ReArc
Open-source Arc remake for Apple silicon Macs: SwiftUI over Chromium 156, with Arc import and iCloud sync.
ReArc is an open-source (Apache-2.0) reimplementation of Arc for Apple silicon Macs by Judioo (Developer ID: udo oji). A native Swift/SwiftUI shell runs a lightly patched Chromium 156 underneath. Onboarding imports Arc's spaces, pinned tabs, folders and favorites, plus bookmarks, history and extensions from Chrome, Brave and other browsers (passwords and cookies are never read). It copies Arc closely: Spaces with gradient themes, containers so a space can have its own profile, profile-wide Favorites, nested pinned folders, auto-archive, up to four split panes, Peek, Little ReArc for outside links, Air Traffic Control rules, CSS/JS Boosts with zap, Easels and notes, Capture, Ctrl+Tab recent tabs, a sidebar mini player and remappable shortcuts. Sidebar sync runs through your own iCloud (CloudKit, end-to-end encrypted) with no ReArc account and is off until you turn it on. There is no built-in AI or ad blocker. It is an alpha with builds almost daily since 2026-11-09, and two of them were withdrawn within an hour.
Built-in AI
No AI
No AI features, assistant or model calls in the shell source; the README lists none.
github.comBloat check
None found
No ads, wallet, feed, upsell, account or analytics endpoint in the source. Network calls: Sparkle updates, Safe Browsing (Google), search suggestions, opt-in iCloud sync.
github.comAds, crypto, paid upsells, news feeds, default-on telemetry, required accounts.
Organization
| Feature | ReArc | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| SidebarVertical sidebarTabs live in a vertical sidebar that is the main tab UI and can be hidden. | ✓ | ✓ | Vertical sidebar is the only tab UI; ⌘S hides and shows it, ⇧⌘S shrinks it to a column of site icons.github.com |
| SpacesSeveral workspaces per window, each with its own pinned and open tabs, switched by swipe or shortcut. | ✓ | ✓ | Spaces each hold their own pinned and Today tabs; switch by two-finger swipe, ⌃1–9 or ⌥⌘←/→.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. | ✓ | ✓ | Every space belongs to a profile; several spaces can share one, or a space gets its own container (separate cookies and sign-ins).github.com |
| FavoritesGlobal favoritesPinned icons at the top of the sidebar shared by every Space (Zen calls them Essentials). | ✓ | ✓ | Favorites grid at the top belongs to the profile and shows in every space of that profile, as in Arc.github.com |
| Pinned TabsPinned tabs & foldersPer-space pinned tabs that act like bookmarks, with nested folders. | ✓ | ✓ | Per-space pinned tabs with folders that nest to any depth; closing a pinned tab unloads it and keeps it pinned.github.com |
| Live foldersSidebar folders that fill and refresh themselves from an outside source, such as GitHub pull requests or an RSS feed. | ✕ | ✓ | Folders are titled containers of pinned tabs you put there; nothing fills one from GitHub, RSS or another feed (searched).github.com |
| ArchiveAuto-archive tabsUnpinned tabs close automatically after a set time and stay recoverable in an archive. | ✓ | ✓ | Today tabs archive after 12 hours (Arc's default), 24 hours, 7 or 30 days; the Archive keeps them about 60 days.github.com |
| Theme pickerSpace themesPer-space colour or gradient themes. | ✓ | ✓ | Each space has its own theme: up to three gradient colours, grain, intensity and a light/dark/automatic appearance.github.com |
Browsing
| Feature | ReArc | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Split ViewTwo or more tabs side by side in one window. | ✓ | ✓ | Up to four panes in one split (⌃⇧=), with Expand Current Split to show one pane alone.github.com |
| PeekLink previewOpen a link in an overlay without leaving the current page (Zen calls it Glance). | ✓ | ✓ | ⇧-click opens a link in a borderless card over the page with close, expand-to-tab and Split View buttons; Esc closes.github.com |
| Little ArcMini windowA small, chrome-less window for links opened from other apps or a quick search. | ✓ | ✓ | Links from other apps open in a Little ReArc window by default (setting); ⌥⌘N opens one by hand.github.com |
| Command barA ⌘T palette that searches tabs, history, bookmarks and browser commands. | ✓ | ✓ | ⌘T/⌘L bar ranks open tabs, history, search suggestions and browser commands, with Tab-to-search for sites.github.com |
| Air Traffic ControlLink routingRules that send links from other apps to a chosen space or profile. | ✓ | ✓ | Air Traffic Control: domain, URL-contains or wildcard rules send outside links to a chosen space or a Little ReArc in a profile.github.com |
| BoostsSite customizationPer-site custom CSS/JS, or zapping elements off a page. | ✓ | ✓ | Per-site Boosts with CSS and JS (scripts run only after you approve the code) and a zap picker that hides elements.github.com |
