YARC
Free, open-source Arc clone on Electron/Chromium for macOS, Windows and Linux, with one-step Arc import.
YARC (Yet Another Arc Clone, formerly Arc Shell) is an Electron app that re-implements Arc's interaction design: a vertical sidebar, Spaces with their own or shared profiles, favorites, pinned tabs and folders, a command bar, split view of up to four tabs, Peek and Little Arc. It imports Arc spaces, favorites, pinned tabs, folders, archive and history, and adds built-in ad and tracker blocking and Chrome Web Store extensions per profile. It has no account or telemetry, and no sync, Boosts or mobile app yet. Builds have no trusted signature (macOS is signed with the project's own certificate and not notarized) and it is a young project, first released 2026-11-01. It bundles no Widevine module.
Built-in AI
No AI
No AI features in the source or README; the only AI-named entry is a Perplexity site-search shortcut that opens a tab.
github.comBloat check
None found
No ads, wallet, feed, upsell or account; no analytics SDK in source. README: no telemetry; calls are search suggestions, extension and filter-list updates, update check.
github.comAds, crypto, paid upsells, news feeds, default-on telemetry, required accounts.
Organization
| Feature | YARC | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| SidebarVertical sidebarTabs live in a vertical sidebar that is the main tab UI and can be hidden. | ✓ | ✓ | One vertical sidebar holds tabs, favorites and spaces; it can be hidden and slides back on hover.github.com |
| SpacesSeveral workspaces per window, each with its own pinned and open tabs, switched by swipe or shortcut. | ✓ | ✓ | Several spaces per window, each with its own pinned tabs and Today tabs; switch by swipe or shortcut.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 spaces get their own profile (cookies, logins, history); a space can instead share an existing one.github.com |
| FavoritesGlobal favoritesPinned icons at the top of the sidebar shared by every Space (Zen calls them Essentials). | ✓ | ✓ | Favorites belong to the profile, so every space on that profile shows them (Arc model); new spaces start with own.github.com |
| Pinned TabsPinned tabs & foldersPer-space pinned tabs that act like bookmarks, with nested folders. | ✓ | ✓ | Per-space pinned tabs that remember their URL, with nested, collapsible folders.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 b47bac7; a folder is only a name and a list of pinned tabs.github.com |
| ArchiveAuto-archive tabsUnpinned tabs close automatically after a set time and stay recoverable in an archive. | ✓ | ✓ | Unpinned tabs idle for 12 h go to an Archive; set 24 h, 7 d, 30 d or off; audible tabs are kept.github.com |
| Theme pickerSpace themesPer-space colour or gradient themes. | ✓ | ✓ | Each space has its own colour (hex) that tints the window; no gradients.github.com |
Browsing
| Feature | YARC | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Split ViewTwo or more tabs side by side in one window. | ✓ | ✓ | Up to four tabs side by side or stacked, with resizable panes; a split is one sidebar row and each pane has its own bar; drag a tab onto the page to start one.github.com |
| PeekLink previewOpen a link in an overlay without leaving the current page (Zen calls it Glance). | ◐ | ✓ | Peek opens only for other-site links clicked in pinned tabs and favorites; a setting turns it off.github.com |
| Little ArcMini windowA small, chrome-less window for links opened from other apps or a quick search. | ✓ | ✓ | Little Arc window is the default for links from other apps; "Open in" moves the page into a space.github.com |
| Command barA ⌘T palette that searches tabs, history, bookmarks and browser commands. | ✓ | ✓ | Ctrl/Cmd+T palette searches open tabs in all spaces, history, archive, commands, and spaces.github.com |
| Air Traffic ControlLink routingRules that send links from other apps to a chosen space or profile. | ◐ | ✓ | No routing rules; Little Arc remembers a profile per site and has a default profile setting.github.com |
| BoostsSite customizationPer-site custom CSS/JS, or zapping elements off a page. | ✕ | ✓ | README lists Boosts as not imported and not supported yet.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 app source at this commit.github.com |
