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 Dia
Zen is best for an Arc-style sidebar. Dia is best for AI in the browser.
Pick Dia if
You want an assistant that reads your tabs and does writing and research with you.
The catch. It needs an Apple Silicon Mac on macOS 14 or later, and its best AI features are paid.
Zen vs Dia, feature by feature
| Zen | Dia | |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | Firefox (Gecko) | Chromium |
| Vertical tabs | On by default | Yes |
| Sites on screen at once | Up to four, in Split View | Two or more, in Split View |
| Separate workspaces | Workspaces and Container Tabs | Profiles, each in its own window |
| 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 (Apple Silicon) |
| Open source | Yes | No |
| Price | Free | Free; Dia Pro $20/month |
| Development | Active | Active |
Questions
Is Zen better than Dia?
Neither wins everywhere. Zen is best for an Arc-style sidebar; Dia is best for AI in the browser. Pick Zen if you miss Arc and want its layout in an open-source browser. Pick Dia if you want an assistant that reads your tabs and does writing and research with you.
Do Zen and Dia block ads?
Zen: Trackers built in; ads with an add-on. Dia: Built in, ads and trackers.
Which extensions do Zen and Dia run?
Zen: Firefox add-ons. Dia: Chrome Web Store.
Where do Zen and Dia run?
Zen: macOS, Windows, Linux. Dia: macOS (Apple Silicon).
Are Zen and Dia free?
Zen: Free. Dia: Free; Dia Pro $20/month.