How Blanc compares

Blanc next to Crest, Arc, Helium and Brave, on the questions that decide a switch.

Download Blanc See the comparison

Every desktop

One browser for macOS, Windows and Linux, so your Favorites and settings can follow you between computers.

Blocking from the first launch

Ads and trackers are blocked in every tab, private tabs included, with full uBlock Origin if you want it.

Just a browser, by choice

Free, open source and no account to make. No built-in AI assistant: Blanc keeps to browsing.

Side by side

Checked November 2, 2026 against Blanc v1.45.1.

Blanc compared with Crest, Arc, Helium and Brave
Question
The basics
Where it runs	macOS, Windows, Linux. iPhone is a public TestFlight beta.	Mac (Apple silicon), iPhone, iPad. No Windows or Linux.	macOS and Windows until Dec 22, 2026. Arc Search on iOS and Android.	macOS, Windows, Linux, all beta. No mobile yet.	macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android.
Cost and account	Free. No account. Patron is optional and unlocks nothing.	Free. No account system.	Price not stated. New accounts closed Oct 22, 2026.	Free. Funded by optional tips.	Browser is free. Optional paid add-ons such as VPN and Leo Premium.
Open source	Yes. MIT for Blanc’s own code; name and logos reserved.	Yes. MPL 2.0.	Not stated.	Yes. GPL 3.0 for Helium’s own code.	Yes. MPL 2.0.
Release status	Public release v1.45.1, Oct 29, 2026.	Early access, by its own description.	Sunsetting. Basic updates only until Dec 22, 2026.	Beta, by its own description.	Regular public releases.
What’s built in
Built-in ad and tracker blocking	On by default, including private tabs. Full uBlock Origin optional.	WebKit pages and iPhone/iPad only. Chromium pages need an extension.	uBlock Origin installed by default on macOS.	On by default (its uBlock Origin fork), plus cookie banners.	On by default (Shields).
Chrome Web Store extensions	No. Optional uBlock Origin only.	Yes, on Mac, Chromium pages only.	Yes.	Yes.	Yes, including some Manifest V2 extensions.
Built-in AI	None, by choice.	Lets coding agents you approve use it. Palette can ask an assistant.	Arc Max, until Dec 22, 2026 on desktop.	Not stated.	Leo assistant. Free, with a paid tier.
Organizing your tabs
Spaces and separate accounts	Spaces save tab sets. Separate local profiles keep cookies and site data apart.	Spaces each keep their own cookies, history, passwords. Sub-Spaces can share sign-ins.	Spaces. Account separation not stated.	Not stated.	Containers keep cookies apart per tab, on desktop.
Tabs on the side	Optional vertical tabs.	Sidebar is the main layout.	Sidebar.	Vertical tabs.	Vertical tabs, off until turned on.
Split view and link preview	Split View for two tabs. Glance previews a link in a floating card.	Split View up to four tabs. Peek previews a link.	Split View and Peek.	Split view. No link preview stated.	Not stated.
Across your devices
Sync	Optional and end-to-end encrypted. Favorites and settings, plus open tabs and shared Spaces if you choose.	Optional, through iCloud. Apple devices only.	Account-based. Ends with the account, Dec 22, 2026.	Not yet.	Yes. Brave says it is encrypted on the device.

Good to know before you switch

Extensions. Blanc doesn’t install extensions from the Chrome Web Store. If one is essential to you, check that first.
Phones. Blanc for iPhone is a public beta on TestFlight; there is no Android app.
Coming from Arc? Blanc brings your Arc Spaces over, with folders as tab groups. See how the import works.

Sources

Blanc’s answers come from its v1.45.1 release and the release notes. Answers about other browsers come from these pages, read on November 2, 2026.

“Not stated” means the pages listed for that browser don’t say.

A little less browser.

Free for macOS, Windows and Linux.

Download Blanc