What is Zen Browser used for?

Zen Browser is a Firefox-based desktop web browser with a focus on productivity and a calmer browsing experience, developed in the open under the MPL-2.0 license. It is a good fit for daily browsing with a Firefox base and following an open-source browser project.

Is Zen Browser open source?

Yes. Zen Browser is open source under the MPL-2.0 licence. Its source code is on GitHub at zen-browser/desktop and is written mainly in C++.

Yes. Zen Browser is open source, so the software itself is free to use.

Can I self-host Zen Browser?

Yes. Zen Browser can be self-hosted on your own server or infrastructure; there is no official hosted version.

What is Zen Browser an alternative to?

Zen Browser is an open-source alternative to Google Chrome, Vivaldi, Safari and Opera. Other open-source alternatives to Google Chrome include Firefox, Floorp and Waterfox.

Is Zen Browser actively maintained?

Yes. The most recent commit to Zen Browser was on 2 October 2026, and the latest release is 1.22.3b, published on 23 September 2026. The project has 45k stars on GitHub.

Zen Browser: open-source alternative to Google Chrome

About Zen Browser

Zen is a web browser built on Firefox, with the stated aim of taking productivity to a new level. Its tagline invites users to a calmer internet. The source is developed in the open on GitHub under the MPL-2.0 license, and GitHub reports C++ as its main language.

Zen is published in two update channels. The Release channel follows stable builds, and the Twilight channel follows release candidates, and both are built against a specific Firefox version listed in the README. The project provides downloads, documentation and release notes on its website.

Bug reports go to the GitHub issue tracker and feature requests to GitHub Discussions, and contributors are asked to read the contribution guidelines first. Because it builds on Firefox, it suits people who want the Firefox engine with a different interface and workflow focus. The repository also lists partner organizations that support the project.

Key features

Built on the Firefox engine
Focus on productivity and a calmer web
Release and Twilight update channels
Open source under MPL-2.0
Community bug reports and feature requests on GitHub

Good fit for

→Daily browsing with a Firefox base
→Following an open-source browser project

Built with: C++
Tags: web-browser; firefox; productivity; open-source; cpp; desktop; privacy

Zen Browser: questions and answers

What is Zen Browser used for?: Zen Browser is a Firefox-based desktop web browser with a focus on productivity and a calmer browsing experience, developed in the open under the MPL-2.0 license. It is a good fit for daily browsing with a Firefox base and following an open-source browser project.
Is Zen Browser open source?: Yes. Zen Browser is open source under the MPL-2.0 licence. Its source code is on GitHub at zen-browser/desktop and is written mainly in C++.
Is Zen Browser free?: Yes. Zen Browser is open source, so the software itself is free to use.
Can I self-host Zen Browser?: Yes. Zen Browser can be self-hosted on your own server or infrastructure; there is no official hosted version.
What is Zen Browser an alternative to?: Zen Browser is an open-source alternative to Google Chrome, Vivaldi, Safari and Opera. Other open-source alternatives to Google Chrome include Firefox, Floorp and Waterfox.
Is Zen Browser actively maintained?: Yes. The most recent commit to Zen Browser was on 2 October 2026, and the latest release is 1.22.3b, published on 23 September 2026. The project has 45k stars on GitHub.