Solamar
Free, open-source Electron browser for Windows and macOS, with one-click Arc import and built-in ad blocking.
Solamar is a local-first browser built with Electron, React and TypeScript, aimed at people leaving Arc. It keeps spaces with per-space colours, pinned tabs, favorites and nested folders, a command bar, split view, Peek and Boosts, and reads Arc's StorableSidebar.json to rebuild spaces, pinned tabs and folders. The default layout is a top bar of titled tabs; Arc's vertical sidebar is a setting. It blocks ads by default, installs Chrome Web Store extensions, and has an optional AI agent (local Ollama or your own Anthropic key) that is also reachable from Claude Code over a local MCP server. There is no account, sync server or telemetry. It is a one-developer project; its installers are not code-signed.
Built-in AI
AI optional
Off by default (ai.enabled: false). Turn on in Settings > AI for page summaries, ask-the-page and tab tidying via local Ollama or your own Anthropic key.
github.comBloat check
None found
No ads, wallet, feed, upsells or account. Stated: no telemetry. Own network calls: update check on GitHub Releases, 12-hourly phishing and malware lists.
github.comAds, crypto, paid upsells, news feeds, default-on telemetry, required accounts.
Organization
| Feature | Solamar | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| SidebarVertical sidebarTabs live in a vertical sidebar that is the main tab UI and can be hidden. | ◐ | ✓ | Arc-style vertical sidebar is a layout setting; the default is a top bar of tabs.github.com |
| SpacesSeveral workspaces per window, each with its own pinned and open tabs, switched by swipe or shortcut. | ✓ | ✓ | Spaces with own pinned and open tabs, colours and icon; switch by shortcut (Ctrl+Alt+Left/Right).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. | ✓ | ✓ | Space menu picks a profile (own cookie jar) or creates one; several spaces can share a profile.github.com |
| FavoritesGlobal favoritesPinned icons at the top of the sidebar shared by every Space (Zen calls them Essentials). | ✓ | ✓ | Favorites have no space (spaceId null) and show in every space.github.com |
| Pinned TabsPinned tabs & foldersPer-space pinned tabs that act like bookmarks, with nested folders. | ✓ | ✓ | Per-space pinned tabs with nested folders ('New folder inside').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; folders are plain nested tab folders filled by hand.github.com |
| ArchiveAuto-archive tabsUnpinned tabs close automatically after a set time and stay recoverable in an archive. | ✓ | ✓ | Unpinned 'today' tabs archive after 12 h by default (configurable) and can be restored.github.com |
| Theme pickerSpace themesPer-space colour or gradient themes. | ✓ | ✓ | Each space has a colour or two-stop gradient, light/dark mode, texture and intensity.github.com |
Browsing
| Feature | Solamar | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Split ViewTwo or more tabs side by side in one window. | ◐ | ✓ | Two panes only: split state is a two-item list [active, other].github.com |
| PeekLink previewOpen a link in an overlay without leaving the current page (Zen calls it Glance). | ✓ | ✓ | Shift+click, or a plain click on an off-site link in a pinned tab/favorite, opens a Peek card.github.com |
| Little ArcMini windowA small, chrome-less window for links opened from other apps or a quick search. | ✕ | ✓ | Links from other apps open as a normal tab in the main window; no mini window.github.com |
| Command barA ⌘T palette that searches tabs, history, bookmarks and browser commands. | ✓ | ✓ | Ctrl+T palette ranks open tabs, history and browser actions, plus URL or search.github.com |
| Air Traffic ControlLink routingRules that send links from other apps to a chosen space or profile. | ✕ | ✓ | External links go straight to openTab in the current space; no rules.github.com |
| BoostsSite customizationPer-site custom CSS/JS, or zapping elements off a page. | ✓ | ✓ | Per-site Boosts with custom CSS, JS, font, colour filter and zapped 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 with sound pops into PiP when you switch tabs.github.com |