| Mini playerMedia still playing in a tab you left keeps play/pause controls in the sidebar. | ◐ | ✓ | A tab row shows a speaker button while a tab makes sound, but it only mutes; no play/pause or skip.github.com |
| Tab SwitcherRecent-tab switcherCtrl+Tab jumps back to the tab you used last and cycles in recently used order. | ✓ | ✓ | Ctrl+Tab opens a recent-tab switcher in most-recently-used order; keep Ctrl held and press Tab again to go further back.github.com |
| Super CopyClean link copyA shortcut (⌘⇧C) copies the page URL with tracking parameters removed. | ◐ | ✓ | Ctrl+Shift+C copies the page URL as-is, Ctrl+Shift+Alt+C as Markdown; tracking parameters are not removed.github.com |
| CaptureScreenshotsBuilt-in capture of a chosen area or element, and of the full page. | ✕ | ✓ | No screenshot or capture command; only Developer Tools (Ctrl+Shift+I), which does not count.github.com |
Compatibility & migration
| Feature | YARC | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arc importImports Arc spaces, pinned tabs and folders. | ✓ | – | Imports Arc spaces, profiles, favorites, pinned tabs, folders, Today tabs, archive and history.github.com |
| Chrome extensionsInstalls extensions from the Chrome Web Store. | ✓ | ✓ | Installs from the Chrome Web Store per profile; MV3 declarativeNetRequest blockers install but cannot block.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 45.3.1, no Widevine in source; the 0.1.40 mac bundle inspected has no CDM. Playback not run.github.com |
| PasskeysWebAuthn passkeys, Touch ID and the system/iCloud keychain. | ? | ✓ | No configureWebAuthn call and no keychain entitlement in the source, so Touch ID passkeys look unavailable; keys untested. |
| SyncSpaces, pinned tabs and settings sync across devices. | ✕ | ✓ | README: "Not yet. Each install keeps its own data."github.com |
| Mobile appiPhone, iPad or Android app that shares spaces with desktop. | ✕ | ◐ | Desktop only: macOS, Windows and Linux builds, no iOS or Android app.github.com |
Extras
| Feature | YARC | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in ad blockerAd and tracker blocking without installing an extension. | ✓ | ✓ | Ghostery engine blocks ads and trackers in every profile, on by default, with daily list updates.github.com |
| Custom ShortcutsShortcut editorMost browser keyboard shortcuts can be remapped in Settings. | ✕ | ✓ | Settings > Keyboard Shortcuts is a read-only list that says: they can't be changed yet.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 | YARC | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| EaselsA shareable canvas of live page captures, notes and drawings. | ✕ | ◐ | README: YARC does not have Boosts, Easels or Notes yet.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. | ✕ | ✓ | Space and folder menus only edit or delete; no export, share link or tab-list copy for spaces or folders.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. | ✕ | ✓ | Favorites show only a dot for loaded sites; no hover glance, unread badge or calendar widget.github.com |
| Developer modeA developer view that turns on by itself for localhost: full URL, quick DevTools and dev tools in reach. | ✕ | ✓ | Only standard Electron DevTools (Ctrl+Shift+I, F12); 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 | YARC | Arc | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manifest V2 extensionsThe older extension format Chrome removed in 2025. Needed for full uBlock Origin and other extensions that block requests. | ✕ | ✕ | Web Store installs refuse MV2 (library default); no unpacked loading. No patch restoring MV2.github.com |
| Manifest V3 extensionsThe current extension format used by the Chrome Web Store (and supported by Firefox and Safari). | ◐ | ✓ | MV3 blockers install but cannot block: Electron has no declarativeNetRequest (README).github.com |
| Firefox add-onsAdd-ons from addons.mozilla.org or .xpi files install and run. | ✕ | ✕ | Chrome Web Store (Chromium) installs only; no Firefox add-on support.github.com |
| Safari extensionsSafari web extensions (the App Store extension apps Safari uses) install and run. | ✕ | ✕ | Chrome-format extensions only; Electron has no Safari extension host.github.com |