Arc vs. Dia: A Developer’s Take on Two Browsers from The Browser Company (Plus: How to Get Access to Both)

As someone who spends most of my day in a browser, I’m always on the lookout for tools that make my workflow smoother, neater, and if I’m honest, a bit more enjoyable. That’s how I ended up deep in Arc and more recently, Dia. Both are products of The Browser Company, but they approach the web in noticeably different ways. Here’s my experience comparing the two.

Arc: The UX-First Browser that won me over

Arc was first recommended to me by a fellow developer, and it immediately felt like the browser I’d always wanted but never quite found. I’m a sucker for clean interfaces, and as both a frontend developer and a designer, I notice the details - beautiful UI, intuitive flows, and features that actually solve daily annoyances.

Everything just felt more organized. I loved being able to rename and auto-sort tabs, merge tabs into one view, rename downloads (a small but surprisingly satisfying feature), and take screenshots of tabs right from the browser. Localhost testing tools are built in, which is a huge plus for anyone working in web development.

The sidebar is a game-changer. Moving away from the traditional top bar made everything feel more organized and accessible. I liked it so much that I started nudging colleagues to try it.

Since December 2023, Arc has been my browser of choice.

Stumbling into Dia

When I heard The Browser Company had a new browser in the works, my curiosity was piqued. Thanks to my Arc usage, I got immediate access to Dia’s beta. The migration was painless; I was able to import my spaces and extensions with a few clicks.

Dia’s headline feature is its AI integration. I’ll admit, I’m someone who tries to limit my reliance on AI, but the way Dia weaves it into the browser is promising. You can chat with your tabs, pull in context from different pages, and even get writing or coding suggestions right where you’re working. There’s a lot of potential here, especially for anyone juggling research, writing, or code across multiple tabs.

However, there are some drawbacks. The biggest for me is the return to a topbar layout instead of Arc’s sidebar. It’s not a dealbreaker, but after getting used to the sidebar, it feels like a step back in terms of organization and flow. I’m also not sure how much I’ll actually use the AI features, or whether the regular, non-AI browsing experience will feel as smooth and user-friendly as I want.

Which browser would I recommend?

If you’re a developer or someone who loves a tidy, customizable workspace, Arc still feels like the more mature, polished option. Especially with its focus on sorting, spaces, and UI details. For writers, students, or anyone curious about integrating AI directly into their browsing flow, Dia is definitely worth a look. The seamless migration between the two makes it easy to try both.

Honestly, I’m still in the thick of testing Dia. I haven’t picked a side yet. There’s a lot I like, and a few things I’m not sure about. I want to give it a few more weeks - see how the AI holds up, whether I adapt to the topbar, and if it actually changes my day-to-day productivity.

For now, I’m keeping both browsers in rotation. Either way, I’ll be keeping a close eye on how both evolve.

How to get access to Arc and Dia

If you’re curious to try out Arc or Dia for yourself, here’s how you can jump in:

• Arc is available by invite, but you can skip the waitlist using my signup link ↗.

• Dia is also invite-only for now, but you can get instant access with this signup link ↗.

Both browsers make it easy to migrate from your current setup, so you can experiment without losing your bookmarks, tabs, or extensions. Give them a spin and see which one fits your workflow best!

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Thank you for reading!

I’m Tom, a frontend architect & software engineer based in Prague.

🎨 I believe the bridge between designers and developers is crucial. I work to strengthen it, delving into both worlds to create better products. I bring 3D design to the web, blending visual art with code - a skill not many embrace yet.

You can find more about me here: 🔗 grusz.dev

Find my projects on GitHub: ✨ @tomasgrusz