# irbis-sh/zen-desktop

Ad-blocker and privacy guard for Windows, macOS and Linux.

Repository: https://github.com/irbis-sh/zen-desktop
Canonical: https://ross.abutalabs.com/products/zen-desktop
Homepage: https://irbis.sh/zen
Language: Go
License: MIT
License Family: permissive
Topics: linux, macos, windows, gui, privacy, go, adblocker, adblock, desktop-app, ad-block, zen
Last push: 2026-08-26T20:57:14+00:00

## Health v2 (maintenance only)
Score: 96/100 (v2, computed 2026-09-03T02:20:16.233290+00:00)
- activity 99, release rhythm 97, longevity 85
- inputs: {"age_days": 1194, "days_push": 7, "days_rel": 20, "gap_med": 10, "n_releases_24m": 38}
- flags: none
- formula: round(0.45*activity + 0.35*rhythm + 0.20*longevity); archived -> min(score, 10)

## Adoption (not part of the score)
Stars 4205, forks 139 (observed 2026-08-28T04:08:39.003477+00:00)

## What it is
Zen is an open-source, system-wide ad-blocker and privacy guard for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It runs a local proxy that intercepts HTTP/HTTPS traffic from all applications and blocks ads, trackers, malware, and other unwanted content using pre-installed and custom filter lists.

## Use cases
- block ads system-wide not just in the browser
- block youtube and spotify ads on desktop
- stop trackers in desktop applications
- block malware domains at the network level
- add custom hosts files and easylist filters
- replace browser ad-blockers weakened by manifest v3

## When to choose
- you want one install to cover every browser and desktop app on your machine
- you need to block trackers embedded in native apps or OS components that browser extensions cannot reach
- you want an open-source, cross-platform alternative to tools like AdGuard desktop
- you want visibility into what requests are being blocked in real time

## When to avoid
- you only need ad-blocking inside a single browser, where a lightweight extension is simpler
- you cannot or do not want to install a locally generated root certificate for HTTPS interception
- you need mobile (Android/iOS) ad-blocking, which this desktop app does not cover

## Facets
- artifact type: application
- maturity: active
- function: proxy, security, privacy, gui, http-server
- domain: privacy, security, desktop-applications, cross-platform
- platform: windows, go
- tags: ad-blocker, system-wide-filtering, tracker-blocking, easylist, hosts-file, https-interception, mitm-proxy, macos, linux, desktop

## Member repositories
- irbis-sh/zen-desktop (main) score 96

## Provenance
- Observed fields: from GitHub, fetched 2026-08-28T04:08:39.003477+00:00.
- Health v2: computed from the inputs above; adoption is never an input.
- Inferred fields (summary, facets, guidance): AI-extracted, prompt v1, taxonomy v1, on 2026-08-29T18:22:31.226730+00:00, confidence not recorded.
  - readme: https://github.com/irbis-sh/zen-desktop (fetched 2026-08-28T04:08:39.003477+00:00, sha d4793521d696)
  - homepage: https://irbis.sh/zen (fetched 2026-08-29T09:12:49.235882+00:00, sha ed5aa7d9a56d)
  - site_page: https://docs.irbis.sh/docs/zen/how-to/install-winget (fetched 2026-08-29T09:12:49.245306+00:00, sha 2c3b4b84cb97)
  - site_page: https://docs.irbis.sh/docs/zen/how-to/install-homebrew (fetched 2026-08-29T09:12:49.247116+00:00, sha 26ce9087b986)
  - site_page: https://docs.irbis.sh (fetched 2026-08-29T09:12:49.248908+00:00, sha 4ba1ea04a4d5)
  - site_page: https://irbis.sh/ (fetched 2026-08-29T09:12:49.250436+00:00, sha b921323ed927)
- Data as of 2026-08-30T08:39:29.467469+00:00.