The Best Android Launchers in 2026
We researched Android launchers using information from their official websites, including pricing pages, plan tables, and product documentation. Rankings focus on the core job of replacing and customizing an Android home screen, value for money, and verified features such as layout controls, gestures, app access, and device support.
Our top picks
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Top ranked
Microsoft Launcher#1 of 389.1/10A free Android launcher with layout tools, gestures, and calendar and to-do information.
Free plan
-
Runner-up
Mint Launcher#2 of 388.7/10A straightforward free launcher for home-screen tweaks and organized app access.
Free plan
-
Top-ranked free plan
Nothing Launcher#3 of 388.2/10A free, Nothing-focused launcher with distinctive widgets and customizable home screens.
Free plan
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The full ranking 38 tools, best first
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Best forAndroid users wanting a familiar, free launcher
A free Android launcher with layout tools, gestures, and calendar and to-do information.
- Backup and restore
- Gesture controls
9.1/10★★★★★Visit Microsoft -
Best forAndroid users who want a free, simple launcher
A straightforward free launcher for home-screen tweaks and organized app access.
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit Xiaomi -
Best forNothing users who prefer its design and widgets
A free, Nothing-focused launcher with distinctive widgets and customizable home screens.
- Grid customization
- App drawer
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit Nothing -
Best forPeople who prefer a streamlined, list-based home screen
A streamlined Android home screen built around searchable, wave-alphabet app access.
- Backup and restore
- Gesture controls
- App drawer
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Niagara -
Best forUsers who want automatic app categories and widgets
Smart Launcher 6 pairs automatic app categories with customizable Android home screens.
- Backup and restore
- Gesture controls
- App drawer
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Smart Launcher -
Best forAndroid power users who want launcher customization
A flexible Android launcher with broad layout controls and optional Prime features.
- Grid customization
- Backup and restore
- Gesture controls
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit Nova Launcher -
Best forOpen-source users who want Material-themed customization
A customizable Android home app with search, backup, and optional root-based Recents integration.
- Grid customization
- Backup and restore
- Gesture controls
7.7/10★★★★☆Visit Lawnchair -
Best forUsers who want detailed visual and gesture controls
A free Android home-screen replacement with detailed layout and visual controls.
- Grid customization
- Backup and restore
- Gesture controls
7.6/10★★★★☆Visit site -
Best forUsers wanting configurable drawers and dock controls
A free Android launcher with configurable drawers, dock controls, gestures, and backup.
- Grid customization
- Backup and restore
- Gesture controls
7.5/10★★★★☆Visit Pear Launcher -
Best forTablet and foldable users who want flexible layouts
A flexible Android launcher with separate layouts for portrait and landscape screens.
- Grid customization
- Backup and restore
- Gesture controls
7.4/10★★★★☆Visit One4Home -
Best forOpen-source users wanting extensive layout controls
A free, customizable Android launcher for users who want control over icons, gestures, and app organization.
- Grid customization
- Backup and restore
- Gesture controls
7.3/10★★★★☆Visit Neo Launcher -
Best forUsers who want search across apps and contacts
A customizable Android launcher with search across apps, contacts, and settings.
- Grid customization
- Gesture controls
- App drawer
7.2/10★★★★☆Visit Lynx Launcher -
Best forUsers who want flexible drawer and grid settings
A customization-focused launcher for Android users who want control over drawers and home-screen layout.
- Grid customization
- Gesture controls
- App drawer
7.1/10★★★★☆Visit Google Play -
Best forOpen-source users focused on search and privacy controls
A free, open-source launcher with useful search and private-app controls, but limited customization.
- Gesture controls
- App drawer
- App search
7.0/10★★★★☆Visit Fokus Launcher -
Best forMinimalist Android users who want notes at home
A minimalist, open-source launcher that pairs searchable app access with local notes and usage tools.
- Gesture controls
- App drawer
- App search
6.9/10★★★☆☆Visit Launch0 -
Best forSearch-first users who want a free open-source launcher
A free, search-first Android launcher with gestures, themes, and widgets.
6.8/10★★★☆☆Visit KISS Launcher -
Best forUsers seeking a minimalist screen and notification filtering
A focused Android home screen for reducing clutter and filtering less important alerts.
- Backup and restore
- App drawer
- App search
6.7/10★★★☆☆Try Before Launcher -
Best forAndroid users organizing notes and tasks from home
A page-based Android launcher that brings apps, notes, tasks, and reminders together.
- Backup and restore
- App search
6.6/10★★★☆☆Visit Tree Launcher -
Best forUsers who want context-aware spaces and automation
A free Android launcher built around context-aware Spaces, app predictions, and automation.
