searchgpt vs arc-search
SearchGPT vs Arc Search — features, pricing, and which to choose for your SEO workflow in 2026.
Quick Verdict
OpenAI's SearchGPT and The Browser Company's Arc Search represent two distinct approaches to AI-powered search. SearchGPT integrates directly into ChatGPT's conversational interface, while Arc Search lives natively within Arc browser as a synthesis-focused search experience.
The key difference lies in their execution: SearchGPT uses OpenAI's massive language model infrastructure to provide comprehensive, conversational search results, while Arc Search focuses on browsing multiple sites simultaneously to create synthesized answer pages. For SEO professionals, this distinction matters significantly when analyzing how AI search impacts content discovery and ranking.
Feature Comparison
SearchGPT delivers real-time web results with AI-generated summaries and proper source citations, all within ChatGPT's familiar chat interface. You can ask follow-up questions, request clarification, and drill deeper into topics without starting over. The search results include direct links to sources, making it valuable for research workflows and understanding how AI interprets web content. Arc Search takes a different approach by actually browsing multiple websites simultaneously, then creating a synthesized page that combines information from various sources. This "Browse for Me" feature essentially acts as an AI research assistant that reads multiple pages and creates a custom summary page. However, Arc Search is limited to Arc browser users and requires the specific browser environment to function. For SEO analysis, SearchGPT provides clearer insight into source attribution and how AI systems rank and present web content, while Arc Search offers a unique perspective on how AI might synthesize information across multiple sites.
Pricing Comparison
Both tools are currently free, but with different access requirements. SearchGPT is available to all ChatGPT users, including free tier users, with no additional cost. This makes it accessible to anyone with a ChatGPT account. Arc Search requires downloading and using Arc browser as your primary browsing tool. While the browser itself is free, this represents a switching cost that many users may not want to make. Arc Search's features are deeply integrated into the browser experience, meaning you can't access them through other browsers or as a standalone tool.
Best For
SearchGPT works best for SEO professionals who want to understand how conversational AI handles search queries and presents web content. It's ideal for content research, competitive analysis, and understanding how AI systems interpret and rank web information. The integration with ChatGPT's broader capabilities makes it powerful for content strategy and analysis workflows. Arc Search is better for users already committed to the Arc browser ecosystem who want a more integrated browsing and search experience. It excels at creating synthesized research pages and offers unique insights into how AI might consolidate information from multiple sources, which can inform content strategy for capturing AI-driven traffic.
The Verdict
SearchGPT wins for most SEO use cases due to its broader accessibility, more mature AI infrastructure, and clearer source attribution. While Arc Search offers interesting synthesis capabilities, its browser dependency limits its practical application for most SEO workflows. SearchGPT's integration with OpenAI's ecosystem and wider user base makes it the more strategic choice for understanding and optimizing for AI search behavior.