Alternatives to Zen Browser
Firefox-based browser with vertical tabs and workspaces
Zen Browser ranks #9 of 14 in Browsers, with an Alt Score of 51. It is licensed under MPL-2.0, free and available on Windows, macOS and Linux. 7 of 12 checklist rows are verified against a public source.
Zen Browser is for people who find their browser cluttered or distracting and want a calmer, more organized workspace, especially heavy multitaskers who juggle many tabs across different projects or contexts.
An open-source, Firefox-based desktop browser with vertical tabs, Workspaces for keeping separate projects or contexts isolated, and Split View for viewing multiple tabs side by side in layouts like columns or a grid. It supports deep visual customization through themes and mods, plus Compact Mode to hide the tab bar until needed. Since it's built on Firefox, it inherits Firefox Sync (bookmarks, passwords, history, add-ons) and Firefox's extension ecosystem and privacy/security foundation.
You install it in place of (or alongside) Firefox and browse largely as usual, but organize tabs into Workspaces you switch between and arrange the sidebar vertically instead of horizontally. When you want to view tabs together, you select them and toggle Split View to arrange them in the same window; layout and appearance are further adjusted through built-in themes and mods.
Where Zen Browser stands out
Verified capabilities most alternatives don't have.
Why people leave Zen Browser
Dashed reasons are sourced facts; the rest are opinions. Vendors can dispute.
Sign in to add a reason — new reasons go through moderation before appearing.
Ranked alternatives
Ordered by Alt Score. Click any score to see the breakdown.
Feature comparison
How Zen Browser compares with its alternatives, feature by feature.
| Browsers checklist | Zen Browser | Vivaldi | Brave | Waterfox | Orion | Firefox |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | ||||||
| Starts at | ||||||
| License | ||||||
| Platforms | ||||||
| Engine (Chromium / Gecko / WebKit) | ||||||
| Built-in ad blocker | ||||||
| Built-in VPN or proxy | ||||||
| Vertical tabs | ||||||
| Tab groups & workspaces | ||||||
| Extension ecosystem compatibility | ||||||
| Sync (E2E encrypted) | ||||||
| Battery / memory saver mode | ||||||
| Privacy: fingerprinting protection | ||||||
| Telemetry opt-out | ||||||
| Profile containers | ||||||
| Reader mode |
Every fact and feature listed for Zen Browser is verified against its own pages. Each alternative is sourced on its own page.
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License MPL-2.0 verified 2026-07-11
Mozilla Public License Version 2.0
https://github.com/zen-browser/desktop/blob/main/LICENSE -
Pricing model Free verified 2026-07-11
If you'd like to support the development of Zen Browser, you can do so through their official donation platforms. Contributions help the small team continue improving the browser and adding new featur
https://docs.zen-browser.app/faq -
Platforms Windows, macOS, Linux verified 2026-07-11
name":"zen.installer.exe" / "name":"zen.macos-universal.dmg" / "name":"zen.linux-x86_64.tar.xz""
https://api.github.com/repos/zen-browser/desktop/releases/latest -
Status active verified 2026-07-11
tag_name":"1.21.6b","published_at":"2026-07-09T10:46:23Z""
https://api.github.com/repos/zen-browser/desktop/releases/latest -
Engine (Chromium / Gecko / WebKit) Yes verified 2026-07-11
Zen is a firefox-based browser with the aim of pushing your productivity to a new level!
https://github.com/zen-browser/desktop -
Built-in ad blocker Partial verified 2026-07-11
Zen Browser includes tracking protection. This feature automatically blocks websites and advertisers from tracking your online activity, making it harder for third parties to collect your data and sho
https://docs.zen-browser.app/security -
Vertical tabs Yes verified 2026-07-11
Zen Browser will not support horizontal tabs in the near future. The decision to focus on Vertical Tabs is a core design choice, with the entire Zen Browser experience built around this concept.
https://docs.zen-browser.app/faq -
Tab groups & workspaces Yes verified 2026-07-11
Zen Browser's workspaces feature is your go-to tool for organizing tabs seamlessly by tasks, projects, or themes.
https://docs.zen-browser.app/user-manual/workspaces -
Extension ecosystem compatibility Yes verified 2026-07-11
Since Zen is based on Mozilla Firefox, you can install extensions from the same source: https://addons.mozilla.org
https://docs.zen-browser.app/user-manual/extensions -
Sync (E2E encrypted) Yes verified 2026-07-11
Zen Browser integrates with Firefox Sync, allowing you to sync your addons, bookmarks, history, passwords, and other browser data across multiple devices.
https://docs.zen-browser.app/faq -
Profile containers Yes verified 2026-07-11
Container Tabs is a feature derived from Firefox that provide separate cookie sessions within the same browser profile.
https://docs.zen-browser.app/user-manual/workspaces
FAQ
Yes. Vivaldi, Brave and Waterfox have a free tier or are fully free. Free-tier limits in the comparison table are verified and dated.
Brave, Waterfox and Firefox — every license claim links its source.