Dia
Arc's official successor from The Browser Company: Profiles, Tab Groups, Arc import, optional paid AI.
Dia is a Chromium-based browser from The Browser Company, the team behind Arc, and is the browser Arc users are being moved to ahead of Arc's 22 December 2026 sunset. Arc Spaces become Profiles, Arc folders become pinned Tab Groups, and an importer brings over Spaces, pinned tabs, history, passwords and extensions. The browser itself is free; the built-in AI chat and assistant features require paid plans after a 14-day trial. It runs on macOS and Windows.
Built-in AI
AI-first
Chat, Skills and Morning Brief are built into the command bar and sidebar, with no off switch; the free plan after the 14-day trial has no AI.
diabrowser.comBloat check
3 things you didn't ask for
- Paid upsellsAfter the 14-day trial AI features pause and Dia prompts you to upgrade ($10 or $100/mo) when you reach for one.diabrowser.com
- Telemetry on by defaultPrivacy policy: feature-usage events and IP/device data are collected automatically for analytics; content data is used to improve Dia unless you opt out.diabrowser.com
- Account requiredYou sign up and sign in to use Dia; sign-in runs on Atlassian's identity system. No account-free mode is documented.diabrowser.com
No ads or wallet found; the built-in ad and tracker blocker is on by default and the privacy policy says no targeted advertising.
Ads, crypto, paid upsells, news feeds, default-on telemetry, required accounts.
Organization
| Feature | Dia | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| SidebarVertical sidebarTabs live in a vertical sidebar that is the main tab UI and can be hidden. | ◐ | ✓ | Sidebar layout is optional; Dia opens with a top tab bar. Importing from Arc switches to the sidebar.resources.arc.net |
| SpacesSeveral workspaces per window, each with its own pinned and open tabs, switched by swipe or shortcut. | ✓ | ✓ | Called Profiles: each has its own tabs; swipe or Ctrl+1–9 to switch.resources.arc.net |
| 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. | ✓ | ✓ | Profiles are separate logins/tabs but can optionally share data; imported Spaces of one Arc profile share logins.resources.arc.net |
| FavoritesGlobal favoritesPinned icons at the top of the sidebar shared by every Space (Zen calls them Essentials). | ◐ | ✓ | Bundle 1.56.1: Favorites dock + Arc favorites import exist; container is keyed by space_id, so per Profile.releases.diabrowser.com |
| Pinned TabsPinned tabs & foldersPer-space pinned tabs that act like bookmarks, with nested folders. | ✓ | ✓ | Per-Profile pinned tabs and pinned Tab Groups; groups nest up to eight levels (drag one in, or New Group). Mac and Windows since 1.57; Arc import docs still say folders flatten.diabrowser.com |
| Live foldersSidebar folders that fill and refresh themselves from an outside source, such as GitHub pull requests or an RSS feed. | ✓ | ✓ | Live Groups auto-fill from GitHub pull requests and a Docs group (Notion, Gmail, Confluence).diabrowser.com |
| ArchiveAuto-archive tabsUnpinned tabs close automatically after a set time and stay recoverable in an archive. | ◐ | ✓ | Bundle 1.56.1: Clean Tabs thresholds 12h/24h/3d/7d, per profile; off by default, tabs go to Recently Closed.releases.diabrowser.com |
| Theme pickerSpace themesPer-space colour or gradient themes. | ✓ | ✓ | Per-Profile colour themes with an intensity setting.diabrowser.com |
Browsing
| Feature | Dia | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Split ViewTwo or more tabs side by side in one window. | ✓ | ✓ | Arc's Split View carried over; each pane has its own nav bar.resources.arc.net |
| PeekLink previewOpen a link in an overlay without leaving the current page (Zen calls it Glance). | ✕ | ✓ | Not available; official advice is to open the link and use Split View.resources.arc.net |
| Little ArcMini windowA small, chrome-less window for links opened from other apps or a quick search. | ✕ | ✓ | Little Arc has no Dia equivalent.resources.arc.net |
| Command barA ⌘T palette that searches tabs, history, bookmarks and browser commands. | ✓ | ✓ | Command Bar listed as 'Same' as Arc; it also routes to AI chat or Google.resources.arc.net |
| Air Traffic ControlLink routingRules that send links from other apps to a chosen space or profile. | ✓ | ✓ | Rules route incoming links to a Profile (Settings → Advanced); added in 1.56 on Mac and Windows.diabrowser.com |
| BoostsSite customizationPer-site custom CSS/JS, or zapping elements off a page. | ✕ | ✓ | Boosts do not exist in Dia and do not import from Arc.resources.arc.net |
| Auto PiPAuto picture-in-picturePlaying video pops out into picture-in-picture automatically when you switch tabs. | ✓ | ✓ | Bundle 1.56.1: auto-PiP on tab switch with global and per-site off switches; Meet has its own flag.releases.diabrowser.com |
