Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Arc VS GitHub Desktop

Compare Arc VS GitHub Desktop and see what are their differences

Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

Arc logo Arc

This new web browser is going to kill Chrome

GitHub Desktop logo GitHub Desktop

GitHub Desktop is a seamless way to contribute to projects on GitHub and GitHub Enterprise.
  • Arc Landing page
    Landing page //
    2024-05-18
  • GitHub Desktop Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-02

Arc features and specs

  • Innovative Design
    Arc offers a sleek and modern interface that is different from traditional web browsers, prioritizing accessibility and user experience.
  • Enhanced Privacy
    The browser comes with strong privacy features, including tracker blocking and advanced security settings to protect users' data and browsing habits.
  • Performance Optimization
    Arc is built on a performance-optimized engine that ensures fast browsing speeds and efficient resource management.
  • Customizability
    Users can personalize their browsing experience with a variety of themes, extensions, and settings that cater to individual preferences.
  • Cross-Platform Synchronization
    Arc supports the synchronization of tabs, bookmarks, and preferences across multiple devices, providing a seamless experience for users who switch between desktop and mobile.

Possible disadvantages of Arc

  • Limited Extension Support
    Compared to more established browsers, Arc has a smaller library of compatible extensions, which might limit functionality for some users.
  • Learning Curve
    The unique design and features of Arc may require users to spend some time learning how to navigate and utilize the browser effectively.
  • Compatibility Issues
    Some websites and web applications may not be fully compatible with Arc, potentially leading to rendering issues or functionality limitations.
  • Resource Intensive
    Despite its optimizations, Arc can be more resource-intensive compared to some other browsers, possibly impacting system performance on older or less powerful devices.
  • Maturity
    As a relatively new entrant in the browser market, Arc may lack the robustness and refinement that come with years of development and user feedback seen in more established browsers.

GitHub Desktop features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    GitHub Desktop offers a clean, intuitive GUI that simplifies the Git process, making it accessible for beginners and less technical users.
  • Seamless GitHub Integration
    The application is tightly integrated with GitHub, allowing users to easily clone repositories, create branches, and submit pull requests directly through the desktop interface.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    GitHub Desktop is available on both Windows and macOS, offering a consistent experience across these major operating systems.
  • Simplifies Workflow
    Features like drag-and-drop to add files, visual diff tools, and easy branching help streamline the workflow for users.
  • Collaborative Features
    The app provides useful collaborative tools such as reviewing changes, creating requests, and viewing history, enhancing team productivity.

Possible disadvantages of GitHub Desktop

  • Limited Advanced Features
    While GitHub Desktop is great for basic tasks, it lacks advanced features found in other Git clients like GitKraken or the command line.
  • Dependency on GitHub
    The app is deeply integrated with GitHub, which can be limiting for users who want to interact with repositories hosted on other platforms like GitLab or Bitbucket.
  • Performance Issues
    Some users report performance issues when dealing with large repositories or a significant number of files, which can hinder productivity.
  • Customization Limitations
    GitHub Desktop offers limited customization options compared to other Git clients or the command line, which may be a drawback for power users.
  • Offline Limitations
    Certain features of GitHub Desktop require an internet connection to interact with GitHub, limiting its usability in offline scenarios.

Analysis of Arc

Overall verdict

  • Arc is a solid and innovative web browser that has quickly gained positive traction among both casual users and professionals, particularly those looking for a feature-rich and privacy-focused browsing experience.

Why this product is good

  • Arc (arc.net) is considered a good choice by many users and tech reviewers because it offers modern features, a sleek and user-friendly design, and improved performance compared to some other browsers. Its focus on privacy, security, and customization, along with effective integration with various web services, makes it appealing to a broad audience. Regular updates and community feedback incorporation further enhance its reputation.

Recommended for

  • Users who prioritize privacy and security.
  • Individuals seeking a modern and customizable browser interface.
  • Professionals and tech-savvy users who value integration with web services.
  • People searching for an alternative to mainstream browsers with unique capabilities.

Arc videos

Arc Browser Review: 10 Reason Why YOU Should Switch!

More videos:

  • Review - Intel Arc 2023 Revisit & Benchmarks: A770 & A750 GPU Updated Tests
  • Review - Please Buy Intel GPUs. - Arc A750 & A770 Review

GitHub Desktop videos

GitHub Desktop 2.0 -- Easy Mode Version Control

More videos:

  • Review - GitHub Desktop Quick Intro For Windows
  • Tutorial - Git and GitHub for Beginners: GitHub basics, and how to use GitHub Desktop

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Arc and GitHub Desktop)
Web Browsers
100 100%
0% 0
Git
0 0%
100% 100
Customisable Web Browser
100 100%
0% 0
Code Collaboration
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using Arc and GitHub Desktop. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Arc and GitHub Desktop

