Zen Browser gives Arc users a Firefox-based alternative

Terrence O’Brien of The Verge says he left Arc for Zen Browser and has not missed it. In his view, Zen keeps much of Arc’s interface while avoiding features he found unnecessary.

Zen has pinned sites, a left-side tab bar, separate spaces and customizable “mods.” It also supports Firefox extensions. O’Brien says Zen handles extensions better in his experience, though some extensions may not display properly in either browser.

Zen’s “glance” view opens links in temporary pop-over tabs. A floating bar, opened with Command+T or CTRL+T, can launch or switch tabs, search with a chosen engine, and trigger an extension. The browser is built on Firefox and is free and open source, relying on volunteers and donations.

Zen does not currently play DRM-protected video content, including Netflix, Spotify, HBO and Disney+. The Zen Team is working to obtain a Widevine license from Google. O’Brien also notes that Firefox’s Web MIDI support is lacking, so he still uses Chrome for some tasks.

He describes Zen as an imperfect but appealing alternative for people who value Arc’s interface without its AI features. For users who want Arc’s AI features, he says Dia may be a better fit.