Orb
Free, MIT-licensed Electron browser for Apple Silicon Macs with Spaces, profiles, Boosts and a command bar.
Orb is an alpha browser by one developer, built on Electron 45 (Chromium) and React, and pitched as a calmer, private take on Arc. It has Spaces with their own tabs and pinned tabs, profiles you can assign to Spaces, per-site CSS/JS Boosts with an element picker, a Cmd+K command bar, a two-pane split view, and an ad and tracker blocker that is on by default. Tabs are horizontal by default; a vertical side-tab rail is a setting. Extensions load only as unpacked folders, there is no Chrome Web Store install, no Arc importer (the README claims one, the site says it is not in the build), no sync, and no Widevine. Builds are arm64-only and unsigned, so macOS needs an Open Anyway step on first launch.
Built-in AI
No AI
No built-in AI: no assistant, model or API-key code in the source, and none in the README feature list.
github.comBloat check
None found
No ads, wallet, feed, upsells, account or analytics. The app's own only request is a GitHub release check; filter lists come from their publishers.
github.comAds, crypto, paid upsells, news feeds, default-on telemetry, required accounts.
Organization
| Feature | Orb | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| SidebarVertical sidebarTabs live in a vertical sidebar that is the main tab UI and can be hidden. | ◐ | ✓ | Spaces rail on the left, but tabs default to a horizontal strip; vertical side tabs are an optional setting.github.com |
| SpacesSeveral workspaces per window, each with its own pinned and open tabs, switched by swipe or shortcut. | ✓ | ✓ | Named Spaces each hold their own tabs and pinned tabs; Ctrl+1 to 5 and next/previous commands switch.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 with its own cookie partition; several Spaces can share one profile.github.com |
| FavoritesGlobal favoritesPinned icons at the top of the sidebar shared by every Space (Zen calls them Essentials). | ◐ | ✓ | Essentials are start-page shortcuts scoped per Space (default) or per profile, never global.github.com |
| Pinned TabsPinned tabs & foldersPer-space pinned tabs that act like bookmarks, with nested folders. | ◐ | ✓ | Pinned tabs are per Space, but tab groups are flat and named; there are no nested pinned folders.github.com |
| Live foldersSidebar folders that fill and refresh themselves from an outside source, such as GitHub pull requests or an RSS feed. | ✕ | ✓ | No live-folder or feed code at 24adc98; the sidebar has spaces, tabs and favorites only.github.com |
| ArchiveAuto-archive tabsUnpinned tabs close automatically after a set time and stay recoverable in an archive. | ◐ | ✓ | Idle background tabs unload after a fixed 10 minutes and stay in the strip; there is no archive.github.com |
| Theme pickerSpace themesPer-space colour or gradient themes. | ◐ | ✓ | Paper, Sage and Night themes plus an accent colour are global; a Space only has a colour swatch.github.com |
Browsing
| Feature | Orb | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Split ViewTwo or more tabs side by side in one window. | ◐ | ✓ | Split view from the tab context menu holds exactly two panes with a draggable divider.github.com |
| PeekLink previewOpen a link in an overlay without leaving the current page (Zen calls it Glance). | ◐ | ✓ | Glance previews a hovered link in a floating panel, but only via a hidden-by-default toolbar button.github.com |
| Little ArcMini windowA small, chrome-less window for links opened from other apps or a quick search. | ✕ | ✓ | External links open as a new tab in the main window; no mini window.github.com |
| Command barA ⌘T palette that searches tabs, history, bookmarks and browser commands. | ◐ | ✓ | Cmd+T/Cmd+K bar searches tabs, history, Spaces, profiles, URLs and commands, but not bookmarks.github.com |
| Air Traffic ControlLink routingRules that send links from other apps to a chosen space or profile. | ✕ | ✓ | Default-browser links open in the current window; there are no per-site routing rules.github.com |
| BoostsSite customizationPer-site custom CSS/JS, or zapping elements off a page. | ✓ | ✓ | Per-domain Boosts take CSS and JS, and an element picker writes selectors.github.com |
