Sol
Free, open-source Windows browser on WebView2 with an Arc-style sidebar, Chrome extensions and ChatGPT AI.
Sol is a Windows-only browser written in C# with WinUI 3 and a React interface, running pages on the Microsoft Edge WebView2 (Chromium) engine. Tabs live in a resizable sidebar card with shortcut icons and pinned tabs at the top, flat coloured tab groups, a two-page split view, Alt+click link previews, a Ctrl+Shift+P command palette, a floating video player and Chrome Web Store extensions. It imports bookmarks, history and passwords from Arc and other Chromium browsers, offers isolated per-tab sessions, and has developer tools such as a device simulator and a network inspector. Sol AI is an optional assistant that runs on your own ChatGPT plan. It has no spaces, no auto-archive, no built-in ad blocker and no mobile app. Installers and portable archives for x64, ARM64 and x86 are not code-signed; the author calls it a personal project shared as is.
48% Arc feature parity (yes = 1, partial = ½).
AI optional
Sol AI (chat, summaries, page agent) works only after Sign in with ChatGPT in Settings; it has no model of its own and nothing goes to OpenAI before that.
github.comNot counted in Arc parity: some people want AI, some avoid it.
None found
No account or telemetry sent to the author; only an update check, address-bar suggestions (can be turned off) and site icons. Sol account and backup are optional. Windows-only, not run.
github.comAds, crypto, paid upsells, news feeds, default-on telemetry, required accounts.
Organization
| Feature | Sol | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vertical sidebarTabs live in a vertical sidebar that is the main tab UI and can be hidden. | ✓ | ✓ | Tabs live in a resizable, hideable side card that is the only tab strip.github.com |
| SpacesSeveral workspaces per window, each with its own pinned and open tabs, switched by swipe or shortcut. | ◐ | ✓ | Saved workspace snapshots of tabs and groups; restoring adds tabs. No live spaces or per-space pins.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. | ◐ | ✓ | Per-tab isolated sessions with their own cookies, and separate profiles; no spaces to share them.github.com |
| Global favoritesPinned icons at the top of the sidebar shared by every Space (Zen calls them Essentials). | ✓ | ✓ | Shortcut icons sit at the top of the sidebar; one set for the whole window, not per space.github.com |
| Pinned tabs & foldersPer-space pinned tabs that act like bookmarks, with nested folders. | ◐ | ✓ | Pinned tabs stay put and sleep when closed; groups are flat, coloured and not nested.github.com |
| Auto-archive tabsUnpinned tabs close automatically after a set time and stay recoverable in an archive. | ◐ | ✓ | Memory saver sleeps then unloads idle tabs (timing set by RAM); no archive list.github.com |
| Space themesPer-space colour or gradient themes. | ◐ | ✓ | One window-wide light, dark or page-colour theme; groups get colours but not themes.github.com |
Browsing
| Feature | Sol | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Split ViewTwo or more tabs side by side in one window. | ◐ | ✓ | Split view holds exactly two tabs side by side, with a resizable divider.github.com |
| Link previewOpen a link in an overlay without leaving the current page (Zen calls it Glance). | ✓ | ✓ | Alt+click on a link opens it in a navigable overlay over the page, without adding a tab.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 normal tab in the running window; no mini window.github.com |
| Command barA ⌘T palette that searches tabs, history, bookmarks and browser commands. | ◐ | ✓ | Ctrl+Shift+P palette lists commands and open tabs, but not history or bookmarks.github.com |
| Link routingRules that send links from other apps to a chosen space or profile. | ✕ | ✓ | No routing rules; external links reuse the active tab’s session.github.com |
| Site customizationPer-site custom CSS/JS, or zapping elements off a page. | ✕ | ✓ | No per-site CSS/JS or element zapping; only a hover design inspector that copies CSS.github.com |
| Auto picture-in-picturePlaying video pops out into picture-in-picture automatically when you switch tabs. | ✓ | ✓ | Floating player is on by default: leaving a tab with playing video keeps it in picture-in-picture.github.com |
Compatibility & migration
| Feature | Sol | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arc importImports Arc spaces, pinned tabs and folders. | ◐ | – | Imports Arc bookmarks, history and passwords from its Windows data; not spaces or pinned tabs.github.com |
| Chrome extensionsInstalls extensions from the Chrome Web Store. | ✓ | ✓ | Installs Chrome Web Store extensions after a permission prompt; engine API limits apply.github.com |
| DRM (Widevine)Netflix, Disney+, Spotify web and other DRM video/audio play. Chromium forks need a Google Widevine licence. | ◐ | ✓ | Edge WebView2 engine; the author reports Prime Video plays, other services are undocumented.github.com |
| PasskeysWebAuthn passkeys, Touch ID and the system/iCloud keychain. | ? | ✓ | |
| SyncSpaces, pinned tabs and settings sync across devices. | ◐ | ✓ | Optional encrypted cloud backup, daily if enabled, restorable on a new PC; not live sync.github.com |
| Mobile appiPhone, iPad or Android app that shares spaces with desktop. | ✕ | ◐ | Windows-only; no mobile app.github.com |
Extras
| Feature | Sol | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in ad blockerAd and tracker blocking without installing an extension. | ✕ | ✓ | No built-in blocker: the bundled uBlock Origin Lite was removed (the repo blurb still claims one).github.com |
Extension support
Which extension formats and stores run, beyond the Chrome Web Store row above. Not counted in Arc parity.
| Feature | Sol | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manifest V2 extensionsThe older extension format Chrome removed in 2025. Needed for full uBlock Origin and other extensions that block requests. | ? | ✕ | No source shows WebView2 loading MV2; Sol installs from the Chrome Web Store, which no longer serves MV2. |
| Manifest V3 extensionsThe current extension format used by the Chrome Web Store (and supported by Firefox and Safari). | ✓ | ✓ | WebView2 loads MV3 service-worker extensions; Sol's own app checks use an MV3 fixture. API limits apply.github.com |
| Firefox add-onsAdd-ons from addons.mozilla.org or .xpi files install and run. | ✕ | ✕ | Installs only from Chrome Web Store links; no Firefox add-on (AMO or .xpi) support.github.com |
| Safari extensionsSafari web extensions (the App Store extension apps Safari uses) install and run. | ✕ | ✕ | WebView2 loads only unpacked Edge/Chrome-format extensions; no Safari extension support.learn.microsoft.com |