Top 10 Best Android Launchers 2026: R.I.P Nova Launcher – The Ultimate Alternatives Guide

Last Updated: January 2026 | Post-Nova Era

TL;DR – Quick Rankings

Nova Launcher is DEAD (acquired and shut down, end of 2025). Here are the best alternatives for 2026:

• 🥇 Best Overall: Niagara Launcher – Minimalist, distraction-free, unique cascading A-Z index, excellent media controls
• 🥈 Best Customization: Smart Launcher 6 – Deep customization, icon pack studio, smart widgets (£8/month or £25 lifetime)
• 🥉 Best Free Alternative: Lawn Chair Launcher 15 – Most similar to Nova, early access beta, buggy but promising
• #4 Best Minimalist: O Launcher – Super simple, free, no ads, swipe gestures
• #5 Best Text-Based: AP15 Launcher – Plain text apps, auto-scaling based on usage
• #6 Best Search-Focused: Kiss Launcher – No widgets/pages, just search bar, under 1MB size
• #7 Best AI Learning: Yasan Launcher – Learns habits, predicts app needs, free early access
• #8 Best Creative: Total Launcher – Extreme customization, design from scratch
• #9 Best Light: Stereo Launcher – Lightweight, widget-focused, RSS feeds
• #10 Best Manufacturer: Nothing OS / ColorOS – Nothing Phone AI features, OnePlus/Oppo smoothness

The Death of Nova Launcher: What Happened?

The Rise and Fall of an Icon

Nova Launcher was “that all-time classic” and one of the most beloved Android launchers for over a decade. It offered:

• Deep customization options
• Reliable performance
• Regular updates and bug fixes
• Massive user base and community

What Killed Nova:

End of 2025: An unnamed company acquired Nova Launcher and immediately shut down all development.

Current Status:

• ❌ No more development
• ❌ No more updates
• ❌ No more bug fixes
• ✅ Still available to download (but frozen in time)

Why Users Are Abandoning It:

“Most users are understandably dropping it like a hot potato covered in herpes and dog shit.”

The Reality:

Without ongoing development, Nova will become:

• Incompatible with future Android versions
• Vulnerable to unfixed bugs
• Lacking new features
• Increasingly outdated

The Silver Lining:

This tragedy forced the Android community to discover incredible alternatives—some even better than Nova ever was.

Manufacturer Launchers: The Built-In Options

Before diving into third-party launchers, let’s acknowledge the best manufacturer options.

Nothing OS (Nothing Phones)

Found On: Nothing Phone 3a, 3a Pro

What Makes It Special:

“Adds some funky styling to Android, as well as some additional AI smarts. And hey, no, seriously, this Nothing AI stuff isn’t actually a hot bag of pants.”

AI Features:

• Memory recall system
• Creates tasks automatically
• Remembers anything on your behalf
• Quick command retrieval

Perfect For:

• Nothing Phone owners
• Those whose “memory isn’t quite what it used to be for various whiskey-related reasons”
• AI-curious users

ColorOS / Oxygen OS (Oppo / OnePlus)

Found On: Oppo and OnePlus smartphones

Latest Iteration Strengths:

“Pleasingly smooth, ridiculously fast, and packing some respectable bonus bits that actually elevate Android rather than bogging it down.”

Characteristics:

• Exceptional smoothness
• Fast performance
• Useful additional features (not bloatware)
• Actually improves Android experience

Perfect For:

• OnePlus/Oppo device owners
• Users wanting manufacturer polish without bloat

Top Third-Party Launchers: Detailed Reviews

🥇 #1: Niagara Launcher – The Minimalist Champion

Rating: 10/10 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Tagline: “Frankly an absolute banger”

What Makes Niagara Different

“A quick glance at Niagara and you’d swear you weren’t even looking at an Android phone at all. It basically cops a squat all over the regular Google desktops.”

