Search
Free, open-source WebKit Mac browser: tabs on top or in a sidebar, Spaces, pins and one-click Arc import.
Search is a native macOS browser written in Swift on the system WebKit engine, made by Office Commun, a Paris design studio, and pitched on its site as an Arc alternative. Tabs run across the top or down a side column that folds away, with pinned tabs as letters, squares or rows, optional spaces with their own sign-ins, pins shared by every space, profiles, a two-page Split View, peek on Shift-click, tab groups, tabs that close themselves after a set time, and per-site rules that open links from other apps in a chosen space. It imports Arc's spaces, pinned tabs, favourites and folders plus bookmarks, history, passwords and extensions from Chromium browsers and Firefox. It installs Chrome Web Store extensions on WebKit's extension engine (macOS 15.4+), blocks ads in WebKit's networking layer, floats video above other apps when you leave its tab, and supports passkeys. Many Arc-style habits are off until turned on in Settings. It has no sync, account, telemetry or built-in AI, and no mobile app. It is a notarized, MIT-licensed build with separate Apple silicon and Intel downloads; the app is about 10 MB.
Built-in AI
No AI
No AI in the release: the AI add-on is compiled out (AI.shipped = false), so there is no Settings page, menu item or AI request.
github.comBloat check
None found
No ads, wallet, feed, upsells or account; no telemetry, analytics or crash reports. Only pages, favicons, searches (Google default) and an update check leave the Mac.
searchbrowser.appAds, crypto, paid upsells, news feeds, default-on telemetry, required accounts.
Organization
| Feature | Search | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| SidebarVertical sidebarTabs live in a vertical sidebar that is the main tab UI and can be hidden. | ◐ | ✓ | Tabs sit across the top by default; ⇧⌘S moves them to a side column that ⌘S folds away, or shrinks to icons if chosen.github.com |
| SpacesSeveral workspaces per window, each with its own pinned and open tabs, switched by swipe or shortcut. | ✓ | ✓ | Off until enabled in Settings › Tabs; each space has its own pins and tabs; swipe or ⌃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. | ✓ | ✓ | A space shares its profile's sign-ins or gets its own; a profile groups spaces with its own history.github.com |
| FavoritesGlobal favoritesPinned icons at the top of the sidebar shared by every Space (Zen calls them Essentials). | ✓ | ✓ | Pins in every space (default once Spaces are on) show above each space's own; Keep in Every Space.github.com |
| Pinned TabsPinned tabs & foldersPer-space pinned tabs that act like bookmarks, with nested folders. | ◐ | ✓ | Per-space pins as squares or rows; folders are flat tab groups of open tabs, not nested or pinned.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 code at e60aaab; folders are flat groups of tabs you open yourself.github.com |
| ArchiveAuto-archive tabsUnpinned tabs close automatically after a set time and stay recoverable in an archive. | ◐ | ✓ | Unpinned tabs close after 12 h, 1 d, 1 w or 30 d (default never); no archive view, only Recently Closed.github.com |
| Theme pickerSpace themesPer-space colour or gradient themes. | ◐ | ✓ | Light, dark or Mac appearance only; a space has a name and icon but no colour theme.github.com |
Browsing
| Feature | Search | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Split ViewTwo or more tabs side by side in one window. | ◐ | ✓ | Two pages side by side per tab slot; a third page is not supported yet.github.com |
| PeekLink previewOpen a link in an overlay without leaving the current page (Zen calls it Glance). | ✓ | ✓ | Shift-click a link (key configurable) opens it in a panel over the page; keep it as a tab or dismiss.github.com |
| Little ArcMini windowA small, chrome-less window for links opened from other apps or a quick search. | ◐ | ✓ | Small window for links from other apps exists but is off unless enabled in Settings › General.github.com |
| Command barA ⌘T palette that searches tabs, history, bookmarks and browser commands. | ◐ | ✓ | Address field matches open tabs, history, bookmarks; ⌘K lists tabs; 9 app commands, off by default.github.com |
| Air Traffic ControlLink routingRules that send links from other apps to a chosen space or profile. | ✓ | ✓ | Off until turned on in Settings; per-site rules open links from other apps in a chosen space. Needs Spaces on.github.com |
| BoostsSite customizationPer-site custom CSS/JS, or zapping elements off a page. | ◐ | ✓ | Only hide-anything (⇧⌘H): click an element to hide it per site by CSS selector; no custom CSS or JS.github.com |
