Orbe
Free, open-source Arc-style sidebar browser in French and English, on Electron (Chromium), Mac and Windows.
Orbe is a solo-built sidebar browser that copies Arc's organization and keyboard shortcuts: Spaces with per-Space themes, favorites, pinned tabs and folders, a command bar, up to four split panes, Peek, Little window, Boosts and Zap. It is a JavaScript app on Electron (Chromium 152). It imports Arc spaces, pinned tabs, folders, favorites and profiles from a local Arc install. The UI is French first with English in Settings. The Mac build is ad-hoc signed (macOS asks for confirmation), has no Widevine, and does not support passkeys or sync. The Windows build is only tested in CI.
Built-in AI
No AI
No built-in AI: no assistant, agent, model or API-key code in the feature list or in src/main.
github.comBloat check
None found
No ads, wallet, feed, upsells, analytics or account. Its only own request is a daily GitHub release check with no statistics. A 'Support Orbe' donation command exists.
github.comAds, crypto, paid upsells, news feeds, default-on telemetry, required accounts.
Organization
| Feature | Orbe | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| SidebarVertical sidebarTabs live in a vertical sidebar that is the main tab UI and can be hidden. | ✓ | ✓ | Vertical sidebar holds favorites, pinned tabs, folders and today tabs; hides with ⌘S and reappears on hover.github.com |
| SpacesSeveral workspaces per window, each with its own pinned and open tabs, switched by swipe or shortcut. | ✓ | ✓ | Several Spaces per window, each with its own pinned tabs and open tabs; switch by shortcut or two-finger swipe.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 picks a profile (own cookies and logins); several Spaces can share one; new profile on demand.github.com |
| FavoritesGlobal favoritesPinned icons at the top of the sidebar shared by every Space (Zen calls them Essentials). | ✓ | ✓ | Favorites (max 12) sit at the top of the sidebar, shared by Spaces of one profile, as in Arc.github.com |
| Pinned TabsPinned tabs & foldersPer-space pinned tabs that act like bookmarks, with nested folders. | ✓ | ✓ | Per-Space pinned tabs with nested folders, drag and drop, rename in place.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 inventory marks GitHub live folders as not done, since they need a third-party service.github.com |
| ArchiveAuto-archive tabsUnpinned tabs close automatically after a set time and stay recoverable in an archive. | ✓ | ✓ | Unvisited tabs are archived after 12 h by default (off, 12 h to 30 d), per profile; kept in the Library.github.com |
| Theme pickerSpace themesPer-space colour or gradient themes. | ✓ | ✓ | Per-Space theme: one to three gradient colours, intensity, four textures, light, dark or auto.github.com |
Browsing
| Feature | Orbe | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Split ViewTwo or more tabs side by side in one window. | ✓ | ✓ | Split View with up to four panes, side by side or stacked, from the command bar or ⌃⇧=.github.com |
| PeekLink previewOpen a link in an overlay without leaving the current page (Zen calls it Glance). | ✓ | ✓ | Link from a pinned tab, or Shift-click, opens in an overlay; ⌘O turns it into a tab. On by default.github.com |
| Little ArcMini windowA small, chrome-less window for links opened from other apps or a quick search. | ◐ | ✓ | Little window (⌥⌘N) exists; external links open in it only if set in Settings, default is main window.github.com |
| Command barA ⌘T palette that searches tabs, history, bookmarks and browser commands. | ✓ | ✓ | ⌘T/⌘L palette searches open tabs, history, archive and browser actions, plus search suggestions.github.com |
| Air Traffic ControlLink routingRules that send links from other apps to a chosen space or profile. | ✓ | ✓ | Per-site rules send links from other apps to a chosen Space or the Little window, like Air Traffic Control.github.com |
| BoostsSite customizationPer-site custom CSS/JS, or zapping elements off a page. | ✓ | ✓ | Per-site custom CSS, Zap to hide elements, and optional JavaScript that the user must allow.github.com |
| Auto PiPAuto picture-in-picturePlaying video pops out into picture-in-picture automatically when you switch tabs. | ✓ | ✓ | Playing video enters picture-in-picture when you switch tab; on by default, per-site opt-out.github.com |