Core Philosophy:

Instead of traditional app grids, Niagara presents:

• Short list of up to 8 favorite apps
• All others hidden in cascading A-Z index
• Out of sight, out of mind approach
• Reduces distraction from “time goblin bilge like X or Facebook”

The Cascading A-Z Index

How It Works:

Swipe to reveal an alphabetical list of all apps:

• Haptic feedback provides “very satisfying full-on rumble”
• Fast, efficient app access
• Neat and organized
• No visual clutter

Why It’s Brilliant:

You’re less distracted by apps you don’t need while maintaining instant access to everything.

Smart Features

Media Controls:

• Automatically materializes when playing music/podcasts/audiobooks
• Pause/play right from desktop
• Skip tracks
• Tap to open media app

Notification Management:

• Swipe right on favorite apps to check messages
• Archive, reply, or perform actions without opening app
• Example: Gmail message preview with quick actions

Smart App Shortcuts:

• Swipe right on apps for popular features
• Contextual actions based on app

Time Limit Feature:

• Set limits on time-wasting apps (YouTube, social media)
• Gentle reminders or automatic app killing
• Helps curb smartphone addiction

Universal Search:

• Swipe up for search bar
• Find any app instantly

Customization Evolution

Previously: Basic customization options Now (2026): Significantly expanded

Available Options:

• ✅ Actual wallpapers (not just basic themes)
• ✅ Geeky anime efforts (“Just when I thought I couldn’t love Niagara anymore”)
• ✅ Custom wallpapers
• ✅ Theme color adjustments
• ✅ Pro features (one-time fee): Weather and calendar widgets at top

Pricing

Free Version: Excellent functionality Pro Version: One-time fee unlocks weather, calendar, and additional features

Value Assessment: Worth every penny for minimalist enthusiasts

Who Should Use Niagara?

✅ Perfect For:

• Minimalist lovers
• Distraction-prone users
• Those wanting unique Android experience
• People who value efficiency over eye candy
• Anyone tired of app overload

❌ Not Ideal For:

• Widget enthusiasts
• Those who need constant app visibility
• Users wanting traditional launcher feel

🥈 #2: Smart Launcher 6 – The Customization King

Rating: 9/10 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Tagline: “Evolved into a proper smasher”

Core Strengths

“Offers proper deep customization and slick design”

Evolution: Smart Launcher has continuously improved over time, becoming one of the most feature-rich launchers available.

Icon Pack Studio

Revolutionary Feature:

“Download or craft your very own logos for your favorite apps”

Capabilities:

• Download existing icon packs
• Create custom icons from scratch
• Personalize every app’s appearance
• Mix and match icon styles

Smart Widgets System

How It Works:

Widgets appear with gestures:

• Swipe on app icon
• Double-tap app icon
• Fully customizable trigger actions

Stackable Widgets:

• Place multiple widgets in same space
• Save significant desktop real estate
• Swipe through widget stack

News Feed Integration

“Great way to get your headline fix every morning with none of that ad bollocks getting in the way”

Benefits:

• Ad-free news experience
• Customizable sources
• Morning routine optimization

Smart App Drawer

Organization:

“Nice and tidy, filing all your bits into clearly defined folders”

Features:

• Automatic app categorization
• Fully customizable folder structure
• “Cracking use if you’ve downloaded dozens and dozens of apps”

Gesture Customization

Desktop Gestures:

• Double-tap: Customizable action
• Double-swipe: Customizable action
• “Plethora of options” for each gesture

The Subscription Model Problem

Pricing:

• Monthly: £8+ per month
• Lifetime: Just under £25

Reality:

“You’ll basically have to [pay] if you want access to all of the best features”

Value Assessment:

Deep customization comes at a cost. Lifetime license (£25) is reasonable, but monthly subscription feels steep.

Who Should Use Smart Launcher 6?

