Ora
Open-source native macOS browser on WebKit with spaces, a vertical sidebar and per-space ad blocking.
Ora is a macOS browser written in Swift with SwiftUI and AppKit, and it renders pages with the system WebKit engine. It has spaces, a vertical sidebar, a quick launcher, a built-in password manager and per-space content blocking. The README says it is still in active development and not ready for daily use. It requires macOS 15 or later and ships as a Sparkle-updated app from GitHub releases. Development has slowed: v0.2.14 (April 2026) is the latest release and only one commit has landed since.
Built-in AI
No AI
No built-in AI. Launcher rows for Grok, ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini only open those sites with your query in a tab.
github.comBloat check
None found
No ads, wallet, feed or upsells. No analytics or crash SDK among its dependencies; Sparkle is set to check for updates only and sends no system profile.
github.comAds, crypto, paid upsells, news feeds, default-on telemetry, required accounts.
Organization
| Feature | Ora | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| SidebarVertical sidebarTabs live in a vertical sidebar that is the main tab UI and can be hidden. | ✓ | ✓ | Vertical tab sidebar is the main tab UI; hide it or move it to the right side.github.com |
| SpacesSeveral workspaces per window, each with its own pinned and open tabs, switched by swipe or shortcut. | ✓ | ✓ | Spaces (containers) with emoji, each with its own pinned and normal tabs, paged in the sidebar.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 WebKit data store keyed by the space ID. Not shareable between spaces.github.com |
| FavoritesGlobal favoritesPinned icons at the top of the sidebar shared by every Space (Zen calls them Essentials). | ◐ | ✓ | Favorite tabs are stored per space, so they are not shared across spaces.github.com |
| Pinned TabsPinned tabs & foldersPer-space pinned tabs that act like bookmarks, with nested folders. | ◐ | ✓ | Per-space pinned tabs. A Folder model exists but has no UI; folders are a roadmap item.github.com |
| Live foldersSidebar folders that fill and refresh themselves from an outside source, such as GitHub pull requests or an RSS feed. | ✕ | ✓ | No live-folder code at 4e6cfd1; a folder holds only a name and open state, with no source to follow.github.com |
| ArchiveAuto-archive tabsUnpinned tabs close automatically after a set time and stay recoverable in an archive. | ◐ | ✓ | Inactive tabs are suspended, then removed after a set time (global and per-space); no persistent archive.github.com |
| Theme pickerSpace themesPer-space colour or gradient themes. | ◐ | ✓ | Light/dark/system appearance only; a space stores just a name and emoji.github.com |
Browsing
| Feature | Ora | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Split ViewTwo or more tabs side by side in one window. | ✕ | ✓ | No split view in code; listed as a near-term roadmap item (March 2026).github.com |
| PeekLink previewOpen a link in an overlay without leaving the current page (Zen calls it Glance). | ✕ | ✓ | No link preview in code; listed as a near-term roadmap item (March 2026).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 current window.github.com |
| Command barA ⌘T palette that searches tabs, history, bookmarks and browser commands. | ◐ | ✓ | Launcher searches open tabs, history and web suggestions; no bookmarks or browser commands.github.com |
| Air Traffic ControlLink routingRules that send links from other apps to a chosen space or profile. | ✕ | ✓ | External links open in the current window; no routing rules found.github.com |
| BoostsSite customizationPer-site custom CSS/JS, or zapping elements off a page. | ✕ | ✓ | No per-site CSS/JS or element zapping; only Ora's own built-in scripts are injected.github.com |
| Auto PiPAuto picture-in-picturePlaying video pops out into picture-in-picture automatically when you switch tabs. | ✓ | ✓ | Setting 'Auto Picture-in-Picture on tab switch', on by default; triggers PiP via injected JS.github.com |
| Mini playerMedia still playing in a tab you left keeps play/pause controls in the sidebar. | ✓ | ✓ | Sidebar media cards for tabs you left have previous, play/pause, next and volume controls; hover shows up to four.github.com |
