Quick LinksWhat Is Arc Browser and Why Is It a Productivity Miracle? Why Should I Use Arc Browser? Is Arc Browser Worth Using? Key Takeaways Arc Browser enhances productivity with streamlined tabs and bookmarks, a customizable Focus Mode, and easy data import. It boasts high performance, with lower RAM and CPU usage than competitors like Chrome and Edge. Arc Browser is highly customizable, letting you tailor website appearance and sync data across devices.
Browsers like Google Chrome are amazingly versatile, but they can turn into distraction-driving machines when you're working. Arc Browser is a hot new alternative, and it might be exactly the miracle you need to get productive.
What Is Arc Browser and Why Is It a Productivity Miracle?
Arc Browser is a new web browser that offers a novel approach to surfing the web. While other web browsers are simple to a fault, Arc Browser seeks to address distractions and inefficiency by providing features tailored for productivity.
There are a few things that make Arc Browser stand out. It accommodates and streamlines the habit of having dozens of open tabs by encouraging you to search them rather than to click on them, and it effectively combines bookmarks and open tabs.
Arc Browser also periodically closes and archives any tabs that you don't pin, effectively giving you a fresh start every 12 hours and preventing an inevitable need for reorganization. (This feature is adjustable and optional, of course.)
Like any other tool, Arc Browser won't provide a revolutionary increase in productivity if you don't use it properly. It's fantastic at eliminating distractions from your digital environment, but it can't stop you from pursuing them anyway.
If you want a browser that takes a novel approach to tab management and provides a unique outlook on user customization, however, there's no better option. And considering just how new Arc Browser is, we may see many more incredible features added shortly.
Why Should I Use Arc Browser?
There's no shortage of reasons to use Arc Browser, but some of its highlights include easy data importing (making the switch simple) and fantastic performance. Here are some of the best characteristics of Arc Browser.
Arc Browser Improves Focus
One of the best features of Arc Browser is its Focus Mode, which lets you clear out clutter and concentrate better on one subject. You can completely hide the sidebar and activate Focus Mode by pressing Ctrl + S.
When you're using the sidebar, you'll find that Arc Browser's unique approach to tab organization minimizes distractions. The combination of bookmarks and tabs ensures that everything you need is kept close.
If you need to work from two tabs, you can access both while staying in Focus Mode by pressing Ctrl + T to add a split view.
Arc Browser Is High-Performing
Compared to other browsers, Arc Browser also offers an impressive level of performance. Its RAM usage is typically 50% less intensive than Microsoft Edge and Google Chrome on my Windows 11 PC.
Arc Browser's CPU usage also tends to be lower, though to a lesser degree. On my system, I found that Arc Browser and Microsoft Edge both usually had near-zero CPU usage (when not loading webpages), while Google Chrome tended to have elevated CPU usage.
Arc Browser Is Customizable
One of the most interesting qualities of Arc Browser is how customizable it is. You're not just limited to customizing your homepage background and taskbar like in other browsers -- you can also customize any website you visit.
You can create these website customizations, known as Boosts, by pressing Ctrl + T to open the command/search bar and entering arc://boost/new. Afterward, you'll be brought to a page that allows you to pick a template or start a new Boost from scratch.
Some of the things you can customize using Boosts include:
website color font webpage size light/dark mode contrast, brightness, and saturation custom code layout Arc Browser Supports Easy Data Import
Like many other browsers, Arc Browser also makes switching simple through its easy data importing process. You can import bookmarks, passwords, extensions, and even your browser history during setup or at any point afterward through the settings.
Arc Browser supports data import from Chrome, Brave, Firefox, Safari, Microsoft Edge, Opera, Opera GX, and Vivaldi, according to the website. This may vary by OS, as I found that only Edge and Chrome were offered on a Windows 11 system where I also use Firefox.
You can import your data by navigating to Arc > Import from Another Browser and following the prompts that appear.
Bookmarks will be imported as Pinned Tabs .
Arc Browser Is Great for Tab Management
Arc Browser's novel approach to tab management also makes it a unique (and compelling) option. It's particularly helpful if you struggle to keep your tabs organized and find yourself frequently derailed by the task of sorting through them.
In essence, Arc Browser closes all tabs (except pinned tabs) every 12 hours. You can change this duration if you wish. Closed tabs are still accessible through your history but, in practice, you may find that you don't need the majority of your tabs to stay open anyway.
If you use AI tools, you'll be pleased to know that Arc Browser has an integrated assistant called Arc Max (and that you'll need to open one less tab). You'll need to install Arc Max before you can find it in your browser.
Arc Browser Syncs Between Devices
Beyond closing tabs, Arc Browser also minimizes redundancy by syncing between devices. This is incredibly helpful if you take your work on-the-go, since resuming from exactly where you left off is always as simple as loading the synced tabs from your other device.
There's no requirement to use Arc Sync if you don't want to, but the easy access to your spaces, folders, and tabs generally makes it worthwhile. Passwords, history, extensions, and profiles aren't synced yet, but Arc will likely add support for these soon.
Is Arc Browser Worth Using?
Arc Browser isn't distinct enough from other browsers to be worthwhile for every user, but its Boosts feature and unique approach to tab management make it worthwhile for users seeking extra customizability or a more dynamic workflow.
If you've found yourself even slightly interested, you should give Arc Browser a try. Setup is exceedingly simple and the program is supported on Windows, iOS, and macOS, so you'll only need to worry about a simple uninstall process if it's not for you.
