granted; uBlock Origin Lite works.github.com |
| Firefox add-onsAdd-ons from addons.mozilla.org or .xpi files install and run. | ✕ | ✕ | No add-ons store or .xpi path; extensions come from the Chrome Web Store or an unpacked folder.github.com |
| Safari extensionsSafari web extensions (the App Store extension apps Safari uses) install and run. | ✕ | ✕ | Only Chrome-format extensions are installed; no Safari extension app loading in the source.github.com |