Zen vs Dawn
Zen is an open-source browser built on Firefox, with tabs in a sidebar, spaces, and split view.
| Feature | Zen |  Dawn |
|---|---|---|
| Tabs in a sidebar | Yes | Yes |
| Spaces for each project | Yes | Yes, each with its own theme |
| Profiles for separate logins | Yes, Firefox profiles | Yes, with spaces inside each |
| Split view | Yes | Yes, up to four pages |
| Tabs that put themselves away | No, only with add-ons | Yes, after 12 hours (you choose) |
| Chrome Web Store extensions | No, Firefox add-ons | Yes |
| Imports from Arc | Not yet | Yes: spaces, pinned tabs, folders, and favorites |
| Imports from other browsers | Chrome, Safari, Edge, Brave, and Opera, or a bookmarks file | Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Brave, Opera, Dia, and Zen, or Safari’s bookmarks file |
| Netflix, Disney+, and Spotify (DRM) | No, Zen has no Widevine license | Yes |
| Built-in AI | None | None |
| Platforms | Mac, Windows, Linux | Mac |
| Price | Free | Free |
What’s different
Chrome extensions
Zen uses Firefox add-ons. Dawn is built on Chromium and installs from the Chrome Web Store.
Imports Arc as it is
Zen can’t import from Arc yet, so Arc’s pinned tabs usually arrive there as plain bookmarks. Dawn brings Arc’s spaces and pinned folders over as they are.
Netflix and Spotify play
Zen has no Widevine license, so Netflix, Disney+, and Spotify’s web player don’t play in it. They do in Dawn.
Where Zen wins
It’s open source and runs on Windows and Linux too.
Switching from Zen?
Dawn brings over your bookmarks in one click.
Switch me from Zen to Dawn and bring my tabs along. Here’s how: https://dawn.example/llms.txt
Zen and Dawn: questions
What comes over from Zen?
Your bookmarks, from the Zen profile you used last. Dawn doesn’t read Zen’s spaces and pinned tabs yet, so bookmark them first if you want them in Dawn.
Sources: Zen FAQ: DRM, Zen user manual, Zen: Arc pinned tabs arrive as bookmarks. Checked October 2026.