Luma
Free Windows browser from Italy with workspaces, tabs in a sidebar and built-in tracker and ad blocking.
Luma is a free Chromium browser for Windows made by a small independent team in Italy and pitched as an Arc alternative. Tabs sit in a sidebar (or on top, or in a dock) grouped into workspaces with their own colour and symbol, with Essentials shared across workspaces, split view of up to four pages, Alt+click link previews, a Ctrl+K command palette, compact mode and a mini player. Trackers, ads, third-party cookies and cookie banners are blocked from first launch with uBlock Origin and EasyList lists. It has no account and no telemetry, and optional sync goes only to a folder or WebDAV server you choose, end-to-end encrypted. It imports Arc history and open tabs, and turns Arc spaces and pinned tabs into bookmark folders. It is a closed-source Electron app (Chromium 156), the installer is not code-signed yet, and only Windows is published.
Built-in AI
No AI
No AI features, and none planned: the docs say Luma has no account, no telemetry and no AI.
lumabrowser.devBloat check
None found
Maker states no account, telemetry, own ads, rewards, crypto wallet or sponsored tiles. Closed source, so not verifiable in code.
lumabrowser.devAds, crypto, paid upsells, news feeds, default-on telemetry, required accounts.
Organization
| Feature | Luma | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| SidebarVertical sidebarTabs live in a vertical sidebar that is the main tab UI and can be hidden. | ✓ | ✓ | Tabs sit in a sidebar by default; top row and dock are options, and Ctrl+Alt+C hides it (compact mode).lumabrowser.dev |
| SpacesSeveral workspaces per window, each with its own pinned and open tabs, switched by swipe or shortcut. | ✓ | ✓ | Workspaces keep their own tabs and pinned tabs; switch by Ctrl+Alt+arrows, 2-finger swipe or dock.lumabrowser.dev |
| 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. | ◐ | ✓ | A workspace can use a container (own cookies and logins, shared history); profiles are separate windows.lumabrowser.dev |
| FavoritesGlobal favoritesPinned icons at the top of the sidebar shared by every Space (Zen calls them Essentials). | ✓ | ✓ | Essentials are tiles above the workspace and stay in every workspace.lumabrowser.dev |
| Pinned TabsPinned tabs & foldersPer-space pinned tabs that act like bookmarks, with nested folders. | ◐ | ✓ | Pinned tabs belong to a workspace; tab groups exist but are not nested pinned folders.lumabrowser.dev |
| Live foldersSidebar folders that fill and refresh themselves from an outside source, such as GitHub pull requests or an RSS feed. | ✕ | ✓ | Docs index lists no folders that fill from a feed or service; folders are manual bookmark or tab groups.lumabrowser.dev |
| ArchiveAuto-archive tabsUnpinned tabs close automatically after a set time and stay recoverable in an archive. | ◐ | ✓ | Close unused tabs after 12 h to 7 days (off by default); they go to Recently closed, no archive view.lumabrowser.dev |
| Theme pickerSpace themesPer-space colour or gradient themes. | ◐ | ✓ | Each workspace has its own colour, used as a thin line, tab mark and dock tint; tint slider is global.lumabrowser.dev |
Browsing
| Feature | Luma | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Split ViewTwo or more tabs side by side in one window. | ✓ | ✓ | Two to four tabs side by side via Ctrl+F9, drag to page edge or the tab menu.lumabrowser.dev |
| PeekLink previewOpen a link in an overlay without leaving the current page (Zen calls it Glance). | ✓ | ✓ | Alt+click or right-click a link opens it in a preview over the page; keep it as a tab or split.lumabrowser.dev |
| Little ArcMini windowA small, chrome-less window for links opened from other apps or a quick search. | ? | ✓ | |
| Command barA ⌘T palette that searches tabs, history, bookmarks and browser commands. | ✓ | ✓ | Ctrl+K searches commands, tabs, workspaces, bookmarks, history, settings and downloads.lumabrowser.dev |
| Air Traffic ControlLink routingRules that send links from other apps to a chosen space or profile. | ? | ✓ | |
| BoostsSite customizationPer-site custom CSS/JS, or zapping elements off a page. | ◐ | ✓ | Block element hides parts of a page per site and keeps your own filter rules; no custom CSS or JS.lumabrowser.dev |
| Auto PiPAuto picture-in-picturePlaying video pops out into picture-in-picture automatically when you switch tabs. | ✓ | ✓ | A video playing with sound pops out when you leave its tab; on by default, can be turned off.lumabrowser.dev |