✅ Perfect For:

• Customization enthusiasts
• Former Nova users wanting similar depth
• Widget power users
• Those willing to pay for premium features

❌ Consider Alternatives If:

• Budget is tight (free alternatives exist)
• Subscription model is unacceptable
• Simple launchers are preferred

🥉 #3: Lawn Chair Launcher 15 – The Nova Heir

Rating: 7.5/10 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Tagline: “Very similar vibe” to Nova

Important Distinction

TWO Versions Exist:

❌ Launcher Legacy: Original version, “hasn’t been updated in donkeys” – AVOID ✅ Launcher Version 15: Current version, early access beta – USE THIS

Availability: Google Play Store (Early Access)

Why It’s Nova’s True Successor

Core Philosophy:

“Simple yet in-depth customization, allowing you to tweak your desktops, your apps tray, etc., well beyond the limits of regular Android”

Familiar Territory:

Former Nova users will feel at home with similar:

• Customization depth
• Interface approach
• Settings structure

Current Limitations

Early Access Reality:

⚠️ “Still rather buggy” ⚠️ At-a-glance bar “doesn’t offer more options”

What This Means:

Lawn Chair 15 shows promise but isn’t fully polished yet. Expect:

• Occasional crashes
• Missing features
• Works-in-progress UI elements

The Waiting Game

Potential: Could become the definitive Nova replacement once fully developed

Current Status: Use if you’re willing to tolerate beta bugs for Nova-like customization

Who Should Use Lawn Chair 15?

✅ Perfect For:

• Desperate Nova refugees
• Beta testers willing to report bugs
• Those who can tolerate instability
• Users patient enough for future updates

❌ Avoid If:

• Stability is critical
• You need polished, bug-free experience
• Patience is limited

#4: Octtopi Launcher – The One-Handed Hero

Rating: 7/10 ⭐⭐⭐

Tagline: “Capitalizing on the demise of Nova”

One-Handed Optimization

Core Feature:

“Pleasingly friendly for one-handed use”

Design Philosophy:

Optimized for comfortable thumb reach on large smartphones.

Smart Context Swipe Actions

How It Works:

“Swipe an app icon instead of tapping it to perform a specific action”

Current Limitation:

“Only a tiny handful of apps currently support the same smart context that you got from Nova”

What This Means:

Promising feature with limited current utility. Needs more app developer support to match Nova’s capabilities.

Development Status

Reality:

“Certainly not quite there yet in terms of like-for-like features”

Octtopi is actively developing but hasn’t reached Nova parity yet.

Pricing Advantage

Free Access:

“Free to access the vast majority of features”

No subscription required for core functionality—major advantage over Smart Launcher 6.

Who Should Use Octtopi?

✅ Perfect For:

• One-handed phone users
• Those wanting Nova-style features for free
• Users willing to wait for feature expansion

❌ Skip If:

• Smart context features are critical
• You need fully developed launcher now

#5: Stereo Launcher – The Lightweight Widget Master

Rating: 8/10 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Tagline: “Pleasingly light”

Performance Focus

“Feels really nice and nippy when you’re zipping around”

Why: Lightweight code means fast, responsive interface without lag.

Main Page Design

Default Widgets:

• Clock with alarm quick-access
• Battery status
• Weather (taps to weather.com)
• Google Calendar integration
• Media player (when music playing)

Customization:

• Swipe down to reveal additional widgets
• Add Spotify, YouTube, other app widgets
• Can’t edit main two widgets (limitation)

Navigation System

Bottom Bar: Pinned favorite apps

Universal Search:

• Find apps instantly
• Search contacts
• Web search capability

App Organization:

• Swipe up for all apps
• Organized into folders
• “Default organization is a bit shonky”
• Recommendation: Spend time reorganizing properly

Additional Features

Swipe Gestures:

• Left: Notes page
• Right: RSS feeds (“stay in the know”)

Monochrome Mode:

• “Make all icons monochrome”
• “Distraction-free experience”
• Reduces visual stimulation

Overall Assessment

“Satisfying, smooth, and pretty stylish”

Who Should Use Stereo?

✅ Perfect For:

• Speed prioritizers
• Widget enthusiasts
• RSS feed readers
• Those wanting organized simplicity

❌ Consider Alternatives If:

• Don’t use widgets heavily
• RSS feeds aren’t relevant
• Main widget customization is essential

#6: O Launcher – The Simple Stunner

Rating: 8.5/10 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Tagline: “Oh my, isn’t this a proper weeing banger”

Philosophy

“Super simple but effective solution”

Approach:

• Favorite essential apps on front
• Everything else hidden away

Gesture Controls

Swipe Right: Phone book (customizable) Swipe Left: Camera (customizable)

Flexibility: Change default apps in settings to your preferences

No-Nonsense Approach

✅ No ads ✅ No hidden costs ✅ No complexity

Setup:

1. Install launcher
2. Choose funky wallpaper
3. Done

Anime Recommendation:

“Anime shenanigans not mandatory, but certainly recommended”

Who Should Use O Launcher?

