Arc Browser was the darling of tech early adopters in 2023 and 2024. Then The Browser Company shifted focus to a new project called Dia. Arc is still maintained but not their primary investment. If you were considering switching to Arc in 2026, here is the current situation.
Arc Browser at peak
Arc launched in beta in 2022 and became publicly available in 2023. It changed how browsers worked, sidebar instead of tabs at top, Spaces to organize different contexts, Easels and Boosts for customization. Power users loved it. Tech Twitter raved about it.
The Browser Company built a passionate community. Arc users felt like they were using something genuinely new. Adoption grew through word of mouth.
The Dia announcement
In late 2024, The Browser Company announced their focus was shifting to a new browser called Dia. The argument was that AI was changing browsers fundamentally and Arc could not pivot to that vision. They needed to start fresh.
Arc would continue to be maintained but new major features were going into Dia. The community reaction was mixed. Some users felt abandoned. Others were curious about Dia.
Is Arc still safe to use in 2026
Yes. Arc still receives security updates and bug fixes. It works fine for daily use. The main difference, it is no longer evolving with major new features.
For users who love Arc's existing features and do not need constant new ones, this is actually fine. The browser is stable and capable.
Should you start using Arc now
Depends on your relationship with browser features. If you want the latest AI integrations and active development, look at Dia instead. If you want a fundamentally different browsing experience and stability matters more than new features, Arc is still great.
Arc is free. Download from arc.net. Try it for a week. If the sidebar workflow clicks for you, the rest of the features make sense. If it does not click immediately, traditional browsers are fine.
Arc features that still hold up
- Spaces, separate workspaces for work, personal, projects
- Pinned tabs sidebar, persistent links you always want available
- Split View, two tabs side by side natively
- Little Arc, popup browser window for quick links without disrupting main browsing
- Boosts, custom CSS to make websites look how you want
These features still work great. No replacement in Chrome, Safari, or Edge that matches the polish.
Migration to Dia
Dia is The Browser Company's new AI focused browser. Currently in invitation only beta. The pitch, AI is built into every aspect of browsing. Summaries, automation, content generation.
Whether Dia replaces Arc depends on how AI integration evolves. Early reviews say it feels different from Arc in fundamental ways. Worth requesting access if you are curious.
Alternatives to consider
- Vivaldi, deeply customizable browser similar in spirit to Arc
- Sidebery extension for Firefox, gets you Arc style vertical tabs
- Microsoft Edge, has vertical tabs option built in
- Zen Browser, open source Firefox fork inspired by Arc
None of these are exactly Arc but they get close to specific features. Zen Browser specifically is growing as a community alternative.
Should you keep Arc or switch
If Arc is currently your daily driver and you like it, keep using it. It works. The lack of new features is not breaking anything.
If you have not started yet, consider whether you want active development. For an established browser experience, Chrome or Edge are safer bets. For the next big thing, watch Dia.
Are you still using Arc or did you switch back to a mainstream browser? Drop your experience in comments.