Orbit
Free Arc-style Mac browser on Chromium (CEF) with Spaces, Boosts, Easels and Arc import; no source.
Orbit is a free Mac browser by Michael Kramer (siosphere) on Chromium 156 through CEF, with a SwiftUI shell and a Rust core. It targets Arc users: a sidebar with favorites, nested pinned folders and Spaces with their own themes, auto-archive set per Space, a ⌘T command bar, multi-pane Split View, Peek, a Mini Browser for outside links, Boosts with JavaScript, Easels, GitHub live folders and an Arc importer. Chrome Web Store extensions install, and sync between Macs is end-to-end encrypted with no account. The first build was 2026-10-27 and 49 builds followed by 2026-11-13, all on one channel and none marked pre-release. Source is closed; the public repo holds the update feed and builds. Widevine downloads at first launch but Netflix-class services may refuse, and Profiles are hidden as unfinished. Apple silicon and macOS 14+ only; Windows and Linux are still in development.
Built-in AI
AI optional
Only Apple's on-device model, for naming downloads (Settings); translation is on-device too. No cloud AI or chat.
github.comBloat check
None found
No ads, wallet, feed, upsell or account. Sparkle checks send no system profile; bug reports go out only when you send one; sync is opt-in.
github.comAds, crypto, paid upsells, news feeds, default-on telemetry, required accounts.
Organization
| Feature | Orbit | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| SidebarVertical sidebarTabs live in a vertical sidebar that is the main tab UI and can be hidden. | ✓ | ✓ | Tabs live in a sidebar with favorites, folders and today's tabs; ⌘S hides it and it slides out from the window edge.orbitbrowser.net |
| SpacesSeveral workspaces per window, each with its own pinned and open tabs, switched by swipe or shortcut. | ✓ | ✓ | Spaces each have their own pinned tabs, folders and Today tabs; ⌥⌘←/→ or a 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. | ✕ | ✓ | Profiles exist in the code but the Profiles tab is hidden as unfinished ("coming soon"); every Space shares one profile.github.com |
| FavoritesGlobal favoritesPinned icons at the top of the sidebar shared by every Space (Zen calls them Essentials). | ✓ | ✓ | One favorites grid at the top of the sidebar, identical in every Space; hovering one shows a preview card.orbitbrowser.net |
| Pinned TabsPinned tabs & foldersPer-space pinned tabs that act like bookmarks, with nested folders. | ✓ | ✓ | Each Space keeps pinned tabs in folders that can nest; a pinned tab that navigated away can be reset to its page.github.com |
| Live foldersSidebar folders that fill and refresh themselves from an outside source, such as GitHub pull requests or an RSS feed. | ✓ | ✓ | GitHub live folders fill with your open pull requests, or one repository's, once you sign in to GitHub; no RSS.github.com |
| ArchiveAuto-archive tabsUnpinned tabs close automatically after a set time and stay recoverable in an archive. | ✓ | ✓ | Today tabs archive after 12 hours, a day or a week, set per Space; the archive opens from the sidebar and the command bar.github.com |
| Theme pickerSpace themesPer-space colour or gradient themes. | ✓ | ✓ | Each Space has its own colour theme (Edit Space Theme) and icon; the sidebar takes its gradient.orbitbrowser.net |
Browsing
| Feature | Orbit | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Split ViewTwo or more tabs side by side in one window. | ✓ | ✓ | Side by side or stacked, shown as one sidebar row; panes reorder by drag, rotate, swap and close one by one (rows can hold more than two panes).github.com |
| PeekLink previewOpen a link in an overlay without leaving the current page (Zen calls it Glance). | ✓ | ✓ | Shift-click opens a link in a Peek card; Open Peek as Tab or Open Peek in Split keeps the page.github.com |
| Little ArcMini windowA small, chrome-less window for links opened from other apps or a quick search. | ✓ | ✓ | Links from other apps open in the Mini Browser, a small window you can close or keep as a tab; a Space can be chosen instead.github.com |
| Command barA ⌘T palette that searches tabs, history, bookmarks and browser commands. | ✓ | ✓ | ⌘T searches the web, open tabs, history, archived tabs, notes and commands; Tab after a site keyword searches that site.github.com |
| Air Traffic ControlLink routingRules that send links from other apps to a chosen space or profile. | ✓ | ✓ | "Air Traffic Control" is a menu item: Open Links from This Site Here routes a site's external links to a Space; a default Space too.github.com |
| BoostsSite customizationPer-site custom CSS/JS, or zapping elements off a page. | ✓ | ✓ | Per-site CSS and JavaScript Boosts that toggle, export and import, plus zapping elements across open pages.github.com |
