Stedding
Open-source, Arc-style Chromium browser for Mac and Windows with one-click import from Arc.
Stedding is an open-source desktop browser built as a documented patch series on Chromium stable. It copies Arc's way of working: a vertical-tab sidebar, Spaces (each can keep its own sign-ins, or share them with other Spaces in a named session), essentials, pinned tabs and folders, and a command bar. Its first start offers to move Spaces, pinned tabs, folders, open tabs, history and passwords from Arc on both macOS and Windows. It needs no account, sends no usage metrics and is currently in beta, maintained by one developer.
Built-in AI
No AI
No built-in AI, by decision: no bundled model, no chat or Ask on Page; Chrome's Lens, Gemini and AI Mode rows are hidden. A chatbot is an extension.
github.comBloat check
None found
No ads, wallet, feed or account; no telemetry or crash upload. A thank-you page opens after setup and after updates (the update one can be turned off) with a link to sponsor the project.
github.comAds, crypto, paid upsells, news feeds, default-on telemetry, required accounts.
Organization
| Feature | Stedding | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| SidebarVertical sidebarTabs live in a vertical sidebar that is the main tab UI and can be hidden. | ✓ | ✓ | Vertical tabs on by default; left or right side, folds to an icon rail or hides completely.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 tabs, folders, colour and icon; switch by chips, shortcut or swipe (Mac).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 session: shared, an existing one or a new named one. Spaces in one session share sign-ins and site data (beta 18).github.com |
| FavoritesGlobal favoritesPinned icons at the top of the sidebar shared by every Space (Zen calls them Essentials). | ✓ | ✓ | Called Essentials; shared across Spaces, unless a Space has its own session (then own, or shared by that session's Spaces).github.com |
| Pinned TabsPinned tabs & foldersPer-space pinned tabs that act like bookmarks, with nested folders. | ✓ | ✓ | Per-Space pinned tabs that remember their page; folders nest, including among pins.github.com |
| Live foldersSidebar folders that fill and refresh themselves from an outside source, such as GitHub pull requests or an RSS feed. | ✕ | ✓ | Live Folders (GitHub) are post-1.0 in the product spec; ADR 0036 only proposes a design. Folders hold only tabs you put in them.github.com |
| ArchiveAuto-archive tabsUnpinned tabs close automatically after a set time and stay recoverable in an archive. | ✓ | ✓ | Off by default; choose 6 hours to 7 days. Archived tabs can be restored.github.com |
| Theme pickerSpace themesPer-space colour or gradient themes. | ✓ | ✓ | Colour and icon per Space, optionally a separate colour for light and dark.github.com |
Browsing
| Feature | Stedding | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Split ViewTwo or more tabs side by side in one window. | ◐ | ✓ | Drag a tab onto the page for a split; two panes only, more are post-1.0.github.com |
| PeekLink previewOpen a link in an overlay without leaving the current page (Zen calls it Glance). | ◐ | ✓ | Opens links from pinned tabs and essentials on a card over the page; not for ordinary tabs.github.com |
| Little ArcMini windowA small, chrome-less window for links opened from other apps or a quick search. | ✓ | ✓ | Little windows open links from other apps when Stedding is default; Cmd+O keeps one as a tab.github.com |
| Command barA ⌘T palette that searches tabs, history, bookmarks and browser commands. | ✓ | ✓ | Cmd+T searches URLs, open/archived tabs in every Space, history, bookmarks and commands.github.com |
| Air Traffic ControlLink routingRules that send links from other apps to a chosen space or profile. | ✓ | ✓ | 'Routes': a site always opens in a chosen Space; Settings lists every route.github.com |
| BoostsSite customizationPer-site custom CSS/JS, or zapping elements off a page. | ✕ | ✓ | Boosts and Easels are deferred by project decision (ADR 0012).github.com |
| Auto PiPAuto picture-in-picturePlaying video pops out into picture-in-picture automatically when you switch tabs. | ✓ | ✓ | Setting 'Pop out a playing video when you leave its tab' sends it to picture-in-picture and back; off by default. On main, not yet in beta 19.github.com |
| Mini playerMedia still playing in a tab you left keeps play/pause controls in the sidebar. | ✓ | ✓ | A card above Archived shows the tab playing in the background, with play/pause and stop; in the rail, its favicon. On main, not yet in beta 19.github.com |
