The Zen Browser Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Zen Browser in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Zen Browser
The Insider’s Guide
Free, open-source desktop browser built around vertical tabs
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among browsers, read from Zen Browser’s own pages.
Made by Zen Team · checked Oct 5, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Zen Browser’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Zen Browser’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 5, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.8
GPA, above 5 of the 15 other browsers we grade
Zen Browser is a free, open-source desktop browser for macOS, Windows and Linux whose codebase is derived from Firefox. Its interface is designed around vertical tabs and adds Workspaces, Split View, a Compact Mode that hides the tab bar, and community-made Zen Mods for customization. It is built by a small volunteer team funded by donations and is still labeled a beta.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Zen Browser, taken from its own pages and our grades.
It's free and open source, run by a small volunteer team on donations.
- 1
Best for vertical tabs on an open-source browser
Zen rebuilds Firefox around vertical tabs, with Workspaces, Split View and a Compact Mode that hides the tab bar until you want it.
- 2
It is free
Zen Browser has no paid plan at all. Zen is free and open-source with no paid tier. Development is supported by optional donations through Patreon and Ko-fi and by sponsors.
- 3
It runs on 3 platforms
macOS, Windows and Linux.
- 4
Workspaces
Tabs are organized into Workspaces so that separate projects stay apart, with quick switching from one to another.
- 5
Vertical tabs and Compact Mode
The whole interface is built around a vertical tab bar. Compact Mode hides that bar until it is needed, leaving more of the screen for the page.
- 6
Split View
Split View shows tabs side by side for comparison. Tabs are selected with Ctrl or Shift and split from the right-click menu.
- 7
A 2.8 GPA, above 5 of 15
That is against the other browsers we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
Zen Browser is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Zen Browser at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, Linux
- Made by
- Zen Team
- Category
- Browsers
- Our grade
- 2.8 GPA, good
The report card
Best for vertical tabs on an open-source browser
Zen rebuilds Firefox around vertical tabs, with Workspaces, Split View and a Compact Mode that hides the tab bar until you want it. It's free and open source, run by a small volunteer team on donations. But it's still labeled a beta, there's no Widevine license so DRM-protected streaming won't play on Windows or Mac, horizontal tabs aren't coming, and no phone version is planned.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free and open source with no paid tier at all. The team lives on optional donations through Patreon and Ko-fi and on sponsors, so whether you ever pay a penny is entirely your call. |
| Free plan and trial | A | Free outright, with nothing kept back: Workspaces, Split View, Compact Mode, Glance and the whole Zen Mods business. Sync is free too, riding on a Mozilla account. |
| Features | C | The tab features are Workspaces, Split View, Compact Mode, Glance and mods to restyle it. But it's a short list for a browser, and there's a hole in the middle of it: no Widevine license, so DRM-protected streaming won't play on Windows or Mac at all. Horizontal tabs aren't supported either. |
| Ease of use | C | No rating on record, and the whole thing is built round a vertical tab bar, with horizontal tabs not supported and not coming. If you've had tabs across the top for twenty years, that's relearning. It's also still labelled a beta, kept up by a small team. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Desktop only: Mac, Windows and Linux, with add-ons, bookmarks, history and passwords synced through Firefox Sync. No Android or iPhone version, and the FAQ says none is planned, so your phone browses something else. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Zen Browser is for
- Fits if you prefer vertical tabs and want the rest of the screen left alone
- Works for Firefox users who want Workspaces and Split View built in
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you watch DRM-protected streaming in your browser, which won't play on Windows or Mac
- Not for you if you want the same browser on your phone, as no mobile version is planned
- Not for you if you want horizontal tabs, because the team says they aren't coming in the near future
- Watch out: it's labeled a beta and kept up by a small team, so bug fixes and requests can take time
Good to know
Good for
- People who prefer vertical tabs and a minimal interface
- Firefox users who want workspaces and split view built in
- Those who want an open-source browser funded by donations
Worth knowing
- Zen is labeled a beta and is maintained by a small team, so bug reports and feature requests can take time.
- There is no Android or iOS version, and the FAQ says none is planned.
- The FAQ says Zen has no Widevine license, so DRM-protected streaming does not play on Windows or macOS.
- Horizontal tabs are not supported; the team says they will not be added in the near future.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
Zen Browser is free to use.
Free and open source with no paid tier at all.
Free
$0
The full browser for macOS, Windows and Linux, including Workspaces, Split View, Compact Mode and Zen Mods.
The free plan
Zen is free and open-source with no paid tier. Development is supported by optional donations through Patreon and Ko-fi and by sponsors.
