Rio vs Orion
Rio and Orion are both free Mac browsers that import from Arc. Rio is built on Chromium 158, so Chrome Web Store extensions run as they do in Chrome, while Orion runs on WebKit and supports about 70% of the extension APIs. Rio is open source under GPL-3.0 and every feature is free.
Side by side
| Rio | Orion | |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | Chromium 158 | WebKit |
| Chrome Web Store extensions | Run as in Chrome, Manifest V3 and side panels included | About 70% of WebExtensions APIs supported |
| Open source | Yes, GPL-3.0 | Some components so far |
| Paid tier | None; every feature is free | Orion+ at $5 a month, $50 a year or $150 for life |
| Extra app icons | Seven, free | Exclusive Orion+ app icons |
| Arc import brings sign-ins | Yes, cookies with saved passwords | Import help lists bookmarks, history and passwords |
| Speedometer 3.1, Chrome = 100 | 97.8, our run on one Mac | 67.6, from BrowseRating's scores on a different Mac |
Every Orion cell comes from Kagi's own docs and site, or BrowseRating, listed at the end.
Where Rio is ahead
- Chrome extensions, as in Chrome. Rio runs on Chromium, the engine Chrome Web Store extensions are written for. Side panel extensions open next to the page, as they do in Chrome. Kagi's docs say Orion supports about 70% of the WebExtensions APIs, and that one missing API can keep an extension from working. See Side panel.
- Open source, all of it. Rio is on GitHub under GPL-3.0. Orion's FAQ says Kagi has started with some components and intends to open more.
- Free, with nothing held back. Every Rio feature is free, its seven app icons included. Orion's exclusive app icons and release candidates come with Orion+, at $5 a month.
- Logins come over from Arc. Rio's Arc import brings your sign-ins along with saved passwords, so sites stay logged in, plus your spaces, pinned tabs, folders, favorites and Today tabs. See Move from Arc to Rio.
- Speedometer 3.1. Rio scored 97.8 against Chrome on our Mac. BrowseRating's scores put Orion 1.1.3 at 67.6% of its Chrome score, on a different Mac. We have not run Orion ourselves.
How the speed numbers were taken
Speedometer 3.1 scores depend on the Mac, so each number is an index against Chrome on the same machine. Rio's 97.8 is our own run: Rio 158.0.8127.18 against Chrome 156.0.8078.81, 3 runs each, on an Apple M4 Max with 36 GB, November 9, 2026. Orion's 67.6 comes from BrowseRating's published scores, 35.3 for Orion 1.1.3 and 52.2 for Chrome, on a Mac whose model BrowseRating does not publish.
Who Rio is for
People who rely on Chrome Web Store extensions, want Arc's spaces with their logins brought over, and want every feature without a subscription.
Questions
Do Chrome extensions work better in Rio or Orion?
Rio is built on Chromium, the engine Chrome extensions are written for, so they run as they do in Chrome, Manifest V3 and side panel extensions included. Kagi's docs say Orion supports about 70% of the WebExtensions APIs and that one missing API can stop an extension from working.
Is Orion open source?
Partly. Orion's FAQ says Kagi has started with some components and intends to open more. Rio is open source under GPL-3.0, and all of its code is on GitHub.
Which is faster, Rio or Orion?
Rio scored 97.8 on Speedometer 3.1 against Chrome's 100 on our Mac. BrowseRating's scores put Orion 1.1.3 at 67.6% of its Chrome score, on a different Mac.
Does Rio keep my Arc logins?
Yes. Rio's Arc import brings your sign-ins (cookies) along with saved passwords, so sites stay logged in. Orion's import help lists bookmarks, history and passwords.
Sources
- Kagi Docs, Orion macOS Web Extensions Support (about 70% of WebExtensions APIs)
- Kagi Docs, Orion FAQ (open source)
- Kagi Docs, What is Orion+? ($5 a month, Orion+ app icons)
- Kagi Docs, Importing Data From Other Browsers
- Orion Browser by Kagi (WebKit engine)
- BrowseRating, macOS ARM Speedometer 3.1 rankings (October 3, 2026)
- Rio source, the seven app icons (appIcons.ts)
- Chrome for Developers, chrome.sidePanel (Chrome 114 and later)
- Rio source code on GitHub (GPL-3.0)
