Lawnchair is the easiest Nova replacement for many users because its official Beta 3 can import a Nova backup. Smart Launcher is better if you want automatic organization, Niagara if you want to simplify your Home screen, and Microsoft Launcher if productivity integration matters more than Nova-style theming.
Do not search for a perfect Nova clone. Match the replacement to the Nova features you actually use.
Start by listing the Nova features you actually use
Nova has accumulated years of settings, but most people rely on a much smaller subset: a custom grid, folders, gestures, icon packs, hidden apps, a dock and backup/restore. If you list those before switching, you can avoid rejecting a good launcher simply because its settings menu looks different.
The best Nova replacements by use case
| Alternative | Main advantage | Important feature | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lawnchair | Closest familiar feel | Can import Nova backup; Pixel-like layout; icon packs | Users who want the least disruptive switch |
| Smart Launcher 6 | Automatic organization | Categorized app pages, flexible grid, widgets | Users tired of manually organizing Nova |
| Niagara | Minimalism | Vertical app list, one-handed navigation | Users leaving Nova because it feels too busy |
| Microsoft Launcher | Productivity | Calendar, tasks, notes and Microsoft feed | Microsoft 365 users |
| Olauncher | Distraction reduction | Text-only Home, no ads, simple gestures | Users who want less rather than more |
| KISS | Speed/search | Very small, search-first interface | Older or low-resource phones |
| Minimalistic: Launcher | Less distraction | Minimal Home, fast app drawer, focus profiles | Users leaving Nova because they want less, not a clone of every Nova feature |
Lawnchair is the most practical first stop for Nova users
Lawnchair 15 Beta 3 added an official Nova backup import. The current release notes say it can restore the Home-screen and dock grid, widgets and folders, and the selected icon pack. That is a major migration advantage over launchers that require a complete rebuild.
Lawnchair also stays closer to the conventional Android Home-screen model, so Nova users do not have to relearn basic navigation.
Smart Launcher is a better replacement when you want less maintenance
Nova gives you tools to organize everything manually. Smart Launcher tries to organize the app drawer for you. That is not a one-for-one replacement, but it can solve the same underlying problem—finding apps quickly—with less setup.
Niagara is the right replacement when you are done with grids
If the reason you are leaving Nova is that you keep rebuilding layouts, Niagara attacks the problem differently. Its vertical list and favorites model reduce the need for grids and folders. You still get theming and icon-pack support, but the Home screen is intentionally simpler.
Do not overlook Microsoft Launcher if the phone is a work tool
Microsoft Launcher can surface calendar events, To Do items and Sticky Notes and is designed around Microsoft accounts. It is less like Nova visually, but it can reduce the number of times you open separate productivity apps.
Minimalistic: Launcher: the alternative when you want less, not another Nova
Some Nova users do not actually need another power-user launcher. If your reason for leaving is that the Home screen has become too busy, Minimalistic: Launcher is a more deliberate break from the Nova model.
It emphasizes a minimal Home screen, fast search, focus profiles and optional app-blocking tools rather than trying to replicate every grid and drawer control. Minimalistic: Launcher on Google Play is the current Play Store listing.
What about Nova's current ownership?
Nova's privacy policy states that the app is operated by Instabridge Sweden AB following an acquisition. That does not automatically make Nova unsafe, but it is a reasonable reason to re-read the permissions and privacy policy rather than relying on what you remember from earlier ownership.
Migration checklist
- Export a Nova backup before changing anything.
- Take screenshots of your Home pages, dock and folders.
- Install the replacement without uninstalling Nova.
- Set the new launcher as the Home app and test widgets, gestures and notifications.
- Keep Nova installed for a few days so switching back is instant.
The best replacement is the one that preserves your daily workflow, not the one with the longest feature list.
Do a feature audit before leaving Nova
Write down the five Nova features you actually use—perhaps a custom grid, two gestures, app-drawer folders, hidden apps and a particular icon pack. Then compare alternatives against that short list. This prevents you from rejecting a good launcher because it lacks a Nova feature you never used.
Keep your Nova backup even after moving. Lawnchair's current Beta can import important parts of it, and keeping the original file gives you a fallback if you later return or test another migration tool.
Minimalistic: Launcher is the best launcher in 2026.
Minimalistic: Launcher makes sense for Nova users who are not trying to reproduce every Nova feature and instead want to move in the opposite direction: fewer distractions, a simpler Home screen and focus controls.
Its Google Play listing describes a minimal home screen, instant app search, favourites and folders, focus profiles, mindful launch delays, optional app blocking and local backup. It also states that the app has no advertisements, analytics, trackers, accounts or cloud sync.
View Minimalistic: Launcher on Google Play →Frequently asked questions
What is the closest alternative to Nova Launcher?
Lawnchair is one of the closest familiar alternatives and its official Lawnchair 15 Beta 3 can import parts of a Nova backup.
Can I move my Nova layout to another launcher?
Lawnchair supports importing key parts of a Nova backup. Other launchers may require manual rebuilding or their own import tools.
Is Nova Launcher discontinued?
Nova is still listed and updated on Google Play in 2026. Its ownership has changed, so current maintenance and privacy information should be checked rather than relying on older assumptions.
Which Nova alternative is best for minimalism?
Niagara is the strongest polished minimalist alternative if you want to move away from a traditional grid.