Arc vs Safari
Side-by-side comparison to help you pick the right tool.
| Arc | Safari | |
|---|---|---|
| Tagline | A reimagined browser built around how you actually work. | Apple's energy-efficient browser, essential for iOS testing. |
| Category | Web Browser | Web Browser |
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Skill Level | Beginner | Beginner |
| Platforms | Windows, Mac, Ios | Mac, Ios |
| Use Cases | Solo Indie, Side Project, Content Creation | Solo Indie, Side Project |
| Traits | Fast To Set Up, Active Development | Offline Capable, Fast To Set Up |
| Best For | Best for developers and designers who want a browser that organises their workflow instead of just piling up tabs. | Best for Mac and iOS developers who need to test their sites on WebKit and want the best battery life on Apple hardware. |
Arc
Arc is a web browser developed by The Browser Company, available on Mac, Windows, and iOS, that reimagines the browser interface around productivity and focus. Instead of a horizontal tab bar, Arc uses a collapsible sidebar with Spaces for separating work, personal, and project contexts, and Profiles for complete browser environment separation. Little Arc opens quick lookup windows without interrupting your main workspace. Tabs auto-archive after a set period to prevent tab hoarding. Built-in tools include a notes panel, split-view browsing, and a command bar. Arc is built on Chromium, so Chrome extensions and web compatibility are identical to Google Chrome. It is particularly popular among developers and designers who find conventional browsers insufficient for complex, multi-project workflows.
View detailsSafari
Safari is Apple's native web browser built on the WebKit rendering engine, available on Mac and iOS. On Apple Silicon Macs and iPhones, Safari consistently achieves the best battery life of any browser due to deep hardware and OS integration. Its Web Inspector provides a full suite of developer tools including a JavaScript debugger, responsive design simulator, network inspector, and CSS coverage analysis. For any developer building web applications intended for iOS users, Safari is essential for testing — it is the only browser engine permitted on the App Store, meaning all third-party iOS browsers also use WebKit. Safari's Intelligent Tracking Prevention blocks cross-site tracking cookies by default, requiring attention from developers building analytics and authentication systems.
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