Tangent
Free, open-source Electron browser built for Arc users: Spaces, Profiles, split view and Peek.
Tangent is an Electron browser written by one developer after Arc's shutdown announcement, as an original implementation with no Arc code. It has a vertical sidebar, Spaces with their own pinned and Today tabs, Favorites shared per Profile, Profiles with separate logins that Spaces can share, auto-archiving Today tabs with an archive view, a command bar, two-pane split view and Peek. It has no extensions, Arc import, folders, Little Arc, Boosts, ad blocker, sync or mobile app, and the engine is stock Electron without Widevine. Builds are unsigned or ad-hoc signed, and the project calls itself experimental.
Bloat check
None found
README: no account service or analytics backend, and no account, subscription or key needed. Update checks only run in eligible signed builds.
github.comAds, crypto, paid upsells, news feeds, default-on telemetry, required accounts.
Organization
| Feature | Tangent | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| SidebarVertical sidebarTabs live in a vertical sidebar that is the main tab UI and can be hidden. | ✓ | ✓ | Vertical sidebar is the only tab UI; Cmd/Ctrl+B or a toolbar button hides and shows it.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 and Today tabs; switch from the sidebar or with Cmd/Ctrl+1 to 9.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 an existing or new Profile; Profiles have separate cookies and one can serve several Spaces.github.com |
| FavoritesGlobal favoritesPinned icons at the top of the sidebar shared by every Space (Zen calls them Essentials). | ✓ | ✓ | Favorites sit atop the sidebar, shared by every Space on the same Profile (not across Profiles).github.com |
| Pinned TabsPinned tabs & foldersPer-space pinned tabs that act like bookmarks, with nested folders. | ◐ | ✓ | Per-Space pinned tabs that return to their saved URL; README lists folders as missing.github.com |
| Live foldersSidebar folders that fill and refresh themselves from an outside source, such as GitHub pull requests or an RSS feed. | ✕ | ✓ | README lists folders as not built, so there are no live folders; no feed or source-backed folder code in the source.github.com |
| ArchiveAuto-archive tabsUnpinned tabs close automatically after a set time and stay recoverable in an archive. | ✓ | ✓ | Today tabs archive after 12 h by default (12 h to 30 d or off); an archive view restores them.github.com |
| Theme pickerSpace themesPer-space colour or gradient themes. | ✓ | ✓ | Each Space picks one of 6 colours that tints its sidebar; light/dark is global.github.com |
Browsing
| Feature | Tangent | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Split ViewTwo or more tabs side by side in one window. | ◐ | ✓ | Only two panes with an adjustable divider; README lists four-pane splits as missing.github.com |
| PeekLink previewOpen a link in an overlay without leaving the current page (Zen calls it Glance). | ✓ | ✓ | Right-click a link and choose Peek; the overlay can be promoted to a tab keeping its live page.github.com |
| Little ArcMini windowA small, chrome-less window for links opened from other apps or a quick search. | ✕ | ✓ | README lists Little Arc as missing.github.com |
| Command barA ⌘T palette that searches tabs, history, bookmarks and browser commands. | ◐ | ✓ | Cmd/Ctrl+T palette searches open tabs and history; its 5 commands show only on an empty query.github.com |
| Air Traffic ControlLink routingRules that send links from other apps to a chosen space or profile. | ✕ | ✓ | No default-browser integration (README) and no routing rules in the source.github.com |
| BoostsSite customizationPer-site custom CSS/JS, or zapping elements off a page. | ✕ | ✓ | README lists Boosts as missing.github.com |
| Auto PiPAuto picture-in-picturePlaying video pops out into picture-in-picture automatically when you switch tabs. | ✕ | ✓ | No picture-in-picture handling in the source; media events only mark a tab audible.github.com |
| Mini playerMedia still playing in a tab you left keeps play/pause controls in the sidebar. | ◐ | ✓ | Audible tabs show a speaker icon in the sidebar and can be muted from the tab menu; no play/pause or now-playing control.github.com |
| Tab SwitcherRecent-tab switcherCtrl+Tab jumps back to the tab you used last and cycles in recently used order. | ✕ | ✓ | Ctrl+Tab is not bound; the shortcut handler has no next-tab or recent-tab command.github.com |
| Super CopyClean link copyA shortcut (⌘⇧C) copies the page URL with tracking parameters removed. | ✕ | ✓ | No copy-URL command or shortcut exists in the shortcut handler, menus or README shortcut table.github.com |
| CaptureScreenshotsBuilt-in capture of a chosen area or element, and of the full page. | ✕ | ✓ | No screenshot command; the only related item is Developer Tools (View menu), which does not count.github.com |
Compatibility & migration
| Feature | Tangent | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arc importImports Arc spaces, pinned tabs and folders. | ✕ | – | README lists the Arc import converter as missing; import accepts only Tangent backups.github.com |
| Chrome extensionsInstalls extensions from the Chrome Web Store. | ✕ | ✓ | README lists Chrome Web Store integration as missing; no extension loading in the source.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. | ✕ | ✓ | Stock Electron 45.0.0, no Widevine build; README lists DRM as untested. Bundle not inspected.github.com |
| PasskeysWebAuthn passkeys, Touch ID and the system/iCloud keychain. | ? | ✓ | |
| SyncSpaces, pinned tabs and settings sync across devices. | ✕ | ✓ | README lists cloud sync as missing; data is local JSON with manual export.github.com |
| Mobile appiPhone, iPad or Android app that shares spaces with desktop. | ✕ | ◐ | README lists a mobile app as missing; builds are desktop only.github.com |
Extras
| Feature | Tangent | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in ad blockerAd and tracker blocking without installing an extension. | ✕ | ✓ | README lists an ad/tracker blocker as missing.github.com |
| Custom ShortcutsShortcut editorMost browser keyboard shortcuts can be remapped in Settings. | ✕ | ✓ | Shortcuts are hard-coded in the main process; Settings covers profiles, backup and updates but has no shortcut section.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 | Tangent | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| EaselsA shareable canvas of live page captures, notes and drawings. | ✕ | ◐ | README lists Easels as not built; there is no canvas or board in the source.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 session writes all Spaces and tab URLs to one JSON file; import replaces everything. No link or per-Space 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 feature table lists no hover previews, unread badges or calendar widgets; favorites are plain saved URLs.github.com |
| Developer modeA developer view that turns on by itself for localhost: full URL, quick DevTools and dev tools in reach. | ✕ | ✓ | Only page developer tools are listed; no developer mode or localhost-specific UI.github.com |
Extension support
Which extension formats and stores run, beyond the Chrome Web Store row above.
| Feature | Tangent | 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 extension loading in the source; README lists Web Store support as missing.github.com |
| Manifest V3 extensionsThe current extension format used by the Chrome Web Store (and supported by Firefox and Safari). | – | ✓ | Runs no extensions: no extension loading in the source; README lists Web Store support as missing.github.com |
| Firefox add-onsAdd-ons from addons.mozilla.org or .xpi files install and run. | – | ✕ | No extension or add-on support in the source.github.com |
| Safari extensionsSafari web extensions (the App Store extension apps Safari uses) install and run. | – | ✕ | No extension or add-on support in the source.github.com |