| Mini playerMedia still playing in a tab you left keeps play/pause controls in the sidebar. | ✓ | ✓ | Sidebar player for a playing tab you can't see: previous, play/pause, next, mute, go to tab.lumabrowser.dev |
| Tab SwitcherRecent-tab switcherCtrl+Tab jumps back to the tab you used last and cycles in recently used order. | ◐ | ✓ | Ctrl+Tab is plain next tab; the Ctrl+K palette opens on your most recent tabs, and Ctrl+Shift+A searches open and closed tabs.lumabrowser.dev |
| Super CopyClean link copyA shortcut (⌘⇧C) copies the page URL with tracking parameters removed. | ◐ | ✓ | Ctrl+Shift+C copies the page address; the docs mention no tracking-parameter removal.lumabrowser.dev |
| CaptureScreenshotsBuilt-in capture of a chosen area or element, and of the full page. | ✕ | ✓ | No screenshot or capture command in the shortcut list or docs; only Save page as and DevTools, which is on by default.lumabrowser.dev |
Compatibility & migration
| Feature | Luma | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arc importImports Arc spaces, pinned tabs and folders. | ◐ | – | Imports Arc history, open tabs and passwords; spaces and pinned tabs become bookmark folders.lumabrowser.dev |
| Chrome extensionsInstalls extensions from the Chrome Web Store. | ✓ | ✓ | Installs from the Chrome Web Store; a short list of Chrome-only APIs is missing.lumabrowser.dev |
| 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. | ? | ✓ | |
| PasskeysWebAuthn passkeys, Touch ID and the system/iCloud keychain. | ? | ✓ | |
| SyncSpaces, pinned tabs and settings sync across devices. | ◐ | ✓ | Optional E2E sync to a folder or WebDAV: bookmarks, history, open tabs, settings; not workspaces or passwords.lumabrowser.dev |
| Mobile appiPhone, iPad or Android app that shares spaces with desktop. | ? | ◐ |
Extras
| Feature | Luma | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in ad blockerAd and tracker blocking without installing an extension. | ✓ | ✓ | Trackers, ads, third-party cookies and cookie banners blocked by default from first launch.lumabrowser.dev |
| Custom ShortcutsShortcut editorMost browser keyboard shortcuts can be remapped in Settings. | ✓ | ✓ | Settings > Keyboard shortcuts: click an action, press new keys; search, conflict handling and Reset all included.lumabrowser.dev |
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 | Luma | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| EaselsA shareable canvas of live page captures, notes and drawings. | ✕ | ◐ | No canvas or board feature in the docs index or the Arc comparison pages.lumabrowser.dev |
| 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. | ✕ | ✓ | Bookmarks export to an HTML file, but workspaces, tab groups and tab selections cannot be shared or exported.lumabrowser.dev |
| 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 tab shows a thumbnail card only; Essentials are ordinary tabs. No live glance, calendar widget or unread badge.lumabrowser.dev |
| Developer modeA developer view that turns on by itself for localhost: full URL, quick DevTools and dev tools in reach. | ✕ | ✓ | Only standard developer tools (F12, Inspect), switched on in Settings > Advanced; no developer mode or localhost handling.lumabrowser.dev |
Extension support
Which extension formats and stores run, beyond the Chrome Web Store row above.
| Feature | Luma | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manifest V2 extensionsThe older extension format Chrome removed in 2025. Needed for full uBlock Origin and other extensions that block requests. | ◐ | ✕ | Runs MV2, but built-in blocking comes first so webRequest cannot override it; uBlock Origin Lite is offered.lumabrowser.dev |
| Manifest V3 extensionsThe current extension format used by the Chrome Web Store (and supported by Firefox and Safari). | ✓ | ✓ | Docs list MV3 support including declarativeNetRequest; a few Chrome-only APIs are missing.lumabrowser.dev |
| Firefox add-onsAdd-ons from addons.mozilla.org or .xpi files install and run. | ✕ | ✕ | Chrome Web Store installs and unpacked Chrome extensions only; no Firefox add-on path in the docs.lumabrowser.dev |
| Safari extensionsSafari web extensions (the App Store extension apps Safari uses) install and run. | ✕ | ✕ | Chrome-format extensions only; no Safari extension support in the docs.lumabrowser.dev |