The Browser Company, creators of the Arc web browser, have launched the Windows version today. After testing the Windows client since December, over 150,000 users have been using it.
The startup, with a valuation of $550 million, recently raised $50 million. The Browser Company has now opened access to its Windows version to all users without any waitlist. The previous waitlist had over 1 million people on it.
Having started with an invite-only Mac version in 2022 and later opening it to everyone in July 2023, the company has now ventured into the Windows platform.
Image Credits: The Browser Company
The Browser Company opted to use Swift to develop the Windows version, allowing them to streamline code sharing with the Mac version. Swift, a language by Apple for Mac and iPhone apps, simplifies future feature updates. The company has also documented its Swift experience on Windows to aid developers migrating their Mac apps.
Features on the Windows version
The Windows version of Arc retains key Mac features such as a pinned sidebar for frequently visited webpages, Spaces for categorized tab sets, multiple profiles, split view for multitasking, and picture-in-picture video support. Users can watch videos while browsing other tabs.
Image Credits: The Browser Company
The addition of the Peek feature now allows users to preview links from pinned and favorite tabs without clicking on them.
Arc Sync enables synchronization of sidebar, spaces, folders, and tabs across devices. This feature is now available on the Windows version as well.
The inclusion of touchscreen support differentiates the Windows version from the Mac edition. However, some Mac features like Little Arc are absent in the Windows release.
Upcoming Features
Arc for Windows currently supports Windows 11, with plans to extend compatibility to Windows 10. The Browser Company aims to achieve feature parity between Mac and Windows versions but has not disclosed a timeline for this yet.
Earlier this year, The Browser Company introduced a mobile iPhone app called Arc Search, with plans to launch an Android version following the recent Windows release.
