- Multiple browsers and profiles allow you to separate work, projects, and personal life in Windows without conflicts or performance loss.
- Tools like GhostBrowser and WebCatalog facilitate multiple isolated sessions and site-specific browsers for managing many accounts.
- Chrome, Firefox, and Edge allow you to configure multiple home pages to automate opening your usual websites in separate tabs.
- Combining browsers, containers, PWAs, and SSBs helps improve productivity and privacy by better organizing each usage context.
On a Windows PC, it's very common to have several browsers installed and open at the same time : one for work, another for leisure, perhaps another for testing or to separate accounts. What many people aren't sure about is how to use them efficiently, without getting overwhelmed by tabs, profiles , sessions, and Google or Amazon accounts all mixed up together.
Furthermore, browsers have evolved so much that we can now use browser profiles, containers, workspaces, and site-specific browsers to create truly separate “environments”: one for your main business, another for your second project, another for your personal life… and all of this on the same Windows, without conflicts and maintaining a good level of privacy.
The first thing to clarify is that having different browsers installed on Windows doesn't consume resources in itself. What uses up memory and CPU is having them open at the same time, with many tabs and extensions loaded, but simply installing them doesn't slow down your PC.
As for compatibility, you can rest assured: modern browsers are designed to coexist seamlessly on the same operating system. Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Brave, Opera … they all work independently, without interfering with each other, unlike some antivirus programs that can cause conflicts.
This opens the door to some very convenient combinations. For example, it's quite common to use Chrome for work and office tasks , Firefox for more personal and private browsing, and reserve a third browser like Brave or Edge for specific tasks, such as blocking trackers or taking advantage of integration with Microsoft services.
If you want to go a step further and completely separate accounts and sessions, you can combine several different browsers with internal profiles within each one, so that each context (company 1, company 2, personal life) has its own space, cookies, history, and access to Google, Amazon, social networks, etc.
Separate accounts and contexts: profiles, containers, and spaces
One of the biggest headaches is when you need to use multiple Google, Amazon, or social media accounts simultaneously . Many browsers share the same session across windows, so if you log in with one Gmail account, the same account will appear in another window of the same browser without giving you an easy way to switch.
To manage scenarios like "two businesses + personal use" on the same computer, the ideal solution is to combine browser profiles, containers, and, in some cases, site-specific browsers . This way, you can have three completely separate workspaces, each with its own Gmail, Drive, Amazon, etc., without any conflicts.
If you're used to using Firefox and Brave in parallel, but would like to centralize it in a single browser with multiple workspaces , you'll be interested in features such as: multiple profiles, tab containers, workspaces, or site-specific browser (SSB) support, which allow you to treat each website as if it were a separate application.
The idea is clear: instead of constantly logging in and out of your Google account, you can isolate each account in its own profile or container , and switch from one to another with a couple of clicks, or even have them all open at the same time in different windows.
Privacy is also an important consideration. These tools allow you to keep your history, cookies, and trackers separate across different contexts , reducing data overlap between your personal life, work activity, and the tools you use for testing or social media.
Firefox, Brave, Arc, Zen… pros and cons in everyday use
If you're looking for a single browser for your daily routine that's stable, fast, and has several separate "bubbles" within it, you've probably considered Firefox as your main option because it syncs well with Android and offers very powerful privacy-focused add-ons.
The problem is that, although Firefox has tools like Containers or Profiles , sometimes managing multiple accounts can require more clicks than we'd like, and it's not always as simple as having three completely different browsers running in parallel.
Many users have tried alternatives like Arc, praised for its design and modern approach. However, they've found that Arc doesn't always keep sessions and profiles completely isolated . For example, logging into Gmail in one profile might end up logging you in with the same account in another, and Google sessions might be lost when you close the browser, forcing you to constantly log in.
Another recent offering is Zen, which promises a host of advanced features: workspaces, pinned tabs, themes, and customizations . In practice, at least according to some experiences, many of these features still seem immature: pinned tabs that disappear or jump from one workspace to another, themes that can be installed but don't activate correctly, and color changes that don't fully take effect.