| Auto PiPAuto picture-in-picturePlaying video pops out into picture-in-picture automatically when you switch tabs. | ✓ | ✓ | A playing video floats into a small window above all apps when you leave its tab; on by default.github.com |
| Mini playerMedia still playing in a tab you left keeps play/pause controls in the sidebar. | ✓ | ✓ | Opt-in sidebar row for a tab playing out of sight: pause/play and a click back to it; no skip or mute.github.com |
| Tab SwitcherRecent-tab switcherCtrl+Tab jumps back to the tab you used last and cycles in recently used order. | ✓ | ✓ | ⌃Tab opens a picture switcher of the space's tabs, latest used first; held ⌃ keeps it open. The key can be moved.github.com |
| Super CopyClean link copyA shortcut (⌘⇧C) copies the page URL with tracking parameters removed. | ✓ | ✓ | ⌥⇧⌘C Copy Clean Link strips utm_, fbclid, gclid and similar tags, with an 'address copied' line; ⇧⌘C copies plain.github.com |
| CaptureScreenshotsBuilt-in capture of a chosen area or element, and of the full page. | ✕ | ✓ | No screenshot tool yet (roadmap item); only Web Inspector's Capture Screenshot exists. File menu offers PDF export of the page, not a capture.github.com |
Compatibility & migration
| Feature | Search | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arc importImports Arc spaces, pinned tabs and folders. | ✓ | – | Bring Things Over reads Arc's StorableSidebar.json: spaces, pinned tabs, favourites and folders.github.com |
| Chrome extensionsInstalls extensions from the Chrome Web Store. | ✓ | ✓ | Add to Search on Chrome Web Store pages; CRX signature checked; needs macOS 15.4 for WebKit's engine.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. | ✓ | ✓ | System WebKit with FairPlay: a merged Netflix subtitle fix (#190) was validated with live signed-in Netflix playback in Search. Other services not reported.github.com |
| PasskeysWebAuthn passkeys, Touch ID and the system/iCloud keychain. | ✓ | ✓ | Browser passkey entitlement: Touch ID, iCloud Keychain or password app, phone QR code, security keys.github.com |
| SyncSpaces, pinned tabs and settings sync across devices. | ✕ | ✓ | No sync, account or cloud; everything stays on the Mac.github.com |
| Mobile appiPhone, iPad or Android app that shares spaces with desktop. | ✕ | ◐ | Mac-only; Windows and Linux are listed as not planned and there is no iOS or Android app.github.com |
Extras
| Feature | Search | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in ad blockerAd and tracker blocking without installing an extension. | ✓ | ✓ | WebKit content-rule blocker for ads and trackers, on by default, switchable per site.github.com |
| Custom ShortcutsShortcut editorMost browser keyboard shortcuts can be remapped in Settings. | ✓ | ✓ | Settings keyboard page lists all commands with a key box to remap, clear or reset each; searchable.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 | Search | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| EaselsA shareable canvas of live page captures, notes and drawings. | ✕ | ◐ | No easel, canvas or board code at e60aaab; the sidebar holds tabs, pins and groups.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 have Copy Addresses (plain text) and a tab has Copy as Markdown Link; no shareable Space, group or link.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. | ✕ | ✓ | README feature list has no pinned-app glance, next-meeting card or unread badges; roadmap only lists folder previews.github.com |
| Developer modeA developer view that turns on by itself for localhost: full URL, quick DevTools and dev tools in reach. | ✕ | ✓ | Only Web Inspector, console and Inspect Element menu items; per-site Developer Mode is an unbuilt roadmap item.github.com |
Extension support
Which extension formats and stores run, beyond the Chrome Web Store row above.
| Feature | Search | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manifest V2 extensionsThe older extension format Chrome removed in 2025. Needed for full uBlock Origin and other extensions that block requests. | ◐ | ✕ | WebKit loads MV2 manifests, but Search adds no blocking webRequest, so no full uBlock Origin.github.com |
| Manifest V3 extensionsThe current extension format used by the Chrome Web Store (and supported by Firefox and Safari). | ✓ | ✓ | MV3 extensions install from the Chrome Web Store; declarativeNetRequest is granted; uBlock Origin Lite works.github.com |
| Firefox add-onsAdd-ons from addons.mozilla.org or .xpi files install and run. | ✕ | ✕ | No add-ons store or .xpi path; extensions come from the Chrome Web Store or an unpacked folder.github.com |
| Safari extensionsSafari web extensions (the App Store extension apps Safari uses) install and run. | ✕ | ✕ | Only Chrome-format extensions are installed; no Safari extension app loading in the source.github.com |