| Mini playerMedia still playing in a tab you left keeps play/pause controls in the sidebar. | ◐ | ✓ | Hover play/pause/skip controls on pinned Spotify tabs only (1.20.0); no general media controls documented.diabrowser.com |
| Tab SwitcherRecent-tab switcherCtrl+Tab jumps back to the tab you used last and cycles in recently used order. | ✓ | ✓ | Ctrl+Tab opens the Tab Switcher with the five most recent tabs; Arc's comparison table marks it 'Same' as Arc's.resources.arc.net |
| Super CopyClean link copyA shortcut (⌘⇧C) copies the page URL with tracking parameters removed. | ✓ | ✓ | ⌘⇧C copies the current URL; bundle 1.56.1 has a 'Copied a clean link without trackers' toast and strips utm_*, fbclid, gclid, msclkid.releases.diabrowser.com |
| CaptureScreenshotsBuilt-in capture of a chosen area or element, and of the full page. | ✓ | ✓ | Bundle 1.56.1 has a capture controller with region and 'Capture full page' actions, a clipboard toast and a capture-shortcut hint.releases.diabrowser.com |
Compatibility & migration
| Feature | Dia | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arc importImports Arc spaces, pinned tabs and folders. | ✓ | – | Imports Spaces (as Profiles), Favorites, pinned tabs, folders (as Tab Groups); 1.57 adds unpinned tabs. Easels and Boosts excluded.diabrowser.com |
| Chrome extensionsInstalls extensions from the Chrome Web Store. | ✓ | ✓ | Chrome Web Store extensions work; legacy Manifest V2 extensions are no longer supported.resources.arc.net |
| 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. | ✓ | ✓ | Bundle 1.56.1: Widevine CDM installed via component updater (not bundled); ArcCore.sig + EME key system present.releases.diabrowser.com |
| PasskeysWebAuthn passkeys, Touch ID and the system/iCloud keychain. | ✓ | ✓ | iCloud Keychain passkeys supported on Mac since 1.4.0; Windows support not documented.diabrowser.com |
| SyncSpaces, pinned tabs and settings sync across devices. | ✓ | ✓ | Syncs Profiles, bookmarks, favorites, settings and extensions between Mac and Windows.diabrowser.com |
| Mobile appiPhone, iPad or Android app that shares spaces with desktop. | ✕ | ◐ | Mac and Windows only; iPhone tabs can only be handed off to Dia on Mac via Handoff.diabrowser.com |
Extras
| Feature | Dia | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in ad blockerAd and tracker blocking without installing an extension. | ✓ | ✓ | Built-in ad and tracker blocker, included in the free plan.diabrowser.com |
| Custom ShortcutsShortcut editorMost browser keyboard shortcuts can be remapped in Settings. | ✓ | ✓ | Dia → Settings → Shortcuts lists the full set and lets you change any combination (release notes 1.21.0).diabrowser.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 | Dia | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| EaselsA shareable canvas of live page captures, notes and drawings. | ✕ | ◐ | Easels are not in Dia and do not import from Arc.resources.arc.net |
| 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. | ? | ✓ | Arc's shared-collection code (share-link events, shared space/folder placeholders) is in bundle 1.56.1, but no Dia doc lists it; not run. |
| PreviewsWeb app previewsHover a pinned Gmail, Calendar or other web app to glance at it; a pinned calendar shows the next meeting with Join. | ✓ | ✓ | Hovering a pinned Calendar tab previews the rest of your day with a jump-to-next-meeting join link; Outlook and Teams added later.diabrowser.com |
| Developer modeA developer view that turns on by itself for localhost: full URL, quick DevTools and dev tools in reach. | ✓ | ✓ | Bundle 1.56.1 keeps Arc's per-site developer mode (developerModeEnabledForHosts), auto-installs a JSON Formatter extension, and adds F12 and console shortcuts.releases.diabrowser.com |
Extension support
Which extension formats and stores run, beyond the Chrome Web Store row above.
| Feature | Dia | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manifest V2 extensionsThe older extension format Chrome removed in 2025. Needed for full uBlock Origin and other extensions that block requests. | ✕ | ✕ | Dia 1.17.0 (2026-02) dropped MV2; Chromium 157 also blocks it with no flag.diabrowser.com |
| Manifest V3 extensionsThe current extension format used by the Chrome Web Store (and supported by Firefox and Safari). | ✓ | ✓ | Chrome Web Store extensions work on Chromium 157, which loads MV3 natively.resources.arc.net |
| Firefox add-onsAdd-ons from addons.mozilla.org or .xpi files install and run. | ✕ | ✕ | Chromium-based: Firefox .xpi add-ons are not CRX packages, so its installer rejects them.chromium.googlesource.com |
| Safari extensionsSafari web extensions (the App Store extension apps Safari uses) install and run. | ✕ | ✕ | Safari extensions are app extensions that only Safari loads; Chromium 157 has no loader for them.developer.apple.com |