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Browser Extensions · head to head

Arc vs Notion AI

Arc logo

Arc

Browser Extensions

Chromium-based browser organized around user workflows

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Notion AI logo

Notion AI

Content Creation

AI-powered productivity within Notion

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; Notion AI full AI access including agents and meeting notes requires the Business plan at $20 per member per month, double the $10 Plus plan
  • They diverge on capability: Arc covers Spaces and Profiles, Notion AI covers Writing assistance.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Arc and Notion AI actually diverge.

Attributes where Arc and Notion AI differ
AttributeArcNotion AI
Pricing modelFreefreemium
PlatformsmacOS, Windows, iOSWeb, Desktop, Mobile
CategoryBrowser ExtensionsContent Creation
FoundedUnknown2016

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 Notion AI

  • Writing assistance
  • Summarization
  • Translation
  • Q&A
  • Native Notion
  • Slack
  • Google Drive
  • Web 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 Notion AI
  • Separating personal and professional browsing with spacesnot Notion AI
  • Privacy-conscious web browsing without trackingnot Notion AI
  • Tab and window management for productivitynot Notion AI

Notion AI

  • AI-powered document generation and database autofillnot Arc
  • Autonomous task automation with Notion Agentnot Arc
  • Meeting notes and enterprise search integrationnot 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

Notion AI

  • Full AI access including agents and meeting notes requires the Business plan at $20 per member per month, double the $10 Plus plan
  • The Free and Plus plans offer trial AI capabilities rather than the full feature set
  • AI is not sold separately from the workspace seat, so every member must be upgraded to reach it
  • Zero data retention with LLM providers is Enterprise only, which is custom priced

Pricing, plan by plan

Arc

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

Notion AI

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Trial AI capabilities like generating docs and autofilling databases
    • Basic forms and sites
    • Notion Calendar access
  • Business$null/month
    • Notion Agent for task automation
    • Custom Agents (free through May 3, 2026; then $10 per 1,000 credits)
    • AI Meeting Notes
  • Enterprise$null/custom
    • All Business features
    • Zero data retention with LLM providers
    • HIPAA compliance capabilities

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 Notion AI if

  • You need writing assistance.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Desktop, Mobile.
  • You also want summarization.
Notion AI review

Questions people ask

Is Arc or Notion AI better?
Neither clearly leads. Arc starts at Free and Notion AI at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Arc or Notion AI?
Arc starts at Free and Notion AI at Free.
Does Arc or Notion AI run on more platforms?
Arc runs on macOS, Windows, iOS. Notion AI runs on Web, Desktop, Mobile.
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 Notion AI is typically brought in for.
What can Arc do that Notion AI cannot?
Arc covers Spaces and Profiles, Split View, Themes, Privacy-First Design. Notion AI covers Writing assistance, Summarization, Translation, Q&A.

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
Notion AI: Is Notion AI free?

Notion offers a free plan with trial AI capabilities for generating docs and autofilling databases. Full AI features like Notion Agent and Custom Agents require a Business plan.

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
Notion AI: What does Notion's Custom Agents cost?

Custom Agents are free to use through May 3, 2026. Starting May 4, 2026, Custom Agents will cost $10 per 1,000 monthly Notion credits. Admins can purchase Notion credits as add-ons.

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
Notion AI: What features does Notion's Business plan include?

Business plan includes Notion Agent for autonomous task automation, AI Meeting Notes, Enterprise Search across connected apps, SAML SSO, granular database permissions, private teamspaces, and premium app connections.

Source
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