VebVeb vs Chrome
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 →
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.
Chrome is Google’s browser on every desktop and phone, with Gemini built in. Its auto browse agent works in your own signed-in Chrome on a paid Google AI plan, in the US and India.
The short answer
- 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
- if you live in Google’s apps and want Gemini across Gmail, Calendar and your tabs
- if you pay for Google AI Pro and want an agent in your own signed-in browser
- if you need the same browser on Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone and Android
At a glance
Veb and Chrome, side by side.
| What | Veb | Google Chrome |
|---|---|---|
| Made by | Serafim Korablev | |
| Status | Updated | Updated |
| Runs on | Mac | Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone and Android |
| Phone app | Veb for iPhone, in beta on TestFlight; syncs spaces, tabs, bookmarks, history and chats | iPhone, iPad and Android; syncs tabs, bookmarks, passwords and history |
| Price | Free; its AI runs on your own Claude or ChatGPT plan | Free, with Gemini; its auto browse agent needs Google AI Pro $19.99/month or Ultra |
| AI | An agent that works in pages, on your Claude or ChatGPT plan | An agent that works in pages, on its own AI service |
| Driven by outside agents | MCP and a command line | MCP and a command line |
| Engine | WebKit | Chromium |
| Tabs down the side | Yes | A setting |
| Spaces | Yes | No |
| Split View | Yes | Yes |
| Extensions | Chrome Web Store | Chrome Web Store |
| Ad blocker | Built in | No |
| Open source | No | No |
Checked October 9, 2026 on each maker’s own pages, linked under Sources. 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.
AIa matter of taste
Both have an agent that works 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. Gemini chats about your tabs and sums up pages and videos; auto browse clicks, types and fills forms in your own Chrome, on Google AI Pro or Ultra, in the US and India. Veb runs on the Claude or ChatGPT plan you already pay for; the other on its own AI.
Agents like Claude Code and Codexeven
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. Chrome can be driven over MCP and a command line, through Google’s Chrome DevTools MCP, which starts its own profile unless you let it attach to your Chrome.
Tabs and windowsVeb leads
Veb has tabs down the side, spaces, Split View, folders in the sidebar and tabs that sleep. Chrome has tabs down the side as a setting, Split View, folders in the sidebar and tabs that sleep.
Priceeven
Veb: Free; its AI runs on your own Claude or ChatGPT plan. Chrome: Free, with Gemini; its auto browse agent needs Google AI Pro $19.99/month or Ultra.
Where it runsChrome leads
Veb runs on Mac. Chrome runs on Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone and Android. On a Mac, Veb needs macOS 15.4 or later and Chrome 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, Chrome: iPhone, iPad and Android; syncs tabs, bookmarks, passwords and history.
Engine and extensionsa matter of taste
Veb is built on WebKit, the engine Safari uses; Chrome 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. Chrome has no ad blocker of its own. Tabs you share with Gemini go to Google; with Keep Activity on, chats are kept 18 months by default and may be reviewed and used to train models.
Where Chrome is better
Chrome comes out ahead on where it runs. It is also the better pick if you:
- Live in Google’s apps and want Gemini across Gmail, Calendar and your tabs
- Pay for Google AI Pro and want an agent in your own signed-in browser
- Need the same browser on Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone and Android
The catch with each
Real limits, from the makers’ own words and our own use.
Google Chrome
- Auto browse needs Google AI Pro ($19.99 a month) or Ultra, in the US and India only
- Gemini needs a signed-in Google account
- With Keep Activity on, people may review your Gemini chats and Google may train on them
- 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
- September 25, 2026Veb: First release
- April 7, 2026Chrome: Vertical tabs began rolling out as an option
- February 19, 2026Chrome: Split view for two tabs in one window
- January 28, 2026Chrome: Auto browse agent launched in preview for Google AI Pro and Ultra in the US
Moving from Chrome to Veb
Veb brings Chrome’s pinned and open tabs, passwords, cards, bookmarks, history, extensions and your sign-ins, from every profile. It reads Chrome’s files on your Mac; nothing goes through a server, and Chrome stays as it was.
Questions
Is Veb free?
Yes. Free; its AI runs on your own Claude or ChatGPT plan.
Is Google Chrome free?
Yes, with limits on its AI. Free, with Gemini; its auto browse agent needs Google AI Pro $19.99/month or Ultra.
Which has an AI agent, Veb or Chrome?
Both. 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. Gemini chats about your tabs and sums up pages and videos; auto browse clicks, types and fills forms in your own Chrome, on Google AI Pro or Ultra, in the US and India.
Which runs on Windows, Veb or Chrome?
Chrome does. Veb runs on Mac.
Do Veb and Chrome have phone apps?
Chrome does. On the phone, Veb: Veb for iPhone, in beta on TestFlight; syncs spaces, tabs, bookmarks, history and chats. On the phone, Chrome: iPhone, iPad and Android; syncs tabs, bookmarks, passwords and history.
Can I move from Chrome to Veb?
Yes. Veb brings Chrome’s pinned and open tabs, passwords, cards, bookmarks, history, extensions and your sign-ins, from every profile.
More comparisons
- Veb Manual: Bringing in from another browser
- Veb Manual: Connecting Claude or ChatGPT
- Veb Manual: Extensions
- Veb Manual: Veb’s tools over MCP
- Veb Manual: Privacy
- Mobile plans
- Google blog: Gemini auto browse in Chrome
- 9to5Google: auto browse launch date (2026-01-28)
- Google blog: Gemini in Chrome for US desktop users (Sept 2025)
- Google blog: auto browse comes to India
- Chrome AI features page
- Chrome Help: Gemini in Chrome requirements
- Google AI plans and prices
- Google blog: split view, PDF notes (2026-02-19)
- Google blog: vertical tabs and reading mode (2026-04-07)
- Chrome Help: manage tabs, vertical tabs, tab groups
- Chrome Help: Memory Saver
- Chrome Help: system requirements
- Chrome Help: import bookmarks and settings
- Gemini Apps Privacy Hub
- Chrome DevTools MCP (GitHub)
- Chrome DevTools MCP configuration (autoConnect, profile)
- Chrome DevTools CLI
- Google Chrome Help: Sign in and sync in Chrome
- Google Chrome on the App Store (iPhone and iPad)
- Google Chrome on Google Play
Veb, Very Expensive Browser.
Free for the Mac. Arc’s sidebar, your own Claude or ChatGPT as the agent, Chrome extensions on WebKit.