Zen Browser
A calmer, open-source Firefox-based browser with workspaces and a sidebar that tames tab chaos
- Version
- 1.24b
- Released
- October 2026
- Size
- 113 MB (Windows installer)
- License
- MPL-2.0 · Open source
About Zen Browser
Zen Browser starts from a simple observation: most of us do not browse the web, we drown in it. Built on Firefox and released under MPL-2.0, it reorganizes the browser around calm: a vertical sidebar for tabs instead of an overflowing strip, workspaces that separate projects, and a compact mode that hides everything until you need it.
The ideas that make people switch are concrete. Split view puts two tabs side by side in one window without juggling. Workspaces keep work, personal, and research tabs in separate drawers with their own pinned tabs. Glance lets you peek at a link in a modal without opening a new tab at all. Because it sits on Firefox, you keep the extension ecosystem, sync, and a non-Chromium engine, which matters to anyone uneasy about one company owning the web's rendering. Version 1.24b shipped at the end of October 2026; the Windows installer is about 113 MB.
The honest caveats: Zen is community-run and moves fast, which occasionally means a rough update; it is still labeled beta; and if your workflow lives in Chrome-only tools or Google account sync, the Firefox base asks for a small migration. Verdict: the most convincing answer to tab overload in years, and the rare browser that changes your habits instead of just your default icon.
Key Features
Vertical tab sidebar
Tabs live in a tidy sidebar instead of an unreadable top strip
Workspaces
Separate contexts (work, personal, projects) with their own pinned tabs
Glance previews
Peek at a link in a modal overlay without opening a new tab
Split view
Two tabs side by side in one window, no juggling
Pros & Cons
Pros
- The sidebar plus workspaces genuinely tames heavy tab habits
- Glance and split view are small features you use constantly
- Non-Chromium engine with full Firefox extension support
- Open source and community-driven, no advertising incentives
- Polished design that feels modern without copying Arc feature-for-feature
Cons
- Still beta: fast releases occasionally ship a rough edge
- No Chrome extension support or Google account sync
- Vertical tabs take a day of adjustment if you love the classic strip
- Smaller team than the big vendors, so niche bugs can linger
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Zen Browser free?
Yes. It is free and open source under MPL-2.0, developed by a community team, with no subscription, account requirement, or advertising business model.
Is it based on Chrome?
No. Zen is built on Firefox, so it uses the Gecko engine, supports Firefox extensions, and stays independent of Chromium.
Which platforms does it run on?
Windows (installer about 113 MB), macOS, and Linux, including AppImage builds. The current version is 1.24b (October 2026).