Detour
Free native Mac browser on WebKit with Spaces, shareable Profiles, Peek, Quick Detour and Arc import.
Detour is a free browser for Macs on macOS 15.4 or later (Apple silicon and Intel), written in Swift on the system WebKit by one developer, Tienshiao Ma, and pitched at Arc users ("For Arc refugees"). The source is on GitHub under the MIT license. Each Space has an emoji and a colour that tints the sidebar and uses a Profile that other Spaces can share; Favorites belong to the Profile. It has pinned tabs in nested folders, archiving of idle tabs after 12 hours (set per Profile), two-pane Split Tabs, Peek, Quick Detour (⌥⌘N from any app, like Little Arc), Link Routes by site, address or the app a link came from, a Ctrl+Tab recent-tab switcher, a now-playing bar, automatic picture-in-picture, a built-in EasyList content blocker, Dev Mode for localhost, Quarantine windows for untrusted links, and an import of Arc Spaces, pinned tabs, Favorites and history. Chrome Web Store extensions (Manifest V3 only) run on WebKit's extension runtime. No account, no sync and no AI. Every release so far is a GitHub pre-release, updated through Sparkle.
Built-in AI
No AI
No built-in AI. On main, a local MCP endpoint that lets outside agents drive the browser is off until turned on in Settings.
github.comBloat check
None found
No ads, account, wallet, feed or analytics; its own network calls are Sparkle update checks, filter lists and search suggestions.
github.comAds, crypto, paid upsells, news feeds, default-on telemetry, required accounts.
Organization
| Feature | Detour | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| SidebarVertical sidebarTabs live in a vertical sidebar that is the main tab UI and can be hidden. | ✓ | ✓ | All tabs live in the sidebar; ⌘S toggles it, and a hidden sidebar pops back when the pointer reaches the window edge.github.com |
| SpacesSeveral workspaces per window, each with its own pinned and open tabs, switched by swipe or shortcut. | ✓ | ✓ | Each Space has a name, emoji, colour, its own tabs, pinned tabs and folders; switch by swiping the sidebar or ⌥⌘←/→.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 uses a Profile (cookies, history, extensions); several Spaces can share one Profile or each keep its own.github.com |
| FavoritesGlobal favoritesPinned icons at the top of the sidebar shared by every Space (Zen calls them Essentials). | ✓ | ✓ | Icon tiles at the top of the sidebar, shared by every Space on the same Profile; each keeps its own tab.github.com |
| Pinned TabsPinned tabs & foldersPer-space pinned tabs that act like bookmarks, with nested folders. | ✓ | ✓ | Per-Space pinned tabs (⌘D) in folders that can nest; closing a pinned tab keeps it, and clicking it reloads the pinned address.github.com |
| Live foldersSidebar folders that fill and refresh themselves from an outside source, such as GitHub pull requests or an RSS feed. | ✕ | ✓ | The maker's Arc page lists Live Folders among the Arc features Detour doesn't have.detourbrowser.com |
| ArchiveAuto-archive tabsUnpinned tabs close automatically after a set time and stay recoverable in an archive. | ✓ | ✓ | Idle tabs archive after 12 hours by default (24 hours, 7 days, 30 days or never, per Profile) onto the Archived Tabs page.github.com |
| Theme pickerSpace themesPer-space colour or gradient themes. | ✓ | ✓ | Each Space's colour (curated presets or a custom one) tints the whole sidebar; one colour, no gradients.github.com |
Browsing
| Feature | Detour | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Split ViewTwo or more tabs side by side in one window. | ◐ | ✓ | Drag a tab onto another or Option-click a link: two panes side by side as one sidebar row; never more than two.github.com |
| PeekLink previewOpen a link in an overlay without leaving the current page (Zen calls it Glance). | ✓ | ✓ | Shift-click peeks any link; links to other sites from pinned tabs and Favorites peek on their own (can be turned off). ⌘O keeps it.github.com |
| Little ArcMini windowA small, chrome-less window for links opened from other apps or a quick search. | ◐ | ✓ | Quick Detour: ⌥⌘N from any app opens a one-page window; links from other apps go to the front Space unless the Default route is set to it.github.com |
| Command barA ⌘T palette that searches tabs, history, bookmarks and browser commands. | ◐ | ✓ | ⌘T/⌘L palette finds open tabs, history, web suggestions and site searches, but runs no browser commands.github.com |
| Air Traffic ControlLink routingRules that send links from other apps to a chosen space or profile. | ✓ | ✓ | Link Routes send links to a Space, Private, Quarantine or Quick Detour by URL (equals, contains, domain) and/or the app they came from.github.com |
| BoostsSite customizationPer-site custom CSS/JS, or zapping elements off a page. | ✕ | ✓ | No per-site CSS, scripts or zapping; the maker's Arc page lists Boosts as missing.detourbrowser.com |
