Arc Search

Arc Search is a free mobile browser centered on Browse for Me, which searches multiple pages and produces an answer on a custom webpage. Its built-in blocker is described as stopping ads, trackers, pop-ups, and cookie banners. The browser also includes reader and incognito modes, website translation, and voice search. Inactive tabs are archived automatically, with intervals listed from 12 hours to 30 days. Browse for Me is the default search option; alternatives include Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo, Ecosia, Perplexity, and Kagi. Arc Sync shares desktop Spaces, pinned tabs, and Today tabs with Arc Search on iOS, but is unavailable on Android, and mobile-created tabs do not sync back to desktop. The maker says Browse for Me sends command-bar and search-result content to OpenAI to generate summaries. Arc Sync sidebar data uses end-to-end encryption, but the maker says Arc Search lacks SOC 2 and ISO 27001 certifications and account MFA. Android requires version 10 or later; iOS requires version 16 or later.

Arc Search combines web browsing with a search feature that creates a custom-page answer. Consider its content-sharing disclosure and platform-specific sync limits when choosing it.

Arc Search may suit people who want a mobile browser with multi-page search summaries, automatic tab archiving, and built-in blocking. Its sync options are relevant to iOS users who also use Arc on desktop.

Arc Search is a mobile browser built around Browse for Me, an AI-assisted search that turns multiple pages into an answer on a custom webpage. It suits people who want quick synthesis with normal browser tools, rather than a research suite. The free app is compelling for mobile use, but privacy-conscious readers and anyone expecting broad device sync should look elsewhere.

Overview

Browse for Me is the default search experience. It gathers material from several pages and presents an answer in a newly generated webpage instead of only a conventional results list. That is useful for getting oriented quickly, while readers who prefer standard results can select Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo, Ecosia, Perplexity, or Kagi. Arc Search has no deep research mode or source filters, so it is better for fast answers than for a deliberately controlled investigation.

It remains a conventional browser when you need one. Reader mode, incognito mode, website translation, and voice search cover common mobile tasks. Arc says its built-in blocker handles ads, trackers, pop-ups, and cookie banners, which can make pages less cluttered without adding a separate blocking tool.

Key features

AI search and everyday browsing

Browse for Me is most useful when opening and comparing several results would be disproportionate to the question. The generated custom page gives the answer a readable destination, but the absence of deep-research and source-filter controls limits how far you can shape the process. Six alternative search engines provide a practical fallback when Browse for Me is not the right fit.

Automatic tab cleanup

Inactive tabs are archived automatically. Arc’s help guidance offers archive intervals from 12 hours through 30 days. That keeps an accumulation of forgotten tabs under control, but it is a poor match for anyone who expects every tab to remain open until they close it themselves.

Privacy and security

Arc says Browse for Me sends command-bar content and search-result content to OpenAI to generate summaries. That data flow is central to the feature and should rule it out for searches you do not want processed by a third party. Arc Sync uses end-to-end encryption for sidebar data, with Argon2 and Libsodium sealed boxes named in its technical documentation. The service is not currently SOC 2 or ISO 27001 certified and does not offer account multi-factor authentication, limitations that matter to organizations with formal assurance requirements.

Pricing

Arc Search — free. The free plan is the mobile browser and includes the capabilities described above. There is no paid tier or paid quota specified. Arc says premium and team features may be charged in the future, without announcing terms, so the current price does not guarantee that every future capability will remain free. This plan fits individual users who want Browse for Me without a subscription; it offers no paid upgrade today for business controls or additional research features.

Platforms

Arc Search runs on Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows, with the mobile app supporting Android 10 or later and iOS 16 or later. Arc Sync shares desktop Spaces, pinned tabs, and Today tabs with Arc Search on iOS. Sync is unavailable on Android, and tabs created in Arc Search do not sync back to desktop. iPhone users invested in Arc’s desktop organization therefore get the most coherent cross-device setup; Android users should treat it as a standalone browser.

Who it's for

Choose Arc Search if you want a free mobile browser that can condense several webpages into a quick answer, while still offering reader, private, translation, voice, and blocking tools. It is particularly suitable for iPhone owners who want desktop Spaces and tabs carried onto mobile. It is a weaker choice for Android users who require desktop sync, researchers who need source controls or deep-research workflows, and teams needing certifications or account MFA.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Browse for Me synthesizes multiple pages into a custom answer; six conventional search engines are available when you want them; blocking covers ads, trackers, pop-ups, and cookie banners; reader, incognito, translation, and voice tools are included at no charge; iOS Sync shares desktop Spaces and selected tabs.
• Cons: Browse for Me sends command-bar and result content to OpenAI; no deep research or source filtering; automatic archiving can remove inactive tabs sooner than some users expect; Android has no Arc Sync; newly created Arc Search tabs do not sync back to desktop; no account MFA and no SOC 2 or ISO 27001 certification.

Alternatives

For a broader starting point, compare AI Browsers, AI Search Engines, Web browsers, and Mobile Browser Software.

• Comet is another free browser for Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows.
• Norton Neo is free across Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, web, and Windows, with unlimited AI and 5 GB monthly VPN use (or unlimited VPN when it is your default browser).
• Dia is a macOS freemium option whose free Better Browser plan excludes AI features but includes profiles, tab groups, split view, picture-in-picture, and ad blocking.
• Fellou is a macOS freemium browser with a free allowance and a $19.00-per-month Plus plan.
• Aside offers macOS and Windows plans, including a free tier with 500 credits per month and up to three routines.
• BrowserOS is an open-source free option for macOS, Windows, and Linux with built-in AI agents.
• ego (lite) is a macOS freemium browser with a free individual plan and machine-limited parallel Spaces.
• Genspark AI Browser offers a free on-device tier with 169 open-weight models and no subscription or usage limits.

Verdict

Arc Search is a strong fit for individuals who want a free, mobile-first browser that turns multi-page searches into readable answers, especially on iPhone with Arc desktop Spaces. Choose it for that speed and convenience. Look elsewhere if sending search content to OpenAI, missing Android sync, absent research controls, or limited enterprise security would be unacceptable.