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Krypton

Zen alternative for Windows

Krypton vs Zen

Zen and Krypton both make room for a different way to browse. Your choice of extensions is a useful place to start.

For a Zen Browser alternative on Windows, Krypton pairs vertical tabs and workspaces with extensions from the Chrome Web Store.

Download for Windows

Free for 64-bit Windows 10 and 11

The Krypton homepage open in Zen
The Krypton homepage open in Krypton, compared with Zen

Drag the divider, or focus it and use the arrow keys.Krypton and Zen, side by side.

Krypton and Zen at a glance

Zen is based on Firefox. Krypton uses Chromium, so Firefox add-ons do not transfer directly; look for their Chrome Web Store equivalents.

Selected differences between Krypton and Zen
What mattersKryptonZen
Browser foundationChromiumFirefox
Extension libraryChrome Web StoreMozilla Add-ons
Tab organisationWorkspaces, sidebar tabs and nested foldersWorkspaces, with Container Tabs described separately in Zen’s documentation

The extension library is the first choice

Zen is based on Firefox and uses Mozilla’s add-on library. Krypton uses Chromium and supports extensions from the Chrome Web Store. A familiar extension name can have different versions in the two stores.

Before switching, list the add-ons you depend on and check their publishers’ Chrome Web Store listings. Firefox extension files do not install directly in Krypton. Check whether an extension’s settings can be exported rather than assuming they will follow it.

Workspaces with different foundations

Both browsers offer workspaces for grouping tabs by task or project. In Krypton you can give a workspace its own colours, organise tabs in nested folders and swipe between workspaces with two fingers.

Zen’s documentation also describes Firefox Container Tabs, which separate cookie sessions. Grouping tabs and separating website identities are different needs: do not assume that recreating a workspace also recreates container isolation. Check your sign-in workflow before moving.

Try one project first

Moving from Zen to Krypton

  1. Install Krypton alongside Zen and leave your existing profile intact while you compare.
  2. Find the Chrome Web Store versions of your essential extensions and verify their publishers.
  3. Recreate one project as a Krypton workspace and try Glance, split view and nested folders.
  4. Check your account sessions and everyday sites, especially if you rely on Firefox Container Tabs.
Back to the homepage comparison

Sources and further reading

Use the official documentation to check the features you depend on. Screenshots show krypton.run with the captured settings; browser layouts, themes and extensions can change the result.

Updated