Arc | Mobile Companion Reviews

by Facemask123

I was super exited about Arc, I use this app for mac every day, and I thought the phone app would be as (or a little bit less) amazing!
Unfortunately it is not!

Cons:

1. I can’t customize anything but the icon!
2. Can’t use twitter for some reason.
3. Sudden crashes.
4. Can’t view history.
5. No private tabs.
6. No tabs in the first place!
7. Loading is a weird wavy colored cloud in the background, the idea behind is like a joke that sounds better in you head than when you actually say it!
8. The whole app just feels premature, I will just delete it until you guys come up with something as Awesome as the mac version!

Pro(s):
1. Ad blocker seems to be working
2. Reload icon!

Please keep improving this, sorry for the harsh review but I NEVER wrote a review in the past 3 years, I hope this shows how much I care for you (in a harsh, almost traumatic way!).

by CountingSheep33

People don’t have desktops in their pocket. The fact you need to access a desktop to use Arc conveniently makes no sense being it’s used on a phone. In 2023, people use desktop apps when they’re in front of a desktop or their laptop, people use mobile apps when they’re not. The whole idea behind this (mobile) app needing both is almost dumbfounding being it’s built for a blend of access tool that doesn’t even exist yet at this level, nor does the market, which is why it totally fails as an idea and (MOBILE) app. I enjoy this app desktop, hate Arc. Total disappointment.

by Restorefailure

What I love about this app Browser is its separation of concerns. I can browse the web normally, and when I want to save something long-term I can quickly drop it in my pinned or favorited tabs and continue. As far as I can tell so far, on this app Browser for mobile the only way to switch to another tab without losing the one you’re on is to pin it. Why????? That completely changes the semantic usage of my pinned tabs. Just put the tabs in your space the same way as on desktop (2 way sync would be really nice here). Until this app gets this right I will be continuing my use of Safari. Very disappointing.

by TaliaDR28

I don’t usually write reviews but I wanted to concur with the other users here. I love the desktop version of Arc. It’s wonderful. It is NOT wonderful on my phone. As far as I can tell, you can’t keep more than one tab open in your timed section. I don’t understand why. It makes using this browser really hard. Most of the time, I don’t need or want to pin my tab. I would love it if the timed section worked more like the spaces where I can have multiple tabs open at the same time. I know the this app team puts out updates all the time. I’m hoping they address this problem soon.

by Jeffere

I’m in love with this app and it’s become my primary browser, but the iOS app feels very weirdly neutered. Just as one example, it’s very difficult to simply open a new tab, navigate to something, then preserve that tab on either my iOS device to open again later or pick up on the desktop app. I know that they talk about the iOS app being built not to replace your mobile browser but to give you access to your bookmarks, but that’s splitting hairs. This could replace Safari for me, but they seem to have left out a few small but key capabilities (on purpose!)

by Natereprogle

The browser is beautiful, just like the Mac version. However, unlike even the most basic browsers it seems to be missing some features. For example, there is no way to open a new tab. In fact, Tabs in this app don’t exist, period. If you press and hold on any link, it’ll open it in Safari instead of this app. It feels like the browser is looking to be something it’s not, but doesn’t even know what *that* is. I’m not sure what benefit this browser brings over the likes of Safari, Chrome, Edge, or Firefox on iOS, but I’m rating 2 stars anyway because I feel like there’s promise. Or, I’m hoping, anyway. For now, it’s just…empty.

by Thomthoms

I love using this app on desktop, it has become my go-to browser, replacing Chrome after 15 years.

However, the iOS version of this app is nowhere near being a Chrome replacement, or even Safari for that matter. I mean… in any mobile web browser you’d expect (at the bare minimum) the ability to have multiple browsing tabs. this app does not. Want to set this app as your default browser for when you click on links? You can’t. Wanna browse incognito? You can’t. Do you want your browsing history to sync across devices? Too bad.

It feels like this app on iOS is a pre-alpha product, lacking very key features that anyone would need in a basic mobile browser.

I sincerely hope Arc gets more attention from their development team, because I love using the desktop version. However, it’s just not possible to live with this app iOS as a standalone browser.

by Aidelank

The most useful and fundamental thing about this companion app is for acting as a “dreading list center” and I really enjoined using it. (Would love give a five star just for that!)

