Kitsmith / Compare / Arc vs Vivaldi
MacArc vs Vivaldi
Arc vs Vivaldi: 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.
Vivaldi
FreeA deeply customizable Chromium browser from a company that turns down investor money on principle, built by one of the original Opera co-founders.
Spec comparison
Arc
- Price
- Free
- Pricing model
- Free
- License
- Proprietary
- Placement
- Screen
- Channels
- Homebrew · Direct
- Category
- Utilities
Vivaldi
- Price
- Free
- Pricing model
- Free
- License
- Proprietary
- Placement
- Screen
- Channels
- Homebrew · Direct
- Category
- Utilities
The verdict
Arc pioneered spatial browsing with Spaces and a sidebar-first layout, but it’s in maintenance mode now that The Browser Company has moved its team to Dia — no new features, security patches only. Vivaldi takes customization further and is still being actively built: tab stacking and tiling, a built-in note-taker, and a company that states it turns down investor money to avoid a data-driven business model. If you want the interface that started the “kill the tab bar” trend, Arc still works; if you want ongoing development and deeper tab management, Vivaldi is the one still shipping.
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 you want the browser that originated this style of interface, even without future updates
- Pick Arc if Split View, side-by-side tabs in one window, is your main draw
Pick Vivaldi if…
- Pick Vivaldi if you want tab stacking and tiling, not just spatial organization
- Pick Vivaldi if a built-in note-taking panel with screenshot capture is useful to you
- Pick Vivaldi if you want software that’s still being actively developed, not in maintenance mode
- Pick Vivaldi if a company funded by donations and licensing rather than investor money matters to you
Arc vs Vivaldi — questions people ask
Which one is still being actively developed?
Vivaldi — Arc is in maintenance mode, receiving security patches only since The Browser Company moved its team to Dia in 2025.
Are Arc and Vivaldi both free?
Yes — both are free to download and use, with no paid tier.
Who makes each?
Arc is made by The Browser Company (now owned by Atlassian); Vivaldi is made by Vivaldi Technologies, an independent company co-founded by a co-founder of the original Opera browser.