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The Browser Company has announced that it plans to sunset the Arc browser before the end of 2026. Arc users can export their data and consider Zen for a similar interface, Vivaldi for extensive customization, or other browsers depending on their needs.
The Browser Company has announced it will sunset Arc before the end of 2026, giving current users a limited window to choose another browser and move their data. Lifehacker reports that Arc had already been receiving maintenance updates after the company shifted its focus to Dia, an AI-focused browser built on Arc’s framework.
For users seeking an interface close to Arc’s, Lifehacker points to Zen Browser. Built on Firefox, Zen offers a vertical sidebar, customizable workspaces, pinned tabs and user-interface modifications, including community-developed options. It is free and open-source, according to the source article, and does not include AI features. Firefox extensions are supported, including the full version of uBlock Origin.
Zen’s differences matter: it uses Firefox’s Gecko engine, rather than Chromium, and Lifehacker notes that some websites may work better in Chromium-based browsers. The article also reports that Zen can use substantial memory, though managing tabs and workspaces may improve the experience. These are observations from the source article, not guarantees about performance on every device.
For those who prefer Chromium, Lifehacker recommends Vivaldi as a highly configurable option. It supports workspaces, split-screen browsing, tab groups called Tab Stacks and website panels in a sidebar. The article says it includes an ad blocker and offers limited free VPN access through ProtonVPN integration. Vivaldi does not have a vertical sidebar by default, though the source says one can be added with a modification.
What To Use Instead Of Arc Browser As It Shuts Down
The Browser Company plans to sunset Arc before the end of 2026. Export the data you need, then test a replacement against your everyday tabs, extensions and workflows while there is time to make a careful switch.
“Arc will be sunset before the end of 2026.”The Browser Company, as reported by Lifehacker
Find the browser that fits your workflow
Arc alternatives make different trade-offs. Start with the features you rely on most, then try the browser that best matches them.
Zen Browser
Vertical sidebar, workspaces, pinned tabs and interface modifications. Free and open-source, with Firefox extensions and full uBlock Origin support.
Firefox · Gecko engineVivaldi
Workspaces, split-screen browsing, Tab Stacks and sidebar website panels. Includes an ad blocker and limited free VPN access through ProtonVPN integration.
Chromium · Vertical sidebar needs a modificationBrave · Helium · Dia
Brave emphasizes privacy and speed; Helium offers a minimalist Chromium experience. Dia may suit users who accept AI features, but it is not an exact Arc replacement.
Different priorities, different trade-offsWhat changes when you switch?
These are recommendations and observations reported by Lifehacker, not guarantees about performance on every device.
| Browser | Standout fit | Engine / extensions | Trade-off to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zen | Arc-like sidebar and workspaces | Firefox / Firefox extensions | Some sites may work better in Chromium; memory use can be substantial |
| Vivaldi | Deep configuration and split screen | Chromium / Chromium compatibility | Vertical sidebar is not on by default |
| Brave | Tracker and pop-up blocking | Chromium / Chrome extensions | AI features can be disabled |
| Quiche | Customizable mobile layout | Recommended for iPhone and iPad | Independently developed browser |
| Dia | Stay with The Browser Company | Uses Arc’s framework | AI-focused; does not carry over Arc’s interface features |
Arc’s next chapter is Dia
The company had shifted its focus toward Dia while Arc received maintenance updates rather than major new development, according to the source material.
Your browser holds daily routines
Bookmarks, open tabs, extensions and familiar workflows take time to rebuild. Testing early lets you find gaps before the announced sunset window.
Same framework, different feel
Dia is an AI-focused browser built on Arc’s framework. It may appeal to users who want to remain with the company, but it is not presented as an Arc interface clone.
Move in four deliberate steps
Compare a familiar interface with a Chromium-based option to learn which matters more for your browsing.
Review
List the bookmarks and saved information you want to preserve.
Export
Check Arc’s current export instructions and save the data you need.
Test
Try Zen and a Chromium option such as Vivaldi on your key sites and extensions.
Confirm
Follow official guidance about support, export timing and closure details.
Shutdown specifics are still pending
The supplied material gives a broad sunset window, with no exact date or complete transition plan. Confirm current instructions before moving data.
- Exact shutdown date
- Which services will stop working
- Security update timeline
- How long data export will remain available
- Which items import cleanly into each browser
- Performance and compatibility on your own setup
Arc switch, clarified
When will Arc shut down?
The Browser Company says Arc will be sunset before the end of 2026. The supplied source does not give an exact date.
