Ortix
Native Mac WebKit browser with spaces that keep their own sign-ins, Arc import and a built-in AI agent.
Ortix is a closed-source native macOS browser on the system WebKit engine, made by SystemBionic, an independent company founded in 2025. It uses a vertical sidebar (or a compact rail) with named spaces that each hold their own tabs and pinned tabs and are Shared, Isolated or Connected (own sign-ins, or sign-ins shared with the spaces you pick), fold-away Collections, split view with up to four panes, a Cmd+T Quick Search with a calculator, a Quick View mini browser (Shift-click a link) and a sidebar media dock with an audio mixer. It imports Arc spaces and tabs, installs extensions from the Chrome Web Store (labelled beta), blocks ads and trackers, supports passkeys behind Touch ID and syncs through iCloud. EVVE, its built-in AI, runs on local models, Setapp AI+ or your own API key. The free plan limits you to 3 spaces; Ortix Pro ($5.99/month, or included with Setapp) adds unlimited spaces, the agentic EVVE, grammar help, the audio mixer and Auto Picture in Picture. The build is Apple-silicon only, needs macOS 26, and has no mobile app.
Built-in AI
AI optional
EVVE needs a local model, Setapp AI+ or your own API key; local or own-key use skips the maker's servers. Agent mode needs Pro ($5.99/mo).
systembionic.comBloat check
2 things you didn't ask for
- Telemetry on by defaultAnonymous install signal and a ~30-minute active-user heartbeat are sent by default; opt-out in app settings.systembionic.com
- Paid upsellsFree tier capped at 3 spaces; auto PiP, audio mixer and agentic EVVE are Pro ($5.99/mo), bought and unlocked inside the app.systembionic.com
No ads, wallet or feed found. An account is needed only for Pro and sync; whether first run can skip it was not exercised in 10.0.
Ads, crypto, paid upsells, news feeds, default-on telemetry, required accounts.
Organization
| Feature | Ortix | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| SidebarVertical sidebarTabs live in a vertical sidebar that is the main tab UI and can be hidden. | ✓ | ✓ | Vertical sidebar or compact rail is the main tab UI; Option+Cmd+S toggles it, hover reveals it.systembionic.com |
| SpacesSeveral workspaces per window, each with its own pinned and open tabs, switched by swipe or shortcut. | ✓ | ✓ | Named, coloured spaces each with own tabs and pinned tabs; free plan allows 3, Pro unlimited.systembionic.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 is Shared, Isolated (own sign-ins and cookies) or Connected (shares only with chosen spaces); history stays per space.systembionic.com |
| FavoritesGlobal favoritesPinned icons at the top of the sidebar shared by every Space (Zen calls them Essentials). | ◐ | ✓ | Pinned tabs are per space; Favourites are a home-page grid, not a shared sidebar row.systembionic.com |
| Pinned TabsPinned tabs & foldersPer-space pinned tabs that act like bookmarks, with nested folders. | ◐ | ✓ | Per-space pinned tabs plus fold-away Collections; nested pinned folders not documented.systembionic.com |
| Live foldersSidebar folders that fill and refresh themselves from an outside source, such as GitHub pull requests or an RSS feed. | ? | ✓ | Not in the vendor's feature list or changelog; closed source, so not checked in the app. |
| ArchiveAuto-archive tabsUnpinned tabs close automatically after a set time and stay recoverable in an archive. | ◐ | ✓ | Idle tabs are unloaded only under memory pressure; no archive or time setting found.systembionic.com |
| Theme pickerSpace themesPer-space colour or gradient themes. | ✓ | ✓ | Each space has its own colour and, since 7.1, its own wallpaper; no gradient theme picker.systembionic.com |
Browsing
| Feature | Ortix | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Split ViewTwo or more tabs side by side in one window. | ✓ | ✓ | Up to four panes in four layouts with draggable seams.systembionic.com |
| PeekLink previewOpen a link in an overlay without leaving the current page (Zen calls it Glance). | ✓ | ✓ | Shift-click any link, or right-click > Open Link in Quick View, to preview it in a mini browser over the page; also catches sign-in and pop-up windows.systembionic.com |
| Little ArcMini windowA small, chrome-less window for links opened from other apps or a quick search. | ◐ | ✓ | Quick View mini browser can open links from Mail, Messages and other apps instead of a tab (setting); whether it is the default was not checked.api.systembionic.com |
| Command barA ⌘T palette that searches tabs, history, bookmarks and browser commands. | ◐ | ✓ | Cmd+T Quick Search covers web, tabs, history, bookmarks and maths; no browser commands listed.systembionic.com |
| Air Traffic ControlLink routingRules that send links from other apps to a chosen space or profile. | ✕ | ✓ | Links from other apps only choose Quick View, a new tab or a background tab; no per-site rules or target space or profile in Settings.api.systembionic.com |
