Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Nova Launcher VS Apex Launcher

Compare Nova Launcher VS Apex Launcher and see what are their differences

Nova Launcher logo Nova Launcher

Nova Launcher is an highly customizable, performance driven, home screen replacement for Android 4.

Apex Launcher logo Apex Launcher

Powerful, fast, and highly customizable home replacement for Android 4.0+.
  • Nova Launcher Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-11
  • Apex Launcher Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-10-16

Nova Launcher features and specs

  • Customization
    Nova Launcher offers a wide range of customization options, allowing users to personalize their home screens, app drawer, and overall interface. This includes icon packs, themes, widget support, and gesture controls.
  • Performance
    Nova Launcher is known for its smooth performance and responsiveness, even on older devices. It optimizes RAM usage and minimizes lag.
  • Backup and Restore
    The launcher includes a backup and restore feature, making it easy to save and transfer your custom settings and layouts to a new device.
  • Updates and Support
    Nova Launcher receives regular updates that add new features, improvements, and bug fixes. The developer community and support are active, providing solutions and enhancements.
  • Integration
    It integrates well with a variety of third-party apps and widgets, allowing for a more comprehensive and connected user experience.

Possible disadvantages of Nova Launcher

  • Learning Curve
    With its extensive customization options, new users might find Nova Launcher overwhelming at first and may require time to understand all the features.
  • Free vs. Paid Features
    While the free version offers many features, some advanced options such as custom gestures and more complex animations are only available in the paid version (Nova Launcher Prime).
  • Complexity
    Advanced customization might lead to potential misconfigurations or conflicts with other apps, requiring users to troubleshoot.
  • Battery Usage
    Although optimized, intensive customization and widget usage can lead to higher battery consumption compared to stock launchers.

Apex Launcher features and specs

  • Customization
    Apex Launcher offers a high level of customization, allowing users to personalize their home screen layout, transition effects, and more, making it appealing to those who enjoy tailoring their user experience.
  • Performance
    The launcher is optimized for speed and efficiency, providing a smooth and responsive experience, even on older devices.
  • App Drawer Organization
    Apex Launcher provides extensive options for app drawer organization, including sorting apps by various criteria and hiding apps, which helps keep the interface tidy and navigable.
  • Gesture Support
    It includes gesture support, enabling users to quickly access apps or functions by swiping or tapping in particular ways, which enhances productivity.
  • Backup and Restore
    The launcher features a backup and restore function, allowing users to save their settings and restore them when needed, simplifying the process of transferring settings to a new device.

Possible disadvantages of Apex Launcher

  • Ads in Free Version
    The free version of Apex Launcher includes ads, which can be intrusive and affect the overall user experience.
  • In-app Purchases
    Some advanced features require in-app purchases or a Pro version, which might be a drawback for users looking for a completely free experience.
  • Learning Curve
    The extensive customization options can be overwhelming for new users, requiring time to learn and set up.
  • Occasional Bugs
    Some users report occasional bugs or crashes, which can impact reliability and require updates or fixes from the developers.
  • Resource Usage
    Though generally efficient, on lower-end devices, Apex Launcher might still consume more resources compared to stock launchers, potentially affecting battery life.

Nova Launcher videos

1 Power Tool to Customize Android Smartphones - Nova Launcher

More videos:

  • Review - Lawnchair 2 vs Nova Launcher - Full Comparison

Apex Launcher videos

Apex Launcher Android App Setup & Review

More videos:

  • Review - APEX LAUNCHER REVIEW- BIG CUSTOMIZATION!
  • Review - Apex Launcher Android App Setup/Review

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Nova Launcher and Apex Launcher)
Note Taking
81 81%
19% 19
LMS
81 81%
19% 19
Search Engine
76 76%
24% 24
Lifestyle
86 86%
14% 14

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Nova Launcher seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 11 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Nova Launcher mentions (11)

  • Serious New Warning as Google AI Targets Billions of Private Messages
    Try installing a new launcher/home screen app, like Nova, instead of using the default: https://novalauncher.com/. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Google Pixel 7a customization
    I dont know. I hav android 14 installed but it was not possible for me https://ibb.co/p1grL9k. However I downloaded it from novalauncher.com direct and it works now. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Do you use the Samsung default apps or do you use some of the Google default apps?
    I gave Lawnchair and Nova Launcher a try, but ended up back at OneUI. Nova offers a LOT of customizable options if that is what you want, but I thought it looked somewhat boring compared to Lawnchair and OneUI. Samsung's Good Lock mod (available in the Samsung Store) offers enough customization options that I was happy staying with OneUI. You can have all of then installed at the same time and flip around to see... Source: over 2 years ago
  • Platinum to anyone who can help with getting app icons
    I had to download this to be able to use widget on my budget androids. Source: over 2 years ago
  • How to move the search bar to the bottom like in Firefox?
    Check out Nova Launcher. The Nova search bar can be placed below the app drawer. You can add an icon for Google search to the right-hand side of the search bar. Source: almost 3 years ago
View more

Apex Launcher mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Apex Launcher yet. Tracking of Apex Launcher recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Nova Launcher and Apex Launcher, you can also consider the following products

KISS Launcher - KISS is a fast launcher for your Android.

Smart Launcher - The innovative launcher that makes your Android more intuitive and well organized.

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Olauncher - Minimal AF (ad-free) launcher app for Android.

Microsoft Expression Web - Microsoft Expression Web, part of Microsoft's Expression Studio, is an HTML editor and general...

Kvรฆsitso - A FOSS Android launcher