You know that feeling when you're ready for a change, but you're not quite sure what you want? That's where I found myself with Arc Browser. Don't get me wrong – Arc is innovative and beautiful, but sometimes you need to explore what else is out there. So I embarked on a month-long browser-shopping spree that took me through some fascinating alternatives. Here's what I discovered.
The Browser Wishlist: More Than Just Pretty Tabs
Before diving into alternatives, I sat down and really thought about what matters in a modern browser:
Resource efficiency, I want to be able to browse the internet for a long time.
Vertical tabs that actually make sense (not just tacked on as an afterthought)
Rock-solid security and privacy features
Support for my essential extensions, my carefully curated collection of tools.
Smart workspace management because my brain works better with organized chaos
Native-feeling performance
Sounds simple enough, right? Well, buckle up – this journey got interesting fast.
Zen Browser: The Beautiful But Complicated Date
First up was Zen Browser, which caught my eye with its stunning Firefox-based interface. It's like someone took Firefox to a design workshop and came back with a masterpiece.
What made me swoon:
Those gorgeous design and vertical tabs that look stunning.
Workspaces that actually understand how people work
A split-view system that makes research feel natural
"Zen Glance" preview feature (goodbye, risky clicks!)
Powerful theming through "Zen Mods"
Firefox's battle-tested privacy features
A treasure trove of Firefox extensions
But then reality hit. No DRM support meant saying goodbye to some streaming services, and Google Meet (a daily necessity) performed like it was running on a potato. It's like dating someone who looks perfect on paper but snores like a chainsaw – some deal-breakers you just can't ignore.
Vivaldi: The Overly Customizable Ex
Remember that friend who got really into modding their car and now can't stop talking about torque ratios? That's Vivaldi. It's incredibly powerful, but sometimes power isn't everything.
I tried the custom CSS route with themes like VivalArc and Vivaldi VH. The results looked amazing, but maintaining custom CSS felt like adopting a high-maintenance pet – one that needs attention after every single update. It's the browser equivalent of dating someone who needs you to compliment their outfit five times before leaving the house.
Don’t get me wrong, the browser is great, it feature packed, and it was my main browser for a week. I even created homepage.drgos.com to be my homepage for it. But i don’t want to tinker with it that often, that what i was feeling like, everyday making a small change.
Dear Vivaldi team: How about letting users share complete configurations? Reducing the barrier to entry for new users and letting existing users be your megaphone. Imagine clicking once to import someone's perfect setup instead of spending hours in settings menus. Do some competitions on X.com or Reddit and give some prize for the ones with the most votes. Just a thought!
(make sure to disable CSS url requests to avoid hacks)
SigmaOS: The Productivity Guru Next Door
Walking into SigmaOS feels like entering a minimalist's dream office. Everything has its place, and there's a place for everything. It's not just another browser; it's a complete reimagining of how we should interact with the web.
The standout features read like a productivity wishlist:
Workspaces that feel like well-organized rooms in a digital house
Airis AI assistant that i haven’t used, so i can’t say anything about it.
Breadcrumb navigation that maps your diving expeditions into Wikipedia
Universal "Lazy Search" that finds anything, anywhere (because who has time to remember where they saw that thing?)
Dynamic theming that plays nice with every website
Built-in ad blocking that doesn't break sites
Team collaboration tools that don't feel bolted on
Using SigmaOS feels like having a personal assistant who organizes your digital life while you sleep. It's perfect for those who color-code their calendar and alphabetize their spice rack.
Orion Browser: The Unexpected Perfect Match
Sometimes the best things in life come from unexpected places. Enter Orion Browser, I discoverd it through a youtube video recommandation. It’s built on WebKit, similar to SigmaOS. It's like finding out that quiet person at work is actually the most interesting one there.
What makes Orion special:
Speed - the browser feels really snappy and fast.
The holy grail of extension support Chrome AND Firefox. But some extensions might not work as expected. Luckly the 4 extentions that i use are compatible.
Vertical tabs that feel natural, not forced with breadcrumbs
Mac integration that feels like it came from Apple itself especially when in compact mode.
Transform websited into native apps.
Picture in picture when you want to watch youtube while working on that document.
Privacy features or at least they advertise that.
Dynamic theming - it’s more of a miss for me, but it’s not a deal breaker. SigmaOS dynamic theming is better.
Even the Google Meet issue (no virtual backgrounds) had a simple fix using macOS features. It's these thoughtful solutions that make Orion feel like home.
Also i like a lot more the way share screen / tab looks on webkit than on Chromium.
A Surprising Discovery: The Search Engine Renaissance
During this browser adventure, I stumbled into another rabbit hole – the world of alternative search engines. Turns out, while we've all been googling away, a whole ecosystem of innovative search tools has evolved.
There's Kagi (made by the Orion folks) with its privacy-first approach, You.com with its AI-powered results, Perplexity for those who want ChatGPT-style answers to everything, Phind for developers who need technical answers fast with AI ofc, and even Brave Search building its own independent index and a lot more. I know that everyone knows DuckDuckGo, but there are a lot more search engines out there.
Each one brings something unique to the table. I’m not the biggest fan of Perplexity and You.com as main search engine, even though i use them from time to time. Especially when i want to buy some product and I want to compare multiple options.
Kagi caught my attention with its promise of unfiltered, ad-free results, so I'm giving it a trial run. Who knows? Maybe finding the right search engine is just as important as finding the right browser.
The Happy Ending
After weeks of testing and probably confusing every website's tracking algorithms, I've settled into Orion Browser. It hits that sweet spot between innovation and stability, power and simplicity. It's like finding the perfect coffee shop – not too busy, not too quiet, with just the right amount of character.
I will keep SigmaOS installed so that i can give Airis AI a try.
Key Takeaways
The perfect browser isn't about having every feature – it's about having the right features
Beautiful design needs to be backed by solid performance
Sometimes the best solution comes from the most unexpected place
Privacy and functionality aren't mutually exclusive
The browser market is more exciting than it's been in years. For a while i thought that everything will go Chromium, I’m exited to see that Firefox and WebKit hang in there.
Words of Wisdom
Finding your ideal browser is like finding your favorite pair of jeans – what works perfectly for one person might be completely wrong for another. Don't be afraid to experiment, and remember that it's okay to change your mind as your needs evolve.
P.S. Remember, the "perfect" browser today might not be perfect tomorrow. Technology evolves, our needs change, and that's okay. The joy is in the journey of discovery – and having a reliable browser to help you along the way!
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