That is the perfect Nova Launcher various

Many regard Nova Launcher as among the finest app launchers for Android telephones. Interval. Just lately, the app has confronted a collection of troubles. In 2022, the launcher was bought by analytics firm Department, a transfer that pushed away many stalwart customers. That sentiment has receded considerably since. Nevertheless, in August 2024, the launcher’s father or mother firm introduced a mass layoff, which acutely affected Nova’s developer pool. Understandably, customers are searching for a Nova Launcher various as a backup or a possible substitute. Fortunately, there are loads.

Though I used to be as soon as a Nova Launcher die-hard, I’ve been experimenting with a number of different Android launchers in current months. There’s nothing fairly like Nova accessible, however one contender has since turn into my favourite various. It’s referred to as Kvaesitso.

This isn’t the primary time I’ve talked about Kvaesitso, and it possible gained’t be the final. It at present pilots my dated flagship telephone and might be a must-install on my future handsets, too. It’s a fast, open supply launcher that has streamlined how I take advantage of my gadget.

Whereas Nova Launcher fits maximalists preferring operating a number of pages, icons, widgets, and customizations on their residence screens, Kvaesitso is way extra reserved in its design philosophy. The preliminary display screen will be as clear as you want and accentuates your present wallpaper. A clock widget and a search bar are the one two parts that disrupt this zen, and, as somebody who has moved in direction of simplicity for my residence display screen setup, I discover this association pleasant.

Kvaesitso trades Nova’s a number of residence web page design for a single vertical scrolling web page. This was, for me, the most important hurdle to beat. I used to be responsible of loading Nova to the brim with apps and folders that I believed I might however by no means did use. Naturally, I discovered shifting away from this significantly jarring, however this hierarchical design is a greater option to current data, particularly apps.

Kvaesitso retains observe of the apps you utilize most frequently. It shows this by a nifty favorites widget, which provides you virtually quick entry to apps you prefer when positioned on the prime of your vertically scrolling web page. In lieu of folders, the launcher provides app grouping by a tagging system. This retains visible muddle to a minimal and improves international app search. Tags are customizable and contextual, permitting apps to type a part of a number of teams.

The extra in depth app listing is accessible by swiping down (the default), however gestures will be tweaked. Kvaesitso can set off different actions by lengthy urgent or double tapping the display screen — options I don’t personally use however can acknowledge the potential.

As I prompt, you possibly can nonetheless get pleasure from widgets with Kvaesitso, however they’re introduced utterly in another way. After I used Nova, I reserved three pages for my heap of widgets, together with a full web page for my climate app Meteogram, one other for Google Preserve and my calendar, and a 3rd for sundry. However, with Kvaesitso, widgets are organized vertically on a single web page. Once more, it’s an enormous change from my modus operandi. I believed such a design would make widgets close to the underside of the scroll simpler to neglect, however this wasn’t the case. If something, I can extra simply entry all of my information with a easy thumb flick.

Should you’re not a widget hoarder like me, Kvaesitso provides a number of built-in choices, every matching the launcher’s aesthetic. When utilizing these alone, the launcher feels significantly slick. The climate widget is especially fetching, whereas the media widget helps many gamers. The calendar and easy observe widgets are glorious for fast reference and data. Nova provides no equal.

Nevertheless, there’s one space the place Nova and Kvaesitso are alike: search. Nova provides highly effective international search capabilities that demand Sesame Search to unlock its full potential, however its rival provides comparable smarts natively. Kvaesitso lets customers seek for contacts, information, calendar occasions, and the online at massive, too. If looking Wikipedia from your private home display screen is your bag, you are able to do that. Web site previews are supported, too. Fundamental arithmetic can be accessible, though I might’ve cherished a unit converter for cooking.

Consider it or not, I believe Kvaesitso has its negatives. The app isn’t accessible by the Play Retailer, making it harder for novices to search out and set up. Even superior customers will want F-Droid or Obtanium to maintain the launcher updated, which may very well be problematic for a set-it-and-forget-it resolution. Its design philosophy additionally limits its customization prospects to a sliver of what Nova is able to. KWGT widgets, for example, turn into far much less impactful on Kvaesitso than Nova.

In fact, some is not going to really feel that Kvaesitso is a viable various to Nova Launcher, however after utilizing it for the previous few months, I’ve but to look again on the outdated guard. Both manner, Kvaesitso is free and is effectively price testing, particularly contemplating Nova’s premium Prime unlock will demand a number of extra pennies.

If Nova Launcher or Kvaesitso aren’t for you, you have got loads of nice Android launcher alternate options. Discover three further choices under:

• Hyperion Launcher: Of all of the Nova alternate options, Hyperion looks like its closest cousin. The app consists of all of the trimmings, from a static search bar to an app dock and folder assist. Lengthy-pressing the house display screen additionally prompts a menu by which customers can edit the house display screen pages and icons, add widgets, and extra. I want Hyperion’s major settings structure, which is way simpler to navigate than Nova. The app is free, however a small premium is required to unlock extra options.
• Niagara Launcher: Niagara focuses on minimalism, inserting favourite apps on the house display screen and hiding the remaining in an alphabetical scrollbar. It does assist built-in and third-party widgets, however the emphasis is much less on customization and extra on comfort. Niagara is a good set-it-and-forget-it resolution, particularly for narrower or smaller flagships. The app is free, however a premium unlock is accessible.
• Lawnchair: There are two variations of Lawnchair accessible: the older model 2 on the Play Retailer and the bleeding-edge model 14 on GitHub. Whereas each are nice, the latter relies on Android 14‘s launcher, and is a good various for these used to Pixel telephones. The app hasn’t but acquired a steady construct, nevertheless it provides all of the trimmings, together with customized residence feed assist, a worldwide search engine, and a Nova-like dock. Notably, Lawnchair is totally free.

Do you agree that Kvaesitso is the perfect Nova Launcher various, or do you have got a special opinion? Tell us your various alternative under.