Pie Launcher review
A free, focused launcher for people who want gesture-based app access instead of a grid.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Pie Launcher replaces a conventional grid of home-screen icons with a dynamic pie menu for launching apps. It is aimed at Android users who prefer a compact, gesture-led way to open selected apps rather than keeping a broad set of shortcuts visible. Users tap and hold, then swipe toward an assigned app. The launcher can be configured as the device’s default home screen, and its app list adds a separate route for finding apps by typing app-name letters.
The menu is editable and supports four, six, or eight icons, making it a focused shortcut surface rather than an expansive home-screen layout. Search broadens access beyond those assigned icons: typing part of an app’s name filters the app list, and the keyboard Search key can launch the top-left result. Pie Launcher also supports access to Android 15 Private Space through app search. These features make it a fit for users who value a small menu and quick lookup; people who want a conventional grid or a much larger visible collection of shortcuts may prefer another launcher.
Pie Launcher is free and open source, with source code published under the MIT license on GitHub. A force relaunch setting can recreate the home screen after a device restart. Its scope remains deliberately narrow: the listed capabilities center on app launching, search, and menu configuration, with Android as its platform. Choose it if that compact pie-menu interaction suits your routine and you want a no-cost launcher; look elsewhere if your priority is a broader set of home-screen features or a non-Android option.
Pie Launcher pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Editable pie menu offers four, six, or eight app icons.
- Searchable app list supports typing app-name letters.
- Android 15 Private Space apps are accessible through app search.
- Where it doesn't
- The main home-screen interaction depends on tap-and-hold, then swiping.
- The menu is limited to four, six, or eight icons.
- Designed for Android; no other platform is listed.
Pie Launcher fact sheet, pricing and score →
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