Recently for some reason I constantly getting “ this app is having trouble getting new data, but will try again soon.” error message whenever I want to pin something from another app.
This took away the core functionality of this app mobile and I really want the team to fix this ASAP. And please double, triple check with this in future updates!!

by Chïmp

Love this app on MacOS. Best browser to date. I was expecting a similar experience when I downloaded Arc. It is 100% not a browser for your phone, it is a companion for the one you have on your Mac. This company seemed to be doing everything right until this came out. Right means doing it the best way possible, all out. To captivate the market you needed to put the same effort in a mobile experience as you did the desktop and do it right. I look forward to a full scale browser experience in my pocket that works seamlessly with my desktop browser.

The whole point of this startup is to make the browser experience seamless. So work towards that! When upgrades come I will update my review.

PS. All the nice animations and UI are good, but functionality is better. Get it working, then get it right, then make it pretty.

by Dyllisphiller

I saw an article praising this on the Mac, so when I saw it was on iOS, I jumped in to test it. Like a frozen lake, I didn't get very far into it. Instantly disappointed that there's a waitlist for a browser. That indicates to me one of three things: they're concerned they can't handle new users and thus this app should still be in TestFlight, they're trying to build hype by artificially limiting access to a native app, or they're trying to collect your data. It also seems to *require* an account to work. Real browsers don't need your email address to function, and neither does this company. But with all that said, we need innovation and competition in the browser space, so I'm leaving an extra star for the attempt. Once this vendor comes to its senses, I'll be happy to try again. For now, it's not worth handing over a single bit of personally-identifiable information for free.

by Cp00cp

While I love the desktop app, and that seems where they are focused. Arc is a frustrating disconnect from the desktop app. The UI takes some frustrating discovery. The pull down to view spaces is not easy to use. When I am logged in a gmail profile you can reset the cookies on the page. I hate the whole auto archive the pages. You view a page come back later and its gone. And there is no visual board to see any of your pages. This leaves me to continue using the Brave or Safary browser cause at least all my tabs are visible and I can have control of the data and privacy of the pages I view.

by Pouyakary

I wished for this app to exist on iPhone for everyday for months. (really) and I got up and waited hours for App Store to say your pre-order has come. Arc is by far the most beautiful I've seen. In all apps of all times. The loading animations, the home screen design, go on... Just amazing job.

However it's as bad as sending a URL to your computer with a chat app or saving them in Notion. The whole point should be "hand-off" to just take your this app on the phone and start over. If I have to save every URL by finding the share button and sending them to this app what's the point?

And it's not a browser. No tabs, no search engine preferences, no incognito, no history sync, no set as default browser. It's just a beautiful thing with a HUGE hype around it. Firefox did the same and they soon realized it's useless so they made a browser for iPhone.

And even if it is just a way to save URLs in spaces it also is useless cause you can't create folders, your app pins are not accessible, you can't rename the URLs, it's really just a pretty icon and I still have to use Safari. What's the point?

by AColorado

I know the this app team felt the pressure to get the mobile version out the door to keep new users happy and growth continuing.

I also know the this app team pushes hard on providing meaningful updates and iterating and improving.

With those two things in mind, I love the fresh look at a browser on mobile. this app works but just feels like it is lacking the polish of the desktop version. Also, we need ad blocking on the mobile version asap. Coming from Brave Mobile, I forgot how many sites have relentless and annoying ads.

I do get confused with how to open a new tab when I’m browsing on this app mobile (and still keep the one that I’m currently looking at). I know what I need to do but it still requires more thought than I would like.

I wanted this app to be my default mobile browser (you actually can’t set it as default yet) but I find myself still reaching for Brave as my go to mobile browser workhorse.

With all that said, I know this app mobile will only get better from here.

by Grido Yan

First of all I want to say, that I hate writing reviews on apps, by the way this is my first one.
this app is marvellous on Mac, I’ve started using it recently and the thing about spaces, folders, notes, boosts and so on is great.
I’ve decided to fully change my basic browser on all my devices, but when i downloaded it on Iphone I was shocked… this app is empty on Iphone unfortunately. I mean it can be used as a browsing machine, but it can’t be used as a basic browser on Iphone instead of safari.
Dear Developers, please keep updating this app and create the best browser.

by SeaboundAvian

So first things to point out: this isn’t meant to be a full replacement for a browser, thus why they put the word “companion” into Arc title. As a companion, it works enough. From anywhere with a share menu, you can add links to your this app spaces, those show up on your Mac, and you of course can see and access your spaces within Arc as well. One strange omission is the ability to see your favorites. You can only see pinned tabs. This where it comes from 5-star to 4-star. There is also web functionality built into Arc, but it’s just the basics for quick peeks into your open tabs in this app. This is also where Arc becomes a 3-star instead of a 4-star. Given this is a companion app, I would’ve been fine with the basics only, but you can’t change the search engine, and the default is Google. Given the otherwise great Privacy Policy from this app, not being able to switch from Google is disappointing. You can still type direct urls in the search bar though, so I can use an alternative with an extra step each search. I’d really like to see the ability to switch search engines though. As expected from the this app team, the UI is wonderful and built like it was meant for a smartphone. It’s fast and easy to get around. Overall, I like Arc , and can’t wait to see a full this app browser on mobile down the road.

