Veb

Helium vs Arc

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, the third column.facts checked Oct 9 ↓

Helium is a free, open-source Chromium browser by imput, still in beta, with ads blocked by default and Google’s AI and telemetry taken out, on Mac, Windows and Linux.

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.

Arc shutdown update: October 22, 2026. Official dates, export instructions and what to do next. Other feature facts were checked October 9, 2026.

The short answer

Pick Helium
  • if you want Chrome’s extensions without Google’s AI or telemetry
  • if you want ads blocked from the first launch
  • if you use Linux too
Pick Arc
  • if you already use Arc and are preparing to move before December 22, 2026
  • if you need to export your Arc spaces and tabs before the desktop app stops working
Or Vebours
  • if you miss Arc and want spaces, pins and folders kept, on a Mac
  • if you already pay for Claude or ChatGPT and want it to work in your signed-in tabs

At a glance

Helium and Arc, with Veb beside them for a Mac.

Helium vs Arc
WhatHeliumArcVeb
Made byimputThe Browser Company (Atlassian)Serafim Korablev
StatusUpdatedClosing December 22, 2026Updated
Runs onMac, Windows and LinuxMac and WindowsMac
Phone appNone; desktop only. An iOS build teased in Aug 2026 is being rethoughtArc Search on iOS and Android; AI, sign-in and sync end November 23, 2026Veb for iPhone, in beta on TestFlight; syncs spaces, tabs, bookmarks, history and chats
PriceFree and open sourceFree for existing members until the desktop app stops working December 22, 2026Free; its AI runs on your own Claude or ChatGPT plan
AINo AIChat about pages, on its own AI serviceAn agent that works in pages, on your Claude or ChatGPT plan
Driven by outside agentsNoNoMCP and a command line
EngineChromiumChromiumWebKit
Tabs down the sideA settingYesYes
SpacesNoYesYes
Split ViewYesYesYes
ExtensionsChrome Web StoreChrome Web StoreChrome Web Store
Ad blockerBuilt inNoBuilt in
Open sourceYesNoNo

Arc’s shutdown announcement checked October 22, 2026; other features and prices checked October 9, 2026. Prices are per month, in US dollars.

Where they differ

What separates them, area by area. Where one plainly has more, it says who; where it comes down to taste, it says so.

AIArc leads

Arc has AI built in; Helium has less of it. Helium has no AI: Chromium’s Gemini features are taken out. Arc Max helpers tidy tab titles and downloads, preview links and put ChatGPT in the command bar; Ask on Page was removed in August 2025, and there is no agent.

Tabs and windowsArc leads

Helium has tabs down the side as a setting, Split View, folders in the sidebar and tabs that sleep. Arc has tabs down the side, spaces, Split View, folders in the sidebar and tabs that sleep.

PriceArc leads

Helium: Free and open source. Arc: Free for existing members until the desktop app stops working December 22, 2026.

Where it runsHelium leads

Helium runs on Mac, Windows and Linux. Arc runs on Mac and Windows. On a Mac, Helium needs macOS 13 or later and Arc needs macOS 13 or later. Helium has no phone app: desktop only. An iOS build teased in Aug 2026 is being rethought. On the phone, Arc: Arc Search on iOS and Android; AI, sign-in and sync end November 23, 2026.

Engine and extensionsa matter of taste

Both are built on Chromium, as Chrome is, so sites work as they do in Chrome. Both take extensions from the Chrome Web Store.

PrivacyHelium leads

Helium has an ad blocker built in and open code. Helium makes no requests on first launch and has no analytics; updates, filter lists and extensions go through its services only once you approve. Arc has no ad blocker of its own. Arc accounts will be deactivated December 22, 2026, and their personal data deleted within 30 days; export what you want to keep before then.

UpdatesHelium leads

Helium is updated as usual. Arc: Shutdown announced October 22, 2026: new accounts are closed, and Arc for macOS and Windows stops working December 22, 2026.

What their pages don’t lead with

Real limits, from the makers’ own words and our own use.

Helium

  • Still in beta
  • No password manager or sync yet
  • No Widevine, so some streaming services won’t play
  • No phone app yet

Arc

  • New Arc accounts closed October 22, 2026
  • Arc for macOS and Windows stops working December 22, 2026
  • Arc Search loses AI, sign-in and sync November 23, 2026; iOS keeps basic browsing
  • Arc accounts deactivate December 22, 2026; their personal data is deleted within 30 days
  • Arc says Arc Search for Android will be fully deprecated and removed from Google Play and installed devices December 22, 2026
  • No ad blocker of its own

Veb, honestly

  • Mac only for now: macOS 15.4 or later; the iPhone app is in beta, and there is no Windows or Android
  • New: first released in September 2026
  • Its AI needs a Claude or ChatGPT plan; ChatGPT’s free plan may work with low limits
  • WebKit, as in Safari: a site tested only in Chrome can misbehave
  • Closed source

What changed lately

  • October 22, 2026Arc: Shutdown announced: new accounts closed, mobile AI and sync end November 23, and Arc for macOS and Windows stops working December 22, 2026
  • March 13, 2026Helium: Vertical tabs left experimental status (0.10.3)
  • February 15, 2026Helium: Vertical tabs layout added (0.9.1)
  • October 21, 2025Arc: Atlassian completed its purchase of The Browser Company
  • August 28, 2025Arc: Ask On Page removed from Arc Max
  • May 26, 2025Arc: The Browser Company stopped feature work on Arc to focus on Dia

Questions

Is Helium free?

Yes. Free and open source.

Is Arc free?

Yes. Free for existing members until the desktop app stops working December 22, 2026.

Which has an AI agent, Helium or Arc?

Neither has an agent that does tasks in your pages. Helium has no AI: Chromium’s Gemini features are taken out. Arc Max helpers tidy tab titles and downloads, preview links and put ChatGPT in the command bar; Ask on Page was removed in August 2025, and there is no agent.

Do Helium and Arc run on Windows?

Yes, both. Helium runs on Mac, Windows and Linux; Arc on Mac and Windows.

Do Helium and Arc have phone apps?

Helium has no phone app: desktop only. An iOS build teased in Aug 2026 is being rethought. On the phone, Arc: Arc Search on iOS and Android; AI, sign-in and sync end November 23, 2026.

Can I move from Arc to Helium?

Yes: Helium’s own help says it brings in from Arc.

Is Arc still being updated?

Shutdown announced October 22, 2026: new accounts are closed, and Arc for macOS and Windows stops working December 22, 2026.

Is there a third option on a Mac?

Veb, Very Expensive Browser, is free for the Mac: tabs down the side with spaces, folders and Split View, as in Arc; an agent that works in your signed-in tabs, on the Claude or ChatGPT plan you already pay for. Claude Code, Codex and any MCP client can drive it too. It runs on WebKit, the engine Safari uses, and takes Chrome extensions. It is new, and its iPhone app is in beta.

More comparisons

Helium vs ChromeHelium vs SafariHelium vs EdgeHelium vs FirefoxHelium vs BraveHelium vs OperaHelium vs DiaHelium alternativesVeb vs HeliumVivaldi vs ArcZen vs ArcOrion vs ArcSigmaOS vs ArcArc vs ChromeArc vs SafariArc vs EdgeArc alternativesVeb vs Arc
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 freeMove from HeliumRelease status