Velja is a macOS app that routes links to the right browser, profile, or app based on rules you set. If you juggle multiple Chrome profiles—like one for personal use, one for work, and others for different clients—Velja is a lifesaver. It’s a one-time $8 purchase on the Mac App Store, and it’s worth every penny. Here’s how it works and why it’s a must-have.

How It Works

Velja intercepts links you click outside a browser (e.g., in Slack, Teams, or Mail) and directs them to the browser, profile, or app you want. You set it as your default browser, and it handles the rest with custom rules or a quick prompt.

Setup takes minutes:

  1. Grab Velja from the Mac App Store or the developer’s site (https://sindresorhus.com/velja).
  2. Open it, enable “Launch at Login,” and click “Get Started.” It tucks into the menu bar as a paw icon.
  3. In Settings, click “Make Default” to set Velja as your default browser. Confirm in macOS.
  4. In the “Rules” tab, create rules like “intranet.customer1.com” to open in Chrome’s Customer 1 profile or “whatsapp.com” to open in your personal Chrome profile. You can also set rules by source app (e.g., Teams links to work profile, WhatsApp links to personal).

Velja supports Chromium browsers (Chrome, Edge, Brave), Firefox, Safari, and native apps like WhatsApp, Teams, or Notion. It also strips URL tracking parameters for cleaner links and better privacy.

Advantages

  • Perfect for Multiple Profiles: I use separate Chrome profiles for personal, work, and two clients. Before Velja, clicking a client intranet link in Teams would open in my personal Chrome profile—unauthenticated, useless. I’d copy-paste the URL to the right profile, which was tedious. Velja routes links like “client1.intranet.com” to the correct Chrome profile automatically.
  • Source-Based Rules: Set behaviors by app. My WhatsApp links open in my personal Chrome profile, Teams links in my work profile, and client Slack links in their respective profiles. It’s like the app reads your mind.
  • Handles Multiple Windows: Even with dozens of Chrome windows and tabs (yes, I’m that person), Velja sends links to the right profile without me switching sessions first.
  • Flexible and Customizable: Rules can be as specific as you need—by domain, source app, or both. It supports native apps too, so Figma or Spotify links open directly in their apps, not a browser.
  • Lightweight and Private: At 4.8 MB, it’s tiny and doesn’t slow your Mac. It also removes tracking junk from URLs, keeping things clean.
  • One-Time Cost: For $8, you get a polished app with no subscriptions or ads. Check out other tools by developer Sindre Sorhus at https://sindresorhus.com/apps.

Why It Matters

If you work across multiple Chrome profiles or apps, Velja eliminates the hassle of misdirected links. I used to waste time pasting URLs into the right profile; now, links just work. It’s not glamorous, but it solves a real problem for anyone managing multiple contexts. Get it on the Mac App Store or learn more at https://sindresorhus.com/velja.