Kitsmith / Compare / Arc vs Orion
MacArc vs Orion
Arc vs Orion: verdict, pricing, and specs compared, so you can pick the right one for your Mac.
At a glance
Arc
FreeThe spatial browser that put Spaces, Split View, and a sidebar-first layout ahead of tabs — now in maintenance mode while its maker builds an AI-first successor.
Orion
Price unverifiedA native WebKit browser from Kagi that supports Safari, Chrome, and Firefox extensions, built on zero telemetry and no ads.
Spec comparison
Arc
- Price
- Free
- Pricing model
- Free
- License
- Proprietary
- Placement
- Screen
- Channels
- Homebrew · Direct
- Category
- Utilities
Orion
- Pricing model
- Freemium
- License
- Proprietary
- Placement
- Screen
- Channels
- Homebrew · Direct
- Category
- Utilities
The verdict
Arc pioneered Spaces and a sidebar-first layout that reorganized browsing around workspaces instead of a flat tab bar — free with no paid tier, though The Browser Company (now part of Atlassian) has stopped building new Arc features to focus on its newer browser, Dia, so it’s down to security patches only. Orion takes a different technical approach: it’s built on WebKit rather than Chromium, which Kagi says gets Safari-level speed and battery life, while still supporting a curated set of Safari, Chrome, and Firefox extensions in one browser. Orion is also actively developed, funded by an optional Orion+ subscription or lifetime license (exact pricing isn’t posted on the public pages, so check at checkout). If you want the interface that started the workspace-over-tabs trend and don’t mind it not evolving further, Arc still works; if you want WebKit’s efficiency and software that’s still moving forward, Orion is the one still shipping updates.
Which one should you pick?
Pick Arc if…
- Pick Arc if Spaces and the sidebar-first layout are specifically what you’re after
- Pick Arc if Split View, tabs side by side in one window, is your main draw
- Pick Arc if you want the browser that originated this style of interface, even knowing it won’t gain new features
- Pick Arc if you’d rather not deal with even an optional subscription, since Arc has no paid tier at all
Pick Orion if…
- Pick Orion if you want WebKit’s speed and battery life instead of a Chromium engine
- Pick Orion if you want Safari, Chrome, and Firefox extensions supported in the same browser
- Pick Orion if you want software that’s still being actively developed, not in maintenance mode
- Pick Orion if zero telemetry and no AI training on your browsing, as stated by the developer, is a priority
Arc vs Orion — questions people ask
Is Arc still getting new features?
No — The Browser Company shifted its engineering team to Dia in 2025 and has stated no new features are planned for Arc, though it still receives bug fixes and security patches with no announced shutdown date.
Is Orion actively developed?
Yes — unlike Arc, Orion is under active development from Kagi Inc., funded by an optional Orion+ subscription or lifetime license.
Are both free to use?
Yes — Arc is free with no paid tier at all. Orion is also free to download and use; supporting development requires an optional Orion+ subscription or lifetime license, though exact pricing isn’t listed on its public marketing pages.