Pick Arc if
You already use it and it still does everything you need.
The catch. It gets no new features: its makers moved to Dia in May 2025.
Arc vs Zen
Arc is best for people who already love it. Zen is best for an Arc-style sidebar.
Pick Zen if
You miss Arc and want its layout in an open-source browser.
The catch. It runs Firefox add-ons, not Chrome extensions, and a few web apps work best in Chromium.
Arc vs Zen, feature by feature
| Arc | Zen | |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | Chromium | Firefox (Gecko) |
| Vertical tabs | On by default | On by default |
| Sites on screen at once | Up to four, in Split View | Up to four, in Split View |
| Separate workspaces | Spaces and Profiles | Workspaces and Container Tabs |
| Ad and tracker blocking | Through an extension | Trackers built in; ads with an add-on |
| Extensions | Chrome Web Store | Firefox add-ons |
| Platforms | macOS, Windows, iPhone | macOS, Windows, Linux |
| Open source | No | Yes |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Development | Maintenance only since May 2025 | Active |
Questions
Is Arc better than Zen?
Neither wins everywhere. Arc is best for people who already love it; Zen is best for an Arc-style sidebar. Pick Arc if you already use it and it still does everything you need. Pick Zen if you miss Arc and want its layout in an open-source browser.
Do Arc and Zen block ads?
Arc: Through an extension. Zen: Trackers built in; ads with an add-on.
Which extensions do Arc and Zen run?
Arc: Chrome Web Store. Zen: Firefox add-ons.
Where do Arc and Zen run?
Arc: macOS, Windows, iPhone. Zen: macOS, Windows, Linux.
Are Arc and Zen free?
Both are free.