by A.Kinng

If you are a power this app user like me, Arc is not going to change your iPhone life as it did for your Mac. Basically this is just a tabs wallet. You want to see your tabs organized as a gallery? Go ahead and download this. If you want to access your workspaces and be able to update and interact so when you get to the office everything will be synced…. Don’t even try to download Arc. Useless. Passwords doesn’t sync, favorites doesn’t sync and what is worst Easels won’t be editable on your iPhone. It’s not ready. That’s all. Just Wait.

by Rouss511

I uninstalled Safari and Chrome from my Mac after discovering this app and I couldn't wait until the mobile app release. Although Arc is not quite what I expected, it is definitely off to a great start. I'm looking forward to future updates, such as the addition of profiles and easier access to easels and favorites. I have faith that the Browser Company will continue to develop something truly remarkable. Keep up the amazing work!!!

by Capncuddles420

I get that Apple requires iOS browsers to run on WebKit, which makes it difficult to develop this app into a full browser on mobile while you’re also trying to create a Windows desktop version of this app and dealing with routine updates and bug fixes on macOS.

But. I would really, really love to be able to make this app my default browser on iOS and do basic browser things like change the default search engine (Google, no thanks). Getting all my pinned tabs is great, and so is pinning pages from mobile Safari for desktop viewing later. But I’m ready to cut out the middleman.

For context, I’d been using Safari as my default desktop browser for like, ever, until this app came around. Because it was good my purposes and I can’t abide Chrome or the design-challenged Chromium alternatives. this app has converted me. Let’s finish the transition.

by CoolHandTCG

I’m really liking this app’s UI but particularly on desktop. The mobile version for iOS, I assume because it’s labeled a companion, is a lot more limited which is understandable due to the form factor. There are some little nitpicks I have such as this app not being able to be selected as a default browser. I can do this on Mac, but it’s not an option on iPhone. Again, I think it’s just because this is supposed to be a companion for the desktop version. I’d just like to see more done with this mobile app to make it more of its own like how Safari, Chrome, and Firefox have specific mobile versions that don’t feel like as much of a compromise.

by Throwbackpunk.com

At first I discovered this app on Mac on my way to finding a more simplistic web browser that didn’t sacrifice in the UI department. That was not this app. I found this app to have a massive learning curve, and while it was pretty, it wasn’t what I was looking for. This is. This is a heavily slimmed down browser experience that gives you what you need and nothing more, and it’s intuitive as heck. Time to go check out the desktop browser again.
Two caveats though. Firstly, I hope the account sign in requirement goes away when this leaves whatever beta it’s in, and two, I can’t set this app as my default browser. It’s not on the list. What gives?

by The 12th Reviewer

It’s a great start and a fresh of breath air for mobile browsing. I’ve been a fan of this app desktop for a while, so I’m aware the mobile app is still a young with updates to come. But, it is evident. It feels a bit incomplete and it feels a bit confused on how Pinned vs Today tabs should work on mobile vs desktop. Also, can’t set it as a default browser! Overall, it’s a great start and I am excited to see it on mobile, and I can’t wait to give it the 5 stars it deserves as it continues to grow.

by ChzSteak

I love the this app browser. I have changed over to this app on desktop and it has been huge for my productivity and focus. It’s the cleanest and most efficient browser one can use. It is also beautiful. However, the mobile app is lacking in features. I big one: the commonly used bookmarks that pin to the top of the desktop browser are not visible on mobile, cutting out several bookmarks or go to sites from the mobile experience. Bit of a bummer considering how nice this feature is on desktop and how much of a visual representation it is of Arcs features.

by KayossGT

The common complaint I’ve seen with Arc is the simplicity. You’re not able to do a lot of things as you can with other mobile browsers… but I love it!

Personally, I have a problem with having too many tabs open on my phone. Before Arc, I had like 100 I never used and likely never would. Now, I literally have one tab open ever, since Arc makes it difficult to keep them open.

