Zigzag
Free, open-source Mac browser on WebKit with spaces, Peek, split view and one-click Arc import.
Zigzag is a native Mac browser in Swift and AppKit on the WebKit engine that ships with macOS, about 18 MB installed. Tabs sit in a sidebar grouped into spaces, each with its own colour or gradient, pinned tabs and nested folders, plus Favorites shared by every space. It has Peek, a two-pane split view, a command bar, unused-tab archiving and auto picture-in-picture. It imports Arc spaces, pinned tabs, folders, Favorites, history and passwords, installs Chrome Web Store extensions, blocks ads by default and supports passkeys. It has no profiles, Little Arc, link rules, Boosts, sync or AI. Zigzag is a Mac-only beta needing macOS 15.4 or later, with no account or telemetry.
64% Arc feature parity (yes = 1, partial = ½).
No AI
No AI features at all.
github.comNot counted in Arc parity: some people want AI, some avoid it.
None found
No ads, wallet, feed, upsells, account or telemetry; only update, search-suggestion and extension-update requests.
github.comAds, crypto, paid upsells, news feeds, default-on telemetry, required accounts.
Organization
| Feature | Zigzag | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vertical sidebarTabs live in a vertical sidebar that is the main tab UI and can be hidden. | ✓ | ✓ | Tabs live in a sidebar, the main tab UI; a menu item hides and shows it.github.com |
| SpacesSeveral workspaces per window, each with its own pinned and open tabs, switched by swipe or shortcut. | ✓ | ✓ | Spaces each have own colour, pinned tabs and folders; swipe the sidebar or wheel 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. | ✕ | ✓ | No separate profiles: every space shares the same logins and cookies.github.com |
| Global favoritesPinned icons at the top of the sidebar shared by every Space (Zen calls them Essentials). | ✓ | ✓ | Favorites are tiles at the top of the sidebar, the same in every space.github.com |
| Pinned tabs & foldersPer-space pinned tabs that act like bookmarks, with nested folders. | ✓ | ✓ | Each space has pinned tabs and nested folders (folders carry a parentID); pinned splits too.github.com |
| Auto-archive tabsUnpinned tabs close automatically after a set time and stay recoverable in an archive. | ◐ | ✓ | Unused tabs archive after 12 h, 1 day or 1 week (off by default); only the command bar finds them.github.com |
| Space themesPer-space colour or gradient themes. | ✓ | ✓ | Each space has own colour, gradient, grain and see-through level.github.com |
Browsing
| Feature | Zigzag | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Split ViewTwo or more tabs side by side in one window. | ◐ | ✓ | Split view is two panes only, side by side or stacked; a split can be pinned or made a favorite.github.com |
| Link previewOpen a link in an overlay without leaving the current page (Zen calls it Glance). | ✓ | ✓ | Shift-click a link opens it in a panel over the page; a button keeps it as a tab.github.com |
| Mini windowA small, chrome-less window for links opened from other apps or a quick search. | ✕ | ✓ | No mini window: links from other apps open as a tab in the main window.github.com |
| Command barA ⌘T palette that searches tabs, history, bookmarks and browser commands. | ✓ | ✓ | Cmd+T or Cmd+L bar finds open tabs, history, bookmarks, archived tabs and browser commands.github.com |
| Link routingRules that send links from other apps to a chosen space or profile. | ✕ | ✓ | External links always open as a foreground tab in the front window; no rules or space choice.github.com |
| Site customizationPer-site custom CSS/JS, or zapping elements off a page. | ◐ | ✓ | No built-in Boosts or zapping; Tampermonkey-style user scripts run through Chrome extensions.github.com |
| Auto picture-in-picturePlaying video pops out into picture-in-picture automatically when you switch tabs. | ✓ | ✓ | On by default: a playing video floats in picture-in-picture when you switch tabs.github.com |
Compatibility & migration
| Feature | Zigzag | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arc importImports Arc spaces, pinned tabs and folders. | ✓ | – | Imports Arc spaces, pinned tabs, folders, Favorites and history (plus passwords per README).github.com |
| Chrome extensionsInstalls extensions from the Chrome Web Store. | ✓ | ✓ | Installs from the Chrome Web Store via WebKit extension support; some APIs, e.g. webRequest blocking, missing.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. | ✓ | ✓ | Release build has Apple's browser passkey entitlement, so passkeys and Touch ID work as in Safari.github.com |
| SyncSpaces, pinned tabs and settings sync across devices. | ✕ | ✓ | Nothing syncs between devices except passwords through iCloud Keychain.github.com |
| Mobile appiPhone, iPad or Android app that shares spaces with desktop. | ✕ | ◐ | Mac app only; the README lists no sync to iPhone and no mobile app exists.github.com |
Extras
| Feature | Zigzag | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in ad blockerAd and tracker blocking without installing an extension. | ✓ | ✓ | EasyList, EasyPrivacy and EasyList China as WebKit content rules, on by default.github.com |
Extension support
Which extension formats and stores run, beyond the Chrome Web Store row above. Not counted in Arc parity.
| Feature | Zigzag | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manifest V2 extensionsThe older extension format Chrome removed in 2025. Needed for full uBlock Origin and other extensions that block requests. | ◐ | ✕ | MV2 only via developer-mode Load Unpacked; README: no request-blocking webRequest, so no full uBlock.github.com |
| Manifest V3 extensionsThe current extension format used by the Chrome Web Store (and supported by Firefox and Safari). | ✓ | ✓ | Chrome Web Store extensions run on WebKit; Zigzag bridges many Chrome APIs, but tab groups, proxy missing.github.com |
| Firefox add-onsAdd-ons from addons.mozilla.org or .xpi files install and run. | ◐ | ✕ | No Firefox Add-ons install; only an unzipped add-on folder via developer-mode Load Unpacked.github.com |
| Safari extensionsSafari web extensions (the App Store extension apps Safari uses) install and run. | ◐ | ✕ | No Safari extension import; only an extracted extension folder via developer-mode Load Unpacked.github.com |