This web browser rips off the best parts of Arc, but skips the AI and bloat
Zen Browser gives you Arc's best tab tricks without the AI or the battery drain.
Arc, a browser loved by productivity enthusiasts and browser enthusiasts, is on its way out according to its developers. The Browser Company has shifted focus to their AI-focused Dia browser, but for those who fell in love with Arc's unique interface, finding an alternative has been difficult. Zen Browser, an open-source, Firefox-based browser, offers a familiar design with useful features that make it worth considering as a daily browser.
Upon switching to Zen Browser from Arc, users are immediately struck by the familiar layout, with vertical sidebar, pinned websites, and workspaces reminiscent of Arc. These features add value to the browsing experience, allowing users to organize tabs into folders and pin frequently visited websites for quick access. Zen Browser also includes container tabs, a feature borrowed from Firefox, enabling separate login sessions for different accounts on the same website.
Workspace functionality is where Zen Browser truly shines, offering a more organized way to access tabs. Users can create separate workspaces for various activities, such as work, research, personal browsing, and home lab projects. Each workspace maintains its own set of tabs, making it easier to switch context. Additionally, Zen Browser incorporates Firefox's container tabs feature, allowing users to maintain distinct login sessions for different accounts on the same website.
Organizing tabs and windows is crucial for heavy multitaskers, and Zen Browser offers several features to enhance this experience. Split View enables users to arrange up to four tabs side by side in the same window. Glance provides a preview of a link in a temporary floating window without cluttering up the tab list. Compact mode hides the browser interface when not needed, maximizing screen space on a laptop.
The floating command bar functions like a browser-based Spotlight search, allowing users to quickly search, open a new tab, or jump to an existing page. Mods, which are more advanced than extensions, can modify the browser interface using CSS and add extra functionality to the browser.
Written by urgent.news from XDA Developers's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
