Zen Browser is a rebranded version of Firefox running on the Gecko engine. It features an unusual interface and something called Spaces profiles, but as of now, it offers very few unique features.
In today’s world, you can choose from around a dozen browsers, but in reality, they all run on just two engines. While Gecko has virtually no alternatives beyond Mozilla, Chromium (Blink) offers a wide range of options. That’s why I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Zen Browser is based on Gecko.
What Is This Browser?
Zen Browser is an open-source browser available on all modern desktop operating systems. At the time of writing, only a beta version is available for download.
The developers promise enhanced productivity tools, a simple and user-friendly interface, and protection of your privacy.
The browser is funded by donations from users and companies like Blacksmith, Crowdin, and Tuta—names many of you likely haven’t heard of. Under the hood, Mozilla’s Firefox frequently peeks through.
First Launch and Interface
As with any new browser, Zen will prompt you on first launch to import bookmarks from other browsers and set Zen as your default. You can also choose a search engine: Google, DuckDuckGo, Ecosia, or Qwant.
After a brief introduction to Zen’s features, the browser finally launches, and you’re ready to start browsing.
The interface felt very unfamiliar to me. There’s no omnibar or top/bottom toolbar. Instead, the current webpage takes up almost the entire screen, while the navigation and settings panel is located on the left side of the window.
Overall, the panel offers the same features found in most browsers—extension management, quick access, Spaces, and tabs.
You can open a new page either via the omnibar or by clicking the New Tab button. In the latter case, you’ll encounter an unusual behavior: something resembling Spotlight appears for searching or entering a website address.
Aside from that, Zen Browser includes the same features found in Firefox. Even extensions and themes are compatible between the two browsers.
However, Zen does offer its own small (for now) set of mods.
Distinctive Features of Zen Browser
In the settings under Look and Feel, you can change the appearance of the toolbar—adding a navigation bar at the top or collapsing the sidebar.
Most other settings are identical to those in Firefox, even if they’re labeled with Zen. For example, the privacy settings essentially mirror Firefox’s. Even the help section redirects you to Mozilla’s website.
So aside from a new interface, Zen’s main unique offering is its Spaces feature. But even that isn’t truly new…
Spaces are separate browser profiles—settings and bookmarks are isolated between them. I’m not entirely sure, but it seems very similar to Firefox’s built-in container functionality. It’s amusing that Firefox only recently introduced native profile support, and now Zen is building its main identity around it.
Final Thoughts
To be honest, I’m not entirely sure what Zen Browser’s developers are aiming to achieve. At this point, it’s nearly a full copy of Firefox with minor rebranding. All of the so-called unique features are actually just Firefox features, including the promised privacy protection.
Of course, it’s still in beta, so it’s too early to say the browser is useless or that development should stop. But for now, it’s definitely not a browser I would recommend trying.