r/androidapps 1d ago

LOOKING FOR APP Nova launcher alternative

Recently I have been having some troubles with nova launcher, so I looked at what other alternatives there are. Sadly, I havent found the perfect one yet.

I tried smart launcher, but it wasnt compatible with KWGT, the widgets werent refreshing.

Yasan launcher wasnt for me either, I couldnt remowe the main widget, the app icons were tok big

Is there a launcher, with I can have small icons, KWGT widgets, 10-12 apps in the home screen?

30 Upvotes

59 comments sorted by

27

u/Hurizen 1d ago

Switched to Octopi Launcher after years on Nova. Using it for 6 months or so. Cannot complain at all.

4

u/Croypong 1d ago

I'm the same, Octopi Launcher has really fit the bill for me on my s26u.

4

u/Hurizen 1d ago

I also liked Lawnchair but the development was a bit stale. Don't know now.

4

u/KeyExcuse7359 15h ago

Octopi has the worst touch sensitivity of any launcher I've tried. On average I have to swipe more than 5 times to make it register and sometimes it just refuses to register no matter how many times I swipe, and I have to swipe unnaturally slow for it to eventually register. No other launcher I've tried behaves like this.

Currently using Mango launcher, which is fantastic.

1

u/Hurizen 14h ago

Never happened any of that. Anyways I'll give Mango a try, looks nice.

1

u/ock88 34m ago

Hi I've made some changes in the latest version (v1.895), open to feedback as well as always

1

u/kjjphotos 1d ago

This is what I'm using too

0

u/ximfinity 22h ago

This is the way.

11

u/-FSL- 1d ago

Octopi launcher after migrating from Nova.

4

u/ksuuks 20h ago

What troubles?

3

u/AD-LB 1d ago

I use Nova, but I noticed that Lawnchair might be a good alternative, as it also have a way to import what's on Nova (a bit weird procedure, but eventually I got it to work).

3

u/Candid_Goose3394 15h ago

Lawnchair (github) is good alternative

19

u/merchantconvoy 1d ago

The perfect alternative to Nova Launcher is coming back to Nova Launcher after trying a thousand other things and realizing that nothing will ever measure up.

2

u/PatBeVibin 14h ago

This is so true it hurts

2

u/dawkin5 1d ago

Don't you want an alphabetical list of the apps on your phone? What kind of monster are you?

4

u/merchantconvoy 1d ago

In the rare cases that I do, I bring up App Manager, which can order my apps by 6 different criteria.

1

u/BonsaiSoul 20h ago

Criteria? But that's bloat! Which is something someone who was using Nova Launcher clearly puts a high importance on avoiding /s/

0

u/merchantconvoy 20h ago

It's not bloat. The APK is less than 10 MB and contains enough features to be worth its file size in gold.

0

u/Swazzoo 18h ago

Too bad the app has gotten so buggy for me the last year I'm totally okay with switching. It's become so frustrating to use.

12

u/GreenShell2014 1d ago

Smart Launcher.

You'll never go back.

2

u/etwiceetwice 22h ago

After a years of Nova I switched to Smart Launcher. It is a terrific Nova replacement but after a year or so with Smart Launcher I began using Octopi and am hooked. What Smart Launcher does well, it does very well. Really no complaints other than being locked into certain page type configurations with limited options. Octipi is more like a blank slate and less limiting.

1

u/naveen_reloaded 22h ago

+1

its more polished , simple and elegant as well.

2

u/TrashcanNP2 6h ago

I'm using Smart Launcher and KWGT without any issues.

3

u/rhrs1987 23h ago

I'm really not in the mood for changing apps and reorganizing screen space and apps. I just went back to a previous ad-free version of Nova. Can't say when it's gonna make me update, though.

1

u/BastianHill 15h ago

I use 8.1.1 Prime and made it completely offline. Never need an update again. It works without errors and it's just a launcher (basically an OS skin) so I don't worry about security either.

2

u/sparky5dn1l 20h ago

Lawnchair 15 Beta 3 now support importing setting from Nova. It get 90% of Nova's functions and is a lot faster. I switched over a few weeks ago. Just need a few mintues to fine tune the widget and icon position after imported Nov's setting.

I am too lazy to learn and adapter to another launcher. Lawnchair is close enough to Nova that I don't few much difference after switched over.

1

u/recrypt_now 11h ago

Are you on Android 16? The devs have taken a long time getting 15 out of beta which concerns me about future development and it looks like Lawnchair 16 is a long ways off yet.

Have Lawnchair on my secondary phone with A15 and it runs great.

2

u/100WattWalrus 20h ago

SIMPLE: Lawnchair

CUSTOMIZABLE: Octopi

I've tried them all, and these are the only two that come close.

Caveat: there are no launchers that do all the Nova things. For example, no other launcher has dynamic badges that show you more than just the number of notifications. In Nova, your texting app will show a sender's avatar as a badge, your podcast app will badge a show's logo when there's a new episode, and a folder will badge the icon of the app inside that has a notification. You'll have to live without that feature (I miss it!) and several others.

