Viola
Calm Chromium browser with workspaces, tab groups, splits and a mini player; Mac, Windows, Linux, Android
Viola is a closed-source Chromium browser from Rhyme Social LLC in Kansas City, pitched as a calmer, feature-rich browser with no AI. It has a sidebar with workspaces, global favorites, tab groups, two-pane splits, a mini player and Mini Viola quick windows. Optional end-to-end encrypted sync links Mac, Windows, Linux and Android. It is early access: Mac is Apple silicon only, Windows is an unsigned manual beta, and Android is a sideloaded APK.
Built-in AI
No AI
Site says "No AI, no notes, no calendar, no inbox"; no built-in AI features found.
violabrowser.comBloat check
1 thing you didn't ask for
- Telemetry on by defaultInstall and daily active-app events always sent; detailed anonymous stats (launches, active minutes) on by default, opt-out in Settings → Privacy.violabrowser.com
Policy: no advertising, no third-party analytics, no account needed (sync only). Site lists Pro and Lifetime plans; no in-app upsell seen (app not run).
Ads, crypto, paid upsells, news feeds, default-on telemetry, required accounts.
Organization
| Feature | Viola | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| SidebarVertical sidebarTabs live in a vertical sidebar that is the main tab UI and can be hidden. | ✓ | ✓ | Left sidebar is the main tab UI and can be toggled with Cmd-Shift-S.github.com |
| SpacesSeveral workspaces per window, each with its own pinned and open tabs, switched by swipe or shortcut. | ✓ | ✓ | Workspaces with their own pinned and open tabs; Cmd-Left/Right switches them.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 are per window; workspaces share one and cannot pick their own.github.com |
| FavoritesGlobal favoritesPinned icons at the top of the sidebar shared by every Space (Zen calls them Essentials). | ✓ | ✓ | One Favorites grid above the workspace lists; Cmd/Ctrl+1-9 opens them in order.github.com |
| Pinned TabsPinned tabs & foldersPer-space pinned tabs that act like bookmarks, with nested folders. | ◐ | ✓ | Pinned tabs per workspace and tab groups, but no nested folders found.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 or feed-source text in the 0.2.10 sidebar and settings code.github.com |
| ArchiveAuto-archive tabsUnpinned tabs close automatically after a set time and stay recoverable in an archive. | ◐ | ✓ | Inactive tabs can be put to sleep; no archive or auto-close timer found.github.com |
| Theme pickerSpace themesPer-space colour or gradient themes. | ✓ | ✓ | Each workspace has its own name, icon and colour.github.com |
Browsing
| Feature | Viola | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Split ViewTwo or more tabs side by side in one window. | ◐ | ✓ | Native two-pane split only; the Split action needs exactly two tabs selected.github.com |
| PeekLink previewOpen a link in an overlay without leaving the current page (Zen calls it Glance). | ✕ | ✓ | No link-preview overlay found in the 0.2.10 sidebar or settings code.github.com |
| Little ArcMini windowA small, chrome-less window for links opened from other apps or a quick search. | ◐ | ✓ | Mini Viola quick window; external links use it via a Settings toggle (default not checked).github.com |
| Command barA ⌘T palette that searches tabs, history, bookmarks and browser commands. | ◐ | ✓ | Address overlay suggests tabs, history, bookmarks and search; no browser commands found.github.com |
| Air Traffic ControlLink routingRules that send links from other apps to a chosen space or profile. | ✕ | ✓ | No routing rules or per-space target for external links in Settings.github.com |
| BoostsSite customizationPer-site custom CSS/JS, or zapping elements off a page. | ✕ | ✓ | No per-site CSS/JS or element zapping in the 0.2.10 settings or sidebar code.github.com |
| Auto PiPAuto picture-in-picturePlaying video pops out into picture-in-picture automatically when you switch tabs. | ◐ | ✓ | Mini player has a manual Picture in Picture button; no automatic pop-out found.violabrowser.com |
