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 Orion
Zen is best for an Arc-style sidebar. Orion is best for Safari’s engine with any extension.
Pick Orion if
You want Safari’s engine and battery life with Chrome and Firefox extensions on top.
The catch. It is Apple-only, it has no split view, and some extensions only partly work.
Zen vs Orion, feature by feature
| Zen | Orion | |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | Firefox (Gecko) | WebKit |
| Vertical tabs | On by default | Yes, in the View menu |
| Sites on screen at once | Up to four, in Split View | One per window |
| Separate workspaces | Workspaces and Container Tabs | Profiles, each as its own app |
| Ad and tracker blocking | Trackers built in; ads with an add-on | Built in, ads and trackers |
| Extensions | Firefox add-ons | Chrome and Firefox extensions |
| Platforms | macOS, Windows, Linux | macOS, iPhone, iPad |
| Open source | Yes | No |
| Price | Free | Free; Orion+ from $5/month |
| Development | Active | Active |
Questions
Is Zen better than Orion?
Neither wins everywhere. Zen is best for an Arc-style sidebar; Orion is best for Safari’s engine with any extension. Pick Zen if you miss Arc and want its layout in an open-source browser. Pick Orion if you want Safari’s engine and battery life with Chrome and Firefox extensions on top.
Do Zen and Orion block ads?
Zen: Trackers built in; ads with an add-on. Orion: Built in, ads and trackers.
Which extensions do Zen and Orion run?
Zen: Firefox add-ons. Orion: Chrome and Firefox extensions.
Where do Zen and Orion run?
Zen: macOS, Windows, Linux. Orion: macOS, iPhone, iPad.
Are Zen and Orion free?
Zen: Free. Orion: Free; Orion+ from $5/month.