The Velja Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Velja in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Velja
The Insider’s Guide
Mac browser picker that routes links to a browser, profile or app
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among desktop utilities, read from Velja’s own pages.
Made by Sindre Sorhus · checked Oct 9, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Velja’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Velja’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 9, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.2
GPA, above 7 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade
Velja is a Mac menu bar app from Sindre Sorhus that sits between a clicked link and your browsers. It can show a prompt to choose a browser, follow rules that send certain sites or links from certain apps to a specific browser or browser profile, and open links to services such as Zoom or Figma in their desktop apps. It was free for its first three years and is now a $10 one-time purchase.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Velja, taken from its own pages and our grades.
No store rating on record, and it only earns its keep once you've written rules.
- 1
Best for sending each link to the right browser on a Mac
Velja sits between a link and your browsers on a Mac, so a Slack link opens in your Chrome work profile and a Zoom link goes to the Zoom app.
- 2
What it costs
Paid plans start at $10 one-time purchase.
- 3
You can try it first
Fully functional trial with no stated end date; it reminds you to buy every 12 hours and has no automatic updates
- 4
It runs on macOS
macOS, with a browser extension too.
- 5
Browser prompt
A prompt lists your browsers when you click a link, and you pick one by mouse, number or an assigned letter key. It can be reserved for a modifier key or for links matched by a rule.
- 6
Custom link rules
Rules open links in a chosen browser by URL pattern, by the app the link was clicked in, or both: for example, every link clicked in Slack can open in a Chrome work profile.
- 7
Browser profiles and private windows
Opens links in a specific profile of Chrome, Edge, Brave, Vivaldi and other Chromium-based browsers, and of Firefox and Zen with new-style profiles, or in a private window.
- 8
A 2.2 GPA, above 7 of 94
That is against the other desktop utilities we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
Nothing Velja does is plain enough to make in a weekend. The 4 things listed below take a company.
Velja at a glance
- Pricing
- Free trial, from $10 one-time purchase
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- Fully functional trial with no stated end date; it reminds you to buy every 12 hours and has no automatic updates
- Runs on
- macOS, Browser extension
- Made by
- Sindre Sorhus
- Category
- Desktop Utilities
- Our grade
- 2.2 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for sending each link to the right browser on a Mac
Velja sits between a link and your browsers on a Mac, so a Slack link opens in your Chrome work profile and a Zoom link goes to the Zoom app. It's $10 once, with a trial that doesn't run out. It's Mac only, the current version needs macOS 26 or later, you write every rule yourself, and links clicked inside a browser need its extension.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | $10 once, no subscription. That's a one-off well under a year of what paid utilities here charge. It was free for its first three years, so paying at all is the new bit. |
| Free plan and trial | C | No free plan, but the trial is fully functional with no stated end date and no card. It nags you to buy every 12 hours and won't update itself. The free older versions stop at macOS 15. |
| Features | C | Browser prompt, rules by site or by the app you clicked in, profiles, private windows, Zoom and Figma links sent to their apps, 200-odd tracking parameters stripped. That one job is done fully and it's a small one, and the listing says Safari profiles, Arc spaces and about:profiles Firefox profiles aren't supported. |
| Ease of use | C | No store rating on record, and it only earns its keep once you've written rules. Links clicked inside a browser need the Velja extension or a workaround, and rules have to be exported and imported by hand between Macs. |
| Platforms and integrations | D | Mac only, and the current version needs macOS 26 or later, so one operating system and a brand new one. It knows about Safari, Chrome, Firefox, Edge and Brave and has a Shortcuts action, but there's no Windows build and no phone app. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Velja is for
- Fits if you keep one browser or profile for work and another for home
- Works for sending Zoom and Figma links to their apps and not to a browser tab
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you're not on a Mac, as there's no Windows or phone version
- Tight if you're on macOS 15 or older, as the $10 version needs macOS 26 and the free older builds stop at 15
- Not for you if you rely on Safari profiles, Arc spaces or about:profiles Firefox profiles, since none is supported
- Tight if you have more than one Mac, because rules don't sync through iCloud and you export and import them by hand
- Watch out: links clicked inside a browser need the Velja extension, and the trial nags every 12 hours with no updates
Good to know
Good for
- Mac users who keep separate browsers or profiles for work and personal use
- Sending meeting and design links straight to their desktop apps
- People who want links from one app, such as Slack, to open in a set browser
Worth knowing
- Mac only, and the current version requires macOS 26 or later. Older versions are free but stop at macOS 15.
- It cannot handle links clicked inside a browser unless you add the Velja browser extension or use a workaround.
- Safari profiles, Arc spaces and Firefox profiles created with about:profiles are not supported.
- Rules do not sync through iCloud; they can only be exported and imported manually. The app is not localized.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$10 one-time
To start
Velja is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $10 one-time purchase.
That's a one-off well under a year of what paid utilities here charge.
Velja
$10
one-time purchase
The current version from the Mac App Store, for macOS 26 or later. Older versions for macOS 12 to 15 are free but will not run on newer systems.
Trying it first
Fully functional trial with no stated end date; it reminds you to buy every 12 hours and has no automatic updates
Read from sindresorhus.com on Oct 9, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Education
50% off for schools buying 20 or more copies
The developer's discounts page says educational institutions get 50% off his App Store apps when they buy 20 or more copies of one app through Apple School Manager.
