The advantages of owning an Android smartphone are endless. However, when it comes to customization, the Android launchers takes the crown. Launchers are one of the easiest customizable elements of any Android smartphone.
Launcher apps come in different styles and types. You can go from something plain and simple to a minimalist one and if you fancy a lot of things then, even a highly customizable one.
Here we will look at some of the best Android launchers you can install on your Android smartphone and customize your home screen looks and feels. Let’s get started.
Android Launchers: What Are They?
An Android launcher is an interface where the user can access all the installed apps on the device. It has two elements: the home screen and the app drawer. The home screen is where you can add app shortcuts and widgets of your choice, whereas the app drawer acts as a drawer containing all installed apps in different styles.
Is It Easy To Change The Launcher?
Yes, it is simple and easy to change or switch launchers on an Android phone. All Android devices come with a default launcher, which varies depending on the specific UI. For example, Samsung devices will come with its One UI launcher, Pixel devices with their stock Pixel launcher, etc. Just because the launcher is device-specific doesn’t mean you can’t change it. You can easily switch and set any launcher you like as the default launcher for your device.
What is a Good Android Launcher?
Now, this is a difficult question to answer. You see, different users have distinct preferences when it comes to Android launchers. You might like a particular launcher, but your friend might not. It all comes down to personal taste. Here, I’ll share a variety of launchers that should help you find the best one for you. So, here are the best Android launchers to try in 2025.
Best Android Launchers in 2025
Nova Launcher
Nova launcher, a name that has been around for years. This is one of the most preferred launchers simply because of how good it is. Nova Launcher has a lot of customization options for various users. You can choose to make your home screen look similar to the Pixel launcher, or you can choose to make it replicate the iOS launcher. The freedom is all yours.
Apart from the large customization options, you also get in-built wallpapers to set on your home screen.ย
With Nova Launcher you can pick the shape of the icons, whether you want a search bar on our home screen, change the app drawer style, as well as the app dock. The best part of picking Nova Launcher is simply because of the icon packs. Almost every icon pack that is available on the Play Store, whether free or paid, is compatible with Nova Launcher.
You can download Nova Launcher for free, which has all the basic features that a standard user would need. But, if you want additional features, you can always purchase Nova Prime, which unlocks more features for the launcher.
- Download Size: 11 MB
- Price: Free
- Release Date: 23 February 2012
- Download: Google Play Store
Lawnchair
Here is a launcher that is perfect for those who want to make their home screen similar to what you would get on a Google Pixel device. If you have an Android device that doesn’t have the stock Android launcher, give Lawnchair a go.
This is a simple launcher, it does all the basic things you want. It’s fluid and has the latest features and support for the new QuickSwitch support.
The launcher comes with the At A Glance Widget that shows you the weather, upcoming tasks, and future calendar events. This is the perfect launcher for those who don’t want to browse through pages of customization options. In terms of icon support, you can choose to either install third-party icons from the Google Play Store or, you can choose to simply install Lawnicons, an open-source icon pack that uses Googleโs themed icons and Material You styling.
- Download Size: 7.68 MB
- Price: Free
- Release Date: 10 June 2018
- Download: Google Play Store
Related: 9 Best Pixel Launcher Alternatives for Android
Hyperion Launcher
Hyperion launcher is another great free launcher if you want that Pixel-like clean home screen. Just like Lawnchair, Hyperion also gives you a good number of customization options. Such as the ability to switch color accents, and change the app drawerโs background and folder background colors.
With Hyperion Launcher, you can change the icon size and color, but if you want to change the font for the full launcher, you will have to purchase Hyperion Pro.
Hyperion Launcher has a lot to offer, and if you are someone who likes to spend time making their home screen look unique, this is the launcher for you. While certain features can be unlocked via Hyperion Pro, most of the features are available via the free version of the launcher. Performance-wise, Hyperion is smooth and, best of all, has no ads whatsoever. Hyperion also lets you import your settings from any other launcher into Hyperion itself.
- Download Size: 10 MB
- Price: Free (paid option available for Hyperion Pro)
- Release Date: 13 October 2018
- Download: Google Play Store
Niagara Launcher
If you are looking for something unique, here is a great snappy launcher for your Android smartphone. Niagara launcher has a unique way to display all your apps. Once you have set the launcher up, you just have one single screen. Simply use your thumb to swipe through the letters on the right side of your screen, and you will get your app right away.
Unlike other launchers out there, the Niagara launcher has added two new features, Usage Breaker acts like your Digital Dashboard and helps you to reduce unwanted screen time. The second cool feature is launcher backup. When you switch your Android smartphones, you can easily back up your existing Niagara launcher settings and restore it on your new phone, which saves a lot of time.
The launcher pushes all of your notifications on the home screen, which lets you respond or react to it instantly. One of the reasons why people prefer this launcher is its usability. No matter the screen size of your phone, you can easily use the launcher with just your thumb.
Niagara Launcher is small, ad-free, and is a community-driven launcher meaning that anytime you have some issue, the community is always there to help you out. Do give this launcher a try if you are tired of all the launchers that feel similar.
- Download Size: 12 MB
- Price: Free
- Release Date: 30 January 2021
- Download: Google Play Store
Microsoft Launcher
This might feel like an odd choice, but it’s a perfect launcher. The launcher itself is smooth and has features that would be perfect for someone who has a Windows PC signed in with a Microsoft Account. While you can use the launcher without a Microsoft account, using it gives you a few benefits. For example, you can easily view the sticky notes that you have made on your PC right on your deviceโs home screen.
It has all the bells and whistles such as a dark theme, a nice feed-at-a-glance screen, and even a decent number of wallpapers for your home and lock screen. Like some launchers on this list, the Microsoft Launcher also works in landscape mode, which is great if your smartphone has a tall and wide screen. The launcher is ad-free, and you customize the feed screen to your choice.
- Download Size: 56 MB
- Price: Free
- Release Date: 28 October 2018
- Download: Google Play Store
POCO Launcher 2.0
Yes, this is the very same POCO that manufactures smartphones and is a sub-brand of Xiaomi. Why have I listed this particular brandโs launcher? Well, firstly, it can be installed on any Android device, regardless of the brand. Secondly, it has a cool option where the launcher will sort all your apps by the icon color.
If you know what color an appโs icon is, simply tap on the color, and you will be taken to the page with apps that have the same icon color. The launcherโs search functionality is snappy and the overall performance of the launcher is good.
It has all the helpful settings and customization options and also has support for numerous icon packs. You can also choose to hide any apps from the app drawer. Apart from the color-wise categories that I talked about, the launcher can also sort all your apps smartly according to the app type.
If you have an Android device running on Android 14 or newer, the launcher will not be present on the Play Store. However, if you have a smartphone that has an older Android version, give this launcher a try.
- Download Size: 27 MB
- Price: Free
- Release Date: 11 October 2018
- Download: Google Play Store
Closing Thoughts
These are the best launchers for your Android smartphone. Now, there is no perfect launcher or best launcher out there, as different people prefer different launchers, and each launcher has its own advantages. If you have never tried launchers, give these 6 a try and see which ones suit your device the best.
There are some other launchers, but these are the launchers that you will like to use for a long term. Which is your favorite launcher? Share your pick with others in the comments.
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