Zen is an [[MPLv2]] licensed [[Web Browser]] written in [[Javascript]] (frontend). - [Website](https://zen-browser.app) - [Source](https://github.com/zen-browser/desktop) - Documentation > We don't sell data - We don't collect data - We don't track you # Notability # Philosophy Based on [[Firefox]]. Seems to be indie, no company backing. ## GenAI Despite multiple statements[^1] in opposition to "AI" [[Generative AI|Slop]], it sure seems to be creeping into the periphery. [[ChatGPT]] is featured in a prominent screenshot on the main landing page beneath "Core Values". Zen has incorporated a chatbot called Dosubot into their Github repo. The Dosu company is extremely cagey about what they're using on the backend and never call it "AI", but it's clearly an LLM, and their public repos include forks of "agentic AI" tools. They claim that your data is private, but since (1) they're almost certainly using an external service like OpenAI they cannot confirm this and (2) their LLM's training data is trained off of stolen scraped data anyway it's fully bullshit. For an open source project this is less of a specific concern, but it is just one part of the major ethics violations that is [[Generative AI|Slop]]. ## Privacy > Experience tranquillity while browsing the web without people tracking you! Zen is a privacy-focused browser that blocks trackers, ads, and other unwanted content while offering the best browsing experience! They don't seem to know or care much about the realities of security or data, judging by their privacy policy: - https://zen-browser.app/privacy-policy/ Also, the browser doesn't really block ads itself, you still have to install [[uBlock]]. Weird that they put it in the headline. I guess just because [[Brave Browser]] does it. ## Ethos This seems to be a design and vibes focused project. Minimalism implied. Uses a weird sidebar tab thing and a pop-up location bar when hitting ctrl-L. Feels nice and designery though. ### Vertical Tabs > Zen Browser will not support horizontal tabs in the near future. The decision to focus on **Vertical Tabs** is a core design choice, with the entire Zen Browser experience built around this concept. ## Customization - https://zen-browser.app/mods/ Zen supports UI mods, much like [[Pale Moon]] and previous versions of [[Firefox]]. ## Creator Also develops several programming languages. Not what I expected. I assumed they were primarily a designer. - https://github.com/snowball-lang - https://github.com/Basl-Language - https://github.com/ReCT-Lang # Platform Support # Features ## Split Screen Still need to test this but it could be great. ## Third-Party Updater Zen is not able to reliably update itself, but there is a third party tool which kinda does it when run manually, but it doesn't work properly either - probably because it[^2] is [[Generative AI|Slop]]. # Tips # References [^1]: https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2025/08/zen-browser-is-what-mozilla-firefox-should-be [^2]: https://github.com/krafairus/zen-browser-start