Stated on sindresorhus.com
What the app costs elsewhere
Each country’s App Store price for the app, against $10.00 in the United States, in dollars at the day’s rate. The four cheapest and the four dearest of 11.
| Country | Price there | In dollars | Against the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philippines | ₱ 599.00 | $9.54 | about the same |
| Canada | $14.00 | $9.84 | about the same |
| Turkey | ₺499,99 | $10.17 | about the same |
| India | ₹ 999 | $10.33 | about the same |
| Germany | 10,00 € | $11.21 | 12% more |
| Brazil | R$ 59,90 | $11.97 | 20% more |
| South Africa | R199.99 | $12.10 | 21% more |
| United Kingdom | £10.00 | $13.22 | 32% more |
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
2
Places it runs: macOS and Browser extension
Mac browser picker that routes links to a browser, profile or app. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: one-time purchase, menu bar app.
It knows about Safari, Chrome, Firefox, Edge and Brave and has a Shortcuts action, but there's no Windows build and no phone app.
- Browser prompt
- A prompt lists your browsers when you click a link, and you pick one by mouse, number or an assigned letter key. It can be reserved for a modifier key or for links matched by a rule.
- Custom link rules
- Rules open links in a chosen browser by URL pattern, by the app the link was clicked in, or both: for example, every link clicked in Slack can open in a Chrome work profile.
- Browser profiles and private windows
- Opens links in a specific profile of Chrome, Edge, Brave, Vivaldi and other Chromium-based browsers, and of Firefox and Zen with new-style profiles, or in a private window.
- Links to desktop apps
- Links to services such as Zoom, Figma, Linear, Asana and Discord can open directly in the matching desktop app instead of a browser tab.
- Tracking parameter removal
- Strips more than 200 common tracking parameters from clicked and copied links, and can expand short URLs so that rules match the final destination.
- Shortcuts and scripting
- A Set Default Browser action for the Shortcuts app, a Focus Filter and a custom URL scheme automate browser switching, and JavaScript can rewrite URLs before or after rules match.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Browser extension
What it works with
- Safari
- Google Chrome
- Firefox
- Microsoft Edge
- Brave
- Zoom
- Figma
- Apple Shortcuts
Velja is made by Sindre Sorhus.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
7/94
Other desktop utilities it is graded above
Velja's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 7 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 10.
It stands best on value for money (A, above 24 of 94) and worst on platforms and integrations (D, above 0).
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 95 desktop utilities we grade, cut by the letter each got. Velja’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 24 of 94
- CFree plan and trialAbove 4 of 94
- CFeaturesAbove 1 of 94
- CEase of useAbove 6 of 94
- DPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 94
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
Nothing Velja does is plain enough to make in a weekend. The 4 things listed below take a company.
That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 77 of the 94 other desktop utilities grade higher. It costs $10, paid once.
What you could not
- A native app living in the menu bar.
- A real app for macOS. Something home-made would be a web page.
- It plugs into other products, Safari, Google Chrome and Firefox among them.
- Hooks into the device itself: Shortcuts.
What this rests on. Velja’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Hammerspoon, Arc, Wavebox and Raycast
The 4 tools Velja is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.6GPA
Hammerspoon
Free
Free, open-source macOS automation scripted in Lua.
- Hammerspoon has a free plan. Velja does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Velja lists a browser extension.
- Velja can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 3.4GPA
Arc
Free
Chromium-based browser with Spaces, Profiles and Split View.
- Arc has a free plan. Velja does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Velja lists a browser extension.
- Only Arc lists Windows, iOS and Android apps.
- 2.2GPA
Wavebox
Free plan · from $8.33/mo
Desktop browser that keeps many web apps and accounts signed in.
- Wavebox has a free plan. Velja does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Velja lists a browser extension.
- Only Wavebox lists Windows and Linux apps.
- 2.8GPA
Raycast
Free plan · from $96/yr
Keyboard launcher with extensions, clipboard history and AI.
- Raycast has a free plan. Velja does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Raycast lists Windows and iOS apps.
- Velja can be bought with a one-time purchase.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
13
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Velja free?
No, Velja is a paid product, but you can try it first. Fully functional trial with no stated end date; it reminds you to buy every 12 hours and has no automatic updates.
How much does Velja cost?
Velja lists one plan. Velja: $10 one-time purchase.
What platforms does Velja work on?
Velja is available on macOS. It also has a browser extension.
Does Velja offer any discounts?
Velja publicly lists the following: 50% off for schools buying 20 or more copies.
Does Velja have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Velja is listed for macOS.
Does Velja have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Velja is listed for macOS.
Is Velja open source?
Velja is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 9, 2026.
What does Velja integrate with?
Velja's listing names Safari, Google Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Brave, Zoom, Figma and Apple Shortcuts.
Does Velja have a student discount?
50% off for schools buying 20 or more copies. The developer's discounts page says educational institutions get 50% off his App Store apps when they buy 20 or more copies of one app through Apple School Manager.
Who makes Velja?
Velja is made by Sindre Sorhus.
What are the alternatives to Velja?
The closest alternatives to Velja in our directory are Hammerspoon, Arc, Wavebox and Raycast.
How does Velja compare with other desktop utilities?
Velja's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 7 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 10.
Could I make my own version of Velja?
Nothing Velja does is plain enough to make in a weekend. The 4 things listed below take a company.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Velja’s own pages on Oct 9, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Sindre Sorhus's own pages on 9 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-05-20.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Sindre Sorhus. Prices change, so check sindresorhus.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Velja, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/velja
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Velja: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 9, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/velja
Know someone choosing between desktop utilities?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/velja/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded desktop utilities after Velja, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Desktop Utilities Insider's GuideEvery one of the 95 desktop utilities we grade, compared
- LocalSend Insider's GuideOpen-source file sharing between nearby devices, no cloud3.2 GPA
- Ninite Insider's GuideInstalls and updates many Windows apps at once3.2 GPA
- 7-Zip Insider's GuideFree, open-source file archiver with the 7z format3.0 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Velja’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Velja is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Sindre Sorhus. Prices and plans change: check sindresorhus.com before you buy.