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 Vivaldi
Zen is best for an Arc-style sidebar. Vivaldi is best for customising everything.
Pick Vivaldi if
You want tabs on any side, tab stacks, tiling and a setting for nearly everything.
The catch. The number of options takes time to learn, and its interface is not open source.
Zen vs Vivaldi, feature by feature
| Zen | Vivaldi | |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | Firefox (Gecko) | Chromium |
| Vertical tabs | On by default | Yes, tabs on any side |
| Sites on screen at once | Up to four, in Split View | Several, with Tab Tiling |
| Separate workspaces | Workspaces and Container Tabs | Workspaces and profiles |
| 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 | Partly — the interface is closed |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Development | Active | Active |
Questions
Is Zen better than Vivaldi?
Neither wins everywhere. Zen is best for an Arc-style sidebar; Vivaldi is best for customising everything. Pick Zen if you miss Arc and want its layout in an open-source browser. Pick Vivaldi if you want tabs on any side, tab stacks, tiling and a setting for nearly everything.
Do Zen and Vivaldi block ads?
Zen: Trackers built in; ads with an add-on. Vivaldi: Built in, ads and trackers.
Which extensions do Zen and Vivaldi run?
Zen: Firefox add-ons. Vivaldi: Chrome Web Store.
Where do Zen and Vivaldi run?
Zen: macOS, Windows, Linux. Vivaldi: macOS, Windows, Linux, iPhone, Android.
Are Zen and Vivaldi free?
Both are free.