Tandem Browser and Arc Search are sometimes mentioned together because both involve "browsers" and "AI", but they solve quite different problems. Arc Search uses AI to make searching the web feel cleaner — a beautiful mobile-first reading experience. Tandem Browser lets AI agents operate the web on a desktop, alongside you. This page is mostly for users who came across both names and want to know which fits.
| Tandem Browser | Arc Search | |
|---|---|---|
| Primary purpose | Run AI agents in your browser | AI-powered search and summarization |
| Platform | macOS Apple Silicon and Windows 11 x64; Linux best-effort | iOS, Android (mobile-first) |
| Operates websites | Yes — clicks, types, fills forms | No — reads and summarizes |
| Uses your logged-in sessions | Yes | N/A (no agent automation) |
| Bring your own model | Yes | N/A (model managed by Arc) |
| Works offline | Yes (with local model) | No |
| License | MIT (open source) | Proprietary |
| Design polish | Developer preview | Award-winning consumer design |
| Daily-driver browser | Yes | Designed for quick search sessions |
Both Arc Search and Tandem Browser come from the recognition that browsing on the web could be better with AI involved. They take very different approaches — Arc Search makes searching feel like a conversation; Tandem Browser makes the browser itself something AI can operate. Different problems, both worth solving.