Nova Launcher is the standard Android launcher everyone recommends due to its extreme versatility and integration with other apps. Android users are used to the traditional swipe-up app drawers. It became the new norm from the early days of Android and we’ve seen all sorts of iterations of it like 3D transitioned pages, vertical scrolling, categorization etc.
I’ve used Niagara Launcher for a month. The first day was painful and I was hesitant to even try it because like an everyday Android user, I did not like anything other than a normal app drawer. Hell, this was my response to a fellow themer Erik Bucik when we were talking about Niagara Launcher on the r/AndroidThemes discord server. Erik, who also isn’t a fan of non-traditional app drawers, said this:
I switched from Lawnchair to Niagara and I’ve been using it since. Here is my review and thoughts.
Day-to-day Use:
Niagara’s minimalist navigation system is what makes it unique. All your apps, shortcuts, and widgets are in one place. Some may say this makes it hard to navigate, but after 2 days of usage, I was already used to it.
Apart from finding your app by scrolling through the alphabetic list, you can tap the home button to open search and type the app’s name you want to launch. Pair that with Sesame’s powerful search integration, you can search for anything on your phone with just a tap of the home button. Whether it’s a contact, a file or folder in your storage, or a quick Google search from your browser.
The first day may have been a bit of a challenge to get used to. But as much as I loved using Lawnchair, I started to not miss it that much as days progressed.
Customizability:
The main concern I had and most other people have with Niagara Launcher is the lack of customizability. Most people compare Niagara with Nova or Lawnchair because they’re most likely already using it. Simply put, that is just a stupid comparison. Let me explain…
Launchers like Nova or Lawnchair follow the exact same user interface elements. Swipe up to open drawer, bottom dock, tabs in the app drawer, app drawer grids yada yada. Same story over and over. This UI has been so refined since the early Android versions that it has given birth to hundreds of launchers on the Play Store. All of them follow the exact same boring UI with customizable features varying from one another.
Niagara, on the other hand, brought a completely unique user experience to Android home screens. It may not have the same number of customizations as Nova launcher does but that’s because it is NOT Nova launcher. Niagara is not supposed to be your traditional swipe-up launcher. It is a thing of its own. This is why I find the comparison between Niagara and Nova to be pointless. It’s the same “Android is better than iOS” argument all over again.
How Much Can You Customize?
Now that we know the difference between Niagara and traditional launchers, let’s have a look at how much you can customize it.
As far as looks go, you have quite a number of options to play with. Some standard features include:
• Changing your icon pack and size,
• Adaptive dark mode,
• Changing text color,
• [Pro] Hiding status bar,
• Hiding apps.
And some Niagara only, unique features are as follows. Keep in mind, some of these features are Pro only which we will discuss in a bit. I have the pro features labelled.
• Ability to hide app names for an even more minimalist look. Unfortunately, this one only works on the favorites screen,
• One of my favorite features is the ability to move apps list further down so it’s easier to reach. You can move it all the way up as well if you want to see more of your apps,
• [Pro] You can add a custom widget on top of your apps. You can only create one widget over your apps which can be resized as well,
• [Pro] Ability to select your own custom font from your phone,
• Another favorite is the music player widget that only shows up over the apps list if you have music playing,
• [Pro] And most importantly, Sesame integration. Sesame Search is a free app with some features under a paywall but in order to use Sesame integration in Niagara, you’ll need to have Niagar Pro. Which brings me to my next point…
Is It Worth It?
Depends on how much you like the overall user experience and features. If you’ve never used Niagara before, give it a try before purchasing. The free features will be enough for an average user. The 2 main features that you will miss however in the free version are widgets and ability to hide your status bar. If that’s not a big deal for you, you won’t miss a thing.
How much does it cost? Niagara gives you 2 options to choose from. A monthly subscription that costs about $3 per month (you get a 7-day free trial as well) and a one-time purchase that costs about $10.
I purchased the one-time subscription on day 2 because I was already a hardcore Sesame Search user and I needed it badly. Safe to say, I am not disappointed with my purchase.
Conclusion?
Niagara is a unique launcher with a unique user experience. It makes it easy for users to get to apps and shortcuts quickly. It may not be as customizable as other traditional launchers, but that’s because it's not a traditional launcher.
However, I’d love to know your thoughts on Niagara in the comments.
Big shoutout to Lor & Company and Charlee Designs for helping with my grammar on this post. Grammar my bad they help make good.
