Zen Browser
Calm, beautiful Firefox.
A community Firefox fork with an Arc-inspired, distraction-free interface: compact vertical tabs, workspaces, split view, and a lively theming/mod community — without leaving Gecko.
- Engine
- Gecko
- License
- Open source
- Runs on
- Windows, macOS, Linux
- Top marks
- Fresh design, Extension ecosystem, Site compatibility, Open source, Independence
- Updated
- September 2026
Why it shines
- Gorgeous minimal UI with vertical tabs
- Workspaces and split view built in
- Community mods and themes
- Firefox Sync and extensions work
Worth knowing
- Young, fast-moving project — occasional rough edges
- Compact UI hides things until you learn it
Origins
Zen Browser belongs to The Mozilla family — descended from Firefox.
Does well
Ranked in
Head to head
Scorecard
- Tracking protection2/3
- Fingerprinting resistance0/3
- Anonymity0/3
- Built-in ad blocking1/3
- Customization2/3
- Keyboard control1/3
- Built-in tools2/3
- Minimal interface2/3
- Fresh design3/3
- Classic interface0/3
- Light on resources0/3
- Raw speed1/3
- Battery efficiency1/3
- Extension ecosystem3/3
- Cross-device sync2/3
- Site compatibility3/3
- Low maintenance2/3
- Open source3/3
- Independence3/3
- Built-in AI0/3
- Gaming features0/3
- Dev tooling0/3
0–3 on each of the 22 criteria the quiz and the guides rank by. How we score.
