Zen Browser Official Download
About Zen Browser
Zen Browser is a free, open-source browser launched in 2024. It is built on Firefox, released under the MPL-2.0 license, and its code is publicly available on GitHub. Zen puts privacy, customizability and design first, and its layout borrows many ideas from the Arc browser: tabs sit in a vertical sidebar on the left, web content gets more of the screen, and the overall look is clean and calm.
For Mac users, Zen is a good match for anyone who likes the Arc-style sidebar experience but prefers the Firefox engine and an open-source project. Its Workspaces feature lets you keep groups of tabs for work, study and entertainment separately, so switching between them does not mix everything together. Compact Mode hides the tab bar and toolbars when you do not need them, which makes a MacBook screen feel noticeably more spacious and gives web pages the largest possible area.
Two other features help with everyday browsing. Glance opens a quick preview of a link without fully leaving the page you are on, which is handy when skimming search results or articles with many references. Split View places two tabs side by side in the same window, making it easier to compare information or to read one page while writing in another.
Because Zen is based on Firefox, it can install Firefox extensions, and it continues to follow upstream Firefox updates. The community also offers a large collection of Zen Mods, which can be used to adjust the browser's appearance and fine details to your liking. Together with the sidebar layout, these mods allow a degree of visual customization that goes well beyond what most mainstream browsers offer.
The project is still in its beta phase, and there is also a more experimental pre-release channel called Twilight for those who want the newest changes first. It is completely free to use. If you care about how your browser looks and how efficiently it lets you work, and you would rather not use a Chromium-based browser, Zen is one of the more distinctive choices available on the Mac, combining a modern sidebar design with the Firefox engine and extension ecosystem.
Key features
- Vertical sidebar tabs
- Workspaces
- Compact Mode
- Glance link previews
- Split View
- Zen Mods themes
- Firefox add-on support
Official downloads
The SHA256 comes from the GitHub Release asset digest, so you can verify the file yourself. How to verify
The link points to the app’s official release channel; appwl does not rehost or modify files.
How to install
“App is damaged and can’t be opened”
Move the app into Applications, open Terminal, run this line, then open the app again:
xattr -cr "/Applications/Zen Browser.app"“Developer cannot be verified”
In Finder → Applications, Control-click the app, choose Open, then Open again. On macOS 15 or later: System Settings → Privacy & Security, then “Open Anyway” at the bottom.
Apple silicon or Intel?
Apple menu → About This Mac. If the chip says Apple M, pick the Apple silicon build; Universal works on both.
Check the file
Run this in Terminal and compare the result with the SHA256 listed for the cloud file:
shasum -a 256 ~/Downloads/file-nameAlternatives
Firefox
Brave
Google Chrome
Helium
Changelog
Release notes
FAQ
How do I download Zen Browser?
Zen Browser is downloaded from its official channel: the “Official download” button on this page opens the official release page (github.com).
Is Zen Browser free?
Zen Browser license: MPL-2.0. appwl only lists official builds and charges nothing for downloads.
Which systems does Zen Browser support?
This page offers Zen Browser for macOS, version 1.24b.
Is Zen Browser from appwl safe?
appwl only lists official releases with their version and date. You can verify the SHA256 using the install tips on this page.