Vane
Open-source native Mac browser on WebKit: sidebar Spaces, Little Vane, split view and Arc import.
Vane is a native macOS browser written in Swift on the system WebKit engine, built by one developer and pitched as 'in the shape of Arc'. It keeps Arc's sidebar model: Spaces with their own Pinned and Today tabs and folders, favourites per profile, auto-archive, Peek, Little Vane windows for links from other apps, Air Traffic Control-style routing rules, split view with up to four panes, a command bar and per-Space themes. It adds site Boosts, reader mode, an offline reading queue, Easels and GitHub Live Folders. It imports Arc Spaces, pinned tabs, logins and routing rules, installs extensions from the Chrome Web Store plus Safari extension apps, and blocks ads with a built-in WebKit blocker. It has no sync, no mobile app and no passkeys yet, and needs macOS 26 or later. It is in active development.
83% Arc feature parity (yes = 1, partial = ½).
AI on by default
Apple's on-device model is on by default (where available): link-preview summaries, pinned-tab renaming. Settings › Max turns it off; cloud AI needs your key.
github.comNot counted in Arc parity: some people want AI, some avoid it.
None found
Privacy policy: no Vane account, app analytics or crash uploads. No ads or paid tier found; update checks (GitHub) and Instant Links (DuckDuckGo) are not analytics.
github.comAds, crypto, paid upsells, news feeds, default-on telemetry, required accounts.
Organization
| Feature | Vane | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vertical sidebarTabs live in a vertical sidebar that is the main tab UI and can be hidden. | ✓ | ✓ | Sidebar tabs are the main tab UI; the sidebar can be shown or hidden per window.github.com |
| SpacesSeveral workspaces per window, each with its own pinned and open tabs, switched by swipe or shortcut. | ✓ | ✓ | Spaces each hold their own Pinned and Today tabs; swipe over the sidebar or click footer buttons to 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 (own logins, history, cookies); 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). | ✓ | ✓ | Favourites belong to a profile and are shared by its Spaces; not shared across profiles.github.com |
| Pinned tabs & foldersPer-space pinned tabs that act like bookmarks, with nested folders. | ✓ | ✓ | Per-Space Pinned tabs with nested folders; pinned tabs keep their saved page.github.com |
| Auto-archive tabsUnpinned tabs close automatically after a set time and stay recoverable in an archive. | ✓ | ✓ | Today tabs auto-archive after 12 h, 24 h, 7 d or 30 d (or never); restore from Library → Archived Tabs.github.com |
| Space themesPer-space colour or gradient themes. | ✓ | ✓ | Each Space has its own colours, gradient, grain and light/dark theme, edited from its context menu.github.com |
Browsing
| Feature | Vane | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Split ViewTwo or more tabs side by side in one window. | ✓ | ✓ | Two to four pages side by side or stacked, with resizable dividers.github.com |
| Link previewOpen a link in an overlay without leaving the current page (Zen calls it Glance). | ✓ | ✓ | Links leaving a favourite or pinned tab open in a floating Peek; Shift-click peeks any link.github.com |
| Mini windowA small, chrome-less window for links opened from other apps or a quick search. | ✓ | ✓ | Links from other apps open in Little Vane by default (Settings › Links); promote it to keep the page.github.com |
| Command barA ⌘T palette that searches tabs, history, bookmarks and browser commands. | ✓ | ✓ | ⌘T bar searches tabs, history and browser actions; also site-search chips and bangs.github.com |
| Link routingRules that send links from other apps to a chosen space or profile. | ✓ | ✓ | Air Traffic Control rules send links from other apps to a chosen Space or Little Vane; first match wins.github.com |
| Site customizationPer-site custom CSS/JS, or zapping elements off a page. | ✓ | ✓ | Site Boosts: fonts, colours, custom CSS, opt-in JavaScript and Zap an Element, saved per site.github.com |
| Auto picture-in-picturePlaying video pops out into picture-in-picture automatically when you switch tabs. | ✓ | ✓ | Leaving a tab with playing video pops it out into picture-in-picture; on by default, can be turned off.github.com |
Compatibility & migration
| Feature | Vane | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arc importImports Arc spaces, pinned tabs and folders. | ✓ | – | Vane → Import from Arc… migrates Spaces, pinned tabs, folders, split views, logins and link-routing rules.github.com |
| Chrome extensionsInstalls extensions from the Chrome Web Store. | ✓ | ✓ | Add to Vane on Chrome Web Store pages, or paste a store link or ID; runs on WebKit's extension API.github.com |
| DRM (Widevine)Netflix, Disney+, Spotify web and other DRM video/audio play. Chromium forks need a Google Widevine licence. | ◐ | ✓ | FairPlay works on a public demo; Widevine unsupported; Netflix, Disney+ and other services not verified.github.com |
| PasskeysWebAuthn passkeys, Touch ID and the system/iCloud keychain. | ✕ | ✓ | Passkeys pending Apple's managed browser entitlement approval.github.com |
| SyncSpaces, pinned tabs and settings sync across devices. | ✕ | ✓ | Nothing syncs between Macs; backups are local only.github.com |
| Mobile appiPhone, iPad or Android app that shares spaces with desktop. | ✕ | ◐ | Mac-only app for macOS 26 and later; no iPhone, iPad or Android app.github.com |
Extras
| Feature | Vane | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in ad blockerAd and tracker blocking without installing an extension. | ✓ | ✓ | Built-in WebKit content blocker with an EasyList subset, on by default per profile; per-site exceptions.github.com |
Extension support
Which extension formats and stores run, beyond the Chrome Web Store row above. Not counted in Arc parity.
| Feature | Vane | 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 load on WebKit, but webRequest can't block, 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). | ✓ | ✓ | Chrome Web Store and unpacked MV3 extensions run on WebKit's extension API; Chrome-only APIs missing.github.com |
| Firefox add-onsAdd-ons from addons.mozilla.org or .xpi files install and run. | ✕ | ✕ | Supported sources are Chrome Web Store, unpacked folders and Safari apps; no Firefox add-on store.github.com |
| Safari extensionsSafari web extensions (the App Store extension apps Safari uses) install and run. | ✓ | ✕ | Installed apps with signed Safari web extensions can be added after signature checks.github.com |