| Tab SwitcherRecent-tab switcherCtrl+Tab jumps back to the tab you used last and cycles in recently used order. | ✓ | ✓ | Ctrl+Tab (Next Tab) opens a floating switcher of tabs sorted by last access; release Control to switch.github.com |
| Super CopyClean link copyA shortcut (⌘⇧C) copies the page URL with tracking parameters removed. | ◐ | ✓ | ⇧⌘C Copy URL copies the raw page URL and shows a 'Link copied' toast; nothing is stripped.github.com |
| CaptureScreenshotsBuilt-in capture of a chosen area or element, and of the full page. | ✕ | ✓ | WKWebView snapshots are used only to sample the page's top-edge colour; no user-facing screenshot or capture command.github.com |
Compatibility & migration
| Feature | Ora | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arc importImports Arc spaces, pinned tabs and folders. | ◐ | – | Reads Arc's StorableSidebar.json for spaces, pinned tabs and top apps; tabs inside folders are skipped.github.com |
| Chrome extensionsInstalls extensions from the Chrome Web Store. | ✕ | ✓ | No extension code; support is a near-term roadmap item ('in beta'), not shipped.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 WKWebView with a Safari user agent, so FairPlay is the only DRM it could have; no playback test and no maker statement.github.com |
| PasskeysWebAuthn passkeys, Touch ID and the system/iCloud keychain. | ✓ | ✓ | Bundle 0.2.14: signed with Apple's browser passkey entitlement and provisioning; roadmap still lists passkeys.github.com |
| SyncSpaces, pinned tabs and settings sync across devices. | ✕ | ✓ | Spaces and tabs live in a local SQLite store in Application Support; no cloud sync configured.github.com |
| Mobile appiPhone, iPad or Android app that shares spaces with desktop. | ✕ | ◐ | macOS-only app (XcodeGen target platform is macOS).github.com |
Extras
| Feature | Ora | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in ad blockerAd and tracker blocking without installing an extension. | ◐ | ✓ | Per-space AdGuard-list content blocker, but ad blocking is off by default.github.com |
| Custom ShortcutsShortcut editorMost browser keyboard shortcuts can be remapped in Settings. | ✓ | ✓ | Settings > Shortcuts lists every shortcut by category; click Edit and press a new key chord, or Reset.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 | Ora | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| EaselsA shareable canvas of live page captures, notes and drawings. | ✕ | ◐ | Easel records are only parsed by the Arc importer; no easel feature exists at 4e6cfd1.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. | ✕ | ✓ | Only the current page can be shared, through the macOS share sheet; no Space, folder or tab-group sharing.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. | ✕ | ✓ | Hovering a link shows only its address in a status pill; no live app glance and no unread badges on pinned tabs.github.com |
| Developer modeA developer view that turns on by itself for localhost: full URL, quick DevTools and dev tools in reach. | ✕ | ✓ | Only standard DevTools: Toggle DevTools (⌥⌘I) and Reload Ignoring Cache; nothing keys off localhost or per site.github.com |
Extension support
Which extension formats and stores run, beyond the Chrome Web Store row above.
| Feature | Ora | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manifest V2 extensionsThe older extension format Chrome removed in 2025. Needed for full uBlock Origin and other extensions that block requests. | – | ✕ | Runs no extensions: no WKWebExtension code; support is only a roadmap item ('in beta').github.com |
| Manifest V3 extensionsThe current extension format used by the Chrome Web Store (and supported by Firefox and Safari). | – | ✓ | Runs no extensions: no WKWebExtension code; support is only a roadmap item ('in beta').github.com |
| Firefox add-onsAdd-ons from addons.mozilla.org or .xpi files install and run. | – | ✕ | Runs no extensions at all, so Firefox add-ons cannot be installed.github.com |
| Safari extensionsSafari web extensions (the App Store extension apps Safari uses) install and run. | – | ✕ | Runs no extensions at all, so Safari web extensions cannot be installed.github.com |