- Gesture controls
- App search
6.5/10★★★☆☆Visit Yasan Launcher -
Best forAndroid users seeking focus tools and customization
Combines home-screen customization with app limits and focus modes.
- Grid customization
- Gesture controls
- App drawer
6.4/10★★★☆☆Visit site -
Best forUsers who prefer a tile-based home screen
A tile-first Android launcher with search, notifications, and layout backup.
- Grid customization
- Backup and restore
- Gesture controls
6.3/10★★★☆☆Visit Square Home -
Best forOpen-source Android users who want feeds and media controls
A privacy-focused launcher with customizable pages, categorized apps, and useful home-screen widgets.
- App drawer
- App search
6.2/10★★★☆☆Try Stario Launcher -
Best forUsers who want bespoke Android home screens
A highly configurable Android launcher, with gestures and extra pages behind a paid key.
- Backup and restore
- Gesture controls
- App search
6.1/10★★★☆☆Visit Total Launcher -
Best forUsers who want flexible scrolling and page layouts
Lucid Launcher pairs flexible home-screen layouts with app search and icon editing.
- Grid customization
- Gesture controls
- App drawer
6.0/10★★★☆☆Visit Lucid Launcher -
Best forUsers wanting a free, private, simple launcher
A free, private Android launcher with core layout, search, widget, and gesture tools.
- Gesture controls
- App drawer
- App search
5.9/10★★★☆☆Visit Fossify -
Best forUsers who want a free text-based minimalist screen
A focused choice for a minimalist home screen, with limited visual customization.
- Gesture controls
- App drawer
- App search
5.8/10★★★☆☆Visit Olauncher -
Best forUsers wanting a simple free launcher with swipe actions
A free, text-focused launcher with useful swipe actions, but no grid customization.
- Gesture controls
- App drawer
- App search
5.7/10★★★☆☆Try Minimal Launcher -
Best forAndroid users who want widget shortcuts and gestures
A feature-rich Android launcher for users who want flexible layouts and shortcuts.
- Backup and restore
- Gesture controls
- App drawer
5.5/10★★★☆☆Try Action Launcher -
Best forUsers who need large buttons and simplified navigation
A customizable Android home screen for people who need larger buttons and simpler navigation.
- Grid customization
- Gesture controls
- App drawer
5.4/10★★★☆☆Visit BIG Launcher -
Best forUsers seeking minimalist focus and interruption controls
A distraction-conscious Android home screen with app controls and built-in productivity widgets.
- App drawer
5.3/10★★★☆☆Visit Oasis -
Best forUsers who want gesture-driven device actions
A free, open-source Android launcher built around gesture actions and searchable app lists.
- Gesture controls
- App drawer
- App search
5.2/10★★★☆☆Visit µLauncher -
Best forOpen-source users wanting gestures and launcher backups
A free, open-source Android launcher centered on gestures, customization, and backups.
- Backup and restore
- Gesture controls
- App drawer
5.1/10★★★☆☆Visit GitHub -
Best forUsers who prefer a compact pie-menu launcher
A free, focused launcher for people who want gesture-based app access instead of a grid.
- Gesture controls
- App drawer
- App search
5.0/10★★☆☆☆Visit Pie Launcher -
Best forUsers prioritizing app blocking and usage limits
A free Android launcher focused on system-wide app blocking and usage limits.
- App drawer
4.9/10★★☆☆☆Join the waitlist -
Best forAndroid users seeking minimalist screens and app blocking
A paid, distraction-focused launcher with scheduled blocking and notification filters.
4.8/10★★☆☆☆Try Minimalist Phone -
Best forAndroid users who prefer text over app icons
A minimal, text-based launcher for people who want their frequently opened apps up front.
- App search
4.7/10★★☆☆☆Visit ap15 Launcher -
Best forMinecraft modpack management on desktop
A capable desktop Minecraft modpack manager, but not an Android home-screen launcher.
4.6/10★★☆☆☆Visit Mica -
Best forAndroid users making beats, not launcher buyers
A mobile music-making app, not a replacement for an Android home screen.
4.5/10★★☆☆☆Visit Jam Pad
No tools match those filters.
