Can I designate 2 default browsers, each linked to different email addresses?

If you switch between two or more browsers often, you can use an app called Browserosaurus. Whenever you click a link in any app, including apps like Mail, Notes, or News, Browserosaurus will ask you which browser you want to open the link in, and you can quickly launch the link with a single keystroke. For example, "S" will open Safari, "F" will open Firefox, "C" will open Chrome, and so on. The app is completely free, just set Browserosaurus as your default browser and it will run in the background without using much of your system resources at all.

Well, that is more complicated of course since Mail will only allow one default browser. This is my personal opinion: I would probably have and access an online email address for work which then would be easily done by using your browser of choice and then work within the online site of the email provider.

Out of curiosity: a browser is simply an app that allows access to the internet - what is the difference and how would the difference show if you are working within Safari or Firefox? I think a totally separate account would be more efficient.

Be careful with anything you download from the internet unless you know the developer or it is available at the app store.

FWIW, switching browsers isn't all that bad as long as you have both icons in your dock - you may have one listed as default, but you can also designate a different one in some apps or simply click its icon when you want to use it. Email addresses as such have nothing to do with the choice of a browser since a browser is just an app.

With the multitude of scammers online today and some sites including adware or worse in their downloads, I have become extremely careful - open source or not. If I don't know them or they haven't been recommended by someone I know and trust, I don't need it.

babowa wrote:

Out of curiosity: a browser is simply an app that allows access to the internet - what is the difference and how would the difference show if you are working within Safari or Firefox? I think a totally separate account would be more efficient.

I can't speak for the OP but, I use one browser for work and one for personal and have for a while. It has been particularly useful since I have to work from home. My work browser has all of my work passwords, and work links save in it. At work, I only use the one browser. On home computer, it's easy to know that a window open in the browser I only use for work is a work related window. No, it's not a huge thing but, it makes my life easier right now. However, as I access work email from within a browser, I don't have the problem the OP does.

However, as I access work email from within a browser, I don't have the problem the OP does.

That is probably the crux of the problem? I believe the OP wants to access his work and private emails through the Mail app, not a browser (which was one of the suggestions I had made).

What I meant is that if you access your work email online via your browser, it is completely separate, especially if you use one particular browser. You just launch it, go to your work email provider's site, sign in, and work on your emails from there. Mail is not a browser, it's an Apple app. You can set it up to receive and show many different emails from different email providers. Browsers are apps as well, but they are the means to get you online only; they are not in and itself email providers.

babowa wrote:

However, as I access work email from within a browser, I don't have the problem the OP does.

That is probably the crux of the problem? I believe the OP wants to access his work and private emails through the Mail app, not a browser (which was one of the suggestions I had made).

Yes, my situation is different from the OPs. I was mostly trying to give an example of why they might want to do what they were asking about.

babowa wrote:

This entire conversation is getting a bit too confusing, LOL - also difficult to explain.

It's weird but I'm finding that this staying at home thing, in addition to making me a tad (more) irritable also seems to be making me miss things or confuse things I ordinarily have no trouble with. I think the constant, low-grade anxiety is taking a toll.

I'm not the developer of the app I had recommended, but it is worth noting that the app is entirely open source and does not send any data to the developer.