✅ Perfect For:

• Simplicity seekers
• Those overwhelmed by options
• Users wanting free, clean launcher
• Anime wallpaper enthusiasts (obviously)

❌ Not For:

• Customization addicts
• Widget lovers
• Power users needing advanced features

#7: AP15 Launcher – The Text Purist

Rating: 7.5/10 ⭐⭐⭐

Tagline: “Keep things basic”

Radical Simplicity

“Lists all your regular apps right there on your desktop. Just the names in plain text, no icons or fancy shenanigans”

What You See:

• App names only
• No icons
• Plain text interface
• Minimalist aesthetic

Smart Auto-Scaling

Intelligence:

“Size of each app is automatically scaled so the ones you tap the most grow bigger than the others and are positioned more prominently”

Why It’s Clever:

Your most-used apps naturally become more accessible without manual organization.

Customization Options

Font: Manually changeable Colors: Per-app color customization Attributes: Various text styling options Background: Add custom images

App Management

Banish Feature:

• Remove rarely-used apps from desktop
• Prevents clutter
• Keeps interface clean

Advanced Users

Rules Customization:

“Fully customizing the launcher’s rules if you want it to behave differently”

Power users can modify underlying logic.

Who Should Use AP15?

✅ Perfect For:

• Text-only interface lovers
• Minimalism extremists
• Those who find icons distracting
• Users wanting intelligent auto-organization

❌ Avoid If:

• Visual app recognition is important
• You like colorful, icon-based interfaces
• Plain text feels too sparse

#8: Kiss Launcher – The Search Supremacist

Rating: 8/10 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Tagline: “Streamline your Android experience”

Radical Minimalism

What You Get:

• Search bar
• Customizable row of essentials
• Column of recently/frequently accessed apps

What You DON’T Get:

• No widgets
• No pages
• No clutter

Search-First Philosophy

How It Works:

1. Start typing in search bar
2. Contacts and apps appear
3. Tap what you want

Recently vs Frequently:

“I’ve got it set to add the most recently accessed apps to this wee list”

Example: After using WhatsApp, it appears at bottom of list

Intuitive Evolution

“Once you get used to this setup, it’s brilliantly intuitive and just ensures you don’t get distracted by crap you don’t need filling your time”

Learning Curve: Initially strange, becomes second nature quickly

Technical Efficiency

Size: “Well under a megabyte”

One of the lightest launchers available—barely impacts phone storage or RAM.

Updates: “Semi-regularly updated…despite being basically a decade old”

Mature, stable codebase with ongoing maintenance.

Customization Reality

“Pretty basic compared with Nova. Not too surprising given this app weighs in at well under a megabyte”

Trade-off: Extreme efficiency requires sacrificing customization depth.

Pricing

Completely free to download and use

Who Should Use Kiss?

✅ Perfect For:

• Search-focused users
• Those wanting absolute minimalism
• Storage-constrained devices
• Efficiency maximizers
• Former app hoarders reforming

❌ Skip If:

• Widgets are essential
• Visual app browsing preferred
• Customization is priority

#9: Yasan Launcher – The AI Oracle

Rating: 7.5/10 ⭐⭐⭐

Tagline: “Learns your daily habits”

Early Access Status

Still in early access after “couple of years”

Benefit: “Completely free to download”

Reality: Unfinished but functional and cost-free

The Nine-App Box

Main Interface:

“Box of your self-chosen nine most favoritest apps slapped right in the middle of your desktop”

AI Learning System

The Clever Bit:

“Learns your daily habits and then presents you with the apps you’re most likely to use at any given point of the day”

Example Given:

“If you like browsing a good bit of OnlyFans in the evenings, that’ll be sat there proud as punch once you get back from the daily grind”

How It Works:

