Zen Browser icon
Zen Browser icon

Zen Browser

Experience a privacy-focused, open-source browser rich with features like vertical tabs, Split View, Zen Glance, and extensive security protocols. Built on Firefox, it's currently in beta, emphasizing privacy and adaptability, with future plans for horizontal tabs.

Zen Browser screenshot 1

Cost / License

Application type

Platforms

  • Mac
  • Windows  10+
  • Linux
  • Arch Linux
  • Flathub
  • Flatpak
  • AppImage
Zen Browser screenshot 1
Zen Browser screenshot 2
+8
Zen Browser screenshot 3
Zen Browser alternatives  
381likes
119alternatives
11articles

Features

Properties

  1.  Customizable
  2.  Privacy focused
  3.  Clean design
  4.  Support for Themes
  5.  Lightweight

Features

  1.  Firefox-based Browsers
  2.  Vertical Tabs
  3.  Split-screen view
  4.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
  5.  Sidebar
  6.  Dark Mode
  7.  Workspaces
  8.  Picture in Picture
  9.  No Tracking
  10.  Multiple Profiles
  11.  Based on Gecko engine
  12.  No registration required
  13.  Ad-free
  14.  Container tabs
  15.  Cloud Sync
  16.  Focus Mode
  17.  Toggle reader view
  18.  Integrated Password Manager
  19.  Multiple Account support
  20.  Website Translation
  21.  Website screenshots
  22.  Block Trackers
  23.  Support for Gestures
  24.  Full-page Screenshot
  25.  Spell Checking
  26.  HTTPS-Only Mode
  27.  Works Offline
  28.  Portable
  29.  No Logs
  30.  Integrated PDF Viewer
  31.  Folders
  32.  Unload inactive tabs
  33.  Group tabs

 Tags

Zen Browser News & Activities

Highlights All activities

Recent News

Recent activities

  • L-M liked Zen Browser
  • alzym4813 liked Zen Browser
  • dimashahbari liked Zen Browser
  • Shadow5964 liked Zen Browser
  • magicscraper liked Zen Browser
  • Suman-Kathayat rated Zen Browser  
  • Suman-Kathayat liked Zen Browser
  • Geroyuni liked Zen Browser
  • Geroyuni reviewed Zen Browser  

    I'm glad this browser exists. It picked up the creative UI ideas from the abandoned Arc browser, and kept it maintained on all platforms, with the added benefit of now being open source and Firefox-based.

    The vertical tab system, and how they combine the concept of tabs and bookmarks in one is just great and intuitive. You can also denote different spaces and basically 'swipe' between them (e.g. Main, Work, Music), and they don't feel quite as awkward to go between as what other browsers have...

  • ardral liked Zen Browser
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An advanced browser with a built-in VPN for privacy, ad blocker, Speed Dial, AI, cloud sync, and rich extensions, tailored for various devices.

 
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Comments and Reviews

   
Comment summary: Zen Browser earns praise for its fast, polished, minimalist Arc-like interface, Firefox foundation, privacy, open-source model, customization, and productivity features such as vertical tabs, workspaces, split views, and side panels. Many users consider it suitable for daily use and appreciate its rapid development. However, recurring concerns include immature workspace and split-view behavior, RAM use, limited extension accessibility, missing DRM, Linux/window issues, and the lack of optional horizontal tabs. Early comments report lag and instability, while later feedback is more favorable.
Top Positive Comment
williammarkrock
11

Zen browser is an amazing browser. I switched to it from Arc after Chromium started suppressing adblockers. It has so many good features and is made by just one independent developer, which makes it an awesome alternative to Chromium-based browsers.

Geroyuni
0

I'm glad this browser exists. It picked up the creative UI ideas from the abandoned Arc browser, and kept it maintained on all platforms, with the added benefit of now being open source and Firefox-based.

The vertical tab system, and how they combine the concept of tabs and bookmarks in one is just great and intuitive. You can also denote different spaces and basically 'swipe' between them (e.g. Main, Work, Music), and they don't feel quite as awkward to go between as what other browsers have done. It all just clicks really well.

Meanwhile I saw other browsers responded to the popularity of Arc/Zen by just slapping a half-baked vertical tab mode without thinking about any of the rest of the design properly. They couldn't possibly do what Arc did because they're still thinking in the old way browser UIs work.

I also consider being Firefox-based rather than Chromium a big plus, because it helps keep the browser ecosystem more varied and inherently avoids any anti-consumer behavior such as recent extension changes by Google.

The only caveat I can put here is that all the innovation was done by Arc, and this browser simply copies it well. I'm not sure there will be new exciting ideas led by the Zen maintainer and contributors after they get full parity with Arc.

ttpiatek
0

My #1 browser. Easily switching between user identities is a game changer.

SapphireEclipse
0

Gorgeous, fast, customizable, private. What's not to like?

Review from a new or low-activity account — shown here, but not counted in the app rating.
HealthAndWealth
0

This app deserves more attention than it gets. It's basically like the Arc browser, if it wasn't made by a shady developer. Beautiful, minimalist UI to replace Firefox's clunky, outdated one

lesm
0

This browser deserves a 5 star rate but not allowing to place tabs horizontally on top is really annoying. Maybe in the future they will recover from insanity.

Positron17
1

Open-source, modern and customizable. Probably one of the best browser.

Review from a new or low-activity account — shown here, but not counted in the app rating.
7 of 50 comments

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Official Links

AppStores & Other Links

What is Zen Browser?

Zen Browser is an open-source software based on Mozilla Firefox, focusing on privacy, adaptability, and aesthetics. It uses vertical tabs, like Vivaldi, Microsoft Edge, Brave, and Arc Browser. Unique features include Split View, Zen Sidebar, Zen Glance, and workspaces for tab separation. It prioritizes user data protection with security features like tracking protection, support for the Online Certificate Status Protocol (OCSP), and strict SSL standards. It's built on the latest version of Firefox, inheriting its security updates.

Zen Browser information

AlternativeTo Categories

Web Browsers, Education & Reference, Photos & Graphics, Office & Productivity

GitHub repository

  •  44,435 Stars
  •  1,748 Forks
  •  679 Open Issues
  •   Updated  
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Our users have written 50 comments and reviews about Zen Browser, and it has gotten 381 likes

Zen Browser was added to AlternativeTo by kartkutsiz on and this page was last updated . Zen Browser is sometimes referred to as Zen.