Which browser is most like Arc?
Lifehacker recommends Zen for its sidebar, workspaces, pinned tabs and interface modifications. It uses Firefox’s Gecko engine.
What is a Chromium-based alternative?
Vivaldi is the main Chromium-based recommendation, with workspaces, split screen, Tab Stacks and web panels.
Will my Arc data transfer?
Export your data, then check the receiving browser’s import tools. The source does not specify what transfers cleanly.
What about Arc on iPhone or iPad?
Lifehacker recommends Quiche, an independently developed browser with a customizable layout.
How should I choose?
Test your most-used sites, extensions and workflows. The best fit depends on whether interface similarity, compatibility or another priority matters most.
Choosing a Replacement for Arc
The shutdown means Arc users will need to decide whether to change browsers and transfer their data before support ends. A browser is often central to daily work, with bookmarks, open tabs, extensions and personal workflows built around its interface. Choosing an alternative early gives users time to test whether it can handle those routines, rather than making a rushed switch near the shutdown date.
The alternatives do not offer identical trade-offs. Zen most closely mirrors Arc’s layout, but it is based on Firefox. Vivaldi preserves access to Chromium’s compatibility and extensions while offering many configuration options, though its interface may require setup. Other options emphasize simplicity or privacy rather than Arc’s workspace-centered design. The best fit depends on which features a user relies on and which compromises they are willing to make.
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Arc’s Shift Toward Dia
Arc’s shutdown follows a period in which it received maintenance updates rather than major new development. Lifehacker says the Browser Company redirected its focus to Dia, an AI browser that uses Arc’s framework but does not carry over the interface features that made Arc appealing to some users. The company’s announcement sets a sunset deadline before the end of 2026, but the supplied material does not give a more precise date.
Lifehacker also lists several alternatives beyond Zen and Vivaldi. Brave is presented as a privacy- and speed-oriented browser with tracker and pop-up blocking; its AI features can be disabled, and it supports Chrome extensions. Helium is described as a minimalist Chromium-based browser. Dia may suit users who want to stay with the same company and accept AI features; it has options for a vertical sidebar and pinned apps, but is not an exact Arc replacement. For Arc on iPhone or iPad, the article recommends Quiche, an independently developed browser with a customizable layout.
“Arc will be sunset before the end of 2026.”
— The Browser Company, as reported by Lifehacker
Shutdown Details Still Pending
The supplied source says Arc will be sunset before the end of 2026, but does not specify the exact shutdown date, what services will stop working, or whether Arc will continue to receive security updates until that point. It also does not spell out how long users will be able to export data or which Arc data will transfer cleanly to each alternative.
Browser performance and compatibility can vary by device, operating system, websites and extensions. Lifehacker’s comparisons are recommendations, not independent test results supplied with detailed methods. Users should check each browser’s current features and data-import options before moving, and confirm any later guidance from the Browser Company about Arc’s closure.
Export Data and Test Alternatives
Arc users can start by reviewing the browser’s data-export options and checking which items they need to preserve, such as bookmarks and other saved information. They can then install a candidate browser and test the websites, extensions and workflows they use most. Testing Zen and a Chromium-based option such as Vivaldi may help users identify whether interface similarity or website compatibility matters more to them.
The next major milestone is the Browser Company’s planned shutdown, which the supplied source places before the end of 2026. The company has not provided a more specific date or transition plan in the material available here. Users should watch for official instructions on export and support timelines, and avoid assuming that every Arc feature or piece of data will carry over automatically.
Key Questions
When will Arc shut down?
The Browser Company has said Arc will be sunset before the end of 2026. The supplied source does not give an exact date.
Which browser is most like Arc?
Lifehacker recommends Zen Browser for its vertical sidebar, workspaces, pinned tabs and interface modifications. Zen is based on Firefox, so it differs from Arc’s underlying browser engine.
What is a good Chromium-based Arc alternative?
Vivaldi is the source article’s main Chromium-based recommendation. It offers workspaces, split-screen browsing, Tab Stacks and customizable web panels, though a vertical sidebar is not included by default.
Can I keep using Arc’s data in another browser?
The source advises users to export their Arc data, but it does not detail which information can be imported into each alternative or how the transfer works. Check Arc’s current export instructions and the receiving browser’s import tools.
What alternatives are suggested for mobile Arc users?
For people who used Arc on an iPhone or iPad, Lifehacker recommends Quiche, an independent browser with a customizable layout.
Source: Lifehacker