• Monitors app usage patterns
• Identifies time-based preferences
• Predicts needed apps by time of day
• Automatically surfaces relevant apps

Additional Features

Swipe Navigation:

• One direction: App drawer
• Other direction: Alerts and battery settings

Motivational Mantras:

“Always get a jolly mantra up at the top…Hey, it’s a new day, guy. Maybe don’t drag the noose out of the attic just yet”

(Can be disabled if depressing)

Search Functionality:

• Magnifying glass icon
• Find apps/contacts
• Or swipe up

Customization Options

“Growing selection of customization options with more settings available than a lot of other minimalist style launchers”

Available Settings:

• Hide apps from home screen/drawer/search
• Customize app drawer (list vs grid)
• Dashboard customization
• Annihilate greetings

Active Development

“Devs are constantly tweaking those AI smarts and smashing those bugs”

Early access means rapid improvement cycle.

Who Should Use Yasan?

✅ Perfect For:

• AI enthusiasts
• Those with predictable routines
• Users wanting intelligent app suggestion
• People who appreciate free early access
• Those patient with ongoing development

❌ Avoid If:

• Random usage patterns (AI can’t predict)
• Polished experience required
• Privacy concerns about usage tracking

#10: Total Launcher – The Creative Sandbox

Rating: 9/10 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (for creative users)

Tagline: “Extreme customization”

The Ultimate Creative Tool

“Essentially allows you to craft your very own launcher from the ground up”

What You Can Design:

• Desktops from scratch
• Custom widgets
• App drawers
• Every visual element

Not For Everyone

Requirements:

• “Lot of time”
• “Patience”
• “Creative ability”

Reviewer’s Assessment:

“Perfect zero out of three for me”

Reality:

Total Launcher rewards creative effort but punishes those lacking design skills or patience.

The Community Solution

For Non-Creators:

“Download other people’s amazing creations instead”

Benefits:

• “Fantastic variety out there”
• “Brilliant community”
• “Really showcase this launcher’s abilities”
• No creative skills required

How It Works:

1. Download Total Launcher
2. Browse community creations
3. Download designs you like
4. Apply instantly

Extreme Customization Reality

“When these devs talk about extreme customization, they’re really not pissing about. You can personalize every element here and create something completely original that doesn’t look like any other launcher”

Scope:

Truly unlimited—if you can imagine it, you can (probably) build it.

Who Should Use Total Launcher?

✅ Perfect For:

• Creative designers
• Those with time and patience
• Users wanting truly unique interface
• Community design browsers
• People who love tinkering

❌ Avoid If:

• Quick setup needed
• Not creative or patient
• Simple launchers preferred
• Intimidated by complexity

Comparison Tables

Quick Feature Comparison

User Type Recommendations

Pricing Summary

Free (Forever):

• Lawn Chair 15 (beta)
• Octtopi
• Stereo
• O Launcher
• AP15
• Kiss
• Yasan (early access)

Freemium (Free with Optional Pro):

• Niagara (one-time fee for pro features)
• Total Launcher (varies)

Subscription/Purchase Required:

• Smart Launcher 6 (£8/month or £25 lifetime)

Most Expensive:

• Minimalist Launcher: £60 lifetime (mentioned but not recommended)

The Nova Migration Guide

If You Loved Nova For…

…Deep Customization: → Try: Smart Launcher 6 or Lawn Chair 15

…Reliability: → Try: Niagara or Kiss (mature, stable)

…Gestures: → Try: Smart Launcher 6 or Stereo

…Icon Packs: → Try: Smart Launcher 6 (Icon Pack Studio)

…Widget Support: → Try: Smart Launcher 6 or Stereo

…Free & Feature-Rich: → Try: Lawn Chair 15 (once stable) or Kiss

…Simplicity Despite Options: → Try: Niagara or O Launcher

Disclaimer: All launcher information accurate as of January 2026. Development status, pricing, and features may change. Nova Launcher’s acquisition and shutdown occurred end of 2025. Always download launchers from official Google Play Store. Some launchers are in beta/early access—expect bugs and ongoing development. Individual performance and compatibility may vary by device and Android version.