Arc vs Thaw: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Arc and Thaw side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Arc
A better way to use the internet
Best for you if:
- • You want a fully free tool (Thaw requires payment)
Thaw
Master your menu bar: hide, reveal, search, and style
Best for you if:
- • You want completely free with no subscriptions or in-app purchases
| At a Glance | Arc | Thaw |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free 100% free | Free plan, paid from $4/user/mo, billed monthly Team plan |
Category | Productivity | Productivity Automation |
Rating | 4.0/5 G2 4.8 · Trustpilot 3.2 33 reviews | n/a |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Watch out for | n/a | Overage for CI/CD minutes: $0.008/min after 3,000 min/month |
Choose Arc or Thaw?
Choose Arc if
- You want a fully free tool (Thaw requires payment)
- You want innovative browser
- You want good tab management
Choose Thaw if
- You want completely free with no subscriptions or in-app purchases
- You want open source with a strong focus on privacy and no tracking
In-Depth Analysis
Arc
A better way to use the internet
Arc's pricing is exceptionally generous, as it offers a full-featured browser experience completely free of charge.
Strengths
- Pro: Innovative browser
- Pro: Good tab management
- Pro: Spaces feature
- Pro: Clean design
- Pro: Active development
Weaknesses
- Con: Mac only currently
- Con: Resource heavy
- Con: Learning curve
- Con: Different from Chrome
- Con: Sync limited
Key features
Thaw
Master your menu bar: hide, reveal, search, and style
The pricing is fair and competitive for a developer platform, with a generous free tier that includes unlimited repositories and public CI/CD minutes.
Watch out
Overage for CI/CD minutes: $0.008/min after 3,000 min/month
Strengths
- Pro: Completely free with no subscriptions or in-app purchases.
- Pro: Open source with a strong focus on privacy and no tracking.
- Pro: Highly customizable with profiles, triggers, and appearance options.
Weaknesses
- Con: Only available for macOS, no Windows or Linux support.
- Con: Some advanced features like triggers are experimental and require manual enabling.
Key features
Plans and prices: Arc vs Thaw
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Arc |
| arc.net read Sep 28, 2026 |
| Thaw |
| github.com/pricing read Oct 28, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Arc pricing and Thaw pricing.
Key Takeaways
Arc
- Choose if you want a better way to use the internet
Thaw
- Choose if you want master your menu bar: hide, reveal, search, and style
What the data shows
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
- Only Arc has a published user rating (4.0/5 from 33 reviews); Thaw has none we can show.
- Thaw starts at $4/user/mo, billed monthly; Arc has no public paid plan price on file.
- Both have a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Arc and Thaw compare in 2026?
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair. Only Arc has a published user rating (4.0/5 from 33 reviews); Thaw has none we can show. Thaw starts at $4/user/mo, billed monthly; Arc has no public paid plan price on file. Both have a free plan.
What are Arc and Thaw used for?
Arc: A better way to use the internet. Thaw: Master your menu bar: hide, reveal, search, and style.
What does Arc cost vs Thaw?
Arc is free. Thaw's cheapest paid plan is Team at $4/user/mo, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 28, 2026.
What's the main difference between Arc and Thaw?
Arc's main strength: innovative browser. Thaw's main strength: completely free with no subscriptions or in-app purchases.