Arc vs Shift
We give Arc a 3.8 GPA and Shift a 3.2, out of 4.0. Arc grades higher on value for money, ease of use and platforms. Shift grades higher on features. They get the same grade on the free plan.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Shift
Build-your-own desktop browser for multiple inboxes, apps and Spaces
Free plan · from $19.99/mo
How we grade them
| 3.8GPAArcExcellent | 3.2GPAShiftVery good | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AFree on Mac and Windows, and no paid plan is listed on arc.net. The phone app, Arc Search, is free on the App Store too. | CAdvanced is $19.99 a month or $199.99 billed annually. Rambox Pro is $7 a month and Wavebox Pro $8.33 paid annually. For the extra you get unlimited Spaces and apps, more Shift AI and priority support with video calling. That's dear. |
| Free plan and trial | AAll of it is free: the full browser, the opt-in Arc Max AI features and Arc Search on your phone. You do have to create an account, which Arc uses to keep and sync your data. | AFree forever with 5 Spaces and 10 apps in each, plus the Browser Builder and templates. That's plenty for work, home and a few clients. Shift AI is limited on free, and the listing doesn't say by how much. |
| Features | BSpaces, Profiles, Split View with up to three tabs side by side, hover previews of Gmail and Google Calendar, and every extension Chrome supports. Good stuff. But the maker says Arc gets Chromium updates only, so don't count on anything new. | ADrag apps, bars and controls anywhere, or start from a template. Spaces get their own apps, tabs and extensions, with several logins per app. There are more than 4,500 apps in the library, any Chrome extension works, and downloads are screened through Avira. |
| Ease of use | AArc Search on iPhone has 4.9 from about 25,000 App Store ratings. On a computer, Arc imports your Chrome data during setup, so you don't start from an empty window. | BNo App Store rating to go on. Templates give you a ready-made layout so you don't have to build one, and apps connect from the library in one click. No card is needed to download. |
| Platforms and integrations | AMac and Windows on the desktop, Arc Search on iPhone and Android, and tabs synced across Mac, Windows and iOS. It hooks into Google Calendar, Gmail, Notion, GitHub and Spotify. There's no Linux version. | BMac and Windows on the desktop, with Chrome extensions and a library of more than 4,500 apps. No Linux or phone version is listed. |
| Best for | keeping work and personal tabs in one window | several email accounts in one desktop window |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Arc and Shift. How we grade
Where they differ
- Arc is free. Shift starts at $19.99 per month, or $199.99 billed annually (Advanced).
- Only Arc lists iOS and Android apps.
In commonFree planmacOSWindowsAI featuresWeb browser
At a glance
| Arc | Shift | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free plan |
| Starts at | Free | $19.99 per month, or $199.99 billed annually (Advanced) |
| 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. | 5 Spaces with 10 apps per Space, the Browser Builder and templates, and limited Shift AI usage. No credit card is needed to download. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | The Browser Company of New York | Shift Technologies Inc. |
| Price read from | apps.apple.com | shift.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
Shift
- People juggling several email accounts and app logins
- Freelancers and consultants who keep each client in its own Space
- Those who want to design their own browser layout
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.
Shift
- The free plan is limited to 5 Spaces, 10 apps per Space and limited Shift AI usage.
- Shift is available on desktop for Mac and Windows only; no Linux or mobile version is listed.
- Team setups with consolidated billing and a central dashboard are not priced publicly; the pricing page says to contact Shift.
- Refunds are offered only within 14 days of a purchase or renewal payment.
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.
Shift
- Browser Builder and templates
- Apps, bars and controls can be dragged anywhere in the window, unused controls can be removed, and templates offer ready-made layouts with the sidebar at the side, top or bottom.
- Spaces
- Spaces separate work, hobbies and projects, each with its own apps, tabs and extensions. Several logins for the same app can be toggled without signing out.
- Multiple inboxes
- Several Gmail, Outlook or Yahoo email accounts can be opened side by side, with the apps and extensions used alongside them kept in the same Space.
- Shift AI
- An optional assistant summarizes pages and videos, drafts replies and answers questions using context from Spaces, apps, history and open tabs, with a separate chat in each Space.
- App library and Chrome extensions
- More than 4,500 apps can be connected from Shift's library in one click, any Chrome extension can be added, and Shift offers to add apps that are missing.
- Download scanning and site checks
- Downloads are screened through Avira's file reputation service, visited URLs are checked with Google Web Risk, and passwords are encrypted and stored locally.
Plans
Arc
Free$0
The full browser on Mac and Windows, the opt-in Arc Max AI features and the Arc Search mobile app.
Shift
Free$0
5 Spaces with 10 apps per Space, the Browser Builder and templates, limited Shift AI usage, and email and chatbot support.
Advanced$19.99
per month, or $199.99 billed annually
Unlimited Spaces and apps per Space, expanded Shift AI usage and priority customer support with video calling.
Ways to pay less
Arc
No public discounts listed.
Shift
- Annual discount
Save $40 with annual billing
Shift Advanced is $199.99 billed annually, against $19.99 a month. Shift's pricing page labels the annual option as a $40 saving.
