Zen Browser is the Arc replacement I was looking for

As Arc approaches discontinuation after its company shifted attention to the AI-focused Dia browser, Zen Browser offers a similar interface without the features and data concerns that drove one longtime Arc user away. Built on Firefox and developed as a free, open-source project supported by volunteers and donations, Zen recreates Arc’s left-side tabs, pinned sites, separate spaces, and customizable interface mods. Its appeal is a deliberately simpler, AI-free browsing experience, with no built-in agent or emphasis on using browsing activity to train models.

Zen adds practical tools such as a temporary “glance” view for links, which lets users preview pages before opening them as regular tabs, and a shortcut bar for launching tabs, switching between them, searching, or activating extensions. It supports Firefox extensions, which the writer found easier to use than in Arc, and offers mods to alter the browser or individual sites. There are trade-offs: Zen currently cannot play DRM-protected services such as Netflix or Spotify, and its Firefox foundation lacks Web MIDI support, so the writer still turns to Chrome for streaming and some music tools. Its Boost-like site-customization feature is also less accessible than Arc’s. Zen suits users who value Arc’s organization and visual design over its AI features, but it is not yet a complete replacement for every task.