myBrowser
Native macOS browser on WebKit with an Arc-style sidebar, Spaces with profiles, iCloud sync and Arc import.
myBrowser is a native macOS browser written in Swift (SwiftUI and AppKit) on WebKit (WKWebView). It follows Arc's layout: a vertical sidebar with a favorites grid, pinned sites and nested folders, daily tabs that archive themselves, Spaces with their own colour and profile, split view, and a command bar. It imports Arc spaces and Chrome-family bookmarks, installs Chrome Web Store extensions through WebKit's web extension API, and syncs the sidebar through iCloud (CloudKit). The README calls it a work in progress. The repo has no licence file and no separate website.
Built-in AI
No AI
No AI features: the product plan lists AI as out of scope, and the source has no AI provider, chat or summary code.
github.comBloat check
None found
No ads, wallet, feed or account. Only Sparkle's daily update check runs; iCloud sync is opt-in and idle until turned on.
github.comAds, crypto, paid upsells, news feeds, default-on telemetry, required accounts.
Organization
| Feature | myBrowser | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| SidebarVertical sidebarTabs live in a vertical sidebar that is the main tab UI and can be hidden. | ✓ | ✓ | Vertical sidebar is the tab UI: favorites grid, pinned tree, then today's tabs; can be hidden.github.com |
| SpacesSeveral workspaces per window, each with its own pinned and open tabs, switched by swipe or shortcut. | ✓ | ✓ | Each Space has its own pinned items, tabs, colour and icon; two-finger swipe on the sidebar switches.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 gets its own profile (isolated cookies); no picker to share one, only Arc import does.github.com |
| FavoritesGlobal favoritesPinned icons at the top of the sidebar shared by every Space (Zen calls them Essentials). | ◐ | ✓ | Favicon grid at the top of the sidebar, but each item belongs to one Space, not shared across them.github.com |
| Pinned TabsPinned tabs & foldersPer-space pinned tabs that act like bookmarks, with nested folders. | ✓ | ✓ | Per-Space pinned sites with nested folders and drag and drop.github.com |
| Live foldersSidebar folders that fill and refresh themselves from an outside source, such as GitHub pull requests or an RSS feed. | ✕ | ✓ | Folders are manual; no live-folder code in the app source at d1cf448.github.com |
| ArchiveAuto-archive tabsUnpinned tabs close automatically after a set time and stay recoverable in an archive. | ✓ | ✓ | Unpinned tabs archive after 12 h, 24 h (default), 7 d or 30 d, or never; searchable archive list.github.com |
| Theme pickerSpace themesPer-space colour or gradient themes. | ✓ | ✓ | Each Space has one of nine preset colours that tints the sidebar; no gradients.github.com |
Browsing
| Feature | myBrowser | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Split ViewTwo or more tabs side by side in one window. | ✓ | ✓ | Two to four panes side by side or stacked, shown as one sidebar row; draggable dividers.github.com |
| PeekLink previewOpen a link in an overlay without leaving the current page (Zen calls it Glance). | ✕ | ✓ | Not in the README feature list or docs; no link-preview overlay found in the source tree.github.com |
| Little ArcMini windowA small, chrome-less window for links opened from other apps or a quick search. | ✕ | ✓ | Links from other apps open as a new tab in the main window; no mini window.github.com |
| Command barA ⌘T palette that searches tabs, history, bookmarks and browser commands. | ◐ | ✓ | Searches the current Space's tabs and pins, opens URLs, web search and split/archive actions; no history.github.com |
| Air Traffic ControlLink routingRules that send links from other apps to a chosen space or profile. | ✕ | ✓ | Registers as an http/https handler; external links just open as a new tab in the selected Space.github.com |
| BoostsSite customizationPer-site custom CSS/JS, or zapping elements off a page. | ✕ | ✓ | No per-site CSS/JS or element zapper in the README or source tree.github.com |
| Auto PiPAuto picture-in-picturePlaying video pops out into picture-in-picture automatically when you switch tabs. | ✓ | ✓ | On by default: leaving a tab or the window moves a playing video into system PiP.github.com |
