Talos
Free, open-source Mac browser on WebKit with Arc-style Spaces, favorites, split view and a command bar.
Talos (called Candoa Browser until September 2026) is a native Mac browser written in SwiftUI and AppKit on the WebKit engine that ships with macOS. It keeps Arc's sidebar model: Spaces with their own pinned tabs and nested folders, global favorites, per-Space themes, a command bar, split view of up to four tabs and a floating mini player for video. Each new Space can have its own browsing session or share one. It installs extensions from the Chrome Web Store, blocks ads and trackers by default, uses passkeys with Touch ID, and syncs its workspace through iCloud. It imports Arc's sidebar only as folders of pinned tabs during first-run setup, has no Peek, mini window, link rules or Boosts, and has no built-in AI. DRM video is unverified. It is a beta for Apple silicon Macs on macOS 14 or later.
Built-in AI
No AI
No built-in AI: the assistant was removed in v0.102.0; the ChatGPT, Claude and Perplexity command-bar rows only open those sites in a tab.
github.comBloat check
None found
No accounts or subscriptions (removed in v0.102.0). Only network services are iCloud sync, passkeys and the Sparkle update feed, which sends no system profile.
github.comAds, crypto, paid upsells, news feeds, default-on telemetry, required accounts.
Organization
| Feature | Talos | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| SidebarVertical sidebarTabs live in a vertical sidebar that is the main tab UI and can be hidden. | ✓ | ✓ | Address pill and tabs sit in the sidebar by default; ⌘S hides it; a top address bar is optional.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 and tabs; switch by swipe, ⌃1–3 or ⌘⌥←/→.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. | ✓ | ✓ | New Space picks its own session, shares the current one, or a shared Personal/Work/Banking/Shopping one.github.com |
| FavoritesGlobal favoritesPinned icons at the top of the sidebar shared by every Space (Zen calls them Essentials). | ✓ | ✓ | One shared favorites grid, the same in every Space (code comment: 'Arc/Zen-style').github.com |
| Pinned TabsPinned tabs & foldersPer-space pinned tabs that act like bookmarks, with nested folders. | ✓ | ✓ | Per-Space pinned tabs plus folders, with nested subfolders from the folder context menu.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 ba9b2fa; folders hold tabs you put in them, with no feed, query or refresh source.github.com |
| ArchiveAuto-archive tabsUnpinned tabs close automatically after a set time and stay recoverable in an archive. | ◐ | ✓ | Background tabs are unloaded only under memory pressure; no timed close or archive view.github.com |
| Theme pickerSpace themesPer-space colour or gradient themes. | ✓ | ✓ | Per-Space colour (up to three), light/dark, opacity and texture.github.com |
Browsing
| Feature | Talos | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Split ViewTwo or more tabs side by side in one window. | ✓ | ✓ | Up to four tabs side by side or stacked; dragging a tab to a pane edge splits.github.com |
| PeekLink previewOpen a link in an overlay without leaving the current page (Zen calls it Glance). | ✕ | ✓ | README: 'Not there yet: an equivalent of Arc's peek window.'github.com |
| Little ArcMini windowA small, chrome-less window for links opened from other apps or a quick search. | ✕ | ✓ | External links open as a tab; the floating mini player is for video only.github.com |
| Command barA ⌘T palette that searches tabs, history, bookmarks and browser commands. | ✓ | ✓ | The ⌘T bar searches open tabs, history and commands, switches Spaces and does site search.github.com |
| Air Traffic ControlLink routingRules that send links from other apps to a chosen space or profile. | ✕ | ✓ | Links from other apps just open a tab in the active Space; no rules or per-site routing.github.com |
| BoostsSite customizationPer-site custom CSS/JS, or zapping elements off a page. | ✕ | ✓ | No per-site CSS/JS or element zapper; the injected page scripts are Talos's own.github.com |
| Auto PiPAuto picture-in-picturePlaying video pops out into picture-in-picture automatically when you switch tabs. | ✓ | ✓ | On by default: a floating in-app mini player carries a playing video to other tabs (not system PiP).github.com |
