Pick Safari if
You want the browser that is already on your Mac, easiest on the battery and tied into iCloud.
The catch. It has no vertical tabs or split view, a smaller extension catalogue, and no Windows version.
Safari vs Arc
Safari is best for battery life and Apple devices. Arc is best for people who already love it.
Pick Arc if
You already use it and it still does everything you need.
The catch. It gets no new features: its makers moved to Dia in May 2025.
Safari vs Arc, feature by feature
| Safari | Arc | |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | WebKit | Chromium |
| Vertical tabs | No | On by default |
| Sites on screen at once | One per window | Up to four, in Split View |
| Separate workspaces | Profiles and Tab Groups | Spaces and Profiles |
| Ad and tracker blocking | Trackers, not ads | Through an extension |
| Extensions | Safari extensions | Chrome Web Store |
| Platforms | macOS, iPhone, iPad | macOS, Windows, iPhone |
| Open source | No (WebKit is) | No |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Development | Active | Maintenance only since May 2025 |
Questions
Is Safari better than Arc?
Neither wins everywhere. Safari is best for battery life and Apple devices; Arc is best for people who already love it. Pick Safari if you want the browser that is already on your Mac, easiest on the battery and tied into iCloud. Pick Arc if you already use it and it still does everything you need.
Do Safari and Arc block ads?
Safari: Trackers, not ads. Arc: Through an extension.
Which extensions do Safari and Arc run?
Safari: Safari extensions. Arc: Chrome Web Store.
Where do Safari and Arc run?
Safari: macOS, iPhone, iPad. Arc: macOS, Windows, iPhone.
Are Safari and Arc free?
Both are free.