| Auto PiPAuto picture-in-picturePlaying video pops out into picture-in-picture automatically when you switch tabs. | ✓ | ✓ | Switching away from a tab playing unmuted video puts it in picture-in-picture; on by default, with a per-site switch.github.com |
| Mini playerMedia still playing in a tab you left keeps play/pause controls in the sidebar. | ✓ | ✓ | A now-playing bar at the bottom of the sidebar for media in a tab you left: Previous, Play/Pause, Next and Mute.github.com |
| Tab SwitcherRecent-tab switcherCtrl+Tab jumps back to the tab you used last and cycles in recently used order. | ✓ | ✓ | Ctrl+Tab moves through the Space's tabs in recently used order with previews; a quick tap flips to the last tab.github.com |
| Super CopyClean link copyA shortcut (⌘⇧C) copies the page URL with tracking parameters removed. | ◐ | ✓ | ⇧⌘C copies the page address with a toast, but as-is, trackers included; only Quarantine strips tracking parameters.github.com |
| CaptureScreenshotsBuilt-in capture of a chosen area or element, and of the full page. | ◐ | ✓ | Visible-area and full-page captures (clipboard or Downloads) only from the Dev Mode toolbar; no area or element capture.github.com |
Compatibility & migration
| Feature | Detour | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arc importImports Arc spaces, pinned tabs and folders. | ✓ | – | File › Import from Arc: Spaces (names, emoji, colours), pinned tabs and folders, Favorites, unpinned tabs and 90 days of history, per profile.github.com |
| Chrome extensionsInstalls extensions from the Chrome Web Store. | ◐ | ✓ | Installs from the Chrome Web Store on WebKit's runtime plus polyfills; 1Password works, but some Chrome APIs are missing.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. | ? | ✓ | System WebKit, so FairPlay is the only DRM it could have; no DRM code, notes or playback tests in the repo. |
| PasskeysWebAuthn passkeys, Touch ID and the system/iCloud keychain. | ✕ | ✓ | The maker documents that passkeys and security keys fail: the build lacks Apple's browser passkey entitlement.github.com |
| SyncSpaces, pinned tabs and settings sync across devices. | ✕ | ✓ | No account or sync; the maker's FAQ answers "Does Detour sync between Macs?" with "Not yet."detourbrowser.com |
| Mobile appiPhone, iPad or Android app that shares spaces with desktop. | ✕ | ◐ | Mac only; the maker lists Windows and iPhone versions as missing.detourbrowser.com |
Extras
| Feature | Detour | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in ad blockerAd and tracker blocking without installing an extension. | ✓ | ✓ | On by default for every Profile: EasyList, EasyPrivacy, cookie notices and malicious URLs, with a per-site switch.github.com |
| Custom ShortcutsShortcut editorMost browser keyboard shortcuts can be remapped in Settings. | ◐ | ✓ | Only the Quick Detour global hotkey (⌥⌘N) can be recorded in Settings; all other shortcuts are fixed menu keys.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 | Detour | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| EaselsA shareable canvas of live page captures, notes and drawings. | ✕ | ◐ | The maker's Arc page lists Easels among the Arc features Detour doesn't have.detourbrowser.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. | ✕ | ✓ | Sharing a Space, folder or split as a link is listed as missing; everything stays on the Mac.detourbrowser.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. | ✕ | ✓ | Hover cards show a tab's title, address and a picture of the page; no live web app previews or unread badges.detourbrowser.com |
| Developer modeA developer view that turns on by itself for localhost: full URL, quick DevTools and dev tools in reach. | ✓ | ✓ | Turns on by itself for localhost, loopback and .test sites: hazard stripes, full URL, Console, Network, element picker and captures.github.com |
Extension support
Which extension formats and stores run, beyond the Chrome Web Store row above.
| Feature | Detour | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manifest V2 extensionsThe older extension format Chrome removed in 2025. Needed for full uBlock Origin and other extensions that block requests. | ✕ | ✕ | The installer refuses any extension whose manifest_version is not 3.github.com |
| Manifest V3 extensionsThe current extension format used by the Chrome Web Store (and supported by Firefox and Safari). | ✓ | ✓ | Chrome Web Store CRX and unpacked MV3 extensions run on WebKit's WKWebExtension, on per Profile; Chrome-only APIs are polyfilled or missing.github.com |
| Firefox add-onsAdd-ons from addons.mozilla.org or .xpi files install and run. | ✕ | ✕ | Extensions come from the Chrome Web Store (Extensions › Add Extensions…); no Firefox add-ons.detourbrowser.com |
| Safari extensionsSafari web extensions (the App Store extension apps Safari uses) install and run. | ✕ | ✕ | Only Chrome Web Store CRX files or unpacked folders are installed; Safari extension apps are not loaded.github.com |