Rio vs Safari
Rio is a free, open-source Chromium browser for Mac with Arc's sidebar: spaces, pinned tabs, folders and favorites. It runs Chrome Web Store extensions, including side panel extensions, and imports your Arc setup in one step. Safari does not run Chrome extensions and cannot import Arc spaces.
Side by side
| Rio | Safari | |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | Chromium 158.0.8127.18 | WebKit |
| Sidebar | Spaces with pinned tabs, folders, favorites and Today tabs | Tab Groups in the sidebar; vertical tabs in the macOS 27.3 beta |
| Extensions | Chrome Web Store, Manifest V3 included | Safari extensions from the App Store |
| Side panel extensions | Yes, on the right next to the page | No |
| Arc import | Yes, one step | No; Chrome and Firefox directly, others by bookmarks file |
| Open source | Yes, GPL-3.0 | No; its engine, WebKit, is |
Where Rio is ahead
- Spaces. Each Rio space has its own pinned tabs, folders, Today tabs and theme colors, and can use its own profile so its logins stay separate.
- On the macOS you have. Rio's sidebar works on macOS 13 or later. Safari's vertical tabs are in the macOS 27.3 beta.
- Chrome extensions. Rio installs from the Chrome Web Store, and side panel extensions open next to the page. Safari supports neither.
- Arc import. Rio brings your Arc setup over in one step. Safari has no Arc import.
- Open source. Rio's code is on GitHub under GPL-3.0.
Who Rio is for
People who want Arc's sidebar on their Mac, Chrome extensions, or their Arc spaces brought over.
Questions
Does Safari have vertical tabs now?
In beta. 9to5Mac and Macworld reported on November 3, 2026, that the macOS 27.3 beta adds vertical tabs to Safari. Rio's sidebar works on macOS 13 or later.
Can Safari import my Arc spaces?
No. Safari imports directly from Chrome and Firefox, and from other browsers through a bookmarks file. Rio imports Arc's spaces, profiles, pinned tabs, folders, favorites, Today tabs, history, saved passwords and sign-ins in one step.
Do Chrome extensions work in Safari?
No. Safari uses Safari extensions from the App Store. Rio installs extensions from the Chrome Web Store, including side panel extensions.
What does Rio add over Safari?
Arc's spaces, each with its own pinned tabs, folders and Today tabs. Chrome Web Store extensions, including side panel extensions. A one-step import of your Arc setup. And code that is open source under GPL-3.0.
Sources
- 9to5Mac, iOS 27.3 and macOS 27.3 add vertical tabs to Safari (November 3, 2026)
- Macworld, Apple brings vertical tabs to Safari in 27.3 (November 3, 2026)
- Apple Support, Group tabs in Safari on Mac
- Safari User Guide, Import bookmarks and passwords
- Safari User Guide, Get extensions
- MDN browser-compat-data, sidePanel (Safari: not supported)
- WebKit