| Mini playerMedia still playing in a tab you left keeps play/pause controls in the sidebar. | ✕ | ✓ | Playback state only feeds tab archiving and PiP; no sidebar or tab media controls.github.com |
| Tab SwitcherRecent-tab switcherCtrl+Tab jumps back to the tab you used last and cycles in recently used order. | ✕ | ✓ | ⌃Tab selects the next pane in sidebar order (favorites, pinned, tabs), not most recently used.github.com |
| Super CopyClean link copyA shortcut (⌘⇧C) copies the page URL with tracking parameters removed. | ◐ | ✓ | ⇧⌘C Copy Link copies the page URL unchanged; no tracking-parameter stripping.github.com |
| CaptureScreenshotsBuilt-in capture of a chosen area or element, and of the full page. | ✕ | ✓ | The documented shortcut list has no screenshot or capture command, and the app source has none.github.com |
Compatibility & migration
| Feature | myBrowser | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arc importImports Arc spaces, pinned tabs and folders. | ✓ | – | Imports Arc spaces, emoji and colours, pinned tabs, nested folders and favorites from StorableSidebar.json.github.com |
| Chrome extensionsInstalls extensions from the Chrome Web Store. | ✓ | ✓ | Installs from the Chrome Web Store, .crx, .xpi, .zip or a folder via WKWebExtension; WebKit gaps remain.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. | ? | ✓ | FairPlay/Widevine playback needs a running build; not checked. |
| PasskeysWebAuthn passkeys, Touch ID and the system/iCloud keychain. | ◐ | ✓ | Release lacks Apple's browser passkey entitlement; passkeys work only via the 1Password extension.github.com |
| SyncSpaces, pinned tabs and settings sync across devices. | ✓ | ✓ | iCloud (CloudKit) syncs Spaces, profiles, favorites and pins between Macs; tabs stay local; labelled beta.github.com |
| Mobile appiPhone, iPad or Android app that shares spaces with desktop. | ✕ | ◐ | macOS only; iPhone is listed as out of scope for now.github.com |
Extras
| Feature | myBrowser | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in ad blockerAd and tracker blocking without installing an extension. | ✕ | ✓ | Nothing bundled; installed uBlock Origin is bridged to WebKit content rules, with no default blocker.github.com |
| Custom ShortcutsShortcut editorMost browser keyboard shortcuts can be remapped in Settings. | ✕ | ✓ | Settings has General, Appearance, Websites and Extensions tabs; shortcuts are fixed in AppCommands.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 | myBrowser | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| EaselsA shareable canvas of live page captures, notes and drawings. | ✕ | ◐ | No easel or canvas board in the app source or docs at d1cf448.github.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. | ✕ | ✓ | Context menus only copy a link; no share or export of spaces, folders or tab sets.github.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. | ✕ | ✓ | Favorites are a plain favicon grid with no badges or live glance.github.com |
| Developer modeA developer view that turns on by itself for localhost: full URL, quick DevTools and dev tools in reach. | ✕ | ✓ | View > Developer only opens WebKit's Web Inspector, console and source; no dev mode or localhost UI.github.com |
Extension support
Which extension formats and stores run, beyond the Chrome Web Store row above.
| Feature | myBrowser | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manifest V2 extensionsThe older extension format Chrome removed in 2025. Needed for full uBlock Origin and other extensions that block requests. | ◐ | ✕ | Loads MV2; WebKit drops blocking webRequest, so uBO blocks via a content-rule bridge instead.github.com |
| Manifest V3 extensionsThe current extension format used by the Chrome Web Store (and supported by Firefox and Safari). | ✓ | ✓ | Accepts and runs MV3 on WKWebExtension; some WebKit API gaps remain (e.g. notifications).github.com |
| Firefox add-onsAdd-ons from addons.mozilla.org or .xpi files install and run. | ◐ | ✕ | Manual .xpi import only (unzipped and loaded by WebKit); no addons.mozilla.org install flow.github.com |
| Safari extensionsSafari web extensions (the App Store extension apps Safari uses) install and run. | ◐ | ✕ | README lists Safari extensions, but source only loads folders, zip, xpi and crx; no App Store lookup.github.com |