Kitsmith / Compare / Zen Browser vs Arc
MacZen Browser vs Arc
Zen Browser vs Arc: verdict, pricing, and specs compared, so you can pick the right one for your Mac.
At a glance
Zen Browser
FreeA free, open-source Firefox fork focused on Workspaces and a calmer, more compact tab layout.
Arc
FreeThe spatial browser that put Spaces, Split View, and a sidebar-first layout ahead of tabs — now in maintenance mode while its maker builds an AI-first successor.
Spec comparison
Zen Browser
- Price
- Free
- Pricing model
- Free
- License
- Open source
- Placement
- Screen
- Channels
- Homebrew · GitHub
- Category
- Utilities
Arc
- Price
- Free
- Pricing model
- Free
- License
- Proprietary
- Placement
- Screen
- Channels
- Homebrew · Direct
- Category
- Utilities
The verdict
Zen Browser and Arc both reorganize browsing around Spaces or Workspaces instead of a flat tab bar, and both are free. The real difference is where each stands today: Arc is in maintenance mode — The Browser Company moved its whole team to a new AI-first browser, Dia, in 2025, so Arc gets security patches but no new features — while Zen Browser is a free, open-source, community-maintained Firefox fork still being actively built. If you want the original spatial-browsing idea and don’t mind it not evolving further, Arc still works; if you want the same workspace concept in software that’s still moving forward, Zen is the one to try.
Which one should you pick?
Pick Zen Browser if…
- Pick Zen Browser if you want the Spaces/Workspaces idea in software that’s still actively developed
- Pick Zen Browser if open source matters to you — the code is public on GitHub
- Pick Zen Browser if you’d rather run on Firefox’s engine than Arc’s underlying browser code
- Pick Zen Browser if Compact Mode, which hides the tab bar until needed, appeals to you
Pick Arc if…
- Pick Arc if you already have muscle memory built up in it and don’t need new features
- Pick Arc if Split View and the original sidebar-first layout are what you’re after, unmodified
- Pick Arc if you’re fine using software that’s now security-patches-only with no stated shutdown date
- Pick Arc if you want to try the idea The Browser Company originated before it moved on to Dia
Zen Browser vs Arc — questions people ask
Is Arc still getting new features?
No — The Browser Company shifted its engineering team to Dia in 2025 and has stated no new features are planned for Arc, though it still receives bug fixes and security patches.
Is Zen Browser actively developed?
Yes — it’s a community-maintained open-source project, funded by sponsors and donations, distinct from Arc’s for-profit backer.
Are both free?
Yes — Arc is free with no paid tier, and Zen Browser is free and open source.