Best Browsers with Split Screen and Split View

Vivaldi is built for the user who wants to control every pixel of their browser. It offers an unparalleled level of customization: you can move the tab bar to any side of the screen, stack tabs into groups, tile multiple pages side-by-side, and create complex "Command Chains" to automate workflows.

Beyond the UI, Vivaldi integrates a full email client, calendar, and feed reader directly into the browser, aiming to be a complete productivity dashboard. It protects privacy by blocking trackers and ads without needing extensions, though it runs on the Chromium engine for full web compatibility.

The sheer number of options can be overwhelming for a casual user, and the interface can feel dense. But for power users who want a browser that adapts to them—rather than the other way around—Vivaldi is the ultimate playground.

Floorp is a passion project from Japan that answers the question: "What if Firefox was as customizable as Vivaldi?" Built on the Firefox ESR (Extended Support Release) base, it retains the privacy and engine of Mozilla but unlocks the interface, allowing for vertical tabs, multi-row tab bars, and flexible sidebar panels.

It is community-driven and open-source, ensuring transparency. Users love it for features like "Workspaces" (grouping tabs) and its ability to completely restyle the browser chrome. It fully supports the Firefox extension ecosystem, so you don't lose your favorite add-ons.

Because it is a smaller project, it may not receive day-one security patches as instantly as mainline Firefox, though the team is very active. For users who love the Gecko engine but feel constrained by Firefox's default interface, Floorp is the perfect middle ground.

Arc isn't just a browser; it's an operating system for the web. It discards the traditional top-bar tab strip in favor of a vertical sidebar and "Spaces," allowing you to organize your browsing contextually—separating "Work" from "Personal" completely. It treats tabs more like apps, keeping your most-used sites persistent and organized.

Its unique features include "Boosts" (which let you customize the look of any website), a "Little Arc" window for quick lookups, and built-in AI that renames downloaded files and summarizes search results. The command bar acts as a universal launcher, making mouse-free navigation incredibly fluid.

The important caveat is that Arc is finished. The Browser Company put it into maintenance mode in May 2025 and moved its entire team to Dia; Atlassian then acquired the company in September 2025. Arc still launches, still renders, still runs Chrome extensions and still receives Chromium security patches, but it has not gained a feature since, and no sunset date has been announced. There is also a learning curve, and unlearning years of muscle memory takes time. For power users who juggle dozens of contexts, Arc still offers a sense of calm that few browsers match — just understand you are adopting a frozen product.

Microsoft Edge has successfully reinvented itself as a top-tier browser. Built on the same Chromium engine as Chrome, it matches Google's speed and compatibility but adds Microsoft's own productivity flavor. Features like Vertical Tabs, Collections (for research), and Split Screen make it surprisingly powerful for work.

It is heavily integrated with the Microsoft ecosystem, featuring built-in access to Copilot (Microsoft's AI), Outlook, and Office apps via a sidebar. "Sleeping Tabs" is a standout feature that aggressively freezes unused tabs to save RAM, often making Edge feel lighter than Chrome on aging hardware.

Some users find the aggressive promotion of Microsoft services intrusive. However, as a default Windows browser, it is no longer just a tool to download Chrome—it is a genuinely capable, feature-packed competitor that works brilliantly in enterprise and office environments.

SigmaOS treats the browser like a to-do list. Every tab is a "task" that you can mark as done, clearing it from your workspace. This subtle psychological shift encourages you to close tabs and finish tasks rather than letting them pile up indefinitely.

Navigation is designed to be almost entirely keyboard-driven. You use single-key shortcuts to open pages, split the screen, or send links to different workspaces. It includes "Airis," an AI assistant that can rewrite text or summarize pages in context, further speeding up workflows.

It requires a significant shift in mindset; if you prefer clicking tabs with a mouse, SigmaOS will feel alien. But for keyboard-centric users who view browsing as a series of tasks to be completed, it offers a uniquely productive and focused environment.

Zen Browser takes the reliable, privacy-friendly engine of Firefox and wraps it in a beautiful, modern interface inspired by Arc. It brings features like vertical tabs, split views, and workspaces to the Gecko ecosystem, proving that you don't need Chromium to have a cutting-edge UI.