| BoostsSite customizationPer-site custom CSS/JS, or zapping elements off a page. | ✕ | ✓ | No per-site CSS/JS or element-zap feature in Settings or the app's source files; only a per-site allow/block list for the content blocker.api.systembionic.com |
| Auto PiPAuto picture-in-picturePlaying video pops out into picture-in-picture automatically when you switch tabs. | ✓ | ✓ | Auto Picture in Picture is a paid Pro feature ($5.99/mo or Setapp); the free plan has no auto PiP.systembionic.com |
| Mini playerMedia still playing in a tab you left keeps play/pause controls in the sidebar. | ✓ | ✓ | Whatever plays sits at the foot of the sidebar in a dock player with artwork and live levels.systembionic.com |
| Tab SwitcherRecent-tab switcherCtrl+Tab jumps back to the tab you used last and cycles in recently used order. | ✕ | ✓ | Tab shortcuts walk pinned tabs first, then the sidebar strip, in order; no recent-order switcher found.systembionic.com |
| Super CopyClean link copyA shortcut (⌘⇧C) copies the page URL with tracking parameters removed. | ◐ | ✓ | A Copy URL shortcut action exists; the tracker blocker strips utm_, fbclid and gclid from the page address on load, not at copy.api.systembionic.com |
| CaptureScreenshotsBuilt-in capture of a chosen area or element, and of the full page. | ✕ | ✓ | No screenshot or capture command in menus or shortcut actions; page screenshots exist only as a tool for the built-in agent.api.systembionic.com |
Compatibility & migration
| Feature | Ortix | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arc importImports Arc spaces, pinned tabs and folders. | ✓ | – | Imports Arc spaces and tabs (one of 24 browsers), at first launch or later from Settings.systembionic.com |
| Chrome extensionsInstalls extensions from the Chrome Web Store. | ✓ | ✓ | Install from a Chrome Web Store link in one step; the app and changelog label extensions as beta.systembionic.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. | ? | ✓ | |
| PasskeysWebAuthn passkeys, Touch ID and the system/iCloud keychain. | ✓ | ✓ | Passkeys use the system Passwords/iCloud keychain behind Touch ID.systembionic.com |
| SyncSpaces, pinned tabs and settings sync across devices. | ✓ | ✓ | iCloud sync of bookmarks, tabs and Spaces.systembionic.com |
| Mobile appiPhone, iPad or Android app that shares spaces with desktop. | ✕ | ◐ | Mac-only; SystemBionic's iOS app Xified is a separate, non-browser product.systembionic.com |
Extras
| Feature | Ortix | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in ad blockerAd and tracker blocking without installing an extension. | ✓ | ✓ | Free plan includes ad and tracker blocking plus a video ad blocker; default state not checked.systembionic.com |
| Custom ShortcutsShortcut editorMost browser keyboard shortcuts can be remapped in Settings. | ✓ | ✓ | Settings > Keyboard Shortcuts: click a shortcut, press new keys, clear or restore defaults for any command (8.0).systembionic.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 | Ortix | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| EaselsA shareable canvas of live page captures, notes and drawings. | ✕ | ◐ | Home page has only Notes and Tasks cards; no canvas or board in the app.api.systembionic.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. | ✕ | ✓ | Collections only group tabs; no sharing or export of spaces, collections or tabs found in the 10.0 bundle or changelog.api.systembionic.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 hover glance, calendar widget or unread badge on pinned sites; Quick View only previews links you shift-click.api.systembionic.com |
| Developer modeA developer view that turns on by itself for localhost: full URL, quick DevTools and dev tools in reach. | ◐ | ✓ | Settings > Web Developer Tools enables Inspect Element; 10.0 adds a Site Trace panel with request log, repaint counters and compositing borders.api.systembionic.com |
Extension support
Which extension formats and stores run, beyond the Chrome Web Store row above.
| Feature | Ortix | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manifest V2 extensionsThe older extension format Chrome removed in 2025. Needed for full uBlock Origin and other extensions that block requests. | ◐ | ✕ | App lists blocking webRequest as unsupported, so no full uBlock Origin; MV2 loading not tested.api.systembionic.com |
| Manifest V3 extensionsThe current extension format used by the Chrome Web Store (and supported by Firefox and Safari). | ✓ | ✓ | Chrome Web Store MV3 extensions install and run on WebKit's extension engine; not all tested.systembionic.com |
| Firefox add-onsAdd-ons from addons.mozilla.org or .xpi files install and run. | ◐ | ✕ | Settings accepts .xpi packages by file or URL; no addons.mozilla.org install flow found.api.systembionic.com |
| Safari extensionsSafari web extensions (the App Store extension apps Safari uses) install and run. | ✕ | ✕ | Extension manager installs only from a Chrome Web Store link or a folder, ZIP, CRX or XPI package; no Safari app-extension path found.api.systembionic.com |