Compare at a glance
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | App drawer | Icon customization | Gesture controls | Grid customization | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Microsoft Launcher | Yes | None | — | Advanced | Yes | — | 9.1 |
| 2 | Mint Launcher | Yes | None | — | — | — | — | 8.7 |
| 3 | Nothing Launcher | Yes | None | Yes | Basic | — | Yes | 8.2 |
| 4 | Niagara Launcher | Yes | — | Yes | Advanced | Yes | — | 7.9 |
| 5 | Smart Launcher 6 | Yes | — | Yes | Advanced | Yes | — | 7.9 |
| 6 | Nova Launcher | Yes | — | Yes | Advanced | Yes | Yes | 7.8 |
| 7 | Lawnchair | Yes | None | Yes | Advanced | Yes | Yes | 7.7 |
| 8 | Hyperion Launcher | Yes | — | Yes | Advanced | Yes | Yes | 7.6 |
| 9 | Pear Launcher | Yes | — | Yes | Advanced | Yes | Yes | 7.5 |
| 10 | One4Home | Yes | — | Yes | Advanced | Yes | Yes | 7.4 |
| 11 | Neo Launcher | Yes | None | Yes | Advanced | Yes | Yes | 7.3 |
| 12 | Lynx Launcher | Yes | — | Yes | Advanced | Yes | Yes | 7.2 |
| 13 | Newer Launcher | Yes | — | Yes | Advanced | Yes | Yes | 7.1 |
| 14 | Fokus Launcher | Yes | None | Yes | Basic | Yes | — | 7.0 |
| 15 | Launch0 | Yes | None | Yes | Advanced | Yes | — | 6.9 |
| 16 | KISS Launcher | Yes | None | — | — | — | — | 6.8 |
| 17 | Before Launcher | Yes | — | Yes | Advanced | — | — | 6.7 |
| 18 | Tree Launcher | Yes | — | — | Advanced | — | — | 6.6 |
| 19 | Yasan Launcher | Yes | None | — | Basic | Yes | — | 6.5 |
| 20 | Yin Yang Launcher | Yes | — | Yes | Advanced | Yes | Yes | 6.4 |
| 21 | Square Home | Yes | — | Yes | Advanced | Yes | Yes | 6.3 |
| 22 | Stario Launcher | Yes | None | Yes | Advanced | — | — | 6.2 |
| 23 | Total Launcher | Yes | — | — | — | Yes | — | 6.1 |
| 24 | Lucid Launcher | Yes | — | Yes | Advanced | Yes | Yes | 6.0 |
| 25 | Fossify Launcher | Yes | None | Yes | — | Yes | — | 5.9 |
| 26 | Olauncher | Yes | None | Yes | None | Yes | — | 5.8 |
| 27 | Minimal Launcher | Yes | None | Yes | None | Yes | No | 5.7 |
| 28 | Action Launcher | Yes | — | Yes | Advanced | Yes | — | 5.5 |
| 29 | BIG Launcher | Yes | $11.99 one-time | Yes | Advanced | Yes | Yes | 5.4 |
| 30 | Oasis - Minimal App Launcher | Yes | — | Yes | Basic | — | — | 5.3 |
| 31 | µLauncher | Yes | None | Yes | None | Yes | No | 5.2 |
| 32 | Dragon Launcher | Yes | None | Yes | Advanced | Yes | — | 5.1 |
| 33 | Pie Launcher | Yes | None | Yes | — | Yes | — | 5.0 |
| 34 | ReClaim | Yes | None | Yes | None | — | — | 4.9 |
| 35 | Minimalist Phone | No | — | — | None | — | — | 4.8 |
| 36 | ap15 Launcher | Yes | — | No | None | — | — | 4.7 |
| 37 | Mica Minecraft Launcher | — | None | — | — | — | — | 4.6 |
| 38 | Jam Pad | Yes | — | — | — | — | — | 4.5 |
Head-to-head All 28 comparisons →
- Microsoft Launcher vs Mint Launcher
- Microsoft Launcher vs Nothing Launcher
- Microsoft Launcher vs Niagara Launcher
- Microsoft Launcher vs Smart Launcher 6
- Microsoft Launcher vs Nova Launcher
- Microsoft Launcher vs Lawnchair
- Microsoft Launcher vs Hyperion Launcher
- Mint Launcher vs Nothing Launcher
- Mint Launcher vs Niagara Launcher
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How we rank android launchers
Every tool on this page was researched by iTechGuides Editors from its official website — pricing pages, plan tables and product documentation. We rank on how well each one does this category's core job, what the free or entry plan includes, and where it falls short. Where we have enough verified facts, the score out of 10 is a rubric — job fit, value and how much we could verify — shown with its breakdown on every tool's page; a tool we have not verified enough to score yet shows its rank without a number. Scores are re-checked when a product changes its plans. Read the full editorial policy, or submit a tool we missed.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update