Despite Google Chrome’s dominant presence in the web browser market, users still have a plethora of viable alternatives to explore. One notable option, Arc, has unfortunately announced its discontinuation, yet there are still commendable choices for those seeking something different.
### Arc’s Discontinuation
For those who have utilized Arc, it’s known that The Browser Company (TBC) stopped releasing new features some time ago. Currently, TBC provides only essential updates related to Chromium, along with security patches and bug fixes. This decision has left Arc’s loyal user community pondering the future of the browser, particularly after TBC revealed its plans to develop a new browser named Dia.
In a recent post titled “Letter to Arc Members 2025,” TBC’s CEO Josh Miller addressed many of the community’s concerns. The letter elaborated on where Arc fell short, why TBC opted not to integrate Dia into Arc, and the potential for open-sourcing Arc for community development.
Miller’s correspondence does not formally confirm the end of active development for Arc, but it does indicate that TBC will primarily focus on necessary security updates and resolving major bugs moving forward. Once celebrated as an innovative web browser, Arc has now transitioned into a niche product, catering to a smaller contingent of dedicated users—an outcome contrary to TBC’s original vision.
Miller reflected on the mixed reception Arc received:
> “A lot of people loved Arc — if you’re here, you might just be one of them — and we’d benefited from consistent, organic growth since basically Day One. But for most people, Arc was simply too different, with too many new things to learn, for too little reward.”
The initial venture into web browsing by TBC did not directly compete with more established browsers like Chrome, Firefox, or Safari. However, it distinguished itself enough to carve out a niche market. I personally engaged with Arc from February 2024, when I joined its beta program on Windows, until recently, when the browser became nearly unusable.
During my usage of Arc, particularly on Windows, I had hoped TBC would achieve feature parity with the macOS version. Unfortunately, this expectation was never met. Although Arc on macOS was well-executed, the Windows version lagged significantly, preventing it from being the ultimate alternative to Chrome. However, for macOS users, Arc still remains one of the top browsers, despite the recent announcements.
### The Need for Alternatives
The community expressed a desire for Arc to be open-sourced, which would have allowed independent development. However, Arc operates on a custom framework known as the Arc Development Kit (ADK). This proprietary system is crucial for developing TBC’s browsers, including Dia, and releasing it openly would compromise the security and integrity of ADK. Consequently, users are encouraged to explore alternative browsers.
The good news is that as we move into 2025, an impressive array of web browsers is available, each offering distinct perspectives on internet usability.
### Recommended Browsers
Several browsers stand out, particularly in terms of security, including Brave, DuckDuckGo, and Avast Secure Browser, all of which prioritize user safety. For those who tend to keep numerous tabs open, options like Vivaldi, Zen, and Opera GX provide excellent functionality. Additionally, mainstream browsers such as Chrome or Edge are also readily available, although my personal experience suggests steering clear of Safari.
If I were to suggest a browser, I would recommend Zen Browser. Currently, it serves as my daily driver and is built on Firefox, successfully meeting my search for a superior browser experience on Windows. For users transitioning from Arc to Zen, the interface and features are quite similar, thus ensuring a smooth adjustment. Zen is also compatible with macOS and Linux, appealing to a broad audience and exhibiting strong feature parity—especially considering it is still in its beta phase.
### Conclusion
While the discontinuation of Arc may be disappointing for its users, a wealth of alternatives exists to explore. Whether emphasizing security or functionality, there are numerous choices available that can meet varied user needs and preferences in the evolving digital landscape.
