12mo ago

Alternative to Nova Launcher

As the title states, I have used Nova launcher for years. As it is the most feature rich, most customizable launcher that supports basically everything I could need from it. However I am looking to switch away from it.

What launchers are you all using?

I have tried a handful of them and none quite fit the bill. And one feature nova has but no other launcher seems to is invaluable to me; that feature being able to swipe up or down on an app on the home screen to launch another app or task. It's how I keep my main page from being cluttered.

I have tried Neo Launcher which I love, but it doesn't seem to be updated anymore.

I have also tried:

So the only option I am feeling is gonna work is Nova but I am trying to ditch as many closed source, data thieving apps and services as possible.

I could however just use AFWall+ to block internet connection.

Any suggestions?

69 comments

You could try Niagara Launcher. I'm using it and it's got that decluttered home screen but it's fairly minimal. It's worth mentioning you do get most relevant features in the free version.
- I went from Nova to Niagara and I love it!

Personally I really like Lawnchair

Neo Launcher, available in the IzzyOnDroid F-Droid Repo, has been my solid go-to for replacing Nova.
https://github.com/NeoApplications/Neo-Launcher
I prefer a ton of icons/folders/widgets on my home screen, and it supports that dense layout.
- I used it for a while, but it wasn't get as many frequent updates as I would have hoped. I get it straight from the GitHub with Obtainium

Is Nova Launcher stealing data?
- Ever since Nova Launcher was acquired by Branch, many users have had privacy concerns.
  
  I just blocked it's Internet access
- Haven't investigated what data they may or may not be taking but they were acquired by Branch (https://novalauncher.com/branch) and with that being said, use your judgement to decide if a company like branch is one you'd want to have data of yours.
  Branch is an analytics company, so I would argue that yes, yes they are obtaining your data.
  
  I'm still running Nova on Graphene. I revoked the network permission. That should mean I'm safe from spying, right?
  
  Nova still currently shows zero network usage.

This was the closest for me, but the project has been slow for some time as the devs are busy with other things
https://github.com/LawnchairLauncher/lawnchair
- Project has been slow is an understatement. Lawn chair was definitely a contender but with complete lack of updates over SEVERAL years - it's abandonware and should be treated as such.
  I don't think devs or users really care about launchers in 2024. I still use Nova but only because there is nothing better.
  
  One of the devs releases current builds of Lawnchair 14. Apart from a few bugs here and there, they work great
  https://github.com/Goooler/LawnchairRelease/releases
- I tried that one too. I couldn't stick with it. I don't remember why now.

I too wanted to ditch Nova, but couldn't find something that was a suitable replacement for me. Now I use older version of Nova (version 7) before it was acquired by Branch and I don't intend on updating it.

Neo-Launcher is still being worked on, they are expecting to push version 1.0 later this year to GitHub, but progress has been steady from what I know. You can get the latest beta version of Neo-Launcher from their Telegram to try out. Don't let the "beta" part turn you off, it's basically production ready, I've been using it now as my launcher for well over a year, possibly even 2 at this point.
- Could you please share a link to the beta? I can't find it in the telegram chat. Thanks 😃
- I'd be interested in the bet, I just already use other messaging apps, and don't want to get telegram just for Neo Launcher

I always go back to Kiss Launcher after trying other launchers. With a huge amount of apps, there is no point trying to organise the icons. Nothing beats typing the first letter and launch.
- I like Kiss a lot too.
  Very different than Nova but simple and powerful.

I use the paid version of Niagara. It's going well for me but I get that paying 30$ lifetime for a launcher isn't for everyone. The free version is ok but it lacks several very nice features like your music app automatically being hoisted when you connect earphones.
- I used it in the past. I really did like the idea of it, but I can't see myself going back. And 30$ is steep, I'd rather donate to an open source project anyways.
- You can just download the cracked version. Its on some popular mod site that now I can not remember.
  
  So fun fact about that I know a bit about Android apps so I tried cracking it myself, and when I couldn't I looked at the difference between the vanilla app and the cracked one to see how they did it. All the cracked copies I could find were not simply cracked but also had additional code behind some kind of DRM, so I'm gonna go with "please do not install malware as your Android launcher".
  This isnt fear mongering, this is based on actual evidence of said malware being distributed.

I really like Lawnchair! It's the only launcher that I've found to support gesture navigation

Action Launcher is what you seek
- I've been using it for almost 10 years. I consider any new phone unusable until Action Launcher is installed.

Niagara Launcher is so unique and difficult to switch from once you get used to it's simplicity.

