Free · Open source · 70,000+ downloads · 4k stars on GitHub Free · Open source · 70,000+ downloads
Block ads everywhere. Not just in your browser.
System-wide ad-blocking and privacy protection for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
- Get rid of YouTube video ads, Spotify audio ads, and other interruptions
- Blocks trackers and surveillance scripts across sites, apps, and background traffic
- Install in two minutes. Free and open source.
Available for
Works with
The ads are just the surface.
While you browse, dozens of companies you have never heard of log what you read, what you watch, how long you pause, and what makes you click. That data becomes a profile: your interests, politics, income bracket, habits, and insecurities. Every ad you see runs on this surveillance – selling access to your attention in real time, without your knowledge or consent.
Zen works at the network level, so one install covers every browser and app on your machine – blocking the ads you can see and the tracking you can't.
See exactly what Zen blocks in real time
Real-time visibility
Zen shows every ad, tracker, and background request it blocks. You can see what would have left your device, where it came from, and why it was stopped.
Pre-configured lists
Zen ships with filter lists for ads, trackers, and malware already configured. Add extra lists or your own rules if you need them. For most people, the defaults are enough.
One app. Total coverage.
Powerful built-in filters
Pre-configured filter lists for ads, tracking, and security, plus regional lists for your language or country. Add your own lists and rules – Zen supports all popular filter list formats.
Replaces many tools with one
One app instead of extensions, hosts files, and manual setup. Works automatically across all browsers and many desktop apps.
Privacy without trade-offs
Free and open source. Fast and lightweight, with zero tracking or data collection.
Downloads
Windows
Unsure which version to download? Click on 'Start' and type 'View processor info'. The 'System type' field under 'Device specifications' will tell you which one you need.
macOS
Unsure which version to download? Learn at Apple's website.
Linux
Automatic proxy configuration is supported on GNOME- and KDE-based desktop environments.
Community
Questions, issues, or feedback? Join our Discord server to get help from maintainers and other users, share feedback, and stay up to date with releases. If you'd like to contribute, you can also report bugs, suggest features, or submit code on GitHub.
FAQ
Why does Zen need to install a certificate?
During the first run, Zen may prompt you to install a local root certificate. This enables HTTPS filtering so Zen can block ads and trackers on encrypted connections. The certificate is generated locally on your device and never leaves it. All traffic is processed on your machine – no data is sent to any servers.
Why is Zen free? How do you make money?
Zen is free and open source, and will stay that way. It is developed by Irbis, a small independent organisation that believes ad-blocking and privacy protection should be free for everyone. Zen will never have a price tag, ads of its own, or any interest in your data. If you'd like to support us, you can donate via Open Collective, and help our development on GitHub.
Does Zen work with a VPN?
Yes. Zen works with any VPN on Windows and Linux, and with most VPNs on macOS. If you experience issues, please reach out on Discord or other community channels for help.
Which apps does Zen work with?
Zen works with all major browsers – including Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, Opera, and Brave – as well as many desktop applications that use the system's network settings. Some apps with custom networking or strict certificate pinning may bypass filtering or require additional configuration.
Does Zen slow down my computer or internet?
Zen is designed to be efficient and lightweight. All filtering happens locally on your device, and for most users the performance impact is negligible. In many cases, blocking ads and trackers can actually improve page load times and reduce data usage.
Can Zen break websites or apps?
Like any ad-blocking tool, Zen can occasionally interfere with certain sites or apps. When that happens, you can easily disable filtering for a specific site, or adjust the filter lists. Zen aims to minimise breakage while giving you control when needed.
How is Zen different from browser ad-blockers?
Browser ad-blockers operate within a single browser and only affect traffic inside that browser. Zen runs at the system level, allowing it to apply the same filtering rules across all browsers and supported desktop apps – including applications that embed web content or perform unwanted background tracking.
Browser extensions are also limited by browser policy – Chrome's Manifest V3 significantly restricted what extensions like uBlock Origin are allowed to block. Because Zen runs outside the browser, those restrictions don't apply to it.
How is Zen different from DNS-level ad-blockers?
DNS-level ad-blockers work by blocking entire domains before a connection is made. This approach is simple and fast, but it cannot distinguish between ads and legitimate content served from the same domain.
Zen operates at the HTTP(S) level, which allows it to inspect requests and responses and apply more precise filtering rules. This enables finer-grained blocking with fewer false positives and capabilities that are not possible at the DNS level.