Arc vs Orion
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Orion
WebKit browser from Kagi that runs Chrome and Firefox extensions
Free plan · from $5/mo
Where they differ
- Arc is free. Orion starts at $5 per month, $50 per year or $150 lifetime, plus sales tax (Orion+).
- Only Arc lists Windows and Android apps.
- Only Orion lists a Linux app.
- Orion also covers password manager.
In commonFree planmacOSiOSWeb browser
At a glance
| Arc | Orion | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free plan |
| Starts at | Free | $5 per month, $50 per year or $150 lifetime, plus sales tax (Orion+) |
| Free plan | Arc is a free download for Mac and Windows, and no paid plan is listed on arc.net. The mobile app, Arc Search, is listed as free on the App Store. | The browser is free for everyone, including extension support, ad and tracker blocking, profiles and sync. Orion+ is an optional membership that funds development. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | The Browser Company of New York | Kagi |
| Price read from | apps.apple.com | orionbrowser.com |
| Checked | Oct 5, 2026 | Oct 5, 2026 |
Who each one suits
Arc
- People who keep work and personal browsing in one window
- Chrome users who want their extensions in a different interface
- Side-by-side reading and research with Split View
Orion
- Apple users who want Chrome and Firefox extensions on a WebKit browser
- People who want built-in ad blocking and no telemetry
- Kagi users who want its search and translation in the browser
Worth knowing
Arc
- The Browser Company says Arc receives Chromium updates only and directs people to Dia for active security patches.
- There is no Linux version. Arc needs macOS 13.0 or later, or Windows 10 19H1 or higher.
- Arc asks people to create an account, which is used to keep data and sync it across devices.
- The Ask ChatGPT feature of Arc Max requires a ChatGPT account signed in on the current Arc profile.
Orion
- The Linux version is in beta, and the Windows version is an alpha that has not been released.
- Custom app icons, the browser border and early access to beta builds are reserved for Orion+ members.
- Orion+ billing runs through a Kagi account, although a Kagi Search subscription is not required.
- On-page and offline translation with Kagi Translate requires macOS 26 or later.
Key features
Arc
- Spaces and Profiles
- Spaces keep work, study and hobbies apart inside a single window, and Profiles sit alongside them so each area of browsing can be organized on its own.
- Split View and themes
- Split View places up to three tabs side by side, picture-in-picture keeps video and meetings visible, and themes change the color of the browser.
- Arc Max AI features
- Opt-in AI features preview a link when hovering with Shift held, send a question to ChatGPT from the Command Bar, and give pinned tabs and downloads shorter, tidier names.
- Built-in integrations
- Integrations show the day's meetings from Google Calendar, unread Gmail, recent Notion pages and GitHub pull requests on hover, and control Spotify from a mini player.
- Chrome extensions and import
- Arc supports the extensions Chrome supports and imports Chrome data on setup. Chromium's Google account sync, usage metrics and telemetry to Google are disabled.
- Arc Search on mobile
- The mobile browser blocks ads, trackers and cookie banners, answers questions with Browse for Me, and syncs tabs across Mac, Windows and iOS through Arc Sync.
Orion
- Safari, Chrome and Firefox extensions
- Orion runs extensions from all three ecosystems, on iPhone and iPad as well as Mac, and keeps a curated gallery of extensions verified to work.
- Ad blocking and zero telemetry
- Ads and trackers are blocked natively by default, and Kagi states that the browser sends, tracks and collects nothing about its users.
- Profiles and containers
- Each profile gets its own browser, icon and Dock emoji to separate work from personal use, and containers keep accounts apart without switching browsers.
- Tree-style tabs and tab previews
- Tabs can sit in a parent-child hierarchy that collapses or closes as a group, be pinned or split into focused windows, and show a visual preview when switching.
- Focus Mode and per-site settings
- Focus Mode hides the whole interface so a site behaves like a web app, and per-site controls toggle the ad blocker, JavaScript, web fonts and permissions.
- Sync and Kagi services
- Bookmarks and passwords sync between Orion on Mac, iPhone and iPad without third-party tools, and Kagi Translate translates pages in place.
Plans
Arc
Free$0
The full browser on Mac and Windows, the opt-in Arc Max AI features and the Arc Search mobile app.
Orion
Orion$0
The full browser, with Safari, Chrome and Firefox extension support, built-in ad and tracker blocking, profiles, containers and sync.
Orion+$5
per month, or $50 per year or $150 lifetime, plus sales tax
Supports development and adds custom app icons, a customizable browser border, a community tag and early access to beta builds.
Ways to pay less
Arc
No public discounts listed.
Orion
- Annual discount
About 17% off Orion+ with yearly billing
Orion+ costs $50 a year, against $60 for twelve months at the $5 monthly price. Sales tax is added to both.
- Lifetime license
Orion+ lifetime license for $150
Orion+ can be bought once for $150 plus sales tax and kept forever, instead of renewing monthly or yearly.