| Auto PiPAuto picture-in-picturePlaying video pops out into picture-in-picture automatically when you switch tabs. | ◐ | ✓ | Picture-in-picture is a manual toggle from the menu or a command; it never starts on tab switch.github.com |
| Mini playerMedia still playing in a tab you left keeps play/pause controls in the sidebar. | ◐ | ✓ | A speaker badge on audible tabs only mutes; there is no play/pause or media card in the sidebar.github.com |
| Tab SwitcherRecent-tab switcherCtrl+Tab jumps back to the tab you used last and cycles in recently used order. | ✕ | ✓ | Ctrl+Tab moves to the next tab in strip order; the command bar lists tabs newest-opened first, not by recent use.github.com |
| Super CopyClean link copyA shortcut (⌘⇧C) copies the page URL with tracking parameters removed. | ◐ | ✓ | 'Copy URL' command has no default shortcut but can be bound; tabs' URLs already have tracking parameters stripped on navigation.github.com |
| CaptureScreenshotsBuilt-in capture of a chosen area or element, and of the full page. | ✕ | ✓ | No screenshot command or button; capturePage is used only for internal tab snapshots.github.com |
Compatibility & migration
| Feature | Orb | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arc importImports Arc spaces, pinned tabs and folders. | ✕ | – | README lists an Arc importer, but the site says it is not in the build and the code has none.browserorb.vercel.app |
| Chrome extensionsInstalls extensions from the Chrome Web Store. | ◐ | ✓ | Only unpacked extension folders load from disk; no Chrome Web Store install.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. | ✕ | ✓ | Plain electron dependency, no Widevine/castLabs build; bundle not inspected.github.com |
| PasskeysWebAuthn passkeys, Touch ID and the system/iCloud keychain. | ? | ✓ | |
| SyncSpaces, pinned tabs and settings sync across devices. | ✕ | ✓ | No sync and no account; data stays on the Mac.browserorb.vercel.app |
| Mobile appiPhone, iPad or Android app that shares spaces with desktop. | ✕ | ◐ | macOS only; no mobile app.browserorb.vercel.app |
Extras
| Feature | Orb | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in ad blockerAd and tracker blocking without installing an extension. | ✓ | ✓ | EasyList, uBlock filters and EasyPrivacy are enabled by default and block in the main process.github.com |
| Custom ShortcutsShortcut editorMost browser keyboard shortcuts can be remapped in Settings. | ✓ | ✓ | Settings > Shortcuts records new keys for any registered command, with conflict prompts, reset and Chrome/Safari/Arc presets.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 | Orb | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| EaselsA shareable canvas of live page captures, notes and drawings. | ✕ | ◐ | No easel, canvas or board code at 24adc98.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. | ✕ | ✓ | Only a bookmarks HTML export; nothing shares or exports spaces, folders or open tabs.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. | ✕ | ✓ | No glance at pinned apps, calendar widget or unread badges; the sidebar has spaces, tabs and favorites only.github.com |
| Developer modeA developer view that turns on by itself for localhost: full URL, quick DevTools and dev tools in reach. | ✕ | ✓ | Only DevTools via the page menu and a Boost element picker; no developer mode or localhost-specific UI.github.com |
Extension support
Which extension formats and stores run, beyond the Chrome Web Store row above.
| Feature | Orb | 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 may load, but Electron lists no blocking webRequest, so blockers fail.github.com |
| Manifest V3 extensionsThe current extension format used by the Chrome Web Store (and supported by Firefox and Safari). | ◐ | ✓ | Unpacked MV3 folders load, but 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. | ✕ | ✕ | Only Chromium-format unpacked folders load; no Firefox add-on path.github.com |
| Safari extensionsSafari web extensions (the App Store extension apps Safari uses) install and run. | ✕ | ✕ | Electron has no Safari extension host; only unpacked Chromium folders load.github.com |