Alternative launchers for Android

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If you have come this far, it is likely that you are looking for a good alternative for the default launcher of your Android system. It doesn't matter which launcher you have, whether the Pixel launcher of Google's top-of-the-range models or the default Huawei one. We will search in this small list of favor launchers Open source. For this reason you will not find the names of usual alternative launchers for Android For example Nova Launcher.

Alternative launchers for Android

If you are here out of simple curiosity, you will be wondering what the heck we are talking about. What is an Android launcher? To put it simply, the launcher is the graphic interface of your mobile phone! The way the apps on your phone are arranged, the various widgets and in general all the graphics from the moment you turn it on.

You therefore understand the importance of having a valid launcher and maybe, why not, too Open source. That does not require too many permissions strange and that has the bare essentials to function well and help us in everyday life.

So let's get to our selection of alternative launchers for Android. As usual we will start from our absolute favorite and then gradually move down according to our level of preference.

Alternative launchers for Android, our choices

OpenLauncher

OpenLauncher it is a relatively young launcher, the first version was released in October 2019, but it is definitely functional. It's a really simple launcher, entirely Open source and that allows you to insert widget inside. Its creators say they created it completely from scratch and the permissions required are very minimal. Our advice is to try using it because, in daily use, it is truly magnificent, simple and safe!

• source code

KISS Launcher

We'll tell you right away that this is the case it's not your usual launcher the same as everyone else. This launcher Open source requires very few permissions and unlike the others does not fully support widgets (it supports them but only in beta currently). The peculiarity of this launcher, however, is that you will always have the list of apps in the background which will update based on when you use them therefore always having the most used ones among the top positions. It is, among other things, probably the fastest launcher you will find on Android and its lightness is impressive: it takes up less than 250kB!

On F-Droid several are also found Fork of this application such as Sentien Launcher, equally nice and fast.

Shade Launcher

Interesting launcher, perhaps the most similar to the famous one Pixel Launcher it's at Lawnchair. There aren't many customizations but the launcher is effective, fast and works really well. It's a project Open source ¹ and you can download it either on Google Play what up F-Droid (but first you have to put the Repositories Of IzzyOnDroid. To do this you have to go up F-Droid and in the settings tell it that you want to add a Repositories. From there add what found here.

• source code

Pie Launcher

A launcher Open source ² intelligent and interesting: to choose the quick applications to launch, simply open the style menu cake and select the application to launch. To change the pie menu slide to open all apps, long press an app in the list and you can add or remove quick apps to run.

• source code

Omega Launcher

Another launcher Open source and free present on Repositories Of IzzyOnDroid. Find it here the simple instructions to add it to yours F-Droid, we advise you to do so as the applications above are always very safe. Omega Launcher it's a Fork of the famous launcher Lawnchair, it is very customizable and really well made. We therefore advise you to give it a chance

• source code

Blue Line Console

A new and very special launcher. It is a sort of real console from which you can launch any application on your smartphone. Also you can use the command line as a calculator or give it different commands like ping or even example duckduckgowordtosearch. Interesting and quick!

• source code

Discreet Launcher

A very nice and useful launcher: it is one of the few that allows you to hide applications from the list so you can have a cleaner and more practical smartphone. Unfortunately you cannot add widgets. Thanks for your report!

• source code

TinyBit Launcher

Small presentation for this launcher because it is simply a Fork Of KISS Launcher. So it's very similar, if you liked it KISS you can give it a chance!

• source code

Emerald Launcher

Another interesting launcher, very light and super fast. AND Open source and allows various customizations. You can organize applications into categories and hide the ones you are not interested in. To try!

• source code

Bliss

You reported this launcher to us on Twitter. Very nice, fast and Open source. It is the default launcher for cell phones /And/ (do you remember?) and is a bit reminiscent of the iOS style. Definitely worth trying!

• source code

Lawnchair

This is also no longer up to date and therefore not entirely recommended ³.

However, there is a new version of Lawnchair (in alpha for a long time) which is not available on any store but can only be downloaded from their website.

• source code

Rootless Pixel Launcher

As a final selection we suggest you try this launcher based on Pixel Launcher. It's this too Open source. Unfortunately, however, it has no longer received updates since May 2019. It is very beautiful aesthetically but has, in our opinion, a huge flaw: the Google widget at the bottom of the screen cannot be changed or modified! In short, for us who use everything except Google like Search engine And truly an affront!

• source code

Posidon Launcher

No longer recommended as it will no longer be updated ⁴.

Alternative launchers for Android

We conclude our journey into Android launchers here, what do you think? If you have any suggestions for us or any launchers that you think we've forgotten, let us know!

1. Shade Launcher on GitHub[↩]
2. source code by Pie Launcher[↩]
3. This Repositories has been archived by the owner. It is now read-only.[↩]
4. WARNING: This project is DISCONTINUED[↩]

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