It focuses on "calmness" and ergonomics. The interface is designed to reduce visual noise and help you stay in the flow. It includes thoughtful touches like a sidebar for easy navigation and keyboard shortcuts that power users will appreciate.

As a relatively new project, it is still evolving, and you might find the occasional rough edge compared to a decade-old browser. However, for users who want the modern features of Arc but refuse to leave the privacy and independence of Firefox, Zen is the browser they have been waiting for.

Opera believes in the "batteries included" philosophy. Instead of asking you to hunt for extensions, it bakes popular tools directly into the interface. A free (proxy) VPN, an ad blocker, and a snapshot tool are available immediately upon installation.

The Sidebar is its defining feature, giving you persistent access to WhatsApp, Messenger, music players like Spotify, and "Aria," Opera's native AI assistant. This setup is perfect for users who want to keep chat and media visible without juggling separate windows or tabs.

The interface can feel busy compared to minimalist alternatives, and some users may prefer open-source privacy standards over Opera's proprietary stack. However, for users who want a feature-rich, "Swiss Army knife" browser that is ready to go from the first launch, Opera is a top contender.

Comet is an experimental browser concept from Perplexity that attempts to fundamentally change how we consume information. Instead of a list of blue links, Comet uses AI to synthesize answers, presenting a "knowledge-first" interface where the browser actively helps you understand topics rather than just displaying pages.

It enables a conversational research flow. You can ask follow-up questions, compare sources side-by-side, and see citations clearly marked. The goal is to reduce the "tab sprawl" that comes with researching complex topics by bringing the answer to the surface.

As a specialized tool, it may not replace your daily driver for general tasks like banking or shopping. But for students, researchers, and anyone who uses the web primarily to learn, Comet represents a fascinating glimpse into the future of AI-mediated browsing.

Helium is a Chromium-based browser focused on privacy and minimalism. It blocks ads, trackers, phishing sites, and third-party cookies by default using built-in community filters and uBlock Origin, with no setup required. On first launch it makes no background network requests unless you act, and its compact, distraction-free interface is designed to stay fast and lightweight over long sessions.

Despite its simplicity, Helium adds useful power features. It supports split-view browsing, fast link copying via shortcuts, and standalone web apps without duplicating Chromium internals. All Chromium extensions are supported, including Manifest V2, and installs from the Chrome Web Store are anonymized. With over 13,000 “!bangs” shortcuts, you can jump directly to sites and services from the address bar.

Privacy is baked into every decision, including what is left out: there is no AI assistant and no crypto wallet, and the project says plainly it does not want either. Helium is fully open source, enforces HTTPS, and supports Passkeys. There’s no built-in password manager or cloud sync by design, keeping sensitive data local. For users who want Chromium compatibility and extensions without Big Tech tracking, Helium is a clean, no-nonsense alternative.

Opera Neon has been completely reimagined from its 2017 concept browser origins. Relaunched in 2025 as a premium agentic AI browser at $19.90/month, it's built around three specialized AI agents: Neon Chat for conversational assistance, Neon Do for autonomous browser actions like filling forms and comparing options, and Neon Make for creating entire websites, tools, and reports from prompts—even while the browser is closed.

The browser provides access to top-tier AI models including GPT 5.1 and Gemini 3 Pro, with Sora 2 integration for video generation. Its "Tasks" system creates self-contained AI workspaces where the AI understands context across multiple tabs and documents. An Intelligent Mode automatically detects which AI agent is best suited for your request. "Cards" let you customize AI behavior with persistent instructions.

The trade-offs are significant. Opera Neon has no extension support whatsoever—not even Chrome Web Store access available in regular Opera. Customization is minimal, and privacy-conscious users should note that Opera is owned by a Chinese consortium (Kunlun Tech), data is retained on servers for 30 days to 6 months, and the browser is closed source. Speed benchmarks trail Chrome and Firefox. It's a purpose-built AI power tool, not a general-purpose browser.