ChatGPT Atlas vs Arc Browser

ChatGPT Atlas is a Chromium-based browser built by OpenAI that feels a lot like Google Chrome, but instead of Google Search, you have the full power of ChatGPT available everywhere you go.

Think of ChatGPT Atlas as more of an upgraded UI/UX for the ChatGPT desktop app than that of a full replacement for your primary browser.

If you compare it in that way, then it's a no-brainer to install and use it instead of the ChatGPT desktop app.

For example, clicking on a link mid-chat expands the site to the left-hand-side, with chat sitting on the right. It's just a better user-experience than it popping you out to whatever default browser you have set.

From there you can easily ask additional questions about the site you're on, or even reference other open tabs along with browser history. And depending on how complex of a question you ask, their built-in AI agent mode can even pop in and start navigating and completing tasks for you.

So what is the biggest "Pro" for ChatGPT Atlas? It's that it feels like an upgraded desktop app on all fronts. It just feels "right".

Once you get used to having your full ChatGPT account everywhere you go, it can become hard to use another browser because you are always missing that personalized experience.

ChatGPT Atlas has an AI agent mode that can navigate the web on your behalf. It has ChatGPT with you everywhere (even highlight some text and tell it how you want to modify it and it'll do it inline right there).

Because it's a browser, you also have the ability to @ mention tabs to pull in added context, and it also has deep memory on what you're searching from day-to-day.

The truth is, we experienced a ton of efficiency gains at work once we started using ChatGPT Atlas. Every question gets answered faster. There’s no more copying and pasting context from your browser into a separate AI app. It feels like a constant thinking partner. Our research quality has improved, and we probably use the side chat 20 to 40 times a day.

It even has voice mode built in. It can be a little buggy at times (when it acts up we switch to Wispr Flow) but you can literally think out loud about whatever page you’re on and go deeper with AI right there.

We’re now getting work done faster and require all team members and freelancers to work within ChatGPT Atlas as part of their role with us. If you’re running a business, especially a small team, I think you’ll see output increase just by giving them this browser. Just make sure they’re on a paid account so they don’t hit limits.

While Atlas is technically free, the features that you're probably seeing teased all over social media and the marketing videos are actually primarily paid (at least for now).

To unlock their AI agent functionality, you must be on ChatGPT Plus ($20/mo) or higher. The same goes for memory and file recall (prior uploaded documents) as well.

So while Atlas is free, it's a pretty restricted version of it (although the truth is we pay for multiple ChatGPT accounts and find the value way outweighs the cost).

Do you use ChatGPT? If yes, absolutely install Atlas browser, and just treat it as more of a replacement for the ChatGPT desktop app.

In-fact, use ChatGPT for work and personal, and have 2 separate accounts? Use Atlas to login to one of them, and the ChatGPT desktop app to login to the other one, and boom! You've now got built-in account switching (sorta).

If you're not a paying user of ChatGPT, then I'd recommend you give Comet browser by Perplexity a shot if you want to experience the AI agent mode and other agentic features without purchasing a paid subscription.

Arc is a web browser made by the The Browser Company. And in-line with their name, they're actively maintaining Arc, while focusing their efforts on Dia Browser.

The Browser Company was acquired by Atlassian for $610M, where they will continue building both browsers (focusing on Dia) but with more financial backing to hire more. There were mentions of a potential new plan for Arc Browser in the coming months, we believe that Atlassian may see a path to monetize it for the B2B world.

Although typically acquisitions by the likes of Atlassian have led to stagnation (e.g. Trello the project management software and more recently Loom). We're cautiously optimistic about this one though since Arc Browser was already in some form of maintenance mode while the team focused on Dia.

If you've been feeling like Chrome and Safari haven't evolved to be more powerful when it comes to tab management, folder structure, and switching between different spaces (Google Profiles), then Arc was built exactly for you.

And if you, for some reason, do not want to dive into the amazing world of AI browsers, then Arc is for you.

In general, if you're someone that always opts for keyboard shortcuts, finding the quickest way to do things, separating personal and work, and just want more organization (e.g. you've tried many of those productivity extensions like Toby and Workona, but they just didn't make the cut, then my gosh, you'll love Arc).

People who use Arc typically like using the modern tools in other areas too (e.g. using one of the best email clients for email instead of regular Gmail or Outlook, or one of the best calendar apps opposed to just Google Calendar).

Spaces let you stay focused by separating your work into clean, organized environments instead of one messy browser.

For example, you can create a personal space with your YouTube, Spotify, WhatsApp, and Gmail tabs pinned. They start to feel less like tabs and more like mini apps you always have ready.

Then with a simple swipe, you're instantly in your work space, where everything switches over to your work tools, accounts, and logins. No switching profiles, just a completely different setup built for getting things done.

With Arc Browser you can easily drag a tab beside one another and it will automatically turn your browser into a split screen. It's one of those features that feels obvious once you use it, but surprisingly no other browser has nailed it this well.

Instead of constantly switching between tabs, you can actually work across tools at the same time. Think having your email open next to your CRM, or your notes beside a YouTube video you're learning from.

Arc Browser is currently available on MacOS, Windows, iOS, and Android.

If you're someone that couldn't care less about the browser you're using (erm... why are you even reading this?), and you don't like change, and have never been frustrated by Chrome or Safari, then you aren't likely to be blown away by Arc Browser.

Well, there's no more waiting list, so you can just give it a shot yourself to see if it sticks, whether you're on MacOS, Windows, iOS, or Android, so we'd say yes, Arc is worth it. That said, if you're won Windows, Arc doesn't have as much feature parity as MacOS, so while we highly recommend Arc on MacOS, we don't recommend it as much on Windows. Pay closer attention to when Comet or Dia make their way to Windows instead.