Sign in Subscribe

Zen Browser: A Dive into the Calm Waters of Privacy-Focused Browsing

In an increasingly crowded market of web browsers, a new contender named Zen Browser has been making waves, promising a tranquil and…

Dhruvam

• 5 min read
Zen Browser: A Dive into the Calm Waters of Privacy-Focused Browsing

In an increasingly crowded market of web browsers, a new contender named Zen Browser has been making waves, promising a tranquil and customizable internet experience. Forked from Mozilla Firefox, Zen Browser places its core focus on privacy, user control, and a sleek design. But does it live up to the hype? Let’s explore what Zen Browser offers, what users are saying, and its underlying tech.

Free Link for readers

What is Zen Browser?

At its heart, Zen Browser is a free and open-source project built upon the latest version of Firefox. This means it inherits Firefox’s robust Gecko engine and benefits from its ongoing security updates. Licensed under the Mozilla Public License 2.0, Zen Browser aims to provide a “Google-free” experience, appealing to users concerned about data tracking and privacy.

Development for Zen Browser reportedly began around April 2024, with its first public alpha release in July 2024. It is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems.

Key Features and Design Philosophy

Zen Browser distinguishes itself with several notable features and design choices:

  • Vertical Tabs: A core design element, Zen Browser defaults to vertical tabs, a feature also seen in browsers like Vivaldi and Arc. This aims to improve tab management, especially for users who juggle numerous open tabs. There are plans to introduce traditional horizontal tabs in future releases.
  • Customization: Users praise Zen Browser for its high degree of customizability. “Zen Mods” (formerly Themes Store) allow users to apply custom-made UGC themes, significantly altering the browser’s appearance and feel.
  • Privacy Focus: Zen Browser emphasizes user privacy by including tracking protection to block third-party trackers. It also supports Online Certificate Status Protocol (OCSP) to verify website SSL certificates and enforces strict SSL standards. The browser’s privacy policy reportedly begins with “Information We Do Not Collect.”
  • Productivity Features:
  • Split View: Allows users to view multiple websites (up to 4) side-by-side within a single window.
  • Zen Sidebar: A built-in, detachable sidebar for quickly accessing websites.
  • Zen Glance: Enables users to quickly preview a website link without opening a new tab.
  • Workspaces: Helps organize tabs into different projects for better workflow management.
  • Compact Mode: Hides the tab bar to maximize screen real estate, showing it only when needed.
  • Firefox DNA: Being Firefox-based, Zen Browser supports Firefox Sync for syncing bookmarks, history, passwords, and add-ons across devices. It is also compatible with the extensive library of Firefox extensions, including popular ad-blockers like uBlock Origin.

Technical Tidbits

  • Engine: Built on the latest Firefox version (currently noted as 138.0.1 or similar in recent release notes).
  • Open Source: The source code is available on GitHub, allowing for community contributions and transparency.
  • Compatibility: Available for Windows, macOS (10.15 or later, for ARM and Intel), and various Linux distributions (installable via Winget, Homebrew, .tar.xz, AppImage, etc.).
  • Builds: Previously offered “optimized” (using AVX2 for newer systems) and “generic” builds, though some documentation suggests optimized builds might have been removed or integrated. A “Twilight” build offers unstable, experimental features.
  • DRM Limitations: Zen Browser currently lacks Widevine DRM support due to licensing costs. This means streaming content from services like Netflix, Spotify, Disney+, and HBO Max is not possible directly within the browser. Users would need to use an alternative browser or native apps for these services.
  • Development: The project appears to be driven by a small team or even a primary developer, with active engagement on platforms like Reddit and GitHub for bug fixes and feature requests.

What Are Users Saying? The Good and The Not-So-Good

Reviews for Zen Browser are generally positive, highlighting its fresh approach, customisation, and privacy aspects.

Pros highlighted by users and reviewers:

  • Highly Customizable: The ability to tweak the UI with themes and Zen Mods is a significant draw.
  • Privacy-Conscious: Being Firefox-based and focusing on blocking trackers appeals to users wary of Chromium-based browsers and data collection.
  • Innovative Features: Zen Glance, Workspaces, and the vertical tab layout are frequently praised as productivity enhancers.
  • Active Development: Users appreciate the responsiveness of the developers to feedback and bug reports.
  • Lightweight and Fast (for a Firefox fork): Some users report good performance, especially on lower-powered devices, compared to Chromium browsers, and that it consumes fewer resources than standard Firefox in some tests.
  • Open Source Nature: Provides transparency and community involvement.

Cons and Criticisms:

  • Rough Edges/Bugs: As a relatively new browser and often in alpha/beta stages, users have reported some bugs, occasional instability (like self-restarting), and features like Split View sometimes breaking or being unintuitive.
  • Learning Curve: The vertical tab layout and new features might take some getting used to for users accustomed to traditional browsers.
  • No Built-in Adblocker (by default): Users need to install extensions like uBlock Origin.
  • DRM Limitations: Inability to play DRM-protected content is a significant drawback for users who stream media.
  • Performance Compared to Chromium: While generally good, some benchmarks show it lagging slightly behind Chromium-based browsers in raw speed tests.
  • Firefox Developer Tools: Some developers find Firefox’s dev tools (and by extension, Zen’s) less polished than Chrome’s, particularly for JavaScript debugging and complex CSS.
  • Mobile Version: Currently, there is no mobile version of Zen Browser, though Firefox Sync allows syncing data with the Firefox mobile app.
  • macOS Quirks: Some users noted a lack of adherence to standard macOS keyboard shortcuts by default, though some can be fixed via about:config settings. Installation on macOS sometimes required overriding security settings.

The Verdict: A Promising Alternative for the Discerning User

Zen Browser emerges as a compelling alternative for users seeking a privacy-focused, highly customizable, and Firefox-based Browse experience. Its innovative features like Zen Glance and Workspaces, coupled with a commitment to an open-source, community-driven approach, make it an exciting project to watch.

While it’s still in active development and has some rough edges to smooth out, particularly regarding DRM support and occasional bugs, its strengths are resonating with users tired of the Chromium monoculture or the feature bloat of other browsers. If you value privacy, crave customization, and are open to a slightly different way of navigating the web, Zen Browser is certainly worth exploring. It offers a refreshing, calmer take on what a web browser can be.

Where to Find It:

Zen Browser is striving to carve out its niche by offering a blend of familiar Firefox foundations with a fresh, user-centric design and a strong emphasis on privacy and productivity. As it continues to mature, it has the potential to become a significant player for those seeking a more mindful and controlled online experience.

Sign up for more like this.

Enter your email
Subscribe