Before Launcher review
A focused Android home screen for reducing clutter and filtering less important alerts.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Before Launcher replaces the Android home screen with a minimalist layout intended to reduce visual clutter and help users focus. Its configurable prioritized apps sit alongside a scrollable app list that users can search and sort. The notification filter is aimed at people who want fewer interruptions from less important alerts. It is a focused choice for Android users who want a simpler screen, rather than a broad platform for changing how every part of a device works.
The free plan includes the minimalist interface, app search, notification filtering, and icon styles. Before Launcher Pro adds folders, app pinning, hiding apps, and backup and restore for launcher settings and selected items. The vendor describes Pro as a one-time in-app purchase. That keeps the free tier useful for the core minimalist workflow, while Pro is relevant for people who want more control over app organization or to preserve selected launcher settings. Users who need those Pro functions should check the purchase terms in the app before deciding.
Customization includes themes, home-screen appearance options, third-party icon-pack support, and app sorting by size, install date, or last use. An optional double-tap gesture can turn off the screen. Those options add flexibility without changing the product’s central emphasis on a pared-back home screen. Before Launcher suits solo users and small-scale personal use seeking app search and notification filtering; it is less suitable for someone looking for a launcher beyond Android or for extensive device-wide customization. Android 7 or later is required, according to the vendor’s FAQ.
Before Launcher pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Prioritized home screen pairs with a searchable, sortable app list.
- Notification filtering helps reduce interruptions from less important alerts.
- Pro adds folders, app pinning, app hiding, and backup and restore.
- Where it doesn't
- Designed for Android only, with Android 7 or later required.
- Folders, pinning, hiding, and backup and restore require Pro.
- Customization centers on launcher appearance and icon packs.
Before Launcher fact sheet, pricing and score →
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