Rio vs Chrome
Rio is built on Chromium 158, the open-source project Chrome comes from, so pages render the same way and Chrome Web Store extensions work. On top it adds Arc-style spaces, an ad and tracker blocker that is on by default, Peek, split view of up to four pages and a one-step Arc import. Rio needs no account.
Side by side
| Rio | Chrome | |
|---|---|---|
| Tabs in a sidebar | Spaces, each with its own pinned tabs, folders, Today tabs, colors and profile | Vertical tabs since April 2026, without spaces |
| Ad and tracker blocking | Built in and on by default, with EasyList and EasyPrivacy | Removes ads on sites that violate the Better Ads Standards |
| Split view | 2 to 4 pages | 2 pages |
| Arc import | Spaces, pinned tabs, folders, favorites, passwords and sign-ins in one step | Not in Chrome's import help |
| Asking an AI | Ask opens ChatGPT, Claude or Grok, with no sign-in to Rio | Gemini in Chrome needs you to sign in to Chrome |
| Usage statistics and crash reports | None sent | Sent by default |
| Memory added by the same 10 sites | 3,573 MB, mean of 3 runs | 4,363 MB, mean of 3 runs |
Every Chrome cell comes from Google's own pages, listed at the end. Rio's cells come from Rio's source code, release notes and our own measurement.
Where Rio is ahead
- Spaces. Each Rio space has its own pinned tabs, folders and Today tabs, its own colors, and can use its own profile so its logins stay separate. Swipe between them. Chrome added vertical tabs in April 2026, with no spaces. See Spaces.
- Ads and trackers blocked out of the box. Rio's blocker is built in and on for every site, private windows included. Chrome's help center says Chrome removes ads from sites that violate the Better Ads Standards. See Site controls.
- More room to multitask. Rio's split view holds up to four pages; Chrome's holds two. Rio's Peek opens a link in a card over your page with a Shift-click. See Split view and Peek.
- Your Arc setup, in one step. Rio reads Arc's files on your Mac and brings everything over. See Move from Arc to Rio.
- AI without an account. Rio's Ask row sends a question to ChatGPT, Claude or Grok, your pick, and its tab tidying runs on Apple's on-device model. Gemini in Chrome needs a signed-in Chrome profile.
- Nothing sent about you. Rio has no analytics and no crash reports. Chrome sends usage statistics and crash reports by default.
- Less memory in our test. With the same 10 sites open, Rio added 3,573 MB and Chrome added 4,363 MB.
How the memory numbers were taken
Measured overnight on November 11, 2026, on one MacBook Pro with an Apple M4 Max and 36 GB, on macOS 26.6.2. The same 10 public sites, including Wikipedia, GitHub, YouTube and Figma, opened in each browser on an empty test profile, 3 runs each. The number is the memory each browser added once the sites were open, the mean of the 3 runs: Rio 158.0.8127.18 added 3,393 to 3,749 MB, and Chrome 157.0.8103.39 added 4,323 to 4,385 MB.
Moving over from Chrome
Rio is built on the same engine, so your extensions come from the same Chrome Web Store. Import from Google Chrome brings your bookmarks, history, saved passwords, cookies and site data, so the sites you use stay signed in. It reads Chrome's files on your Mac and uploads nothing.
Questions
Is Rio based on Chrome?
Rio is built on Chromium 158, the open-source project Chrome is built from, so pages render as they do in Chrome. It is a separate browser with its own interface, made by Levon Adamyan.
Do my Chrome extensions work in Rio?
Yes. Rio installs extensions from the Chrome Web Store, Manifest V3 included, and side panel extensions open on the right as in Chrome.
Can I bring my Chrome data to Rio?
Yes. Import from Google Chrome brings your bookmarks, history, saved passwords, cookies and site data, so your sites stay signed in. macOS asks once before Rio reads Chrome's saved passwords.
Does Rio use less memory than Chrome?
In our test, yes. With the same 10 sites open on one MacBook Pro, Rio added 3,573 MB and Chrome 157 added 4,363 MB, each the mean of 3 runs on an empty test profile.
Does Rio send usage statistics?
No. Rio sends no analytics and no crash reports. Chrome's help center says Chrome sends usage statistics and crash reports by default.
Sources
- Google, vertical tabs in Chrome (April 7, 2026)
- Chrome Help, Visit a site by turning off Chrome's ad blocker (Better Ads Standards)
- Chrome Help, Use split view for multitasking in Chrome (2 websites)
- Chrome Help, Import Chrome bookmarks and settings
- Chrome Help, How Chrome keeps your usage statistics and crash reports private
- Gemini Apps Help, Use Gemini in Chrome (sign in to Chrome)
- Rio releases, build 1250: Chrome import brings passwords, cookies and site data (November 11, 2026)
- Rio source, split view holds 2 to 4 panes (split.ts)
- Rio source, the Ask row's assistants (command/ask.ts)
- Rio source code on GitHub, including the built-in blocker