In this context, sometimes the most sensible option is to keep things simple and go back to a well-configured "classic" Firefox , ready to handle multiple accounts using its native tools, specific add-ons, or by combining it with other browsers when necessary.
The problem of shared sessions and GhostBrowser's solution
One of the major drawbacks of modern browsers is that all windows share the same session . If you log in to an online tool with one user and want to simultaneously log in with a different account to the same service, you typically only have four rather limited options.
The first option is to open an incognito or private browsing mode . This gives you, at most, two simultaneous sessions (normal and incognito), but if you need three, four, or more, it won't work. The second option is to use a different web browser ; this might be fine if you're only working with two or three accounts, but if you're testing an application and need many sessions at once, it's a hassle.
You can also simply log out and log back in with a different user, but you lose the ability to have two accounts open simultaneously . Finally, Chrome lets you create multiple users or profiles and switch between them, although this can become cumbersome if you have to constantly switch between them.
To all this is added an extra drawback: every time you log in to your account on many platforms, a login notification email is triggered for security reasons. Services like Twitter send notifications every time you log in, so if you're constantly logging in and out, your inbox fills up with messages that don't add much value.
Interestingly, older browsers like Internet Explorer were already aware of this need years ago and included a menu option called "New Session ." When activated, it opened a completely separate window that didn't share cookies, session state, or temporary data with the others, allowing multiple users to work comfortably and simultaneously.
Modern desktop browsers (Edge, Chrome, Firefox, Opera, etc.) don't include such a straightforward feature by default. And this is where a very specific and useful tool comes in: GhostBrowser , designed precisely for these kinds of situations.
GhostBrowser presents itself with the slogan " No more logging in and out, no more multiple browsers, no more multiple profiles ." It allows you to create different tab groups, each with its own completely independent browsing session, and distinguishes them with colors. This way you can have, for example, four tab groups, each with its own distinct Twitter, Gmail, or other website user account.
In addition to opening isolated sessions, GhostBrowser lets you save what they call "Projects" : sets of pages and configurations that you can reopen all at once when you need them. This greatly speeds up switching between environments, especially if you manage multiple client accounts or test different configurations of the same application.
GhostBrowser is based on Chromium, so it's compatible with almost everything you already use in Chrome , including extensions and plugins. You won't have to give up your usual productivity tools, ad blockers, password managers, or developer plugins.
The program is especially useful if you frequently have multiple accounts open for the same service simultaneously : several Twitter accounts, different users on the same SaaS application, multiple admin panels, etc. It's very practical for roles such as developers, social media managers, testers, account managers, or anyone who works with many simultaneous logins.
GhostBrowser is currently in beta and offers a free version that allows up to 3 simultaneous sessions . For those who need more (up to 15, with plans to increase the limit), there is a monthly subscription option. For most users who only need to separate a couple of business accounts and a personal profile, the free version is usually sufficient.
In terms of compatibility, GhostBrowser works on Windows and macOS , and a Linux version is planned for release. If you primarily work on Windows, it's a useful tool to have on hand when standard solutions like profiles and incognito windows fall short.
Open multiple home pages in Chrome, Firefox, and Edge
Beyond sessions and accounts, another detail that greatly improves convenience is setting up multiple homepages to open automatically every time you start your browser. This way, you don't have to open each of your usual websites one by one, or type in the same addresses every time.
Think about your routine: corporate email, company intranet, management tools, maybe a messaging platform, and some statistics websites. If all of that opens just by launching your browser, you save a few clicks and minutes every morning, especially if you spend many hours in front of your computer.
Most users save their daily websites to bookmarks or favorites, or simply type the URL each day. However, Chrome, Firefox, and Edge all allow you to configure a set of startup tabs that launch automatically when you open a new browser window.
Configure multiple homepages in Google Chrome
In Chrome, the process is simple. First, open a browser window and go to the Settings menu . Within the "On startup" section, you'll see several options; select the one that says "Open a specific page or set of pages . "
When you select it, the " Set pages " link will appear . Clicking it will open a pop-up window where you can add, one by one, all the addresses you want to appear every time you start Chrome. You can include your email, your project manager, your intranet, etc.
