Veb

Veb 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, so read it as our side.facts checked Oct 9 ↓

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.

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 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
  • if you want Claude Code, Codex or Cursor to drive a real browser over MCP
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

At a glance

Veb and Arc, side by side.

Veb vs Arc
WhatVebArc
Made bySerafim KorablevThe Browser Company (Atlassian)
StatusUpdatedClosing December 22, 2026
Runs onMacMac and Windows
Phone appVeb for iPhone, in beta on TestFlight; syncs spaces, tabs, bookmarks, history and chatsArc Search on iOS and Android; AI, sign-in and sync end November 23, 2026
PriceFree; its AI runs on your own Claude or ChatGPT planFree for existing members until the desktop app stops working December 22, 2026
AIAn agent that works in pages, on your Claude or ChatGPT planChat about pages, on its own AI service
Driven by outside agentsMCP and a command lineNo
EngineWebKitChromium
Tabs down the sideYesYes
SpacesYesYes
Split ViewYesYes
ExtensionsChrome Web StoreChrome Web Store
Ad blockerBuilt inNo
Open sourceNoNo

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.

AIVeb leads

Only Veb has an agent that clicks, types and finishes tasks in your pages. Veb’s agent works in tabs of its own beside yours, signed in as you, on your Claude or ChatGPT plan; Send, Pay and Delete wait for your yes. 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. Veb runs on the Claude or ChatGPT plan you already pay for; the other on its own AI.

Agents like Claude Code and CodexVeb leads

Veb can be driven over MCP and a command line, through yab mcp and the yab command, for Claude Code, Codex, Cursor and any MCP client. Arc has no MCP server or command line for outside agents.

Tabs and windowseven

Both have tabs down the side, spaces, Split View, folders in the sidebar and tabs that sleep.

PriceArc leads

Veb: Free; its AI runs on your own Claude or ChatGPT plan. Arc: Free for existing members until the desktop app stops working December 22, 2026.

Where it runsArc leads

Veb runs on Mac. Arc runs on Mac and Windows. On a Mac, Veb needs macOS 15.4 or later and Arc needs macOS 13 or later. On the phone, Veb: Veb for iPhone, in beta on TestFlight; syncs spaces, tabs, bookmarks, history and chats. 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

Veb is built on WebKit, the engine Safari uses; Arc on Chromium, as Chrome is. Both take extensions from the Chrome Web Store.

PrivacyVeb leads

Veb has an ad blocker built in. Veb has no account and no server of ours between you and your sites; what your agent reads goes to Anthropic or OpenAI under your account. 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.

UpdatesVeb leads

Veb 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.

Where Arc is better

Arc comes out ahead on price, where it runs. It is also the better pick if you:

  • Already use Arc and are preparing to move before December 22, 2026
  • Need to export your Arc spaces and tabs before the desktop app stops working

The catch with each

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

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
  • September 25, 2026Veb: First release
  • 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

Moving from Arc to Veb

Veb brings each Arc space with its emoji, color and grain, pins, kept tabs and folders, plus passwords, cards, bookmarks, history, extensions and your sign-ins. It reads Arc’s files on your Mac; nothing goes through a server, and Arc stays as it was.

How to move from ArcBringing in, in the Manual

Questions

Is Veb free?

Yes. Free; its AI runs on your own Claude or ChatGPT plan.

Is Arc free?

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

Which has an AI agent, Veb or Arc?

Veb. Veb’s agent works in tabs of its own beside yours, signed in as you, on your Claude or ChatGPT plan; Send, Pay and Delete wait for your yes. 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.

Which runs on Windows, Veb or Arc?

Arc does. Veb runs on Mac.

Do Veb and Arc have phone apps?

On the phone, Veb: Veb for iPhone, in beta on TestFlight; syncs spaces, tabs, bookmarks, history and chats. 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 Veb?

Yes. Veb brings each Arc space with its emoji, color and grain, pins, kept tabs and folders, plus passwords, cards, bookmarks, history, extensions and your sign-ins.

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.

More comparisons

Vivaldi vs ArcZen vs ArcOrion vs ArcSigmaOS vs ArcArc vs ChromeArc vs SafariArc vs EdgeArc alternatives
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 ArcRelease status