| Mini playerMedia still playing in a tab you left keeps play/pause controls in the sidebar. | ✓ | ✓ | Sidebar player for sound from a tab you left, with title, play/pause, picture-in-picture and stop.github.com |
| Tab SwitcherRecent-tab switcherCtrl+Tab jumps back to the tab you used last and cycles in recently used order. | ✕ | ✓ | Ctrl+Tab and Ctrl+Shift+Tab step through the tab list in sidebar order; there is no recent-tab list.github.com |
| Super CopyClean link copyA shortcut (⌘⇧C) copies the page URL with tracking parameters removed. | ◐ | ✓ | Ctrl+Shift+C copies the current page address as-is; tracking parameters are not removed.github.com |
| CaptureScreenshotsBuilt-in capture of a chosen area or element, and of the full page. | ◐ | ✓ | Right-click Save page for Claude writes a full-page PNG and a viewport PNG to a folder; no area or element capture.github.com |
Compatibility & migration
| Feature | Solamar | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arc importImports Arc spaces, pinned tabs and folders. | ✓ | – | Reads Arc's sidebar file read-only: spaces, colours, icons, pinned tabs, folders, favorites.github.com |
| Chrome extensionsInstalls extensions from the Chrome Web Store. | ◐ | ✓ | Chrome Web Store install works, but Electron implements only a subset of the extension APIs.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. | ◐ | ✓ | castLabs Electron adds Widevine, but services needing a production signature, like Netflix, don't play yet.github.com |
| PasskeysWebAuthn passkeys, Touch ID and the system/iCloud keychain. | ◐ | ✓ | WebAuthn goes to Electron/Windows Hello; background passkey autofill is disabled. Mac not tested.github.com |
| SyncSpaces, pinned tabs and settings sync across devices. | ✕ | ✓ | Stated design: no account, no sync server; data is one local JSON file.github.com |
| Mobile appiPhone, iPad or Android app that shares spaces with desktop. | ✕ | ◐ | Windows and macOS only.github.com |
Extras
| Feature | Solamar | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in ad blockerAd and tracker blocking without installing an extension. | ✓ | ✓ | Ghostery adblocker engine, on by default, with per-site allow.github.com |
| Custom ShortcutsShortcut editorMost browser keyboard shortcuts can be remapped in Settings. | ✓ | ✓ | Settings > Shortcuts lists all 29 commands; click one, press new keys, reset per row.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 | Solamar | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| EaselsA shareable canvas of live page captures, notes and drawings. | ✕ | ◐ | No easel, canvas or board code; the sidebar holds tabs, folders and the mini player.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 'Share with Claude Code' exposes a tab to an AI; nothing shares or exports spaces, folders or tab lists to people.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. | ✕ | ✓ | Feature list has only a mini player for background audio; no hover glance, unread badge or calendar widget.github.com |
| Developer modeA developer view that turns on by itself for localhost: full URL, quick DevTools and dev tools in reach. | ✕ | ✓ | Only Developer Tools on F12; no developer mode, localhost styling or JSON viewer found in the source.github.com |
Extension support
Which extension formats and stores run, beyond the Chrome Web Store row above.
| Feature | Solamar | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manifest V2 extensionsThe older extension format Chrome removed in 2025. Needed for full uBlock Origin and other extensions that block requests. | ✕ | ✕ | Web Store installer refuses MV2 (library minimum is 3); Solamar has no unpacked loading.github.com |
| Manifest V3 extensionsThe current extension format used by the Chrome Web Store (and supported by Firefox and Safari). | ◐ | ✓ | Web Store MV3 extensions install, but run on Electron's subset of extension APIs; Chrome-only ones missing.github.com |
| Firefox add-onsAdd-ons from addons.mozilla.org or .xpi files install and run. | ✕ | ✕ | Only the Chrome Web Store installer is wired in; no Firefox add-on (AMO or .xpi) support.github.com |
| Safari extensionsSafari web extensions (the App Store extension apps Safari uses) install and run. | ✕ | ✕ | Electron loads only unpacked Chrome-format extensions; no Safari extension support.github.com |