| Auto PiPAuto picture-in-picturePlaying video pops out into picture-in-picture automatically when you switch tabs. | ✓ | ✓ | A video with sound pops out into a small draggable window when you switch tabs and returns with you; a Settings switch exists.github.com |
| Mini playerMedia still playing in a tab you left keeps play/pause controls in the sidebar. | ✓ | ✓ | A sidebar card plays, pauses or mutes media running in a background tab; Go to Playing Tab and Mute Other Tabs too.github.com |
| Tab SwitcherRecent-tab switcherCtrl+Tab jumps back to the tab you used last and cycles in recently used order. | ✓ | ✓ | Ctrl+Tab shows a Recent Tabs Switcher overlay (menu item and site FAQ); order of cycling not exercised.orbitbrowser.net |
| Super CopyClean link copyA shortcut (⌘⇧C) copies the page URL with tracking parameters removed. | ◐ | ✓ | ⇧⌘C copies the link and Copy Link as Markdown exists, but the binary has no tracker-stripping code (no utm_ or fbclid).github.com |
| CaptureScreenshotsBuilt-in capture of a chosen area or element, and of the full page. | ◐ | ✓ | Capture Page Region (⇧⌘2) snips an area, or sends it to an Easel (⌥⇧⌘2); no full-page capture found.github.com |
Compatibility & migration
| Feature | Orbit | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arc importImports Arc spaces, pinned tabs and folders. | ✓ | – | Imports spaces, pinned tabs and folders from Arc, and you pick which Arc profiles and spaces to bring in.github.com |
| Chrome extensionsInstalls extensions from the Chrome Web Store. | ✓ | ✓ | Installs from the Chrome Web Store (Add to Orbit) and pins extensions to the sidebar; native-messaging apps are allowlisted.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. | ◐ | ✓ | Widevine CDM is fetched after first launch and the notes say protected videos play, but the maker says Netflix, Prime Video and Disney+ may refuse.github.com |
| PasskeysWebAuthn passkeys, Touch ID and the system/iCloud keychain. | ◐ | ✓ | No browser passkey entitlement, so Chromium's own WebAuthn runs: phone passkeys over Bluetooth work, the system keychain does not.github.com |
| SyncSpaces, pinned tabs and settings sync across devices. | ✓ | ✓ | Opt-in end-to-end encrypted sync of the sidebar, Boosts, shortcuts and settings between Macs, joined with a recovery code; no account.github.com |
| Mobile appiPhone, iPad or Android app that shares spaces with desktop. | ✕ | ◐ | Mac only; the site lists Windows and Linux as coming, with no iPhone, iPad or Android app.orbitbrowser.net |
Extras
| Feature | Orbit | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in ad blockerAd and tracker blocking without installing an extension. | ✕ | ✓ | No ad or tracker blocker in the site, release notes or binary; extensions are the route.github.com |
| Custom ShortcutsShortcut editorMost browser keyboard shortcuts can be remapped in Settings. | ✓ | ✓ | Settings > Shortcuts lists the actions with a search box, up to two keys each, conflict checks and Restore Defaults; syncs between Macs.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 | Orbit | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| EaselsA shareable canvas of live page captures, notes and drawings. | ✓ | ◐ | Easels hold captures, links, images and text; live captures refresh, and an easel exports to or imports from an .easel.html file.orbitbrowser.net |
| 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. | ✕ | ✓ | No shareable Space or folder; only an Easel (file) or a Note (Markdown) can be exported.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 favorite shows a card (title, site, loaded); Gmail, Calendar and Outlook previews exist but their sign-in is hidden as unfinished.github.com |
| Developer modeA developer view that turns on by itself for localhost: full URL, quick DevTools and dev tools in reach. | ◐ | ✓ | Developer menu with DevTools docking, JavaScript Console, Inspect Elements and Chromium Flags; nothing turns on by itself for localhost.github.com |
Extension support
Which extension formats and stores run, beyond the Chrome Web Store row above.
| Feature | Orbit | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manifest V2 extensionsThe older extension format Chrome removed in 2025. Needed for full uBlock Origin and other extensions that block requests. | ? | ✕ | |
| Manifest V3 extensionsThe current extension format used by the Chrome Web Store (and supported by Firefox and Safari). | ✓ | ✓ | Chromium 156 extension host with Web Store install and an extensions manager (orbit://extensions); MV3 API coverage not tested.github.com |
| Firefox add-onsAdd-ons from addons.mozilla.org or .xpi files install and run. | ✕ | ✕ | Chromium extensions only; no .xpi or addons.mozilla.org path in the binary.github.com |
| Safari extensionsSafari web extensions (the App Store extension apps Safari uses) install and run. | ✕ | ✕ | Chromium extensions only; no Safari extension (appex) support in the app.github.com |