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.
Zen vs Brave
Zen is best for an Arc-style sidebar. Brave is best for privacy without setup.
Pick Brave if
You want ads and trackers gone from the first page while keeping Chrome extensions.
The catch. It ships extras — crypto rewards, a wallet, an AI assistant — you may want to switch off.
Zen vs Brave, feature by feature
| Zen | Brave | |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | Firefox (Gecko) | Chromium |
| Vertical tabs | On by default | Yes, in settings |
| Sites on screen at once | Up to four, in Split View | Two, in Split View |
| Separate workspaces | Workspaces and Container Tabs | Profiles and tab groups |
| Ad and tracker blocking | Trackers built in; ads with an add-on | Built in, ads and trackers |
| Extensions | Firefox add-ons | Chrome Web Store |
| Platforms | macOS, Windows, Linux | macOS, Windows, Linux, iPhone, Android |
| Open source | Yes | Yes |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Development | Active | Active |
Questions
Is Zen better than Brave?
Neither wins everywhere. Zen is best for an Arc-style sidebar; Brave is best for privacy without setup. Pick Zen if you miss Arc and want its layout in an open-source browser. Pick Brave if you want ads and trackers gone from the first page while keeping Chrome extensions.
Do Zen and Brave block ads?
Zen: Trackers built in; ads with an add-on. Brave: Built in, ads and trackers.
Which extensions do Zen and Brave run?
Zen: Firefox add-ons. Brave: Chrome Web Store.
Where do Zen and Brave run?
Zen: macOS, Windows, Linux. Brave: macOS, Windows, Linux, iPhone, Android.
Are Zen and Brave free?
Both are free.