Veb

Veb vs Zen

Reference archive: this page documents the original Yab browser. Features, platforms and release dates here do not describe the current Veb prototype. Veb release plans →

We make Veb, so read it as our side.facts checked Oct 9 ↓

Veb, Very Expensive Browser, is a free Mac browser that keeps everything from Arc (tabs down the side, spaces, folders, Split View) and gives your Claude or ChatGPT plan an agent that works in your signed-in tabs.

Zen is a free, open-source browser built on Firefox that brings Arc’s layout, tabs down the side with spaces, folders and Split View, to Mac, Windows and Linux.

The short answer

Pick Vebours
  • if you miss Arc and want spaces, pins and folders kept, on a Mac
  • if you already pay for Claude or ChatGPT and want it to work in your signed-in tabs
  • if you want Claude Code, Codex or Cursor to drive a real browser over MCP
Pick Zen
  • if you want Arc’s layout, free and open source
  • if you prefer Firefox’s engine and its add-ons
  • if you want no AI in your browser at all

At a glance

Veb and Zen, side by side.

Veb vs Zen
WhatVebZen Browser
Made bySerafim KorablevZen Browser team (open-source community project)
StatusUpdatedUpdated
Runs onMacMac, Windows and Linux
Phone appVeb for iPhone, in beta on TestFlight; syncs spaces, tabs, bookmarks, history and chatsNone; Zen says it has no plans for a mobile version
PriceFree; its AI runs on your own Claude or ChatGPT planFree and open source
AIAn agent that works in pages, on your Claude or ChatGPT planNo AI
Driven by outside agentsMCP and a command lineNo
EngineWebKitGecko
Tabs down the sideYesYes
SpacesYesYes
Split ViewYesYes
ExtensionsChrome Web StoreFirefox add-ons
Ad blockerBuilt inNo
Open sourceNoYes

Checked October 9, 2026 on each maker’s own pages, linked under Sources. Prices are per month, in US dollars.

Where they differ

What separates them, area by area. Where one plainly has more, it says who; where it comes down to taste, it says so.

AIVeb leads

Only Veb has an agent that clicks, types and finishes tasks in your pages. Veb’s agent works in tabs of its own beside yours, signed in as you, on your Claude or ChatGPT plan; Send, Pay and Delete wait for your yes. Zen has no AI: Firefox’s AI features are switched off by default.

Agents like Claude Code and CodexVeb leads

Veb can be driven over MCP and a command line, through yab mcp and the yab command, for Claude Code, Codex, Cursor and any MCP client. Zen has no MCP server or command line for outside agents.

Tabs and windowseven

Both have tabs down the side, spaces, Split View, folders in the sidebar and tabs that sleep.

PriceVeb leads

Veb: Free; its AI runs on your own Claude or ChatGPT plan. Zen: Free and open source.

Where it runsZen leads

Veb runs on Mac. Zen runs on Mac, Windows and Linux. On a Mac, Veb needs macOS 15.4 or later and Zen needs macOS 10.15 or later. On the phone, Veb: Veb for iPhone, in beta on TestFlight; syncs spaces, tabs, bookmarks, history and chats. Zen has no phone app: Zen says it has no plans for a mobile version.

Engine and extensionsa matter of taste

Veb is built on WebKit, the engine Safari uses; Zen on Gecko, Firefox’s engine. Veb takes extensions from the Chrome Web Store, Zen from Firefox’s add-ons.

Privacyeven

Veb has an ad blocker built in. Veb has no account and no server of ours between you and your sites; what your agent reads goes to Anthropic or OpenAI under your account. Zen has open code. Zen sends no telemetry or crash reports, by its privacy policy; optional sync keeps encrypted data on Mozilla’s servers.

Where Zen is better

Zen comes out ahead on where it runs. It is also the better pick if you:

  • Want Arc’s layout, free and open source
  • Prefer Firefox’s engine and its add-ons
  • Want no AI in your browser at all

The catch with each

Real limits, from the makers’ own words and our own use.

Zen Browser

  • Releases are still labeled beta
  • No phone app, and none planned
  • Firefox add-ons only, not the Chrome Web Store
  • No ad blocker of its own beyond Firefox’s tracking protection

Veb, honestly

  • Mac only for now: macOS 15.4 or later; the iPhone app is in beta, and there is no Windows or Android
  • New: first released in September 2026
  • Its AI needs a Claude or ChatGPT plan; ChatGPT’s free plan may work with low limits
  • WebKit, as in Safari: a site tested only in Chrome can misbehave
  • Closed source

What changed lately

  • September 25, 2026Veb: First release
  • September 5, 2026Zen: Spaces, folders and tabs sync between devices with a Mozilla account (1.22b)
  • February 28, 2026Zen: Live folders for GitHub issues, pull requests and RSS (1.19b)
  • August 27, 2025Zen: Tab folders added (1.15b)

Questions

Is Veb free?

Yes. Free; its AI runs on your own Claude or ChatGPT plan.

Is Zen Browser free?

Yes. Free and open source.

Which has an AI agent, Veb or Zen?

Veb. Veb’s agent works in tabs of its own beside yours, signed in as you, on your Claude or ChatGPT plan; Send, Pay and Delete wait for your yes. Zen has no AI: Firefox’s AI features are switched off by default.

Which runs on Windows, Veb or Zen?

Zen does. Veb runs on Mac.

Do Veb and Zen have phone apps?

On the phone, Veb: Veb for iPhone, in beta on TestFlight; syncs spaces, tabs, bookmarks, history and chats. Zen has no phone app: Zen says it has no plans for a mobile version.

More comparisons

Zen vs ArcZen vs VivaldiOrion vs ZenSigmaOS vs ZenZen vs ChromeZen vs SafariZen vs EdgeZen alternatives
Sources. Read October 9, 2026. Something out of date? Write to hello@serafimlabs.io and we fix it.

Veb, Very Expensive Browser.

Free for the Mac. Arc’s sidebar, your own Claude or ChatGPT as the agent, Chrome extensions on WebKit.

it’s freeRelease status