I’ve seen quite a few launchers on F-Droid, but I really fail to see what their advantages over the stock one are. I mean, what can be meaningfully different about arranging apps in a grid? But I guess the existence of so many options goes to show I just don’t get the gist of it.
So what launchers actually provide some interesting features that make it worth switching to them?
I’ve been using MinimalSF for a while now and really love it 🥰
I really enjoy Niagra, I installed it three times before it clicked with me. It is also telemetry that I moved away from. I had nova for years but it got slopped.
I think Olauncher is on my tablet and I likeit. Lightweight and foss.
Dragon launcher after the big refactor is an easy recommend. I love not even having to look and being able to muscle memory all my apps.
I like having my homescreen completely blank (not including the wallpaper), so I use Discreet Launcher. It’s not the only launcher that does this, I think KISS and Unlauncher can achieve the same result, but Discreet doesn’t make you search for apps by typing and uses a regular app folder instead. Pairs well with Arcticons pack, too.
I use Kvaesito and its the best
Instead of the usual home launcher its based on a search bar for the apps as well as their internal shortcuts for stuff like Assistants and apps Cross-referencing others
So I can type in timer and instead of having to search for the clock, the timer, etc it just shows the timer section of the clock, make a new timer and a few ones I already have
Fossify Launcher. You can rename any app as you wish.
I’ve been using the TUI Launcher for like a decade now. It’s kinda been abandoned, but it still works perfectly fine.
I used Niagra for the longest. But there’s no way to pay for pro outside GPS. Like a lot of apps I’ve paid for over a decade ago I can no longer use (shakes fist at SleepAsAndroid). That said, I’m trying a new one called Minimal SL from F Droid. I was immediately drawn to it because of the Minimal Phone 2 launcher, which I hope becomes available or ported soon. I may buy one soon as a primary phone and keep my now primary phone for bigger screen tasks/media.
So far I like the shortcut for apps. Start typing the app name and it immediately opens. A simple task list at the bottom.
I primarily switched (to Kvaesitso) because I don’t use Google search and it was impossible to remove the Google search bar from my home screen on a Pixel. I do enjoy the greater degree of customization as well.
Lawnchair seems to be a better experience over stock, as it has a lot more customisation options. Though my experience with it is that it has rather slow updates and icon packs don’t work saperate from the app drawer and home screen. It should, but it didn’t work for me
I switched to KISS launcher a while ago (years ago?)and I absolutely love it. It is search based but you can have tags for apps which allow you to have something akin to folders. If an app fits two tags then so be it, it will show up in all the tag folders, so organisation can be much cleaner. It is also blazingly fast and keeps things clean.
Yeah, KISS is great. Tag-based searching is so flexible.
I love kiss launcher too! Why bother with folders if you can find the app with typing in two letters in the search bar? A few apps as favorite is pretty useful too
Went from Nova via a few others and ended up with a minimalist beauty that demands nothing : Mako (f-droid) (I miss the double tap off but use the quick settings ‘lock screen’ button).
Kvaesito: minimal UI with many unique customizations/features.
I also use this one, with one line of fixed apps and one line that changes based on usage levels. I use the delta app icon pack as well to standardise the look a little. Search for everything else, supporting tags so that e.g. 3 different parking apps come up when I type parking
When I see other people paging left and right searching for their app from a disordered list, I’m really glad I switched
I wish Niagara was FOSS and actually let me costumize my home screen without AI bullshit. I just like my alphabetical list.
I think there are a few now… iirc victoria launcher is one of them.
I believe all of those new launchers (including Victoria) are vibe coded if the OF doesn’t want “aaI bullshit”?
Will check that out, hell yeah, thank you
Grace launcher is also very similar to Niagara.
Wow. This one is great. Thank you!
Minimo launcher is a fantastic foss text based launcher, like Niagara
You have AI bullshit on Niagara? I looked around on mine and dont see it. I’ll uninstall right away if I see it.
Its in their customization options. The built in wallpapers and shit are all AI.
I dont use those, once I see it in the features like AI chatbots its gonna go. Many of the “Ready Made Themes” are the same images that have been in Niagara since it was in beta. So I dont doubt there are AI themes but many in there are older than AI.
I use kvaesitso and love it, but it’s certainly an opinionated approach. But while it is search focused, you can customize it to make it more traditional
