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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?

valen ,

I’m currently using Action Launcher. It’s a pretty good replacement for Nova.

calamitycastle ,

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

avidamoeba ,
@avidamoeba@lemmy.ca avatar

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.

Hellmo_Luciferrari OP ,

Are they recent builds, as in the project isn’t dead?

avidamoeba ,
@avidamoeba@lemmy.ca avatar

Yes, look at the commit history.

Hellmo_Luciferrari OP ,

Awesome, thank you

morrowind , (edited )
@morrowind@lemmy.ml avatar

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

ZeroPoke ,

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.

Hellmo_Luciferrari OP ,

I tried it once upon a time, and forget exactly why I didn’t stick with it

Sunny ,

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

glimse ,

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

Kraven_the_Hunter ,

Action Launcher does this

glimse ,

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

Kraven_the_Hunter ,

Good to know. I switched from Pixel a few years ago to Sony and it’s working flawlessly for me.

Hellmo_Luciferrari OP ,

I actually just started to learn kotlin, but maybe if I become proficient enough I’ll make the damn app myself.

wolfruff ,

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.

Hellmo_Luciferrari OP ,

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

chrisgestapo ,

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).

Heronheart ,

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

FurtiveFugitive ,

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
Hellmo_Luciferrari OP ,

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.

morrowind ,
@morrowind@lemmy.ml avatar

I mentioned smart launcher in another comment. It has all the features you mention. Not open source but privacy respecting

FurtiveFugitive ,

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.

morrowind ,
@morrowind@lemmy.ml avatar

I kinda expect my launcher to have access my app list, considering its main job is to launch apps

FurtiveFugitive ,

Me too. Locally. Not transmitted back to a server somewhere.

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