Duotang vs Vivaldi

Duotang

Vivaldi

Tabs stay alive on switch

✓ Yes

✓ Yes

Requires manual save

✗ No

✗ No

Price

Free

Free

Account required

No

Optional (sync only)

Data storage

Local only

Local (sync optional)

Workspace navigation

Sidebar on every page

Built-in browser sidebar

Tab search

Workspace-scoped

Yes (global)

Tab/workspace limit

None

None

Vivaldi-specific

Install type

Chrome extension

Browser replacement

Platform

Windows, Mac, Linux

Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS

Built-in tools

Workspaces, Peek, Search+

Mail, calendar, RSS, notes, ad blocker

Cross-device sync

No (local-first)

Yes (optional)

Active development

Yes

Yes

Same architecture, different commitment

Vivaldi's Workspaces keep tabs alive across switches — the same fundamental architecture as Duotang. If you switch to a workspace in Vivaldi, your tabs don't reload. Your Notion page, your Gmail draft, your active ChatGPT session — all still there when you come back.

The difference is what you give up to get there. Vivaldi requires leaving Chrome entirely: re-logging into every site, rebuilding your extension setup, leaving behind years of bookmarks, passwords, and history. Duotang is a Chrome extension — your existing setup is untouched.

Vivaldi is a different product philosophy

Vivaldi is built for power users who want everything in one place. Beyond workspaces, it ships with a full email client, calendar, RSS reader, note-taking, a built-in ad blocker, and deep UI customization down to keyboard shortcuts and mouse gestures. If you want your browser to replace a dozen other tools, Vivaldi is genuinely impressive.

That depth is also its friction. Vivaldi has a steeper learning curve than Chrome, and its opinionated UI takes time to configure. If workspaces are all you need, you're paying that migration cost for features you may not use.

Nothing to migrate

Duotang installs in seconds on top of Chrome. Your bookmarks, passwords, history, extensions, and sync stay exactly as they are. There's no new browser to learn, no settings to reconfigure. If workspaces are the only thing you're missing from your current setup, that matters.

When Vivaldi is the right choice

• You want a full browser redesign — mail, calendar, RSS, and deep customization in one app
• You need mobile workspaces — Vivaldi has iOS and Android apps
• You want cross-device sync for your workspaces
• You're willing to invest time in configuring a new browser environment

When Duotang is the right choice

• You want genuine workspaces without switching browsers
• You want to keep your Chrome profile, extensions, bookmarks, and passwords
• You need workspaces only — no interest in bundled mail or calendar
• You want something that installs and works in under a minute