Cra
Free, open-source macOS browser built as a one-to-one Arc replacement, on Chromium via CEF.
Cra is a native macOS browser written in Swift (AppKit and SwiftUI) that embeds Chromium through the Chromium Embedded Framework. It keeps Arc's sidebar model, with spaces, pinned tabs, favorites, a command bar, split view, Little Windows, Boosts and Easels, and imports an Arc sidebar; optional Ask on Page and Instant Links run on the Mac's Apple Intelligence. An Arc Search-style iPhone app is in public TestFlight beta. It has no account or server of its own and shares usage stats or crash reports only if you opt in. Netflix, Spotify, Disney+ and other DRM services play in an embedded Safari (WebKit) engine rather than Chromium.
Built-in AI
AI optional
On-device Apple Intelligence only: Tidy Tabs on; Titles, Downloads, Previews, Ask on Page, Instant Links off. No cloud AI; local MCP server off by default.
github.comBloat check
None found
No ads, wallet, feed, upsell or account. Usage stats and crash reports are opt-in; the Sparkle updater sends no system profile.
github.comAds, crypto, paid upsells, news feeds, default-on telemetry, required accounts.
Organization
| Feature | Cra | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| SidebarVertical sidebarTabs live in a vertical sidebar that is the main tab UI and can be hidden. | ✓ | ✓ | Sidebar replaces the tab strip; it can be hidden (⌘S) and slides in from the window edge.github.com |
| SpacesSeveral workspaces per window, each with its own pinned and open tabs, switched by swipe or shortcut. | ✓ | ✓ | Each space has its own favorites, pinned tabs, Today list and colour; ⌃1–9 switches.github.com |
| ProfilesProfiles 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 cookies and logins); any number of spaces can share one; unset spaces use Default.github.com |
| FavoritesGlobal favoritesPinned icons at the top of the sidebar shared by every Space (Zen calls them Essentials). | ✓ | ✓ | Setting shares Favorites across spaces on one profile (Arc's model); off by default, so each space has its own.github.com |
| Pinned TabsPinned tabs & foldersPer-space pinned tabs that act like bookmarks, with nested folders. | ✓ | ✓ | Per-space pinned tabs and folders; also pinned splits and live folders.github.com |
| Live foldersSidebar folders that fill and refresh themselves from an outside source, such as GitHub pull requests or an RSS feed. | ✓ | ✓ | Folders fill and refresh themselves from GitHub, GitLab or Jira; more sources come as JavaScript plugins installed from a ZIP.github.com |
| ArchiveAuto-archive tabsUnpinned tabs close automatically after a set time and stay recoverable in an archive. | ✓ | ✓ | Today tabs archive after 12 h, 24 h, 7 d, 30 d, 90 d or 180 d, or never; searchable archive.github.com |
| Theme pickerSpace themesPer-space colour or gradient themes. | ✓ | ✓ | Per-space none to three colours, auto/light/dark (Light and Dark keep the picked colour as it is, as Arc does), grain and intensity.github.com |
Browsing
| Feature | Cra | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Split ViewTwo or more tabs side by side in one window. | ✓ | ✓ | Up to four panes, horizontal or vertical, kept as one sidebar row; drag a tab onto the page to split it.github.com |
| PeekLink previewOpen a link in an overlay without leaving the current page (Zen calls it Glance). | ✓ | ✓ | Links open in an overlay card over the page; Shift-click any link.github.com |
| Little ArcMini windowA small, chrome-less window for links opened from other apps or a quick search. | ✓ | ✓ | Little Windows open for links from other apps; ⌘O moves the page into a space.github.com |
| Command barA ⌘T palette that searches tabs, history, bookmarks and browser commands. | ✓ | ✓ | ⌘T searches open tabs, archive, history, popular domains and actions.github.com |
| Air Traffic ControlLink routingRules that send links from other apps to a chosen space or profile. | ✓ | ✓ | Air Traffic Control sends links from other apps to a space or Little Window, and a URL typed in ⌘T to a space; Arc routes import.github.com |
| BoostsSite customizationPer-site custom CSS/JS, or zapping elements off a page. | ✓ | ✓ | Per-site colours, fonts, Zap and your own CSS/JS; on by default, Settings ▸ Advanced can turn it off.github.com |
| Auto PiPAuto picture-in-picturePlaying video pops out into picture-in-picture automatically when you switch tabs. | ✓ | ✓ | Video pops out on its own when you leave a tab; on by default, with a per-site switch in the Site Control Center.github.com |
| Mini playerMedia still playing in a tab you left keeps play/pause controls in the sidebar. | ✓ | ✓ | Now-playing card at the bottom of the sidebar for tabs you left: play/pause, previous/next, volume; a notification ding makes none.github.com |
| Tab SwitcherRecent-tab switcherCtrl+Tab jumps back to the tab you used last and cycles in recently used order. | ✓ | ✓ | Ctrl+Tab is 'Next Recent Tab': a switcher of the space's most recently used tabs, newest first; Ctrl+Shift+Tab goes back.github.com |
