Yalqen
Open-source Electron/Chromium browser for Mac developers with vertical tabs, a command bar and ad blocking.
Yalqen is a free, MIT-licensed browser for developers, written in Svelte and TypeScript on Electron (Chromium). It has a vertical tab panel with circular pins, a command bar (⌘L) that searches tabs, bookmarks, history and developer commands, built-in ad and tracker blocking, Chrome Web Store extensions, and developer tools such as phone view, request rules and screenshots. An AI panel drives your own Claude, Codex or Gemini CLI agent. It has no Spaces, split view, sync or DRM, and imports Chrome, Brave, Edge and Firefox data. macOS 13+ on Apple silicon; a Linux AppImage is an experimental build-from-source preview.
33% Arc feature parity (yes = 1, partial = ½).
AI optional
AI panel (⇧⌘A) starts closed and runs your own Claude, Codex or Gemini CLI once you start a session; new tab shows a dismissible promo for it.
github.comNot counted in Arc parity: some people want AI, some avoid it.
None found
No ads, wallet, feed, upsell or account found. The daily active-install counter is opt-in and off by default (usageCounting: false).
github.comAds, crypto, paid upsells, news feeds, default-on telemetry, required accounts.
Organization
| Feature | Yalqen | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vertical sidebarTabs live in a vertical sidebar that is the main tab UI and can be hidden. | ✓ | ✓ | Vertical tab panel; ⇧⌘P cycles wide, narrow and hidden; can sit left or right.github.com |
| SpacesSeveral workspaces per window, each with its own pinned and open tabs, switched by swipe or shortcut. | ◐ | ✓ | No Spaces; named tab groups in the sidebar and saved named windows ("workspaces") instead.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. | ◐ | ✓ | Personal, developer and private sessions switch in the sidebar; no Spaces to share them across.github.com |
| Global favoritesPinned icons at the top of the sidebar shared by every Space (Zen calls them Essentials). | ◐ | ✓ | Circular pins at the top of the sidebar, kept per window; no Spaces to share them across.github.com |
| Pinned tabs & foldersPer-space pinned tabs that act like bookmarks, with nested folders. | ◐ | ✓ | Pinned tabs return to their pinned URL when closed; no pinned folders.github.com |
| Auto-archive tabsUnpinned tabs close automatically after a set time and stay recoverable in an archive. | ◐ | ✓ | Idle tabs are unloaded after 15 min to 2 h (default 30 min); no archive list.github.com |
| Space themesPer-space colour or gradient themes. | ◐ | ✓ | One global accent colour and glass tint; no per-space themes.github.com |
Browsing
| Feature | Yalqen | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Split ViewTwo or more tabs side by side in one window. | ✕ | ✓ | Official site: "no split view" yet.yalqen.com |
| Link previewOpen a link in an overlay without leaving the current page (Zen calls it Glance). | ✕ | ✓ | Not in the source or the shortcut list; no link-preview feature found.github.com |
| Mini windowA small, chrome-less window for links opened from other apps or a quick search. | ✕ | ✓ | Links from other apps open as tabs in the current window.github.com |
| Command barA ⌘T palette that searches tabs, history, bookmarks and browser commands. | ✓ | ✓ | ⌘L bar ranks developer commands, open tabs, bookmarks and history.github.com |
| Link routingRules that send links from other apps to a chosen space or profile. | ✕ | ✓ | External links just open as a tab in the current window; no rules.github.com |
| Site customizationPer-site custom CSS/JS, or zapping elements off a page. | ✕ | ✓ | Request rules only block, mock, redirect or rewrite headers; no per-site CSS/JS or zapper.github.com |
| Auto picture-in-picturePlaying video pops out into picture-in-picture automatically when you switch tabs. | ✕ | ✓ | No picture-in-picture code in source; sidebar media widget has play/pause/skip only.github.com |
Compatibility & migration
| Feature | Yalqen | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arc importImports Arc spaces, pinned tabs and folders. | ✕ | – | Not in v0.3.86 (Chrome, Brave, Edge, Firefox only); main imports Arc as bookmarks, unreleased.github.com |
| Chrome extensionsInstalls extensions from the Chrome Web Store. | ✓ | ✓ | Installs from the Chrome Web Store, plus unpacked; Electron supports only some extension APIs.github.com |
| DRM (Widevine)Netflix, Disney+, Spotify web and other DRM video/audio play. Chromium forks need a Google Widevine licence. | ✕ | ✓ | Stock Electron has no Widevine, so Netflix and Disney+ do not play; no CDM in the bundle.github.com |
| PasskeysWebAuthn passkeys, Touch ID and the system/iCloud keychain. | ? | ✓ | No passkey code in source; build has no keychain entitlement; not tried live. |
| SyncSpaces, pinned tabs and settings sync across devices. | ✕ | ✓ | Official FAQ: "Not today"; no account or sync service.yalqen.com |
| Mobile appiPhone, iPad or Android app that shares spaces with desktop. | ✕ | ◐ | Desktop Electron app; packaging scripts target macOS and Linux only.github.com |
Extras
| Feature | Yalqen | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in ad blockerAd and tracker blocking without installing an extension. | ✓ | ✓ | Ghostery filter engine blocks ads and trackers; on by default, 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 | Yalqen | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manifest V2 extensionsThe older extension format Chrome removed in 2025. Needed for full uBlock Origin and other extensions that block requests. | ◐ | ✕ | Store refuses MV2; unpacked folders load, but the app's own webRequest hook bypasses extension blocking.github.com |
| Manifest V3 extensionsThe current extension format used by the Chrome Web Store (and supported by Firefox and Safari). | ◐ | ✓ | Store installs MV3 only; Electron lists no declarativeNetRequest, so MV3 blockers cannot block.github.com |
| Firefox add-onsAdd-ons from addons.mozilla.org or .xpi files install and run. | ✕ | ✕ | Chrome Web Store (Chromium) installs only; no Firefox add-on support.github.com |
| Safari extensionsSafari web extensions (the App Store extension apps Safari uses) install and run. | ✕ | ✕ | Chrome-format extensions only; Electron has no Safari extension host.github.com |