Check out Kiss on F-Droid.
I like KISS launcher, but not sure if it’s the right alternative for someone who liked Nova. Lawnchair might be more similar
Most of the alternatives mentioned here just data hungry non foss apps. It’s better to use default one than an extra data hungry option.
As a long-term Nova user, my biggest problem with replacing it is finding anything that provides similar capabilities. There were reasons why it was so popular for so long. That probably also limited the market for launchers with a similar approach. I can only hope that its decline will cause someone to build something similar.
Of the available options, Lawnchair seems to be the best, but that doesn’t make it a good option. It probably does three-quarters of what I rely on in Nova. That isn’t actually a complaint about Lawnchair. It wasn’t intended to be a Nova replacement… It’s a good launcher in its own right and I really appreciate that it is also FOSS.
I guess my point is that people keep saying there are lots of alternatives to Nova. Yes, there are, but there are currently no substitutes.
What even is a launcher, what does this app actually do? I’m asking earnestly I’ve never been able to figure it out
Basically the home screen. Third party launchers used to be the frontier of introducing new features, like gestures, app drawer categories, different icon layouts like more columns/rows, customer icon theme packs, custom animations, etc.
The iOS equivalent if you jailbroke was SummerBoard/WinterBoard, a pun on SpringBoard (name of iOS launcher).
Oh thank you
My only addition to what Meron35 said is that Launchers can provide interfaces that both look and act differently than the built-in launcher. Some of them are radically different from the default, with everything from expanding radial menus to an actual command line. There is not single best solution that suits everyone, so Launchers allow you to decide what experience works best for you.
Niagara launcher for the win
It has the best kind of subscription-based monetization, too.
Nothing in the sub features look like I need it so I can just ignore it.
Agreed I switched about a year ago when nova first got purchased and never looked back!
is it worth it to grab the apk in case they pull it from the store? and is it possible to get an apk for nova prime (i had paid for it) or would that be pointless?
The current APK will be available since it the internet without any issues. The real problem are missing security updates and future compatibility issues with new android versions.
Lawnchair might be the best alternative to it. Hyperion is kinda cool too.
Yup, switched to it a couple days ago and it’s basically identically after some settings
I’m a fan of Neo Launcher, but development is slow and not totally stable yet.
I will keep using it till it fails
What !?
It will still work, till it won’t any longer. I assume new Android version will release one day and Nova won’t be compatible with it.
Man this sucks. Fuck idk what imma use
Nothing closed source or FOSS really comes close. Heres to hoping with it being axed well finally see a FOSS launcher like it eventually.
