I’ve tried a lot of Android launchers over the years as a tech writer. While most are perfectly adequate, there’s one that I always find myself going back to.
Niagara Launcher Has a Lot to Offer
I find myself using and recommending Niagara Launcher far more than any other Android launcher, even though it’s not the most feature-rich or customizable option.
What makes it different is its thoughtfully designed UI that’s minimalist without feeling like it compromises functionality. It’s also completely ad-free, which is a huge win in my books. Here are some of its best features.
Download: Niagara Launcher for Android (free, premium version available)
Minimal Home Screen and App Drawer
Niagara Launcher doesn’t have an app drawer per se, but it organizes apps in an alphabetic, scrollable list.
Apps surface beside their corresponding letters as you drag your finger across the list. This list is permanently positioned at the edge of the screen, so you can search for apps instantly without swiping pages in an app drawer.
This clears clutter from your home screen and keeps it reserved for your favorite apps. The home screen also organizes apps in a vertical layout, and you can add custom widgets and pop-up folders that can contain multiple apps and shortcuts.
Swipe on Home Screen Apps to See Their Shortcuts
Swiping right on your home screen apps reveals their app shortcuts. This is convenient if you’re a busy working professional or college student, since you can quickly access essential functionalities with app shortcuts that would otherwise require you to open the app and navigate a bunch of tabs or menus.
Check Notifications and Reply to Messages From Home Screen
Notifications from your favorite apps appear right on the home screen itself. Swiping right on the app reveals the entire message and a text field to reply instantly if the notification is from a messaging app like WhatsApp, Telegram, or Messages.
I haven’t seen anything like this on any other Android launcher. Replying to a message from the home screen is something you have to experience for yourself. It’s super convenient and makes you less likely to open the app and get distracted.
The paid version of Niagara Launcher (Niagara Pro) has a unique feature called Usage Breaker. Unlike app timers that are super easy to cheat, Usage Breaker gently “reminds you to take breaks from apps you use more than you like,” so it feels less like a punishment and more like an encouragement to stop endlessly scrolling.
Niagara Pro’s pricing varies by country to ensure fair prices for all users. You can check if your country is included for a price decrease on the company’s official site.
Customization Options to Change Look and Feel
Niagara Launcher doesn’t offer a lot of customization options. That said, you can change app icon size, theme color, and font. You can also hide the alphabet list on your home screen and the names of your favorite apps for an even cleaner look.
There are also more than enough wallpapers and app icon packs to choose from.
Integrated Calculator in the Search Bar
The search bar also has an integrated calculator, so you can do basic mathematical operations from the home screen. Swipe up anywhere on your home screen to pull down the search bar and type your query, and the result will appear underneath.
Of course, the feature is not a replacement for a dedicated calculator app. Still, it does come in handy occasionally when you need to do simple calculations, like at the grocery store.
Dedicated Quick Action Button on Home Screen
You can also add a quick action button on the home screen to lock the screen, activate the voice assistant, pull up your Google News feed, and more.
I highly recommend checking out Niagara Launcher, even if you’re not a fan of Android launchers in general. Its app navigation system is the most intuitive one I’ve seen, and its minimalist aesthetic encourages you to be mindful of your phone usage without being too in-your-face.
