head to head · open source
Zen Browser vs NiceTab
Zen Browser has 44,486 GitHub stars, 1,755 forks, 689 open issues and last shipped 2 days ago. NiceTab has 755 stars, 85 forks, 45 open issues and last shipped 6 days ago. Zen Browser leads on adoption by 5,792% (44,486 vs 755 stars). Zen Browser is written in C++ under MPL-2.0; NiceTab is written in TypeScript under GPL-3.0. Zen Browser has attracted 4% as many forks as stars, NiceTab 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.
← all 13541 open source comparisons
Side by side
| Zen Browser | NiceTab | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 44K | ★ 755 |
| License | MPL-2.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Written in | C++ | TypeScript |
| Last push | 2026-09-17 | 2026-09-13 |
| Forks | ⑂ 1.8K | ⑂ 85 |
| 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 NiceTab if
- You want the NiceTab feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the GPL-3.0 license terms
- Your stack matches TypeScript
- You evaluated both and NiceTab 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 NiceTab
NiceTab is an open source (GPL 3.0), TypeScript browser extension for Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and other Chromium based browsers that turns scattered open tabs into a searchable, syncable library of saved tabs, tab groups, and categories — built for anyone who keeps too many tabs open and wants a free, transparent alternative to OneTab, Toby, SessionBuddy, N Tab, and KepTab.
read the full NiceTab overview →
More in Productivity & Utilities
Related comparisons
More Browsers & Extensions projects
Compare either of these against the rest of the Browsers & Extensions field.
Frequently asked questions
Is Zen Browser or NiceTab more popular?
Zen Browser has 44,486 GitHub stars and NiceTab has 755. Zen Browser has the larger community by that measure.
Are Zen Browser and NiceTab free?
Both are open source. Zen Browser is licensed under MPL-2.0 and NiceTab under GPL-3.0. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between Zen Browser and NiceTab?
Zen Browser is written in C++ and NiceTab in TypeScript. 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 NiceTab?
Choose Zen Browser if you want the larger community (44,486 stars) or its MPL-2.0 licence terms. Choose NiceTab if its feature set, stack or GPL-3.0 licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.