Arc Reviews

The 7 best web browsers in 2025
Arc comes equipped with plenty more productivity-focused tools, too. Its built-in universal search function allows you to instantly jump to a tab or find and execute a shortcut. Plus, you can have up to four tabs in a split-screen layout, instead of firing up a new window each time you want to operate on multiple web pages side-by-side. And Arc's AI can tidy up your...
Source: zapier.com

GitHub Desktop Reviews

Best Git GUI Clients of 2022: All Platforms Included
Creating branches and switching to existing ones isnโ€™t a hassle, so is merging code with the master branch. Furthermore, you can track your changes with GitHub Desktop. Check out our detailed guide on how to use GitHub for more detailed information.
Boost Development Productivity With These 14 Git Clients for Windows and Mac
GitHub Desktop is the global standard for working with Git-related tasks in a graphical user interface (GUI). It is an open-source tool and hence completely free to use for all sorts of projects. It is available for both Windows and macOS desktops and laptops.
Source: geekflare.com
Best Git GUI Clients for Windows
GitHub Desktop is, perhaps, the most famous solution for working with Git in a visual interface. It is familiar to all developers keeping their repositories on GitHub (Git repository hosting service used for version-controlling IT projects). This free Git GUI is open-source, transparent, and functional. When you consider the Git graphical interface for Windows, GitHub...
Source: blog.devart.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, GitHub Desktop should be more popular than Arc. It has been mentiond 136 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Arc mentions (77)

  • Nook Browser
    Because both are trying to be response to the death of Browser Company's Arc. (https://arc.net). - Source: Hacker News / 8 months ago
  • I tried 6 next-gen browsers - here's what I found
    Arc was first recommended to me by a fellow dev. It felt like the browser I was looking for but never quite found. The Browser Company released this trendsetter in 2023, and among the frontend and tech community it quickly became the new shiny browser. I joined the trend in December 2023, and Arc became my default browser for more than a year. The browser focuses on user experience and brings minimal but modern... - Source: dev.to / 9 months ago
  • Arc vs. Dia: A Developerโ€™s Take on Two Browsers from The Browser Company (Plus: How to Get Access to Both)
    Arc was first recommended to me by a fellow developer, and it immediately felt like the browser Iโ€™d always wanted but never quite found. Iโ€™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. - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
  • My Recommended Zen Mods Plugins (Bite-size Article)
    In a previous article, I mentioned that unlike Arc Browser, Zen does not allow pinned tabs to be organized into folders (at this point), which I found inconvenient. While this plugin doesn't directly solve that issue, it does help organize pinned tabs neatly in a row, which I like. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • I tested Arc Browser
    Arc Browser is available on Windows, macOS and Linux (no, negative point). It's based on Chromium, so if you've already used Chrome, you won't feel out of place. Installing it couldn't be easier: go to the official website and download the version corresponding to your operating system. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
View more

GitHub Desktop mentions (136)

  • You too can Git it: A beginners guide to connecting Git and GitHub
    Optional: You can also download GitHub Desktop (https://desktop.github.com) if you prefer a GUI version, but this guide focuses on Git Bash to understand the basics. - Source: dev.to / 7 months ago
  • How to Fix the Issue of Not Being Able to View Your GitHub Account on Other Devices
    Download the latest version from the GitHub Desktop website. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • 12 Steps to Organize and Maintain Your Python Codebase for Beginners
    Iโ€™m not going to dive into Git commands here โ€” you can find plenty of tutorials online. If youโ€™re not a fan of using the plain terminal CLI, you can also manage repositories with tools like GitHub Desktop or SourceTree, which provide a more visual, intuitive interface. - Source: dev.to / almost 2 years ago
  • File Governance and Versioning in Corticon BRMS
    Using terminal commands isnโ€™t necessary for basic adoption of Git with Corticon Studio files, though. There are various tools that will allow us to bypass the command line when defining rules, including the built-in Eclipse plugin for Git version control. If youโ€™ll be storing your assets on GitHub, though, an even easier solution is GitHub Desktop, a free desktop software that GitHub offers. It can be used in... - Source: dev.to / almost 2 years ago
  • An Introduction to Nix for Ruby Developers
    Nix currently is akin to git's "porcelain": powerful but esoteric. However, much like git evolved into exoteric, user-friendly tools such as git-flow, GitHub Desktop, and Tower to become user-friendly, many developers are building abstractions, wrappers, and utilities to simplify Nix usage. Let's briefly look at a few of these tools now. - Source: dev.to / almost 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Arc and GitHub Desktop, you can also consider the following products

Brave - Fast and secure, ad and tracker blocking browser.

GitKraken - The intuitive, fast, and beautiful cross-platform Git client.

Google Chrome - Google Chrome is a fast, secure, and free web browser, built for the modern web. Give it a try on your desktop today.

SourceTree - Mac and Windows client for Mercurial and Git.

Sidekick Browser - The fastest browser for work ever made

SmartGit - SmartGit is a front-end for the distributed version control system Git and runs on Windows, Mac OS...