If you also want the Chrome apps tab to open automatically , simply add the internal address chrome://apps as a page within that list. This way, you'll have a tab ready with your installed apps every time you launch the browser.
Once you've added all the websites, click OK, close Chrome, and reopen it. If everything has been set up correctly , you should see a tab for each homepage you've defined, without needing to change anything else.
Configure multiple home pages in Mozilla Firefox
Firefox also allows you to configure multiple startup tabs, but it does so in a slightly different way. You need to go to the main menu and enter Browser Options . Once there, in the left-hand column, select the "General" section, where the most basic options are grouped.
In the right-hand panel, you'll find the section dedicated to the homepage and Firefox startup behavior . In the "When Firefox starts" dropdown menu, select the "Show my homepage" option to tell the browser you want to use a custom setting.
Just below, you'll see the "Homepage" field. This is where you should enter the URLs of the websites you want to open first, but with one important detail: each URL must be separated by the "|" symbol (vertical bar) . For example: www.site1.com|www.site2.com|www.site3.com.
Once you've saved the changes, close Firefox and reopen it. If everything is entered correctly, as many tabs as you've defined will open automatically . If any URL is incorrect, simply correct the text in the homepage field and repeat the process.
Configure multiple home pages in Microsoft Edge
In Microsoft Edge, which comes integrated with Windows 10 and later versions, the process is similar. You need to open a browser window and go to the Settings menu , usually accessible from the three-dot icon in the upper corner.
Within Settings, look for the "Open with" section or the one dedicated to startup behavior. There, you should choose the "Specific page or pages" option , indicating that you don't want a single default page, but a custom set.
By selecting that option, you'll see a field appear for " entering a web address " and a button with a "+" symbol. Enter the URL of the website you want as your homepage and press the "+" to add it to the list. Repeat this process for as many addresses as you need.
Once you've added all the sites, close Edge and reopen it. You should see a tab for each homepage you've set up . If you want to change or delete one, just go back to Settings and edit the address list.
In a context of continuous multitasking, with dozens of tabs open, it can be very difficult to maintain focus. That's where site-specific browsers (SSBs) come in , turning a specific website (Gmail, Slack, Notion, etc.) into a kind of isolated desktop application.
The idea is simple: a Single Sign-On (SSB) is an application that opens only one website (or a few related ones) in a dedicated window , without bookmark bars, dozens of tabs, and with a cleaner interface. This way, your Gmail, Slack, or management tool behaves like a standalone program, with its own icon and its own space in the taskbar.
This has several advantages: on the one hand, it helps your concentration by reducing distractions and clearly separating contexts (work vs. personal), and on the other hand, you can run multiple accounts or instances of the same app in different windows, which is very useful if you manage several projects or clients.
In addition, these SSBs are usually integrated with the operating system: native notifications, custom icons, shortcuts, offline support in some cases, and an extra level of privacy, since the cookies and data of each app are isolated from the rest of the general browser.
There are many tools that allow you to create and manage SSBs on both macOS and Windows, and each offers a different approach, from very lightweight solutions integrated into the browsers themselves to advanced applications with cloud synchronization and complex workspaces.
WebCatalog Desktop: Advanced SSB on Windows, macOS, and Linux
WebCatalog Desktop is one of the most powerful solutions if you want to turn your favorite websites into desktop applications and manage them by workspaces. It works on macOS, Windows, and Linux, so you can maintain a consistent experience across multiple computers.
What's interesting about WebCatalog is that it has an integrated catalog of thousands of web applications (email, productivity, social networking, business tools, etc.) that you can install like apps, and it also supports custom websites. Each one opens in its own window, with independent settings.
WebCatalog includes advanced features such as spaces and subspaces , designed to organize multiple accounts for the same service or separate environments (work, personal, specific projects). It also offers privacy-focused sandboxing, preventing cookies and data from one app from being mixed with those of another.
Another advantage is that it includes cloud synchronization , so you can keep your apps and spaces configured the same way across different devices. It also offers ad and tracker blocking, and lets you protect apps with a password or Touch ID (on compatible devices), adding an extra layer of security.
