Arc Search — Find it, Faster 17+

I never make reviews but I thought this app deserved one. I downloaded this thinking it would have a paid version that it would push me to purchase and/or would be another regular alternative web browser but I’m pleased to say it is more than that! To start, this app has no paywall or paid version, it also has a built in ad blocker, cookie banner blocker, and tracker blocker, I feel way more confident clicking on “sketchy” websites knowing that I won’t be bombarded with ads or sent to another website that has even more popups. The pinch to summarize feature is also very useful, giving you a detailed overview of the pages content as well as organizing the different topics discussed on the page. It also eliminates the hassle of searching multiple sites for an answer and instead has the option to browse those sites for you. I will admit the summaries do vary depending on the given information and some are more useful than others. I have ran into a couple summaries that were very unhelpful but for the most part it’s great! Get this app if you want free ad, cookie, and tracker blockers and a well designed easy to use interface with ai powered summaries.

I WANT to love this app (and the MacOS version as well). It has great features, seems like an awesome company full of talented people. UI is great. The big things at this point that are holding me back from 5 stars and switching from safari to Arc is: 1) the integration with the Apple ecosystem. It would be so much more helpful if the browser tapped into the api to allow users to fill in passwords and other info from the Apple stored info (kinda like Edge does). It’s a kind of a hassle having to either save passwords and verification codes in two places or switch back and forth from Passwords settings to copy and paste. This means using two browsers for different things or starting my searches and browsing on Arc and then if I do make a purchase having switch back over to safari - very inconvenient when the whole point of technology is convenience. 2) no (native) iPad version. Need to be able to consistently browse from one device to another. This needs to be somewhat seamless like in safari. Having to use a second browser on iPad is just counter productive.

Overall it’s a pleasure to use Arc on my Mac and iPhone and I have gotten to use a few features that work amazing and I didn’t even know I needed. Can’t wait to see how this product matures and hope that it can eventually fill the gaps and I can switch over to this as my default across devices.

First and foremost i truly want to say hats off to the developers behind this app. For the first time ever I’ve switched from safari to another browser as my default even with chrome I didn’t do so. The only gripes I have with this app that’s stopping me from giving it a 5 star rating, is the fact that when searching autocorrect doesn’t work. I never thought something so small could mean so much yet here I am. I’m sure this can easily be fixed with an update but I seriously urge you guys to allow for autocorrect to work when searching. I always find myself having to backtrack and fixing my words because I expected autocorrect to correct me. Second instead of having the search pull up when you swipe up from the bottom bar I think swiping up from any part of the bottom bar should bring up all your tabs. And just leaving tapping the plus sign to search. Or at least giving us users the option to choose between the two. I personally find it redundant having it pull up the search bar when swiping up from the bottom tab rather than pulling up your tab list when you can already just tap the middle plus icon. I genuinely believing adding that will make the app flow infinitely better.