| Super CopyClean link copyA shortcut (⌘⇧C) copies the page URL with tracking parameters removed. | ✓ | ✓ | Shift+Cmd+C copies the URL without utm_* and click-id parameters and shows a 'Copied Current URL' toast; several picked tabs copy one per line.github.com |
| CaptureScreenshotsBuilt-in capture of a chosen area or element, and of the full page. | ✓ | ✓ | Shift+Cmd+2 Capture… picks an area or an image; File > Capture Full Page and Portrait Mode are separate commands.github.com |
Compatibility & migration
| Feature | Cra | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arc importImports Arc spaces, pinned tabs and folders. | ✓ | – | Imports Arc spaces, pinned tabs, folders, favorites, archive, passwords and sign-ins.github.com |
| Chrome extensionsInstalls extensions from the Chrome Web Store. | ✓ | ✓ | Chrome Web Store, unpacked folders, or imported from other Chromium browsers.github.com |
| DRM streamingNetflix, Disney+, Spotify web and other DRM video/audio play, through Widevine or, on WebKit, FairPlay. Chromium forks need a Google Widevine licence; FairPlay counts once a major service is confirmed playing in the app. | ◐ | ✓ | No Widevine VMP in Chromium; 20+ listed services (Netflix, Spotify, Disney+…) open in WebKit with FairPlay.github.com |
| PasskeysWebAuthn passkeys, Touch ID and the system/iCloud keychain. | ◐ | ✓ | Phone and security-key passkeys work in every build; Touch ID and iCloud Keychain need signing entitlements, and 0.1.43 is signed with the Touch ID keychain group but not the iCloud Keychain one.github.com |
| SyncSpaces, pinned tabs and settings sync across devices. | ✓ | ✓ | Sidebar, settings and shortcuts sync between Macs through iCloud or a synced folder; no Cra server, no history or logins.github.com |
| Mobile appiPhone, iPad or Android app that shares spaces with desktop. | ◐ | ◐ | An Arc Search-style iPhone app (iOS/, iOS 17+) reads the Mac's synced Spaces from iCloud; it is a public TestFlight beta, not on the App Store. The Mac app is macOS 14+.github.com |
Extras
| Feature | Cra | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in ad blockerAd and tracker blocking without installing an extension. | ✓ | ✓ | Blocks third-party requests to 22,500+ ad/tracker domains, on by default.github.com |
| Custom ShortcutsShortcut editorMost browser keyboard shortcuts can be remapped in Settings. | ✓ | ✓ | Settings > Shortcuts records new keys for each action in the table (Arc's roughly 100 rows) and picks per shortcut whether Cra, the website or both get the keys; overrides save to keybindings.json.github.com |
More Arc features
Arc features shown but not counted in the score, because almost no replacement has them or only a few people need them.
| Feature | Cra | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| EaselsA shareable canvas of live page captures, notes and drawings. | ◐ | ◐ | Canvas with pictures, text, shapes, drawings, link cards and live captures, with undo and alignment guides, saved per easel; sharing is skipped (it would need a cloud).github.com |
| Shared CollectionsShared spaces & foldersShare a Space, folder or set of tabs as a link anyone can open, or another user can add to their sidebar. | ✓ | ✓ | Share Folder… and Share N Items… copy a crabrowser.app/folder link anyone can open (since 0.1.41); Share Space is skipped.github.com |
| PreviewsWeb app previewsHover a pinned Gmail, Calendar or other web app to glance at it; a pinned calendar shows the next meeting with Join. | ✓ | ✓ | Hover cards: unread mail (Gmail, Outlook), today's calendar with Join Meeting (Google, Outlook, Notion), recent pages for Linear, Notion, Figma and Confluence.github.com |
| Developer modeA developer view that turns on by itself for localhost: full URL, quick DevTools and dev tools in reach. | ✓ | ✓ | Developer Mode is per site (Ctrl+D or Site Controls), on by default for localhost and 127.0.0.1; shows the full URL and a developer bar.github.com |
Extension support
Which extension formats and stores run, beyond the Chrome Web Store row above.
| Feature | Cra | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manifest V2 extensionsThe older extension format Chrome removed in 2025. Needed for full uBlock Origin and other extensions that block requests. | ✓ | ✕ | Cra's CEF patch keeps Manifest V2 on, which stock Chromium 156 shuts off; uBlock Origin installs and runs.github.com |
| Manifest V3 extensionsThe current extension format used by the Chrome Web Store (and supported by Firefox and Safari). | ✓ | ✓ | MV3 runs on Chromium 156's extension host via CEF; docs verify an MV3 content script on a real tab.github.com |
| Firefox add-onsAdd-ons from addons.mozilla.org or .xpi files install and run. | ✕ | ✕ | Chromium only installs Chrome-format (.crx) extension downloads; Firefox .xpi add-ons don't install.chromium.googlesource.com |
| Safari extensionsSafari web extensions (the App Store extension apps Safari uses) install and run. | ✕ | ✕ | Safari web extensions ship as Safari app extensions; Chromium has no host for them.developer.apple.com |