Read from zen-browser.app on Oct 5, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
3
Places it runs: macOS, Windows and Linux
Free, open-source desktop browser built around vertical tabs. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, web browser.
The tab features are Workspaces, Split View, Compact Mode, Glance and mods to restyle it.
- Workspaces
- Tabs are organized into Workspaces so that separate projects stay apart, with quick switching from one to another.
- Vertical tabs and Compact Mode
- The whole interface is built around a vertical tab bar. Compact Mode hides that bar until it is needed, leaving more of the screen for the page.
- Split View
- Split View shows tabs side by side for comparison. Tabs are selected with Ctrl or Shift and split from the right-click menu.
- Glance
- Glance gives quick access to the tabs a person uses most, without scrolling back through history to find them.
- Zen Mods
- Zen Mods are themes and modifications that change how the browser looks and behaves, and the documentation covers live CSS editing for further customization.
- Sync through Firefox Sync
- Signing in with a Mozilla account syncs add-ons, bookmarks, history, passwords and other browser data across devices.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
What it works with
- Firefox Sync
Zen Browser is made by Zen Team.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
5/15
Other browsers it is graded above
Zen Browser's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 5 of the 15 other browsers we grade, and level with 1.
It stands best on value for money (A, above 8 of 15) and worst on features (C, above 0).
Zen Browser has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 16 browsers we grade, cut by the letter each got. Zen Browser’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 8 of 15
- AFree plan and trialAbove 5 of 15
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 15
- CEase of useAbove 0 of 15
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 15
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 15 browsers. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Zen Browser is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
Zen Browser is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
What you could not
- A web browser.
- Apps for macOS, Windows and Linux that stay in step with each other.
What this rests on. Zen Browser’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Arc, Firefox, Vivaldi and Brave
The 4 tools Zen Browser is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.4GPA
Arc
Free
Chromium-based browser with Spaces, Profiles and Split View.
- Only Zen Browser lists a Linux app.
- Only Arc lists iOS and Android apps.
- Zen Browser is open source, according to its own site.
- 3.8GPA
Firefox
Free
Free, open-source browser from Mozilla with tracker blocking built in.
- Only Firefox lists Android and iOS apps.
- Firefox is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- Firefox also covers password manager.
- 3.8GPA
Vivaldi
Free
Customizable browser with built-in mail, calendar and feed reader.
- Only Vivaldi lists Android and iOS apps.
- Zen Browser is open source, according to its own site.
- Vivaldi is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- 3.8GPA
Brave
Free plan · from $3.00/mo
Open-source browser that blocks ads and trackers by default.
- Only Brave lists Android and iOS apps.
- Brave also covers password manager and video calls.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Zen Browser free?
Yes. Zen Browser is free to use.
How much does Zen Browser cost?
Zen Browser lists one plan. Free: $0.
What platforms does Zen Browser work on?
Zen Browser is available on macOS, Windows and Linux.
Does Zen Browser have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. Zen Browser is listed for macOS, Windows and Linux.
Does Zen Browser have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. Zen Browser is listed for macOS, Windows and Linux.
Is Zen Browser open source?
Yes. Zen Browser is open source, according to its own site.
What does Zen Browser integrate with?
Zen Browser's listing names Firefox Sync. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes Zen Browser?
Zen Browser is made by Zen Team.
What are the alternatives to Zen Browser?
The closest alternatives to Zen Browser in our directory are Arc, Firefox, Vivaldi and Brave.
How does Zen Browser compare with other browsers?
Zen Browser's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 5 of the 15 other browsers we grade, and level with 1.
Is Zen Browser good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Zen Browser A for value for money. Zen Browser has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Zen Browser?
Zen Browser is free, so making your own would save you nothing. And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Zen Browser’s own pages on Oct 5, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Zen's own pages on 5 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-03-13.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Zen Team. Prices change, so check zen-browser.app before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Zen Browser, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/zen-browser
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Zen Browser: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 5, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/zen-browser
Know someone choosing between browsers?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/zen-browser/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded browsers after Zen Browser, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Browsers Insider's GuideEvery one of the 16 browsers we grade, compared
- Brave Insider's GuideOpen-source browser that blocks ads and trackers by default3.8 GPA
- Firefox Insider's GuideFree, open-source browser from Mozilla with tracker blocking built in3.8 GPA
- Vivaldi Insider's GuideCustomizable browser with built-in mail, calendar and feed reader3.8 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Zen Browser’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Zen Browser is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Zen Team. Prices and plans change: check zen-browser.app before you buy.