Vane
Open-source native Mac browser on WebKit: sidebar Spaces, Little Vane, split view, Arc import, iCloud sync.
Vane is a native macOS browser written in Swift on the system WebKit engine, built by one developer and pitched as 'in the shape of Arc'. It keeps Arc's sidebar model: Spaces with their own Pinned and Today tabs and folders, favourites per profile, auto-archive, Peek, Little Vane windows for links from other apps, Air Traffic Control-style routing rules, split view with up to four panes, a command bar and per-Space themes. It adds site Boosts, reader mode, an offline reading queue, Easels, GitHub Live Folders, full-page capture and clean link copying. It imports Arc Spaces, pinned tabs, logins and routing rules, installs extensions from the Chrome Web Store plus Safari extension apps, and blocks ads with a built-in WebKit blocker that takes filter subscriptions. Version 0.2.0 adds opt-in iCloud sync per category (cross-Mac sync still unverified by the maker), partial MV2 support through a uBlock Origin bridge, and Max AI features that stay off until switched on. It has no mobile app and no passkeys yet, and needs macOS 26 or later. It is in active development.
Built-in AI
AI optional
Max is off on fresh installs until turned on in onboarding or Settings; then Apple on-device, or your own API key or ChatGPT plan, per feature. No Vane server.
github.comBloat check
None found
No Vane account, app analytics or crash uploads. iCloud sync and ChatGPT sign-in are optional. No ads or paid tier found; update checks go to GitHub.
github.comAds, crypto, paid upsells, news feeds, default-on telemetry, required accounts.
Organization
| Feature | Vane | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| SidebarVertical sidebarTabs live in a vertical sidebar that is the main tab UI and can be hidden. | ✓ | ✓ | Sidebar tabs are the main tab UI; the sidebar can be shown or hidden per window.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; swipe over the sidebar or click footer buttons to 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 (own logins, history, cookies); 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). | ✓ | ✓ | Favourites belong to a profile and are shared by its Spaces; not shared across profiles.github.com |
| Pinned TabsPinned tabs & foldersPer-space pinned tabs that act like bookmarks, with nested folders. | ✓ | ✓ | Pinned tabs and folders per Space; a pinned tab keeps its saved page and offers Return to Pinned Tab.github.com |
| Live foldersSidebar folders that fill and refresh themselves from an outside source, such as GitHub pull requests or an RSS feed. | ✓ | ✓ | GitHub pull-request Live Folders, refreshed every five minutes; the same single source Arc shipped.github.com |
| ArchiveAuto-archive tabsUnpinned tabs close automatically after a set time and stay recoverable in an archive. | ✓ | ✓ | Today tabs auto-archive after 12 h, 24 h, 7 d or 30 d (or never); restore from Library → Archived Tabs.github.com |
| Theme pickerSpace themesPer-space colour or gradient themes. | ✓ | ✓ | Each Space has its own colours, gradient, grain and light/dark theme, edited from its context menu.github.com |
Browsing
| Feature | Vane | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Split ViewTwo or more tabs side by side in one window. | ✓ | ✓ | Two to four pages side by side or stacked, with resizable dividers.github.com |
| PeekLink previewOpen a link in an overlay without leaving the current page (Zen calls it Glance). | ✓ | ✓ | Links leaving a favourite or pinned tab open in a floating Peek; Shift-click peeks any link.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 Little Vane by default (Settings › Links); promote it to keep the page.github.com |
| Command barA ⌘T palette that searches tabs, history, bookmarks and browser commands. | ✓ | ✓ | ⌘T bar searches tabs, history and browser actions; also site-search chips and bangs.github.com |
| Air Traffic ControlLink routingRules that send links from other apps to a chosen space or profile. | ✓ | ✓ | Air Traffic Control rules send links from other apps to a chosen Space or Little Vane; first match wins.github.com |
| BoostsSite customizationPer-site custom CSS/JS, or zapping elements off a page. | ✓ | ✓ | Site Boosts: fonts, colours, custom CSS, opt-in JavaScript and Zap an Element, saved per site.github.com |
| Auto PiPAuto picture-in-picturePlaying video pops out into picture-in-picture automatically when you switch tabs. | ✓ | ✓ | Leaving a tab with playing video pops it out into picture-in-picture; on by default, can be turned off.github.com |
