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Browser Extensions · head to head

Arc vs Google Chrome

Arc logo

Arc

Browser Extensions

Chromium-based browser organized around user workflows

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Google Chrome logo

Google Chrome

Technology

Google's browser, built on Chromium, with the largest market share and the strictest limits on what extensions may do.

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Arc no longer receiving active feature development as of May 2025, entering maintenance mode; Google Chrome manifest V3 replaced blocking webRequest with declarativeNetRequest, which imposes hard caps on the number of filtering rules an extension can apply, so uBlock Origin does not run on Chrome and its Lite version blocks measurably less; if content blocking matters to your users, this is not a setting you can change.
  • They diverge on capability: Arc covers Spaces and Profiles, Google Chrome covers Chrome Browser Cloud Management.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Arc and Google Chrome actually diverge.

Attributes where Arc and Google Chrome differ
AttributeArcGoogle Chrome
Pricing modelFreeUnknown
PlatformsmacOS, Windows, iOSWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android
CategoryBrowser ExtensionsTechnology
FoundedUnknown2008

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Arc

  • Spaces and Profiles
  • Split View
  • Themes
  • Privacy-First Design
  • Chromium Updates

Only in Google Chrome

  • Chrome Browser Cloud Management
  • Several hundred policies
  • Site isolation
  • Safe Browsing
  • Profiles
  • DevTools
  • Extended Stable channel
  • Chrome Web Store

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Arc

  • Organizing work across multiple projects within one browsernot Google Chrome
  • Separating personal and professional browsing with spacesnot Google Chrome
  • Privacy-conscious web browsing without trackingnot Google Chrome
  • Tab and window management for productivitynot Google Chrome

Google Chrome

  • Enterprise fleets that need centrally managed browser policy and version reporting at no licensing costnot Arc
  • Web development, where Chrome's DevTools and Lighthouse are the reference tooling and where most users will benot Arc
  • Running enterprise SaaS applications certified only against Chrome, which is common in HR, finance and healthcare softwarenot Arc
  • Environments already using Google Workspace, where profile sign-in, sync and context-aware access are already in placenot Arc

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Arc

  • No longer receiving active feature development as of May 2025, entering maintenance mode
  • Limited cross-platform availability compared to mainstream browsers
  • Smaller ecosystem of extensions compared to Chrome
  • Focused on macOS and Windows, with limited iOS support

Google Chrome

  • Manifest V3 replaced blocking webRequest with declarativeNetRequest, which imposes hard caps on the number of filtering rules an extension can apply, so uBlock Origin does not run on Chrome and its Lite version blocks measurably less; if content blocking matters to your users, this is not a setting you can change.
  • The browser is the entry point to Google's account, search and advertising business, and the defaults, prompts and sign-in flows all pull towards a Google account; running it fully detached is possible but requires policy and ongoing attention as new prompts are added.
  • Site isolation runs a process per site, which is correct security design and expensive in memory; on machines with 8 GB and users who keep dozens of tabs open it produces genuine slowdowns and support tickets that no configuration removes.
  • The four-week release cadence means a new major version roughly every month, and even Extended Stable delivers one every eight weeks, so any environment that formally certifies browser versions is permanently behind or permanently re-certifying.
  • Because it ships features first and holds the majority of the market, a team that tests only in Chrome builds against Chrome-specific behaviour and finds out about Safari and Firefox breakage from users rather than from CI.
  • Google has reversed direction on Privacy Sandbox repeatedly, announcing third-party cookie deprecation, delaying it several times and then abandoning it in 2025 before retiring several of the replacement APIs, so any advertising or measurement plan built on Chrome's stated roadmap has had to be rebuilt more than once.

Pricing, plan by plan

Arc

Free
  • ArcFree
    • Spaces and profiles organization
    • Split view customization
    • Themes and personalization

Google Chrome

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Google Chrome review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Arc if

  • You need spaces and profiles.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on macOS, Windows, iOS.
  • You also want split view.
Arc review

Choose Google Chrome if

  • You need chrome browser cloud management.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android.
  • You also want several hundred policies.
Google Chrome review

Questions people ask

Is Arc or Google Chrome better?
Neither clearly leads. Arc starts at Free and Google Chrome at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Arc or Google Chrome?
Arc starts at Free and Google Chrome at Free.
Does Arc or Google Chrome run on more platforms?
Arc runs on macOS, Windows, iOS. Google Chrome runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android.
Can I use Arc for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Arc best used for?
Arc is most often used for organizing work across multiple projects within one browser, separating personal and professional browsing with spaces, privacy-conscious web browsing without tracking, tab and window management for productivity. Of those, organizing work across multiple projects within one browser and separating personal and professional browsing with spaces are not what Google Chrome is typically brought in for.
What can Arc do that Google Chrome cannot?
Arc covers Spaces and Profiles, Split View, Themes, Privacy-First Design. Google Chrome covers Chrome Browser Cloud Management, Several hundred policies, Site isolation, Safe Browsing.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Arc: Does Arc Browser cost anything to use?

Arc is completely free to download and use with no subscription required. All features are available at no cost.

Source
Google Chrome: Why does uBlock Origin no longer work?

Chrome's Manifest V3 removed the blocking webRequest API that it depends on and replaced it with declarativeNetRequest, which limits how many rules an extension may register. uBlock Origin Lite works within those limits and blocks less. Firefox retains the original API.

Arc: What operating systems does Arc support?

Arc is available on macOS, Windows, and iOS. Windows and mobile versions are available for download.

Source
Google Chrome: Is Chrome the same as Chromium?

No. Chrome is Chromium plus Google's proprietary additions: certain media codecs, Google account sync, Safe Browsing integration and usage reporting. Chromium builds omit those, which is why some sites' video playback and sign-in behaviour differ.

Arc: Will Arc continue to receive new features?

As of May 2025, Arc entered maintenance mode with no new features planned. The Browser Company's focus has shifted to Dia browser, though Arc continues to receive security updates.

Source
Google Chrome: What does enterprise management cost?

Nothing. Chrome Browser Cloud Management, the administrative policy templates and Extended Stable are all free. This is unusual and is a genuine reason organisations standardise on it.

Google Chrome: How often does it update?

A major version every four weeks on the stable channel, with security updates in between, and every eight weeks on the Extended Stable channel intended for managed fleets.

Google Chrome: Is Chrome on iPhone actually Chrome?

No. Apple's platform rules mean it runs on WebKit, so on iOS you get Chrome's interface, sync and account integration on top of Safari's engine, not Blink.

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