I lastly tried the perfect Linux net browser, and it’s my new default

Almost all the pieces I do on my PC happens inside the browser, to the purpose that I really feel like my working system is mainly a bootloader for my browser. Now, when you’ve an app that’s so central to your workflow, it’s pure to get a bit choosy about it. Thankfully, Firefox has been greater than sufficient as my daily driver for over a decade. Sure, I often experiment with different browsers to see what’s on the market, however I’ve all the time returned to Firefox — that’s, till now.

A comparatively new browser has been getting plenty of consideration within the Linux communities I comply with. It’s free, open supply, based mostly on Firefox, and packs plenty of cool and fashionable options. So I made a decision to provide it a attempt, and after just a few months of use, it lastly ended my decade-long relationship with Firefox and have become my new default. In case you haven’t guessed it already, I’m speaking about Zen Browser. And right here’s why I believe it ought to change into the default browser for many Linux customers.

What makes Zen higher than Google Chrome (or Chromium)

Just one phrase: Firefox

Zen relies on Firefox, and that, a minimum of in my view, routinely makes it a better browser than Google Chrome. Despite being the preferred net browser on the planet, Chrome is unnecessarily bloated and full of telemetry. Furthermore, Google’s current transfer to Manifest V3 means you’ll be able to not run many helpful extensions. This consists of uBlock Origin, which I contemplate completely obligatory for the fashionable state of the World Wide Web.

Of course, there are many different Chromium-based browsers which might be much better optimized and fewer bloated — however they nonetheless aren’t as much as the usual I, and lots of others name “good.” They simply attempt to throw in a buffet of options to woo the person, and find yourself creating an unnecessarily cluttered and busy person expertise. On the opposite finish, you’ve acquired the minimal browser like Ungoogled Chromium, however they’re minimal to a fault. I discovered many web sites, significantly net apps, would break, and the one answer I may discover was to reintroduce the stripped-out Google elements.

Brave is probably the best of the bunch, with built-in advert blocking alongside monitoring and fingerprinting safety. However, it brings its personal taste of bloat with pointless crypto options, a lackluster and overpriced VPN, a built-in AI agent, sponsored photographs on the brand new tab web page, and a push in the direction of its personal search engine.

As such, when you’re something like me and may’t think about looking the net with out uBlock Origin, need to preserve your information away from Google, and likewise need a fashionable net looking expertise, then Firefox is the place you have to be. And since Zen relies on Firefox, you’re getting all of those advantages together with a rigorously curated assortment of recent functionalities. In truth, Zen really takes it a step additional and affords an much more non-public and safe expertise than Firefox itself — which makes it a superb segue into our subsequent part.

What makes Zen higher than Firefox

Zen mainly beats Firefox at its personal recreation

One of the principle causes folks select Firefox over Chrome is privateness — however Firefox isn’t as non-public as many individuals assume, a minimum of not in its fashionable iteration.

For instance, in 2024, Firefox launched a characteristic referred to as Privacy-Preserving Attribution, which lets advertisers measure their advertisements’ efficiency by means of the browser — demonstrating a willingness to make the browser extra advertiser-friendly. Then, in early 2025, Mozilla launched a Terms of Use agreement for the primary time, utilizing questionable wording that implied the corporate may probably promote person information. Mozilla has additionally started shoehorning AI features into Firefox, suggesting its rising willingness to comply with trade developments as an alternative of neighborhood demand.

Granted, in all these situations, Mozilla backtracked on its selections following public backlash, together with including a kill switch for its AI features. That stated, I — and lots of others — can’t assist however get the sensation that Mozilla is transferring away from its founding rules of person autonomy and freedom. It appears like they need to go mainstream, catering to the identical viewers as Google Chrome.

This is the place Zen is available in. It affords a way more non-public looking expertise with zero AI options. It doesn’t acquire any person information by design, not to mention retailer or redistribute it. It additionally disables third-party monitoring and analytics instruments. However, you continue to get all the core Firefox features you love, like Firefox Sync, and entry to its complete extension library, together with — sure, uBlock Origin.

Beyond privateness, Zen additionally provides a variety of recent looking options. These embrace vertical tabs, workspaces for organizing your tabs, cut up view for viewing a number of tabs in the identical browser window, and my private favourite: Glance, which helps you to preview hyperlinks in a floating window with out opening a brand new tab. There’s additionally assist for community-made mods that allow you to customise Zen and add further performance. All these options assist “modernize” the looking expertise with out unnecessarily resorting to AI.

However, what I really like most is how thoughtfully the builders have built-in these options into the browser. Apps typically begin to really feel heavier and extra cluttered as they add options, however Zen delivers a clear, minimal, and calm looking expertise.

Isn’t Zen additionally obtainable on Windows and macOS?

So why is it solely the perfect Linux browser?

So far, I’ve made my case for why Zen is healthier than each Chrome and Firefox. However, because it’s additionally obtainable on Windows and macOS, you is perhaps questioning why I’m solely calling it the perfect Linux browser fairly than merely the perfect browser, interval.

Well, the explanation boils down to at least one factor: DRM (Digital Rights Management). You see, most main streaming providers require desktop browsers to assist sure DRM applied sciences to play their protected content material. Many browsers deal with this utilizing Google’s Widevine, which requires browser integration and licensing preparations. However, on the time of writing, Zen doesn’t include a Widevine license out of the field. This means you’ll be able to’t use Zen to stream protected content material on providers corresponding to Netflix and Spotify — which is a serious browser use case.

That stated, that is solely an issue when you’re on Windows or macOS. Streaming providers don’t verify for this certification on Linux. As such, when you’re utilizing Zen on Linux, you should use it to stream from Netflix, Spotify, and most different streaming providers, identical to you’d with Chrome or Firefox.

This means, Linux is the one place the place you’re getting the entire Zen expertise. On Windows and macOS, Zen is held again by the DRM requirement, so it might’t actually be thought of the perfect browser on both platform.

Zen is already nice — however it might nonetheless be higher

Zen is superior, and it’s presently my every day driver. However, I ought to point out that, on the time of writing, it’s nonetheless in beta. Some Zen customers have reported bugs and glitches, with reminiscence leaks being one of the vital frequent complaints. You can try the project’s GitHub issues page to get a way of the most typical issues and the way the builders are addressing them.

That stated, just some customers expertise these bugs and points. I and lots of others have had higher luck with Zen. I’ve used it on Ubuntu, Bazzite, Garuda, and Windows 11 with out experiencing any main issues — simply the occasional stutter when I’ve 50 or extra tabs open, however nothing out of the abnormal.

As such, I’d positively encourage you to provide Zen a attempt. You might need the identical luck I’ve had. Alternatively, you would bookmark it and are available again when it exits beta. At that time, I’m sure it’ll change into the browser to beat.