| Mini playerMedia still playing in a tab you left keeps play/pause controls in the sidebar. | ✓ | ✓ | Leave a playing tab and a player docks at the foot of the sidebar with transport controls and a link back to the tab.github.com |
| Tab SwitcherRecent-tab switcherCtrl+Tab jumps back to the tab you used last and cycles in recently used order. | ✓ | ✓ | ⌃Tab shows the five most recently used tabs over the page; further Tab presses step, release ⌃ to switch (Arc's switcher).github.com |
| Super CopyClean link copyA shortcut (⌘⇧C) copies the page URL with tracking parameters removed. | ✓ | ✓ | ⇧⌘C Copy Page URL removes utm_*, fbclid, gclid and other known click IDs; searches, item IDs and fragments are kept. The address bar Copy Link does the same.github.com |
| CaptureScreenshotsBuilt-in capture of a chosen area or element, and of the full page. | ✓ | ✓ | ⌘⇧2 captures an element, a dragged region or the full page; edit with crop, pen, arrows and text, then copy, save PNG, share, send to an Easel or save to Library.github.com |
Compatibility & migration
| Feature | Vane | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arc importImports Arc spaces, pinned tabs and folders. | ✓ | – | Vane → Import from Arc… migrates Spaces, pinned tabs, folders, split views, logins and link-routing rules.github.com |
| Chrome extensionsInstalls extensions from the Chrome Web Store. | ✓ | ✓ | Add to Vane on Chrome Web Store pages, or paste a store link or ID; runs on WebKit's extension API.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. | ✓ | ✓ | Maker tests of a Nov 11 nightly: Netflix 4K Dolby Vision (FairPlay), Spotify and Disney+ (720p sampled) played. Widevine and PlayReady are unsupported.github.com |
| PasskeysWebAuthn passkeys, Touch ID and the system/iCloud keychain. | ✕ | ✓ | Passkeys pending Apple's managed browser entitlement approval.github.com |
| SyncSpaces, pinned tabs and settings sync across devices. | ✓ | ✓ | Opt-in iCloud sync per category: Spaces, favourites, pins, folders, bookmarks, tabs, Easels. History, passwords and API keys start off. Cross-Mac sync is unverified.github.com |
| Mobile appiPhone, iPad or Android app that shares spaces with desktop. | ✕ | ◐ | Mac-only app for macOS 26 and later; no iPhone, iPad or Android app.github.com |
Extras
| Feature | Vane | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in ad blockerAd and tracker blocking without installing an extension. | ✓ | ✓ | Built-in WebKit blocker with an EasyList subset, on by default per profile; also HTTPS subscriptions, linked local lists, safe regex and $badfilter. Per-site exceptions.github.com |
| Custom ShortcutsShortcut editorMost browser keyboard shortcuts can be remapped in Settings. | ✓ | ✓ | Settings > Shortcuts is a searchable list; click a row to record a new key; conflict warnings and 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 | Vane | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| EaselsA shareable canvas of live page captures, notes and drawings. | ◐ | ◐ | Boards hold notes, drawings, captures and live web views and sync via iCloud, but have no share link or collaboration; export is JSON or PNG.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. | ◐ | ✓ | Easel boards export and import as JSON; Tidy Tabs has Copy Links for selected tabs. No shareable Space 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. | ✓ | ✓ | Hovering a GitHub, Gmail or Google Calendar favourite opens a card with PRs, inbox unread or next events and meeting links.github.com |
| Developer modeA developer view that turns on by itself for localhost: full URL, quick DevTools and dev tools in reach. | ✓ | ✓ | Developer Mode turns on for localhost and loopback, or per site (⌥⌘D); adds a bar with full URL and inspector tools.github.com |
Extension support
Which extension formats and stores run, beyond the Chrome Web Store row above.
| Feature | Vane | 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 runs on WebKit, whose webRequest cannot block. A uBlock Origin bridge compiles static lists, user filters and trusted sites; dynamic filtering is unsupported.github.com |
| Manifest V3 extensionsThe current extension format used by the Chrome Web Store (and supported by Firefox and Safari). | ✓ | ✓ | Chrome Web Store and unpacked MV3 extensions run on WebKit's extension API; Chrome-only APIs missing.github.com |
| Firefox add-onsAdd-ons from addons.mozilla.org or .xpi files install and run. | ✕ | ✕ | Supported sources are Chrome Web Store, unpacked folders and Safari apps; no Firefox add-on store.github.com |
| Safari extensionsSafari web extensions (the App Store extension apps Safari uses) install and run. | ✓ | ✕ | Installed apps with signed Safari web extensions can be added after signature checks.github.com |