| Auto PiPAuto picture-in-picturePlaying video pops out into picture-in-picture automatically when you switch tabs. | ✓ | ✓ | On by default: a playing video pops into picture-in-picture when you switch tabs or the window is covered; per-site off or snooze.github.com |
| Mini playerMedia still playing in a tab you left keeps play/pause controls in the sidebar. | ✓ | ✓ | Media playing in a tab you left gets a sidebar strip with previous, play/pause, next, mute and picture-in-picture.github.com |
| Tab SwitcherRecent-tab switcherCtrl+Tab jumps back to the tab you used last and cycles in recently used order. | ✓ | ✓ | Ctrl+Tab shows Recent Tabs, most recent first; release Control to switch, Shift goes back, Esc cancels.github.com |
| Super CopyClean link copyA shortcut (⌘⇧C) copies the page URL with tracking parameters removed. | ✓ | ✓ | ⇧⌘C copies the URL with tracking parameters removed, using the tracker table from Arc's binary.github.com |
| CaptureScreenshotsBuilt-in capture of a chosen area or element, and of the full page. | ✓ | ✓ | Capture (⇧⌘2) takes a dragged region, a clicked element, the visible area, a portrait crop or the full page.github.com |
Compatibility & migration
| Feature | ReArc | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arc importImports Arc spaces, pinned tabs and folders. | ✓ | – | Reads Arc's sidebar: spaces, pinned tabs, folders and favorites per Arc profile, Today tabs optional; also Arc's settings.github.com |
| Chrome extensionsInstalls extensions from the Chrome Web Store. | ✓ | ✓ | Extensions install from the Chrome Web Store into Chromium 156, with Arc-style pinned actions beside the URL field.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. | ? | ✓ | Unbranded, non-official Chromium build: no WidevineCdm in the 677 bundle and no proprietary_codecs in the release args; playback not tested. |
| PasskeysWebAuthn passkeys, Touch ID and the system/iCloud keychain. | ◐ | ✓ | Signed app has no browser-passkey or keychain-group entitlement, so no iCloud Keychain/Touch ID passkeys; phone or key paths untested.github.com |
| SyncSpaces, pinned tabs and settings sync across devices. | ✓ | ✓ | Sync Sidebar (off by default) syncs spaces, pinned tabs, folders, favorites and Boosts through your iCloud, end-to-end encrypted.github.com |
| Mobile appiPhone, iPad or Android app that shares spaces with desktop. | ✕ | ◐ | Mac only: an alpha for Apple silicon Macs on macOS 14 or later; no iOS or Android app.github.com |
Extras
| Feature | ReArc | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in ad blockerAd and tracker blocking without installing an extension. | ✕ | ✓ | No built-in ad or tracker blocker in the shell or the patch overlay; install an extension (MV3).github.com |
| Custom ShortcutsShortcut editorMost browser keyboard shortcuts can be remapped in Settings. | ✓ | ✓ | Settings › Shortcuts lists every shortcut with a search field; click a row to record a new chord or unbind it, Reset All.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 | ReArc | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| EaselsA shareable canvas of live page captures, notes and drawings. | ◐ | ◐ | Easels are canvases of rich text, shapes, arrows and static page captures, plus notes; no live captures and no sharing.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. | ◐ | ✓ | Selected tabs can be copied as a list of links (plain or Markdown); no link that shares a space or folder.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. | ✕ | ✓ | Hovering a sidebar tab shows a saved snapshot with title and host; no live glance, unread badge or next-meeting card.github.com |
| Developer modeA developer view that turns on by itself for localhost: full URL, quick DevTools and dev tools in reach. | ✕ | ✓ | Arc's ⌃D Toggle Developer Mode is listed in the shortcut table but has no command; DevTools dock right, left, bottom or detached.github.com |
Extension support
Which extension formats and stores run, beyond the Chrome Web Store row above.
| Feature | ReArc | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manifest V2 extensionsThe older extension format Chrome removed in 2025. Needed for full uBlock Origin and other extensions that block requests. | ✕ | ✕ | Chromium 156 disables MV2 extensions with no flag or policy, and none of ReArc's 106 patches restores them.chromium.googlesource.com |
| Manifest V3 extensionsThe current extension format used by the Chrome Web Store (and supported by Firefox and Safari). | ✓ | ✓ | MV3 extensions from the Chrome Web Store run on Chromium 156; onboarding reinstalls the ones from Arc, Chrome or Brave.github.com |
| Firefox add-onsAdd-ons from addons.mozilla.org or .xpi files install and run. | ✕ | ✕ | Only Chrome Web Store installs are wired; Chromium accepts Chrome-format .crx files, not Firefox .xpi add-ons.github.com |
| Safari extensionsSafari web extensions (the App Store extension apps Safari uses) install and run. | ✕ | ✕ | Chromium build; Safari web extensions are app extensions that only Safari loads.developer.apple.com |