head to head · open source
Zen Browser vs LanguageTool
Zen Browser has 44,481 GitHub stars, 1,754 forks, 689 open issues and last shipped yesterday. LanguageTool has 15,042 stars, 1,581 forks, 2,148 open issues and last shipped yesterday. Zen Browser leads on adoption by 196% (44,481 vs 15,042 stars). Zen Browser is written in C++ under MPL-2.0; LanguageTool is written in Java under LGPL-2.1. Zen Browser has attracted 4% as many forks as stars, LanguageTool 11%. Zen Browser was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee.
Two open source projects, one decision. Both are free and self-hostable — the differences are community size, license terms, language stack and release pace.
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Side by side
| Zen Browser | LanguageTool | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 44K | ★ 15K |
| License | MPL-2.0 | LGPL-2.1 |
| Written in | C++ | Java |
| Last push | 2026-09-17 | 2026-09-17 |
| Forks | ⑂ 1.8K | ⑂ 1.6K |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick Zen Browser if
- You weight community size — 44K stars and counting
- You want the MPL-2.0 license terms
- Your stack matches C++
- You value the larger contributor base for long-term maintenance
pick LanguageTool if
- You want the LanguageTool feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the LGPL-2.1 license terms
- Your stack matches Java
- You evaluated both and LanguageTool fits your workflow better
About Zen Browser
Zen Browser is a privacy focused, open source web browser built on Firefox’s Gecko engine. It inherits Firefox’s compatibility and extension ecosystem while introducing a streamlined interface and productivity oriented features. The project lives in the desktop browser ecosystem, targeting users who want a Firefox based experience with reduced clutter and enhanced customization.
read the full Zen Browser overview →
About LanguageTool
LanguageTool is open source proofreading software for English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Polish, Dutch, and more than 20 other languages. Its tagline describes it as an AI powered grammar checker for 30+ languages, while the repository description calls it a style and grammar checker for 25+ languages. The project lives in the natural language processing and productivity ecosystem, where it helps writers, editors, and applications detect errors that a simple spell checker cannot find.
read the full LanguageTool overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is Zen Browser or LanguageTool more popular?
Zen Browser has 44,481 GitHub stars and LanguageTool has 15,042. Zen Browser has the larger community by that measure.
Are Zen Browser and LanguageTool free?
Both are open source. Zen Browser is licensed under MPL-2.0 and LanguageTool under LGPL-2.1. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between Zen Browser and LanguageTool?
Zen Browser is written in C++ and LanguageTool in Java. The practical differences are community size, licence terms, language stack and release cadence — all compared in the table above.
Which should I choose, Zen Browser or LanguageTool?
Choose Zen Browser if you want the larger community (44,481 stars) or its MPL-2.0 licence terms. Choose LanguageTool if its feature set, stack or LGPL-2.1 licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.