Tarn and Chrome: the web without the account
| Feature | Tarn | Chrome |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | System WebKit; Chromium per tab, optional | Blink (Chromium) |
| Built-in blocking | Yes: trackers, ads, cookie banners, malware, each a switch | Partly: Safe Browsing and intrusive-ad filtering on some sites |
| Account required | No: Tarn has no accounts | No; a Google Account is optional, for sync |
| Telemetry | None | Usage and crash reports, can be switched off |
| Sidebar and vertical tabs | Yes: vertical tabs in the sidebar | Yes: optional vertical tabs |
| Spaces and profiles | Yes: spaces, and profiles with separate data | Yes: profiles |
| Split view | Yes: two tabs side by side | Yes, since Chrome 145 |
| Sync between devices | No | Yes, with a Google Account |
| Extensions | Partly: Safari web extensions from installed Mac apps | Yes: Chrome Web Store |
| Platforms | macOS 14+ today; Windows, Linux, iOS, Android in development | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS |
| Open source | MIT or Apache-2.0 licence; source not public yet | Partly: built on open-source Chromium |
— means we could not verify the cell from Chrome's own documentation or established reporting. Sources are listed at the end of the page.
Where Tarn differs from Chrome
Tarn renders pages in the system WebKit by default and has no account of any kind, so there is nothing to sign in to and no browsing data to sync to a server.
- Ads, trackers, cookie banners, YouTube ads, pop-ups and malware sites are blocked on your Mac by signed lists, each with its own switch.
- Shield's Standard, Strict and Lockdown levels apply per profile or per site.
- No telemetry; update and filter-list checks go to GitHub and are listed in Settings › Privacy.
- Chromium is still there when a site needs it: a single tab, once signed updates are published, and Tarn tells you first that Chromium connects to Google.
Switching from Chrome: what to expect
Tarn imports history, bookmarks and cookies from Chrome profiles on your Mac, and the data stays on the Mac. Pages render in WebKit, so a site built only for Chrome may behave differently; you can open that site in a Chromium tab instead. Chrome extensions do not carry over, and there is no sync to replace a Google Account.
Where Chrome is the better choice
Chrome runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS today, and a Google Account keeps bookmarks, passwords and more in step across all of them. The Chrome Web Store has a far larger extension catalogue than Tarn supports. Chrome is mature and widely tested by site developers; Tarn is in early development and runs on the Mac only.
Tarn or Chrome?
Do I need a Google Account to use Chrome?
No. Signing in to Chrome is optional, but sync needs a Google Account. Tarn has no accounts at all.
Can I import my Chrome data into Tarn?
Yes. Import Browser Data reads the Chrome profiles it finds on your Mac and can bring in everything or only history and bookmarks. Nothing leaves the Mac.
Does Tarn work with Chrome extensions?
Not from the Chrome Web Store. Tarn offers Safari web extensions that come with apps in your Applications folder. If you depend on Chrome extensions, Chrome is the better fit.
Is Tarn built on Chromium?
No. Tarn's shell is written in Rust and pages render in the system WebKit. Chromium is optional, per tab, and only while signed automatic updates are on.
Does Chrome have vertical tabs and split view?
Yes. Chrome added split view in Chrome 145 and optional vertical tabs in April 2026. Tarn has both as well, with spaces and profiles in the same sidebar.
Sources
- Google Chrome Help: Sign in and sync in Chrome
- Google Chrome Help: Automatically send usage statistics and crash reports
- Google Chrome Help: Block or allow pop-ups and intrusive ads
- Google: Vertical tabs and immersive reading mode in Chrome
- Chrome for Developers: Tabs Split View API
- Tarn: the project's README, privacy notice, threat model and interface notes.
Last reviewed
Try Tarn on your Mac
No account to make and nothing sent home. macOS 14 or later; other platforms are in development.