| Mini playerMedia still playing in a tab you left keeps play/pause controls in the sidebar. | ✓ | ✓ | A floating player with play/pause and seek follows a video you leave; audio-only tabs only get a mute icon.github.com |
| Tab SwitcherRecent-tab switcherCtrl+Tab jumps back to the tab you used last and cycles in recently used order. | ✓ | ✓ | Control+Tab opens a recent-tabs preview strip in last-used order; release Control to switch. Next Tab keeps strip order.github.com |
| Super CopyClean link copyA shortcut (⌘⇧C) copies the page URL with tracking parameters removed. | ◐ | ✓ | ⌘⇧C copies the current tab URL (⌘⇧⌥C as Markdown) with a toast; no tracking parameters are removed.github.com |
| CaptureScreenshotsBuilt-in capture of a chosen area or element, and of the full page. | ◐ | ✓ | Capture Page saves the visible viewport as a PNG in Downloads; it has no default key (assign in Shortcuts), and no area or full-page mode.github.com |
Compatibility & migration
| Feature | Talos | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arc importImports Arc spaces, pinned tabs and folders. | ◐ | – | Reads Arc's sidebar file: Spaces and folders become folders of pinned tabs in one Space; first run only.github.com |
| Chrome extensionsInstalls extensions from the Chrome Web Store. | ✓ | ✓ | Web Store 'Add' button is replaced so it installs on WebKit's extension runtime.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. | ? | ✓ | README says DRM playback is unverified; system WKWebView, streaming not tested. |
| PasskeysWebAuthn passkeys, Touch ID and the system/iCloud keychain. | ✓ | ✓ | Release bundle has Apple's browser passkey entitlement; sign-in uses Apple Passwords and Touch ID.github.com |
| SyncSpaces, pinned tabs and settings sync across devices. | ✓ | ✓ | Workspace (Spaces, tabs, folders) mirrors to your private iCloud via CloudKit; history stays local.github.com |
| Mobile appiPhone, iPad or Android app that shares spaces with desktop. | ✕ | ◐ | macOS-only app (SDKROOT = macosx); no iPhone or iPad app.github.com |
Extras
| Feature | Talos | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in ad blockerAd and tracker blocking without installing an extension. | ✓ | ✓ | Ad-network and tracker rule list runs in WebKit; on by default, one Privacy toggle.github.com |
| Custom ShortcutsShortcut editorMost browser keyboard shortcuts can be remapped in Settings. | ✓ | ✓ | Settings > Shortcuts rebinds or removes about 40 actions; README says every listed shortcut can be rebound.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 | Talos | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| EaselsA shareable canvas of live page captures, notes and drawings. | ✕ | ◐ | No canvas or board; the README's working-today list has only Spaces, tabs, split view, blocking and a mini player.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. | ✕ | ✓ | The developer bar shares only the current page through the macOS share sheet; no Space or folder 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. | ✕ | ✓ | README lists no pinned-app glance or meeting widget; only link-hover and tab-switcher thumbnails exist.github.com |
| Developer modeA developer view that turns on by itself for localhost: full URL, quick DevTools and dev tools in reach. | ✓ | ✓ | Developer Mode turns on by itself for localhost and loopback, and per host from site controls; shows a dev bar with full URL.github.com |
Extension support
Which extension formats and stores run, beyond the Chrome Web Store row above.
| Feature | Talos | 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 .zip/.xpi, but WebKit's webRequest can't block, so no full uBlock Origin; no patch.github.com |
| Manifest V3 extensionsThe current extension format used by the Chrome Web Store (and supported by Firefox and Safari). | ✓ | ✓ | Web Store 'Add' button installs MV3 extensions on WebKit's extension runtime (WKWebExtension).github.com |
| Firefox add-onsAdd-ons from addons.mozilla.org or .xpi files install and run. | ◐ | ✕ | No Firefox Add-ons button; only a downloaded .xpi can be picked by hand in Settings.github.com |
| Safari extensionsSafari web extensions (the App Store extension apps Safari uses) install and run. | ◐ | ✕ | No Safari extension discovery; only an extension folder picked by hand in Settings.github.com |