My only complaint is the speed. It seems to take a little bit to load a tab, definitely slower than other browsers.

by Rikripper

I’ve never used a more beautiful browser. But until the features match the aesthetic, I will likely remain on Safari for the time being. One thing I desperately want to see is the ability to change the default search engine. Once that happens, I will be more comfortable using it more often. I will be watching Arc closely. I hope to see more updates soon.

by Doinkythederp

I use this app on my computer and Arc works very well as a companion. I primarily use Arc to send links to this app on Mac via the share sheet, and that works very well! However, it doesn't seem to have enough features on its own to justify using it for mobile browsing. In its current state, this companion app isn't a Safari-replacer and it doesn't seem like it's trying to be.

by Royflag

I don’t normally write reviews like this, but I really felt the need to express how fantastic this web browser is. I’m a huge fan of the “second brain” concept for organization, and as someone who’s been using Obsidian for note-taking extensively — finding a web browser that has the same intuitive feel was incredibly refreshing. The user interface is stunning, and every feature works seamlessly. Productivity, ease of use, and organization are the forefront of this app Browser. The Browser Company really has set a new precedent for web browsing with this app. I would highly recommend trying it out.

by Asond360

I was always drowning in tabs whether I used chrome or safari on icloud, and this is how mobile browsing should be! The tabs I want to stay will stay, and all the useless Google searches don't stay if I don't want them to. I've been using this for 15 minutes and I'm never going back.

by Mayson Clarke

Just wow, this browser has come so far since it’s launch on macOS. Now that it has been released on iOS, it is definitely better than I was anticipating! There are a few bugs and missing features as of right now, but that is expected for it being released literally today. Again, this browser will no doubt change the future and I look forward to pioneering a browser that is for sure to be on the top 5 list of browsers! I look forward to the future of The Browser Company, and I hope to become more involved in the future. Thank you all who worked on this beautiful piece of art! :)

by MIRASLOSS

im not the first to say that Arc is feature-deprived. Like itd be nice if i could change my default search engine. Thats the only complaint i have. ive thoroughly Loved using this app on ios. The snappiness alone makes it perfect for just looking things up on the fly, and the fact that your tabs arent saved unless you pin them is kinda ingenious in a way. Means i can't accidentally build up 30 tabs of garbage like i usually do on my mobile browsers. It's completely clutter free, much like this app for desktop. It's perfect, at least for me

by Keith Hord

I've been waiting patiently for the this app browser to become available on mobile for quite some time. I was very excited to see that the company finally released a mobile app, and I couldn't wait to start testing it out. I must say, I'm already impressed with the smooth performance and features that are available on the mobile version. The desktop app was already the best browser I've ever used, and the mobile app seems to be following in its footsteps.
However, developers, please release an iPad version too! The larger screen would be perfect for this browsers amazing features regardless, I’m very happy with Arc, and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a fast and reliable browser.

PS. let me know if you need any beta testers

by Shreyash.gupta5

The continuity between my mac and iPhone has just leveled up. There is definitely a small learning curve but once you understand how to exit tabs and open new ones, it gets super easy.
This browser for its first version is way more stable than the Brave browser that I was using before. It’s right there comparable with Safari’s performance.

Great job team. Big fan of this app❤️

by AlexW5354

I feel like a lot of people are being unfair in how they’re reviewing it. this app didn’t set out to make a standalone mobile browser. That’s why it’s called “Mobile Companion”. I feel like the word companion would indicate the fact that it isn’t supposed to be a replacement for your daily driver. It’s great to reference the state of your Mac when you’re out and about.

In the future they intend to flesh this out into something more stand-alone. In the mean time, this is an excellent first try.

by Sparrowhawk421

It may seem extreme, but given how the internet, and how we use it, dominates most folks’ careers at this point, it’s kind of a big deal when a “simple” browser totally disrupts how we use the internet (in a good way). Granted the iOS app is really just a companion app at this time, but I see it getting better quickly already. Hugely happy about making the switch to this app!

by User YHX

I’ve had a delightful experience using this app Browser on macOS. Its design is truly exquisite, and I personally prefer it to Chrome. However, I’ve noticed that the iOS version lacks the ability to install extensions and doesn’t seem to offer the full range of features available on the desktop version. There appears to be significant room for improvement in the mobile experience.
Additionally, I have a query regarding the browser’s search functionality. The inability to change the default search engine is quite limiting, especially for Chinese users like myself who cannot access Google without special networking conditions. I believe it would be greatly beneficial to implement a simple settings interface that allows users to select their preferred search engine. This would enhance the browser’s appeal and usability for a broader audience.

(Translated by ChatGLM-4, an LLM trained by ZhipuAI& THUDM)

by Trenton L.

The iOS app appears to be a bare minimum app to complement their Mac app (No incognito, no settings, etc.). I have no problem with this, and have never downloaded an app so fast before, but it is still missing enough features that it won’t be replacing chrome/safari for a bit.