Points to consider: WebCatalog doesn't support standard browser extensions, and the free version limits the number of apps or spaces you can create. If you need a lot, you'll have to consider one of their paid options.
Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) are the lightest and most direct way to have something similar to a Single Sign-On (SSB) without installing additional software. Browsers like Chrome, Edge, and, to some extent, Firefox allow you to "install" compatible websites as if they were applications, with their own icon and separate window.
Among their advantages is that they are completely free and native to the browser . You don't need to download third-party tools: the website simply needs to offer PWA support and the browser needs to detect it to pin it to the desktop or start menu.
However, PWAs do have some limitations. Customization is typically less extensive than in solutions like WebCatalog or GhostBrowser, and multi-account workflows are often more complex to manage. Furthermore, not all websites implement all PWA capabilities, so the experience can vary considerably from site to site.
If you want something fast, free, and with minimal impact on your system, PWAs are a good first approach. If you find they lack features, you can always move on to more comprehensive tools later.
Other macOS-focused SSB tools
macOS offers a whole ecosystem of applications designed for creating single-server builds (SSBs) with various approaches. Some aren't available on Windows, but it's worth exploring them to understand the big picture and, if you work in mixed environments, to evaluate what you use on each platform.
Coherence is a tool that allows you to create single-server web pages (SSBs) using Chrome, Brave, Edge, or Opera as the engine . Its main advantage is its support for browser extensions, single- or multi-tab modes, and advanced rules for managing URLs. Its weakness is its reliance on third-party browsers, which can somewhat compromise stability and fine-tuning the environment.
Unite, on the other hand, generates lightweight SSBs on WebKit, with deep macOS integration : compact windows, menu bar mode, ad blocking, and options for injecting custom CSS. The downside is that it doesn't support extensions and can cause problems with websites primarily optimized for Chromium.
Fluid is a veteran solution that also uses WebKit to transform any website into a desktop app. It's very simple and lightweight, with some additional options unlockable in the paid version (Fluid Pro), such as user scripts or menu bar apps. Its interface is somewhat outdated and doesn't always work well with complex, modern web applications.
Boxy Suite focuses exclusively on Google services: Gmail, Calendar, Keep, and Contacts. It offers a polished, native experience for Mac, with features like Minimal Mode, a quick launcher, and automatic dark mode syncing. Its major limitation is that it only works within the Google ecosystem.
Finally, Flotato takes an ultra-lightweight approach, using mobile versions of websites to minimize CPU and RAM usage. It's ideal for simple tasks, but not designed for complex workflows or scenarios with many tabs or advanced features.
With all of the above in mind, the key is to intelligently combine browsers, profiles, containers, and SSB according to your actual needs. If you simply want to separate work and personal browsers, two browsers (for example, Chrome for work and Firefox for personal use) with multiple homepages configured in each will probably suffice.
If you manage multiple companies, projects, or clients and need to access many accounts simultaneously, solutions like GhostBrowser or WebCatalog come into play , along with the use of PWAs for very specific applications. This allows you to have different Gmail, Amazon, Slack, Notion, etc., accounts open at the same time without mixing sessions.
For those who prioritize privacy and speed, it makes sense to opt for browsers focused on data protection (Firefox, Brave) and reinforce them with containers, tracker-blocking extensions, and well-separated sessions. Arc and Zen may be interesting for the future, but currently many users perceive that they still lack refinement in profile management and stability.
It's also worth monitoring the impact on resources: the more browsers and SSB servers you have open, the greater the RAM and CPU usage . Having many installed isn't a problem, but it's a good idea to close the ones you're not currently using and check which extensions are active in each to avoid duplication and unnecessary slowdowns.
In short, Windows offers many possibilities for working with multiple browsers, profiles, and site-specific apps without overcomplicating things. By combining the native features of Chrome, Firefox, and Edge with tools like GhostBrowser, WebCatalog, and PWAs, it's possible to create a very comfortable environment where each account, project, or business has its own dedicated space for working in an organized, productive, and private way.