| Mini playerMedia still playing in a tab you left keeps play/pause controls in the sidebar. | ✓ | ✓ | A sidebar media bar shows play/pause, previous, next, mute and pop-out buttons for the tab that is playing.github.com |
| Tab SwitcherRecent-tab switcherCtrl+Tab jumps back to the tab you used last and cycles in recently used order. | ✕ | ✓ | Settings lists Ctrl+Tab as plain next/previous tab; Chromium 151's Ctrl+Tab recency feature (kCtrlTabMru) is off by default.chromium.googlesource.com |
| Super CopyClean link copyA shortcut (⌘⇧C) copies the page URL with tracking parameters removed. | ◐ | ✓ | Settings > Shortcuts lists 'Copy page link' ⇧⌘C; no tracking-parameter list found in the 0.2.10 framework, so it copies the plain URL.github.com |
| CaptureScreenshotsBuilt-in capture of a chosen area or element, and of the full page. | ◐ | ✓ | Settings > Shortcuts lists Screenshot visible area ⇧⌘2 and full page ⇧⌘S; no area or element picker found. Not run.github.com |
Compatibility & migration
| Feature | Viola | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arc importImports Arc spaces, pinned tabs and folders. | ? | – | |
| Chrome extensionsInstalls extensions from the Chrome Web Store. | ✓ | ✓ | Installs extensions from the Chrome Web Store, per the privacy policy.violabrowser.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. | ✓ | ✓ | Policy says protected video works via a Chromium DRM module; playback not tested.violabrowser.com |
| PasskeysWebAuthn passkeys, Touch ID and the system/iCloud keychain. | ? | ✓ | |
| SyncSpaces, pinned tabs and settings sync across devices. | ✓ | ✓ | Optional account sync of workspaces, tabs, groups and history, end-to-end encrypted.violabrowser.com |
| Mobile appiPhone, iPad or Android app that shares spaces with desktop. | ◐ | ◐ | Android APK (sideload) syncs workspaces; iOS is TestFlight only; all beta.github.com |
Extras
| Feature | Viola | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in ad blockerAd and tracker blocking without installing an extension. | ✕ | ✓ | No ad or tracker blocker in Settings or the site feature list.violabrowser.com |
| Custom ShortcutsShortcut editorMost browser keyboard shortcuts can be remapped in Settings. | ✕ | ✓ | Settings > Shortcuts is a read-only list that points to macOS System Settings > App Shortcuts for remapping.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 | Viola | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| EaselsA shareable canvas of live page captures, notes and drawings. | ✕ | ◐ | No canvas, board or easel text in the 0.2.10 sidebar and settings code.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. | ✕ | ✓ | No share or collection link in the sidebar and settings code; only appearance-preset export and Chromium's browser importer.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. | ✕ | ✓ | Sidebar hover card shows tab status and last-used time only; no app glance, calendar or unread-badge code in the sidebar bundle.github.com |
| Developer modeA developer view that turns on by itself for localhost: full URL, quick DevTools and dev tools in reach. | ◐ | ✓ | Built-in Mobile Simulator (⇧⌘M) with device frames, foldables and touch emulation; the site lists it under Pro. No localhost mode.github.com |
Extension support
Which extension formats and stores run, beyond the Chrome Web Store row above.
| Feature | Viola | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manifest V2 extensionsThe older extension format Chrome removed in 2025. Needed for full uBlock Origin and other extensions that block requests. | ✕ | ✕ | Built on Chromium 151, which no longer loads Manifest V2 extensions.developer.chrome.com |
| Manifest V3 extensionsThe current extension format used by the Chrome Web Store (and supported by Firefox and Safari). | ✓ | ✓ | Chromium 151 runs Chrome Web Store MV3 extensions; Viola is not Electron.violabrowser.com |
| Firefox add-onsAdd-ons from addons.mozilla.org or .xpi files install and run. | ✕ | ✕ | Extensions come from the Chrome Web Store only.violabrowser.com |
| Safari extensionsSafari web extensions (the App Store extension apps Safari uses) install and run. | ✕ | ✕ | Chromium build; no Safari extension support mentioned.violabrowser.com |