Arc browser sunsets December 22 as The Browser Company doubles down on Dia
Arc was fiercely beloved by a dedicated group of enthusiasts, but it never quite became the mass-market Chrome alternative its makers once envisioned.
The Browser Company is discontinuing its design-focused Arc browser on December 22, 2026, and redirecting users to Dia, its AI-centric browser. The company announced the decision on Thursday, citing the increasing cost of maintaining browser security in the era of AI. "Keeping a browser secure takes constant, dedicated work that is only increasing in the age of AI," the company stated.
"Dia was built from the ground up to meet today’s security standards, so that’s where our engineering and security teams will focus moving forward."
The transition is gradual, with new Arc accounts no longer able to be created from December 22. On November 23, AI features such as Arc Search on iOS and Android will be disabled. Users will no longer be able to sign in or sync tabs, though the app will remain as a basic local browser. By December 22, Arc will cease functioning on Mac and Windows, with accounts deactivated and personal data deleted within 30 days. Arc Search will also be removed from Google Play Store.
The Browser Company claims Dia now outperforms Arc in speed, stability, and security benchmarks. However, user reactions on social media have been largely negative, with many expressing disappointment and requesting the company to make Arc open-source. CEO Josh Miller previously explained that Arc is built on the Arc Development Kit (ADK), a proprietary internal SDK that also powers Dia.
Open-sourcing Arc would mean disclosing Dia's intellectual property. Miller noted that while The Browser Company would love to open-source Arc someday, they cannot meaningfully do so without also open-sourcing ADK. Open-sourcing ADK would reveal their company's core value.
For users making the switch, Dia will replicate several core Arc features. Users can still switch between different work and personal environments using Dia's "Profiles" (formerly Arc's Spaces). Arc's signature vertical tabs will be available as an optional sidebar layout, while Folders have been rebranded as "Pinned Tab Groups." Passwords, bookmarks, extensions, and history will transfer seamlessly to Dia. Arc features will remain free in Dia, with AI capabilities optional.
The shutdown marks a chapter that began in 2025, when the startup halted active feature development on Arc. The Browser Company, acquired by Atlassian for $610 million in 2025, acknowledged that while early adopters appreciated the browser's unique interface, the "novelty tax" and complexity hindered mainstream adoption. Although Arc was ardently loved by a dedicated group of enthusiasts, it never achieved the mass-market appeal as a Chrome alternative envisioned by its creators.
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