| Mini playerMedia still playing in a tab you left keeps play/pause controls in the sidebar. | ✓ | ✓ | Mini players at the foot of the sidebar for tabs playing out of view, with play/pause, previous/next, seek and mute.github.com |
| Tab SwitcherRecent-tab switcherCtrl+Tab jumps back to the tab you used last and cycles in recently used order. | ✓ | ✓ | Holding ⌃ and pressing Tab opens a switcher of up to 8 tabs ordered by last use; releasing ⌃ commits.github.com |
| Super CopyClean link copyA shortcut (⌘⇧C) copies the page URL with tracking parameters removed. | ✓ | ✓ | ⇧⌘C copies the page URL with known tracking parameters removed and shows a 'URL copied' toast.github.com |
| CaptureScreenshotsBuilt-in capture of a chosen area or element, and of the full page. | ✓ | ✓ | ⇧⌘2 lets you drag an area (Enter = visible page) then copy or save; a separate Capture Full Page command takes the whole page.github.com |
Compatibility & migration
| Feature | Orbe | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arc importImports Arc spaces, pinned tabs and folders. | ✓ | – | Menu Orbe → Import from Arc reads the local Arc sidebar file: Spaces, pinned tabs, folders, favorites.github.com |
| Chrome extensionsInstalls extensions from the Chrome Web Store. | ◐ | ✓ | Installs from the Chrome Web Store, but Electron lacks many APIs (no sidePanel, tabs.create, cookies).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. | ✕ | ✓ | Release app is stock Electron without Widevine; DRM only with a dev-run castlabs engine (ORBE_DRM=1).github.com |
| PasskeysWebAuthn passkeys, Touch ID and the system/iCloud keychain. | ✕ | ✓ | Own docs: no passkeys; Touch ID for WebAuthn sites is absent from Electron.github.com |
| SyncSpaces, pinned tabs and settings sync across devices. | ✕ | ✓ | Own docs: no sync between devices; listed as a roadmap item.github.com |
| Mobile appiPhone, iPad or Android app that shares spaces with desktop. | ✕ | ◐ | Status line lists macOS and Windows only; no iOS or Android app.github.com |
Extras
| Feature | Orbe | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in ad blockerAd and tracker blocking without installing an extension. | ✓ | ✓ | Built-in domain blocklist (24,000 domains) for ads and trackers, on by default, per-site exceptions.github.com |
| Custom ShortcutsShortcut editorMost browser keyboard shortcuts can be remapped in Settings. | ✓ | ✓ | Settings > Shortcuts records new keys for any menu command, with search, per-command reset and conflict reassignment.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 | Orbe | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| EaselsA shareable canvas of live page captures, notes and drawings. | ◐ | ◐ | Boards (Ctrl+Shift+E) hold text, images, shapes and page captures, but captures are static and boards cannot be shared.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. | ◐ | ✓ | 'Export Space' saves a space's pinned tabs and folders as a bookmarks HTML file; no share link.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 show an unread-count badge read from the page title, e.g. '(3) Inbox'; no hover glance or calendar widget.github.com |
| Developer modeA developer view that turns on by itself for localhost: full URL, quick DevTools and dev tools in reach. | ✓ | ✓ | Per-site Developer Mode (⌃D) shows the toolbar and full URL; turns on automatically for localhost, 127.0.0.1 and ::1.github.com |
Extension support
Which extension formats and stores run, beyond the Chrome Web Store row above.
| Feature | Orbe | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manifest V2 extensionsThe older extension format Chrome removed in 2025. Needed for full uBlock Origin and other extensions that block requests. | ✕ | ✕ | Installs only Chrome Web Store-signed packages; the store serves no MV2 build; no unpacked loading.github.com |
| Manifest V3 extensionsThe current extension format used by the Chrome Web Store (and supported by Firefox and Safari). | ◐ | ✓ | Dark Reader, Wappalyzer, uBO Lite run from the store; no native messaging, history or bookmarks APIs.github.com |
| Firefox add-onsAdd-ons from addons.mozilla.org or .xpi files install and run. | ✕ | ✕ | Installs only from the Chrome Web Store; no Firefox add-on (AMO or .xpi) support.github.com |
| Safari extensionsSafari web extensions (the App Store extension apps Safari uses) install and run. | ✕ | ✕ | Electron loads only unpacked Chrome-format extensions; no Safari extension support.github.com |