Talos
Free, open-source Mac browser on WebKit with Arc-style Spaces, favorites, split view and a command bar.
Talos (called Candoa Browser until September 2026) is a native Mac browser written in SwiftUI and AppKit on the WebKit engine that ships with macOS. It keeps Arc's sidebar model: Spaces with their own pinned tabs and nested folders, global favorites, per-Space themes, a command bar, split view of up to four tabs and a floating mini player for video. Each new Space can have its own browsing session or share one. It installs extensions from the Chrome Web Store, blocks ads and trackers by default, uses passkeys with Touch ID, and syncs its workspace through iCloud. It imports Arc's sidebar only as folders of pinned tabs during first-run setup, has no Peek, mini window, link rules or Boosts, and has no built-in AI. DRM video is unverified. It is a beta for Apple silicon Macs on macOS 14 or later.
67% Arc feature parity (yes = 1, partial = ½).
No AI
No built-in AI: the assistant was removed in v0.102.0; the ChatGPT, Claude and Perplexity command-bar rows only open those sites in a tab.
github.comNot counted in Arc parity: some people want AI, some avoid it.
None found
No accounts or subscriptions (removed in v0.102.0). Only network services are iCloud sync, passkeys and the Sparkle update feed, which sends no system profile.
github.comAds, crypto, paid upsells, news feeds, default-on telemetry, required accounts.
Organization
| Feature | Talos | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vertical sidebarTabs live in a vertical sidebar that is the main tab UI and can be hidden. | ✓ | ✓ | Address pill and tabs sit in the sidebar by default; ⌘S hides it; a top address bar is optional.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 tabs, folders and tabs; switch by swipe, ⌃1–3 or ⌘⌥←/→.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. | ✓ | ✓ | New Space picks its own session, shares the current one, or a shared Personal/Work/Banking/Shopping one.github.com |
| Global favoritesPinned icons at the top of the sidebar shared by every Space (Zen calls them Essentials). | ✓ | ✓ | One shared favorites grid, the same in every Space (code comment: 'Arc/Zen-style').github.com |
| Pinned tabs & foldersPer-space pinned tabs that act like bookmarks, with nested folders. | ✓ | ✓ | Per-Space pinned tabs plus folders, with nested subfolders from the folder context menu.github.com |
| Auto-archive tabsUnpinned tabs close automatically after a set time and stay recoverable in an archive. | ◐ | ✓ | Background tabs are unloaded only under memory pressure; no timed close or archive view.github.com |
| Space themesPer-space colour or gradient themes. | ✓ | ✓ | Per-Space colour (up to three), light/dark, opacity and texture.github.com |
Browsing
| Feature | Talos | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Split ViewTwo or more tabs side by side in one window. | ✓ | ✓ | Up to four tabs side by side or stacked; dragging a tab to a pane edge splits.github.com |
| Link previewOpen a link in an overlay without leaving the current page (Zen calls it Glance). | ✕ | ✓ | README: 'Not there yet: an equivalent of Arc's peek window.'github.com |
| Mini windowA small, chrome-less window for links opened from other apps or a quick search. | ✕ | ✓ | External links open as a tab; the floating mini player is for video only.github.com |
| Command barA ⌘T palette that searches tabs, history, bookmarks and browser commands. | ✓ | ✓ | The ⌘T bar searches open tabs, history and commands, switches Spaces and does site search.github.com |
| Link routingRules that send links from other apps to a chosen space or profile. | ✕ | ✓ | Links from other apps just open a tab in the active Space; no rules or per-site routing.github.com |
| Site customizationPer-site custom CSS/JS, or zapping elements off a page. | ✕ | ✓ | No per-site CSS/JS or element zapper; the injected page scripts are Talos's own.github.com |
| Auto picture-in-picturePlaying video pops out into picture-in-picture automatically when you switch tabs. | ✓ | ✓ | On by default: a floating in-app mini player carries a playing video to other tabs (not system PiP).github.com |
Compatibility & migration
| Feature | Talos | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arc importImports Arc spaces, pinned tabs and folders. | ◐ | – | Reads Arc's sidebar file: Spaces and folders become folders of pinned tabs in one Space; first run only.github.com |
| Chrome extensionsInstalls extensions from the Chrome Web Store. | ✓ | ✓ | Web Store 'Add' button is replaced so it installs on WebKit's extension runtime.github.com |
| DRM (Widevine)Netflix, Disney+, Spotify web and other DRM video/audio play. Chromium forks need a Google Widevine licence. | ? | ✓ | README says DRM playback is unverified; system WKWebView, streaming not tested. |
| PasskeysWebAuthn passkeys, Touch ID and the system/iCloud keychain. | ✓ | ✓ | Release bundle has Apple's browser passkey entitlement; sign-in uses Apple Passwords and Touch ID.github.com |
| SyncSpaces, pinned tabs and settings sync across devices. | ✓ | ✓ | Workspace (Spaces, tabs, folders) mirrors to your private iCloud via CloudKit; history stays local.github.com |
| Mobile appiPhone, iPad or Android app that shares spaces with desktop. | ✕ | ◐ | macOS-only app (SDKROOT = macosx); no iPhone or iPad app.github.com |
Extras
| Feature | Talos | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in ad blockerAd and tracker blocking without installing an extension. | ✓ | ✓ | Ad-network and tracker rule list runs in WebKit; on by default, one Privacy toggle.github.com |
Extension support
Which extension formats and stores run, beyond the Chrome Web Store row above. Not counted in Arc parity.
| Feature | Talos | 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 .zip/.xpi, but WebKit's webRequest can't block, so no full uBlock Origin; no patch.github.com |
| Manifest V3 extensionsThe current extension format used by the Chrome Web Store (and supported by Firefox and Safari). | ✓ | ✓ | Web Store 'Add' button installs MV3 extensions on WebKit's extension runtime (WKWebExtension).github.com |
| Firefox add-onsAdd-ons from addons.mozilla.org or .xpi files install and run. | ◐ | ✕ | No Firefox Add-ons button; only a downloaded .xpi can be picked by hand in Settings.github.com |
| Safari extensionsSafari web extensions (the App Store extension apps Safari uses) install and run. | ◐ | ✕ | No Safari extension discovery; only an extension folder picked by hand in Settings.github.com |