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Browser Extensions · head to head

Arc vs Hemingway Editor

Arc logo

Arc

Browser Extensions

Chromium-based browser organized around user workflows

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Hemingway Editor logo

Hemingway Editor

Browser Extensions

Make your writing bold and clear

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; Hemingway Editor no grammar or spelling corrections; tool focuses only on style, readability, and clarity, leaving grammatical errors unflagged
  • They diverge on capability: Arc covers Spaces and Profiles, Hemingway Editor covers Readability analysis.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Arc and Hemingway Editor actually diverge.

Attributes where Arc and Hemingway Editor differ
AttributeArcHemingway Editor
Pricing modelFreeUnknown
PlatformsmacOS, Windows, iOSWeb, macOS, Windows
FoundedUnknown2013

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

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 Hemingway Editor

  • Readability analysis
  • Sentence complexity
  • Passive voice detection
  • Adverb highlighting
  • Chrome support
  • Firefox support
  • Edge support

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 Hemingway Editor
  • Separating personal and professional browsing with spacesnot Hemingway Editor
  • Privacy-conscious web browsing without trackingnot Hemingway Editor
  • Tab and window management for productivitynot Hemingway Editor

Hemingway Editor

  • Checking readability and flagging dense sentencesnot Arc
  • Grammar checking and proofreading a draftnot Arc
  • Adjusting tone before publishingnot Arc
  • Paraphrasing passages with the free web toolsnot 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

Hemingway Editor

  • No grammar or spelling corrections; tool focuses only on style, readability, and clarity, leaving grammatical errors unflagged
  • Cannot distinguish context for idioms and colloquialisms, sometimes suggesting inappropriate replacements that alter intended meaning
  • Free version cannot suggest fixes for highlighted issues, only displays problems without solutions
  • Not suitable for academic or formal writing where its simplicity bias penalizes legitimate complex sentence structures

Pricing, plan by plan

Arc

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

Hemingway Editor

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Readability checking
    • Sentence highlighting
    • Adverb detection
  • Hemingway Editor Plus Individual 5K$8.33/month
    • 5,000 AI sentence rewrites monthly
    • Advanced grammar fixes (unlimited)
    • Unlimited document review
  • Hemingway Editor Plus Individual 10K$12.5/month
    • 10,000 AI sentence rewrites monthly
    • Advanced grammar fixes (unlimited)
    • Unlimited document review
  • Hemingway Editor Plus Team 10K$12.5/month
    • 10,000 AI sentence rewrites per user monthly
    • Role-based admin controls
    • Priority support

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 Hemingway Editor if

  • You need readability analysis.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, macOS, Windows.
  • You also want sentence complexity.
Hemingway Editor review

Questions people ask

Is Arc or Hemingway Editor better?
Neither clearly leads. Arc starts at Free and Hemingway Editor at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Arc or Hemingway Editor?
Arc starts at Free and Hemingway Editor at Free.
Does Arc or Hemingway Editor run on more platforms?
Arc runs on macOS, Windows, iOS. Hemingway Editor runs on Web, macOS, Windows.
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 Hemingway Editor is typically brought in for.
What can Arc do that Hemingway Editor cannot?
Arc covers Spaces and Profiles, Split View, Themes, Privacy-First Design. Hemingway Editor covers Readability analysis, Sentence complexity, Passive voice detection, Adverb highlighting.

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
Hemingway Editor: Is there a free version and what does it include?

Yes. The free web version at hemingwayapp.com includes readability scoring, highlighting of complex sentences, passive voice detection, and weak adverb flagging. No account needed. Hemingway Editor Plus ($8.33/month or $100/year) adds advanced grammar fixes, AI sentence rewrites (10,000 monthly on best value plan), and unlimited document feedback.

Source
Arc: What operating systems does Arc support?

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

Source
Hemingway Editor: Does Hemingway Editor work offline?

The free web version requires internet. The desktop version for Mac and Windows ($19.99 one-time payment) works fully offline after download, enabling distraction-free writing without network connectivity.

Source
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
Hemingway Editor: What writing metrics does Hemingway measure?

Hemingway grades readability level, highlights adverbs and weak words, flags passive voice constructions, marks complex or hard-to-read sentences in color (red for very hard, yellow for difficult), and suggests simpler alternatives for complex phrases.

Source
Hemingway Editor: Can I collaborate with others or share documents?

The web version allows pasting text directly, but Hemingway Editor itself does not have native collaboration or team features. Team plans on Hemingway Plus support $12.50/user/month pricing and role-based admin controls, but are primarily for shared workspace management rather than live document collaboration.

Source
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