While I’ve never officially been diagnosed with anything, I wouldn’t be shocked to learn that I have some sort of attention disorder. Keeping my focus on a particular project without bouncing between three other things at the same time has always been something that I’ve struggled with, and it’s most noticeable while I’m using the internet. At any given time, I have at least 10 tabs open at the top of my page, and I find myself getting distracted by things like social media far too often.
Even though I’ve been using programs like ActivityWatch to keep myself in line, there are still times that I find myself checking my Facebook page or my X account too often during the workday. I needed to figure something out. After being recommended it by a coworker, I decided to take Zen Browser for a spin, and I’m beyond glad that I did.
Zen Browser is incredibly pretty
An Apple-like design on a Windows platform is very nice
One of the first things that you’ll notice when checking out the Zen Browser is its design language. It’s very “Made in Cupertino” coded, giving off Apple design language in just about every facet of its design. I mean, they even show that you can download a Dynamic Island on the main page of Zen, further cementing the inspiration behind the design.
Outside the generalized look of the browser, customization is encouraged here. There’s a good-sized plugin store available for Zen, seeing as it’s an open-source browser built on the bones of the Mozilla Firefox platform. That also means that security and privacy are well implemented here, ensuring that users are safe from prying eyes.
- OS
-
Windows, macOS, Linux
- Developer
-
Mauro V
- Price model
-
Free, Open-source
Vertical tabs that hide away help my busy mind
I know I could hit F11 in other browsers, but I like this more
The biggest draw, outside of its visual appeal, is the vertical browsers. I had used Arc Browser in the past and absolutely adored this feature, but seeing as The Browser Company discontinued updates on Arc to focus on an AI-Centric browser, there’s never been a better time to jump ship from one to another. Zen Browser, by default, features no AI, which is something that I genuinely appreciate. More so, vertical tabs are surprisingly nice when it comes to productivity for a few reasons. At least for me, having them in an unfamiliar place helps with the muscle memory of wanting to go and swap between a new page every few minutes.
Plus, rather than needing to F11 every time I want my tabs back, or hovering over the top of the page for them to return, I can use keyboard shortcuts or hover over the left side of my screen. Since I’m also using programs like PowerToys and DisplayFusion to keep my cursor on one screen, I don’t need to worry about my cursor flying off onto my second monitor while I’m switching through different tabs.
This New Windows Browser Finally Delivers What Others Have Only Promised
Finally, a browser that does what others have claimed but not achieved.
Split View & Profiles are great for work and play
I don’t need to constantly be logged into my work stuff when I have a day off
One of the nicest parts about Zen Browser, at least in my eyes, is the fact that you can split your browser into two different windows with the built-in Split View option. Rather than needing to keep two tabs open, or take up more precious vertical space by using F11 to go into full-screen, I can have two different windows opened up side by side so I can bounce between them at any time. I can even use Split View vertically on my secondary monitor via a keyboard shortcut, and I can’t complain about how well it works on my primary display.
Profiles, on the other hand, make it easy to swap between “Work” mode and “Play” mode. When I’m signing into my browser on the weekend, I don’t need to be immediately reminded of what I was doing during the week — I just want to look up goofy memes and spend time looking for junk in Elden Ring with an interactive map. Swapping between these profiles loads up a completely different set of tabs and keeps my history separated between the two different accounts.
Zen is in beta, and some features don’t work great
Knowing what you’re signing up for before you download is important
One thing to consider before jumping ship from your current browser to Zen — some stuff just doesn’t work. Seeing as it uses Mozilla Firefox as its source, some things like video and voice calls don’t work on Facebook Messenger. You may need to have a “backup browser” saved on your PC if you’re hoping to use features like this, or download the official Messenger app. It’s a little cumbersome, but it doesn’t work on Firefox since adding E2EE. There may also be issues with audio, as I had issues with audio only working in one side of my headphones after pushing through an update, though it was fixed shortly afterward.
Using a browser while it’s still effectively in Beta can cause some unexpected issues. While I have yet to experience issues like this, other users have reported that their RAM/CPU usage has been higher since switching to Zen, so keep things like this in mind if you’re hoping to take this browser for a spin. Even with the little issues I’ve encountered, I’ve enjoyed using Zen more than Chrome, Edge, or anything in between.
If you need to focus, Zen could be for you
I know it’s helped me out, plus the vertical tabs help with screen space
It’s strange to think that something as simple as automatically hiding tabs, additional vertical space, and some quality of life features can make a browser feel so much different than another. But Zen has been one of the most pleasant experiences I’ve had when it comes to browsing the internet over the years. It’s easy to set up, just as easy to customize, and has a lot to offer for those willing to dive in.
To be fair, it does take a little bit of time to adjust to using vertical tabs — for about a week there, I kept hovering over the top to get my tabs to come back, only to find that they weren’t there. It’s helping me retrain my brain and expect more from the programs that I’m using, and my increased workflow thanks me for it.
