Pick Dia if
You want an assistant that reads your tabs and does writing and research with you.
The catch. It needs an Apple Silicon Mac on macOS 14 or later, and its best AI features are paid.
Dia vs Orion
Dia is best for AI in the browser. Orion is best for Safari’s engine with any extension.
Pick Orion if
You want Safari’s engine and battery life with Chrome and Firefox extensions on top.
The catch. It is Apple-only, it has no split view, and some extensions only partly work.
Dia vs Orion, feature by feature
| Dia | Orion | |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | Chromium | WebKit |
| Vertical tabs | Yes | Yes, in the View menu |
| Sites on screen at once | Two or more, in Split View | One per window |
| Separate workspaces | Profiles, each in its own window | Profiles, each as its own app |
| Ad and tracker blocking | Built in, ads and trackers | Built in, ads and trackers |
| Extensions | Chrome Web Store | Chrome and Firefox extensions |
| Platforms | macOS (Apple Silicon) | macOS, iPhone, iPad |
| Open source | No | No |
| Price | Free; Dia Pro $20/month | Free; Orion+ from $5/month |
| Development | Active | Active |
Questions
Is Dia better than Orion?
Neither wins everywhere. Dia is best for AI in the browser; Orion is best for Safari’s engine with any extension. Pick Dia if you want an assistant that reads your tabs and does writing and research with you. Pick Orion if you want Safari’s engine and battery life with Chrome and Firefox extensions on top.
Do Dia and Orion block ads?
They block the same way: built in, ads and trackers.
Which extensions do Dia and Orion run?
Dia: Chrome Web Store. Orion: Chrome and Firefox extensions.
Where do Dia and Orion run?
Dia: macOS (Apple Silicon). Orion: macOS, iPhone, iPad.
Are Dia and Orion free?
Dia: Free; Dia Pro $20/month. Orion: Free; Orion+ from $5/month.