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Zen Browser is a Firefox-based browser that adds modern features Firefox lacks, including workspaces for tab organization, split view, vertical tabs, glance link previews, and folder organization. Built on Firefox's Gecko engine rather than Chromium, it avoids Manifest v3 restrictions, allowing uBlock Origin to work without limitations. Available as AppImage or Flatpak for easy cross-distro installation on Linux (plus Windows and Mac), it's currently in beta but stable enough for daily use.

Zen browser: The best alternative to Firefox

Workspaces, split view, and unrestricted ad blocking Firefox doesn't offer.

I like Zen Browser because it reminds me of Arc Browser. However, I had to settle for Vivaldi. I do not like that Zen Browser uses the Gecko engine instead of Blink. It does not feel as responsive, and it is often slower on websites that use heavy JavaScript, which is now very common. Also, most web developers usually check compatibility with Google Chrome and other Blink-based browsers, and Safari after, while other browsers are treated as optional. So, while I honestly like the philosophy behind Zen Browser, I chose Vivaldi because I do not have a choice.

Been dailying Zen at work (windows) for maybe 6 months, and personally about 5 months. It’s been good so far. The only thing I was missing was PWA support until FF added <code>browser.taskbartabs.enabled</code>, but I have not tested that on my home Linux workstation.

Well, to be fair with Firefox… It doesn’t lack vertical tabs for a while now.
But I’ve switched to Zen as my default browser and I’m not going back.

Zen feels like the browser Firefox should have been iterating toward: workspaces, vertical tabs, split view, and still Gecko. The uBlock/Manifest v3 angle is a practical reason to care too.

I use both zen and Brave but for different use and they’re great alternative to firefox and chrome.