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PSA: Nova Launcher is owned by an analytics company
(www.androidpolice.com)
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this post was submitted on 23 Apr 2024
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Are there comparable alternatives? I never found another launcher that I like as much.
I switched to Lawnchair 2. It's free, open source and quite versatile. Probably not as much as Nova, though it's been a few years since I last used it.
It is significantly less than Nova. People keep suggesting it but it's not a true replacement for those that were actually using Nova to its full potential. They're frankly isn't a replacement right now that goes all out on providing users customization options. That's not in vogue anymore, apparently.
Lawnchair 2 isn't available for my phone since the app is too old, and I'm only on Android 12.
Edit: this only applies to the Play Store version
That's odd, I'm on Android 14 and it works just fine here.
Very strange. I get a big notification and everything.
I see, I installed it through Aurora on my device. But you can just download the apk from their Github or https://lawnchair.app/ instead. Only Google PlayStore seems to have disabled the download even though the app still works perfectly fine.
That would explain it. Thanks!
Lawnchair 2 is no longer under development. The development team always starts to develop a new launcher based on the latest stock launcher every time a new Android version is released (so basically every year). This way the app usually never gets past the alpha or beta builds till they already move on to start from scratch. I don't understand their strategy.
Free - Lawnchair | Kvaesisto
Paid - Niagara Launcher
Shoutout for Niagara. High quality reliable launcher. Only switched away after 2+ years cuz I got a little bored of the interface
I got bored but then I noticed almost immediately how I spend so much extra time just navigating my phone on other launchers. So I switched back and then they released a wallpaper that has a fun cat in it and now he's my home screen homey and I'm good
Show us the wallpaper!!!
I tried to upload a screenshot but it keeps throwing an error. Here's a link to it from their web Site.
Funny enough i actually switched from niagara to kvaesisto
Well now I have to go look into this kvaesisto!
Edit: how do you find the interface? I looked at the photos and it looks very interesting, kind of has some Sesame type system wide search functionality?
For those interested: https://kvaesitso.mm20.de/
I used Niagara free for quite a while. It does have a fair few features locked behind the paywall, but it's certainly usable.
Niagara's free version is still pretty great too. I usually pay for apps but don't want a subscription for my launcher, so I use it in free mode. Despite the limitations it's methodology of getting you to the app you're looking for as quickly as possible is a game changer. I don't know if I'll be able to go back to icons and folders + app drawer launchers haha
For me Hyperion ended up giving me the closest out of the box experience to what I wanted.
+1 for Hyperion, nice customization features.
Neo Launcher is really close, and FOSS.
Edit: Closer than Lawnchair IMO
Maybe also check out Total Launcher.
This seems awesome, testing it out.
Seconding Total, that's where I ended up after leaving Nova and trying a few. Very, very customisable, but a bit of a learning curve.
Agreed re how customisable it is. Can also back up to a file for easy transfer to your next phone etc.
Here's a link to my current setup with Total. (My actual home home screen is the sixth image, I can't seem to alter image order on Pixeldroid...)
You can download the APK of Nova 7, which was the last version before the buyout. It's perfectly clean.
Just don't update it.
Plan to just keep using it myself until it's no longer viable, at which point I'll look for a launcher that hopefully reached feature parity.
Kvaesisto has treated me wonderfully
This will be down voted, but I also tried a bunch of launchers and never found one I liked better than Nova. I ended up installing TrackerControl and Nova has its internet connection fully disabled. It doesn't need Internet for any features I use, so I felt like this was a good compromise, personally. I ended up starting to block trackers in all my apps now because of it, so I see it as a net win.
Maybe not a popular reply, but if you're already in Windows ecosystem, the Microsoft launcher is pretty impressive features-wise.
neo launcher is the closest FOSS alternative
i'm just using the stock launcher
since niagara can be buggy
Nope. And since so far they're doing nothing, Nova it is for the time being. There just isn't anything remotely as customisable.
TotalLauncher
I haven't found anything yet, Nova has always been the best. I've been using Nova since the early years like version 2 or something like that. When I heard they were going to be bought and uninstall went to vanilla Google launcher, and searched high and low for another launcher. I tried dozens over a few months and literally nothing was close to Nova. So here I am, typing this to you in an app that was launched through Nova....
Please, please, please someone make a good launcher.
I'll probably try lawnchair again, but it isn't nearly as good.