Maybe something for the Pixel phones? I’ve been using ADW for a long time now, and was wondering what some frequently used launchers are. (I used Cyanogen for a long time, too.)
There are lists all over the internet, but I’m interested in what the Lemmy crowd likes. Thanks!
Edit: Thanks guys - a few of these were on my radar, some I hadn’t heard of or seen in the Play/f-droid lists. Having the reasons why you like each of them helps me figure out what I want from a launcher (for instance, the purchase of Nova by a company known for its data collection is a big turn-off even though it seems loved) - since you guys laid out some pros and cons of a bunch of launchers, it gives me a better picture!
Edit 2: You guys, this is a great resource for figuring out which launchers look like something worth trying (for me), and which ones are in the stores but not what I’m looking for. Without just trying them all, that is… And considering that I hadn’t even heard of all of them…
This has been a huge help for me, and I hope some others out there got something out of the post! I should be replying to everyone, but I’m not … Sorry. But I did read everything and have already started compiling a list in my head, and started tagging and categorizing. And those who included screen shots and links and lists and opinions and FOSS alternatives/forks - they helped! This whole thing helped!
Neo Launcher https://github.com/NeoApplications/Neo-Launcher
Niagara. With Whicons and a black background. All monochrome black and white. To keep me from distractions 😅
Niagara for my phone, just a simple short list of most used apps, the time and climate as front. I like the minimalism on the small screen.
For my tablet, I use Action Launcher. It have some nice features like a easily accessable (by gesture) alphabetically ordered list of apps.
Niagara is awesome. It’s the best launcher by far if you want something to access your apps as quickly as possible, while still looking good and providing a couple of relevant info like the weather or media playing.
I forgot Action Launcher even existed. I used to use it years ago. Just downloaded it again and it’s certainly changed over the years.
What I really like about Niagra is that the whole app drawer is on your finger tips. One just intuitively starts holding a certain point on screen which will roughly open the alphabet with which the app you are looking for starts.
Smart Launcher. The app drawer is set up like my Palm Pilot (tabbed categories). Over the years it has added more features but the only gesture I really use is double tap to turn off the screen.
Nova was my first third party launcher but SL has an easier set up for the same effect (for my case).
Nova launcher. It is the only one I manage to configure so the app drawer is opened via macrodroid (almost) only.
I use the Niagara Launcher, it serves favorite apps up in a vertical list, and other apps in an alphabetical list. It’s very quick and easy to navigate and quite customizable with some widget support. It works with music apps, has a dark mode, makes changing icon packs easy. You can swipe up to search, or add a search button. I just love how minimal, clean and functional it is.
Here is my home screen. Note there is no left or right screen to swipe to .
Here is the app list, under N.
Some settings
And the app store link:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=bitpit.launcher
Subscription 🤢
You can read about their pricing structure (both sub and one time purchase) and decisions regarding that here : https://help.niagaralauncher.app/article/104-price-of-niagara-pro
I locked in the lifetime price years ago, I have been with them through the beta. I know the lifetime price is higher now but I think they still offer it. I think it’s worth the price, subscription or lifetime.
$30 for lifetime is pretty reasonable. There were some things missing when I first tried a year or two ago. Maybe I’ll try again.
Oh boy. I love Niagara. I’ve used it one every phone for quite a few years now.
Two of my favorite features are the ability to tuck widgets into folders. I use the system ui communications widget in my messaging folder to take me straight to my most used chats.
When you connect to bluetooth, it automatically pulls up a now playing widget (it’s hidden when bluetooth is disconnected) and pulls up links to my music/podcast apps. It’s so dynamic and highly customizable.
I second Niagara. It’s just a great way to keep a simple home screen, but has plenty of power features if you want to dig deeper
I third it. The fact that you can customize something as fundamental as your home screen is what makes android superior to ios, at least for me. Niagara makes my interaction with the home screen so much more efficient.
This is probably the only expensive android app i’d recommend people buy
I bought the lifetime pro for $12.99 CAD way back in Jan 2020. Worth every penny. I’d pay double to be honest, now that I’ve had a chance to use it for years and years. The dev really works at it too.
Yeah my whole $10.99 (US) was covered by Google opinion rewards credit. It was a steal!
Hahaha yup.
Me: Yes I went to the store yesterday, yes I paid by credit card, No I don’t have a receipt.
Google: great, here’s 47 cents.
Checkin it out, how can i find Web Apps i installed via my Browser?
when you install a web app, it should show up in the favorite apps list. if you want to be able to search it, tap and hold it, then tap “Show in app list”.
Olauncher, Foss and actually minimal
I’ve been using the Arc Launcher for years now, purely for the reason that it looks rad as FUK. Probably better functioning launchers out there, but Arc Launcher looks cool lol
I like Lawnchair, it’s FOSS, runs very beautifully and supports gestures (though that requires root and Quickswitch module)
I migrated from windows phone to android and loved the windowsphone interface.
I use squarehome. It is infinitely customizable and with a little work the cleanest ui imaginable.
I’m actually also using square home. No complaints.
I downloaded squarehome cause of your comment and I like it a lot. Are you using and icon pack? How did you get your icons so clean?
Its the whicons pack. The rest is just optimizing squarehome through trial and error. Change borders here, resize tile there, etc. Theres a ton of customization. Once its set the way you like it, you will carry it through the next phone and the next phone.
I rather like that. Might have to try it.
Yessssiiirr, I miss my windows phone and have been using Squarehome since I got a Galaxy
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KISS Launcher, it’s dead simple and just what I need.
It clears all the clutter from my screen, I can search for any app I want without trying to remember where I put it on my homepage, and it has a history for quick access that’s really handy.
I refuse to use Pixel Launcher until I can remove the Google search bar
I’d also like to be able to change my icons. I use Nova atm
I was going to post this exact comment. My Pixel default launcher had a huge amount of wasted space at the top. I also use Nova.
Check out Lawnchair2
I could probably even settle for just being able to take the logo out of it. Last thing I want in my personal data device is to have a corporate logo of an ad company staring me in the face all the time.
I just personally love Sesame instead, don’t care about the logo really
For me it’s the stupid left home screen that you can’t use.
If it’s not on F-Droid, it’s probably out to get you.
