Is there a way to run a second Android environment?

I've been using my personal Android phone for work as well, and lately it's getting difficult to keep everything separate. I have several work apps that I need throughout the day, but I'd rather not mix their data, notifications, and settings with my personal stuff. I tried the app cloning feature on my phone, but it doesn't work with everything, and I'm not sure how much separation it actually provides. Buying another phone seems unnecessary when I mostly need a separate environment for a handful of apps. I've heard about virtual Android devices, but I'm confused about whether they run directly on your phone or need a computer or cloud service. Has anyone used one for everyday work? What would you recommend if you want separate apps without carrying two phones?

Bro, a second phone for a few work apps feels like a lot of extra hardware to keep charged and carry around every day. I'd take a closer look at Shelter first. It gives the work apps their own profile, and you can turn that whole side off when you're done for the day. For email, messengers, and a few business apps, that may already be enough.

Clone apps are fine until one of your work apps refuses to cooperate, and then you start looking for something with a little more separation. Before choosing one, read about the best virtual machine for android here: https://gologin.com/blog/best-virtual-machine-for-android/ . Pay attention to where each option runs and what access you'll have to the virtual device during the day. That should make it easier to rule out the setups that don't fit the way you actually use your phone.