Orion alternatives.

Reference archive: this page documents the original Yab browser. Features, platforms and release dates here do not describe the current Veb prototype. Veb release plans →

We make Veb, so it’s first. The rest, by the facts.checked Oct 9 ↓

Orion is Kagi’s browser for Mac, iPhone and iPad, on WebKit, the engine Safari uses, that also runs many Chrome and Firefox extensions. It has no telemetry and blocks ads by default.

What Orion has that people look for elsewhere: tabs down the side, spaces, folders in the sidebar, AI chat about pages, Chrome extensions, an ad blocker, a phone app that syncs and a free price. Below, 7 browsers ranked by how much of that they keep, and Veb.

Orion alternatives, one by one

1

Veb

ours
Free; its AI runs on your own Claude or ChatGPT planMacWebKit

Veb, Very Expensive Browser, is a free Mac browser that keeps everything from Arc (tabs down the side, spaces, folders, Split View) and gives your Claude or ChatGPT plan an agent that works in your signed-in tabs.

Keeps: tabs down the side, spaces, folders in the sidebar, AI chat about pages, Chrome extensions, an ad blocker and a free price. Misses: a phone app that syncs.

Pick it if you miss Arc and want spaces, pins and folders kept, on a Mac. The catch: Mac only for now: macOS 15.4 or later; the iPhone app is in beta, and there is no Windows or Android.

2

Arc

Free for existing members until the desktop app stops working December 22, 2026Mac and WindowsChromium

Arc is The Browser Company’s Chromium browser for Mac and Windows, with tabs down the side, spaces, folders and Split View. Its shutdown was announced October 22, 2026: new accounts are closed, and the desktop app will stop working December 22, 2026.

Keeps: tabs down the side, spaces, folders in the sidebar, AI chat about pages, Chrome extensions and a free price. Misses: an ad blocker and a phone app that syncs.

Pick it if you already use Arc and are preparing to move before December 22, 2026. The catch: New Arc accounts closed October 22, 2026.

3

Vivaldi

Free; its Proton VPN is free with a Vivaldi accountMac, Windows, Linux, iPhone and AndroidChromium

Vivaldi is a Chromium browser with a setting for nearly everything, mail, calendar and feeds built in, a free Proton VPN and no AI by design, on every desktop and phone.

Keeps: tabs down the side (as a setting), spaces, folders in the sidebar, Chrome extensions, an ad blocker, a phone app that syncs and a free price. Misses: AI chat about pages.

Pick it if you want mail, calendar, feeds, notes and a VPN in the browser. The catch: No AI assistant or agent, by design.

4

Zen Browser

Free and open sourceMac, Windows and LinuxGecko, Firefox’s engine

Zen is a free, open-source browser built on Firefox that brings Arc’s layout, tabs down the side with spaces, folders and Split View, to Mac, Windows and Linux.

Keeps: tabs down the side, spaces, folders in the sidebar and a free price. Misses: AI chat about pages, Chrome extensions, an ad blocker and a phone app that syncs.

Pick it if you want Arc’s layout, free and open source. The catch: Releases are still labeled beta.

5

Aside

Free with 500 AI credits a month; Pro $20/month; Max $200/month; or your own ChatGPT or Claude planMac and WindowsChromium

Aside is an AI agent browser from a Y Combinator startup, on Chromium, for Mac and Windows. Its agent does multi-step work in the sites you are signed in to, on Aside’s own models or your ChatGPT or Claude plan.

Keeps: tabs down the side, spaces, folders in the sidebar, AI chat about pages, Chrome extensions, an ad blocker and a free price. Misses: a phone app that syncs.

Pick it if you want an agent for multi-step work across your signed-in sites, on Mac or Windows. The catch: The free plan has 500 AI credits a month; more is Pro at $20 or Max at $200.

6

SigmaOS

Free; Personal Pro $20/month or Personal Max $30/month for more AIMacWebKit

SigmaOS is a Mac browser on WebKit that treats tabs like a to-do list, in workspaces down the side, with an AI assistant called Airis.

Keeps: tabs down the side, spaces, AI chat about pages, Chrome extensions, an ad blocker and a free price. Misses: folders in the sidebar and a phone app that syncs.

Pick it if you want workspaces and tabs you mark done, on a Mac. The catch: Mac only.

7

Opera

Free, with Opera AI and a browser VPN; VPN Pro is paidMac, Windows, Linux, iPhone and AndroidChromium

Opera One is Opera’s free Chromium browser on every desktop and phone, with a free browser VPN, an ad blocker, messengers in the sidebar and Opera AI. Its agents are in a separate browser, Opera Neon.

Keeps: tabs down the side (as a setting), spaces, folders in the sidebar, AI chat about pages, Chrome extensions, an ad blocker, a phone app that syncs and a free price.

Pick it if you want a free browser VPN and an ad blocker built in. The catch: Opera AI only chats and sums up; agents need Opera Neon at $19.90 a month.

8

Microsoft Edge

Free, with Copilot; Browse with Copilot needs Microsoft 365 Premium $19.99/month (US)Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone and AndroidChromium

Edge is Microsoft’s Chromium browser on every desktop and phone, with Copilot built in. Since Copilot Mode was retired in May 2026, its agent, Browse with Copilot, comes with Microsoft 365 Premium in the US.

Keeps: tabs down the side (as a setting), spaces, folders in the sidebar, AI chat about pages, Chrome extensions, a phone app that syncs and a free price. Misses: an ad blocker.

Pick it if you use Microsoft 365 and want Copilot in the browser. The catch: Browse with Copilot needs Microsoft 365 Premium ($19.99 a month) and is US only.

What each keeps of Orion

Orion has all of these. Which alternative has which.

BrowserTabs down the sideSpacesFoldersAI chatChrome extensionsAd blockerPhone appFree
VebYesYesYesYesYesYesNoYes
ArcYesYesYesYesYesNoNoYes
VivaldiA settingYesYesNoYesYesYesYes
Zen BrowserYesYesYesNoNoNoNoYes
AsideYesYesYesYesYesYesNoYes
SigmaOSYesYesNoYesYesYesNoYes
OperaA settingYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Microsoft EdgeA settingYesYesYesYesNoYesYes

Questions

What is the best Orion alternative?

It depends on what you used Orion for. For tabs down the side and spaces: Arc. For an AI agent: Aside. Free, on Windows too: Arc. On a Mac, Veb keeps the sidebar and adds an agent on your own Claude or ChatGPT plan; it is ours, so weigh that.

Is there a free alternative to Orion?

Yes. Free to use: Arc, Vivaldi, Zen, Aside, SigmaOS, Opera and Edge, and Veb. Some charge for their AI: see each one’s price above.

Which Orion alternatives run on Windows?

Arc, Vivaldi, Zen, Aside, Opera and Edge. Veb is for the Mac, with its iPhone app in beta.

Compared with Orion

Sources. Arc’s shutdown announcement read October 22, 2026; other sources read October 9, 2026. Something out of date? Write to hello@serafimlabs.io and we fix it.

Veb, Very Expensive Browser.

Free for the Mac. Arc’s sidebar, your own Claude or ChatGPT as the agent, Chrome extensions on WebKit.

it’s freeRelease status