| Tab SwitcherRecent-tab switcherCtrl+Tab jumps back to the tab you used last and cycles in recently used order. | ✓ | ✓ | Ctrl+Tab walks the Space's most recent tabs by default, with a strip of the last five while Ctrl is held; a setting restores strip order.github.com |
| Super CopyClean link copyA shortcut (⌘⇧C) copies the page URL with tracking parameters removed. | ✓ | ✓ | Ctrl+Shift+C copies the page link without utm_, fbclid, gclid and similar parameters, with a confirmation toast; a setting turns stripping off.github.com |
| CaptureScreenshotsBuilt-in capture of a chosen area or element, and of the full page. | ✓ | ✓ | Ctrl+Shift+2 captures the page, Ctrl+Alt+Shift+2 a dragged region, Ctrl+Shift+1 the whole document; PNG to Downloads and clipboard.github.com |
Compatibility & migration
| Feature | Stedding | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arc importImports Arc spaces, pinned tabs and folders. | ✓ | – | Spaces, essentials, pins, folders, splits, routes, archive, history, passwords; Arc's per-Space profiles become new shared sessions, signed out.github.com |
| Chrome extensionsInstalls extensions from the Chrome Web Store. | ✓ | ✓ | Chrome Web Store extensions install as in Chrome; full uBlock Origin (MV2) does not.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. | ✕ | ✓ | No Widevine licence yet (S-270); Netflix, Disney+, Prime, Spotify web show an open-in-Safari/Edge notice.github.com |
| PasskeysWebAuthn passkeys, Touch ID and the system/iCloud keychain. | ◐ | ✓ | Mac Touch ID passkeys stored in the Stedding profile; Apple Passwords/iCloud not yet.github.com |
| SyncSpaces, pinned tabs and settings sync across devices. | ◐ | ✓ | Spaces, pins, folders, essentials via your own folder, WebDAV or S3; no tabs, history, passwords or sign-ins.github.com |
| Mobile appiPhone, iPad or Android app that shares spaces with desktop. | ✕ | ◐ | Desktop only; mobile apps are not planned.github.com |
Extras
| Feature | Stedding | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in ad blockerAd and tracker blocking without installing an extension. | ◐ | ✓ | Built-in EasyList/EasyPrivacy blocker, off until you turn it on.github.com |
| Custom ShortcutsShortcut editorMost browser keyboard shortcuts can be remapped in Settings. | ✓ | ✓ | Settings > Stedding > Shortcuts lists every command; add, remove, switch off or reset chords per row, with conflict checks. A few rows are fixed.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 | Stedding | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| EaselsA shareable canvas of live page captures, notes and drawings. | ✕ | ◐ | Easels are deferred past the first releases (ADR 0012); no canvas or board is built.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. | ✓ | ✓ | Settings has Export Space and Export all Spaces, which write a file; Import sidebar on another install merges it. No link, no account.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. | ✕ | ✓ | PRODUCT.md lists Previews on hover and Live Calendars as post-1.0; hover currently shows only a screenshot of the tab.github.com |
| Developer modeA developer view that turns on by itself for localhost: full URL, quick DevTools and dev tools in reach. | ✓ | ✓ | Localhost pages always show the address row and their sidebar tab gets yellow-black tape plus a host:port line; Arc's other developer extras are still open.github.com |
Extension support
Which extension formats and stores run, beyond the Chrome Web Store row above.
| Feature | Stedding | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manifest V2 extensionsThe older extension format Chrome removed in 2025. Needed for full uBlock Origin and other extensions that block requests. | ✕ | ✕ | Chromium 157 turns MV2 off and Stedding leaves it off (S-362); only uBlock Origin Lite works.github.com |
| Manifest V3 extensionsThe current extension format used by the Chrome Web Store (and supported by Firefox and Safari). | ✓ | ✓ | Extensions install from the Chrome Web Store as in Chromium 157; uBlock Origin Lite (MV3) works.github.com |
| Firefox add-onsAdd-ons from addons.mozilla.org or .xpi files install and run. | ✕ | ✕ | Chromium only installs Chrome-format (.crx) extension downloads; Firefox .xpi add-ons don't install.chromium.googlesource.com |
| Safari extensionsSafari web extensions (the App Store extension apps Safari uses) install and run. | ✕ | ✕ | Safari web extensions ship as Safari app extensions; Chromium has no host for them.developer.apple.com |