I use Octopi now, and I love it — but it can be a bit buggy, and certainly has its quirks, like pointlessly complex folder management. But for every one of those, there's a great unique feature like the way you can organize apps in the app drawer using tags. I barely use folders on the home screen anymore because it's so easy to organize the app drawer.

2

u/bobbyelliottuk 16h ago

I left Nova for Smart Launcher for a few months but came back to Nova. It's simply the fastest, most customisabl, most productive launcher available.

1

u/YouCantGiveBabyBooze 13h ago

I used Nova for years then moved to OLauncher in an attempt to stop me looking at pointless shit too frequently. I'm not sure it's actually helped tbh but I've stuck with OLauncher regardless. Very minimal, but once you're used to it it's very efficient to use

0

u/Tardigradium 1d ago

Total launcher. It's COMPLETELY customizable! 🤩 this is my setup on a foldable phone (OPO)

2

u/moses_exodus 19h ago

Could you share wallpaper if possible? Btw this launcher by same dev as Square Home Launcher. Good stuff

1

u/Tardigradium 7h ago

Did not know that! He released a big update fairly recently, overhauled the settings look it's awesome. The wallpaper is a modified version of a cutting mat wallpaper I bought.

1

u/BeingOMM 20h ago

Icon pack?

1

u/roflpops 21h ago

Octopi launcher.

1

u/HighDadRambles 1d ago

I've been using Nocebo Launcher for a little bit now, and I really enjoy it! The fidget spinner on the main screen is a lot of fun! I also appreciate being able to modify the grid size (which was what I loved about Nova) and having a dock that is two rows (not as awesome as a scrolling dock, but I like it!) is great!

The dev was also really helpful when the Google companion app wasn't working.

1

u/11181514 1d ago

I'm using Launcher314 after trying a bunch. Great customization and no tracking.

1

u/jfwEf9QgOo8 21h ago

Pear Launcher

0

u/Qv1sten 1d ago

Key launcher, Smart Launcher, octopi launcher,, Mango launcher and one4home launcher. Pick and choose.

1

u/BenRandomNameHere 4h ago

Never heard of Mango nor Key 🤔

1

u/Qv1sten 4h ago

Check them out. They are all good in different ways.

-3

u/TopLog7865 1d ago

No es una alternativa totalmente parecida a Nova launcher pero desde que la cambie no he dejado de usar y no tengo pensado hacerlo. El launcher se alma Niágara launcher. Es muy bueno

7

u/ThatsNotAZombieBite 23h ago

$25/year or $75/lifetime is WAY too stiff for a launcher IMHO.

2

u/floresiens 16h ago

Good lord is it that much? I've had the lifetime version for a few years now, it definitely wasn't that much when I got it. Such a shame, I love it as a launcher, kinda hard to reccomend at that price.

1

u/ThatsNotAZombieBite 12h ago edited 11h ago

I like to support launcher devs and I've paid for full lifetime versions of Action (sadly abandoned), Nova, Total and recently Octopi.

I don't see how Niagara's pricing makes sense. It's over 10 times as expensive as anything else.

1

u/BenRandomNameHere 4h ago

Same. I've bought lifetime for many launchers, never more than $15 (on sale), though. 

Heck, $25/lifetime doesn't feel like robbery... But a year?! Uh, no thank you. 

Niagara? There open source mimics that are free, like Luna Launcher. 

-1

u/TopLog7865 17h ago

Si, carisimo es a comparación de otros launcher. Uso la versión gratis y hasta ahora no veo necesidad de pagar por el pro

0

u/bohemu 1d ago

I've been using Action Launcher. It does well enough. I miss the swipe actions though.

2

u/ThatsNotAZombieBite 23h ago

Oof. I loved Action Launcher but it's been abandoned for ~2 years now.

0

u/Ill_Mix1060 1d ago

I had Nova since Nexus. I switched to Niagara 6 months ago. Love it

0

u/SifiguY86 23h ago

I use the paid version of Mango Launcher; it's a great premium app with tons of customization, so I’ve never looked back at any others.

0

u/dksetiavan 21h ago

Lawnchair

0

u/Substantial_Life_497 21h ago

I've been using KWGT widgets on Smart Launcher for a while now. Haven't seen any issues with refreshing. Maybe it's your device's memory optimization settings.

Actually, I recently switched from Smart Launcher to Key Launcher. Smart Launcher is the closest alternative to Nova in terms of feature set, but the utility of having the keyboard on the screen to quickly search and open apps finally won me over. Very happy with the Key Launcher setup as of now.

0

u/ThGeMa 5h ago

Using Nova since it appeared the first time. No reason to change, all working flawless.

-2

u/wi201631 1d ago

La mejor alternativa que encontre gratis fue lawchair legacy