NeoLauncher is close to the feel of Nova but its a bit buggier

The dev versions of Lawnchair have been pretty decent to me. You can grab them straight from the CI build jobs in the repo. You might need a GitHub login.
- Are they recent builds, as in the project isn't dead?
  
  Yes, look at the commit history.

I'm currently using Action Launcher. It's a pretty good replacement for Nova.
- Same + AFAIK Nova nicked all the good stuff from action anyway
  It's great! Specifically, the feature I'm thinking of was the swipe on an icon functionality (not sure if that's what OP means). I have my most used apps set to the tap, and then the lesser used ones in the swipe action, and I love it

I've been using Olauncher which is on F-Droid / Play Store.
It is truly minimal AF. Up to 8 apps on the home screen. Assign a swipe left/right app (calendar and weather for me). Swipe up opens a search for the rest of the apps. A clock if you want it that can be configured to open another app.
No icons. No widgets (other than a built-in clock). Reminds me more of a terminal than a traditional launcher. Really happy with it after all the time configuring Nova. Been using it for 3 years now.
- That link is a Minecraft launcher, not sure that's the correct project? Or am I missing something? :)
  
  Fuck me. Fixed.
- One tip for Olauncher is that you can put emojies in the app's names! It makes things a lot less text heavy.

When Nova sold out I moved too. Hyperion https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=projekt.launcher Well as far as I know its not open source. But I did find it to be a decent Nova replacement.
- I tried it once upon a time, and forget exactly why I didn't stick with it

Smart Launcher. Worth the premium version. It has the alternate task feature you mentioned, it's just on double tap instead of swipe.
Not open source, but they're independent and respectful of privacy

I tried a number of them but never found one that felt right. I went back to the stock Pixel launcher. It's far from perfect but I'm getting too old to tinker on features I'm not using anymore. I use the same 4 or 5 apps every day so it wasn't worth the time investment.
- I love the pixel launcher but hate that you can't disable the internet connection of the Google widget. That means that Google tracks every single app you search and I can't stand that. So I'm using the buggy and apparently just as outrageous Nova :/

Not seen Lynx Launcher mentioned, free version is OK but the majority of features are for premium version.

I selfishly hope someone comes through for you, OP, because that feature is the exact reason I'm still on Nova. I love having only 8 icons on my home screen.
I also really like the same feature for folders (tap to open first app, swipe up to open folder) when I had a bunch of work stuff on my phone
- I actually just started to learn kotlin, but maybe if I become proficient enough I'll make the damn app myself.
- Action Launcher does this
  
  I checked it out but the reviews have me questioning it...I don't mind paying for apps but the free version of this pops up full screen ads when you switch apps?? But more importantly, it hasn't been updated since last year and Pixel users are reporting a ton of really bad bugs (I use a pixel)
  I might download it tonight and see if I experience them before I commit

I went from Nova > Lawnchair Beta > Smart Launcher and its been amazing. Subscription based but I bought the lifetime version for $20 cause its that good. Lawnchair is basically MIA and Nova sold out to advertising/tracking.
Not sure if Smart Launcher is okay in that aspect but it is packed with features and still being updated. All the options outside of these three arent good imo and I would rather use stock.
- I still use Nova, but I block Internet to it completely. Lawnchair I didn't try because of lack of updates. And I'm trying to lean towards open source. Thanks for the suggestion

Niagara.
Cool disclosure: I haven't tried any others. I was really impressed by Niagara and just paid the asking price.

I'm a Nova user also. I stopped updating before the buy out but this version is still working great and no issues. I would love for there to be an open source alternative with the same features but I need the same things you do.
Swipe up alternate app launch
Tabbed app drawer
Folders in the app drawer
- I mentioned smart launcher in another comment. It has all the features you mention. Not open source but privacy respecting
  
  I'm not sure if privacy respecting means the same thing here but step one of the setup for Smart Launcher is "agree to send us your app list so we can categorize it".
  Thanks for the recommendation but it doesn't sound like what I'm looking for.
- I am on a beta, and I love it. However, I am also using AFWall+ to block internet access to that app completely.
  Neo Launcher is the closest I have found to Nova, but it's missing the alternate app launches
  If I had the time, the motivation, and the knowledge id jump in to try to create an open source solution. I don't know any Java (as far as Android development goes anyways) and I don't know any Kotlin. So it's safe to say id I did go down this rabbit hole it would be a long ways out.
  If I find anything remotely similar, I'll share with everyone.

I switched from Nova to Total Launcher for the swipe feature.

I switched to Pear Launcher. Pretty affordable and doesn't request network connection permission. It's not as feature rich as Nova but it fulfills my needs. You can assign swipe up gesture on app icon (but not swipe down and not on folder).

69 comments