# Nova Launcher Hacker Approved page: https://hackerapproved.com/p/nova-launcher/ 31 people recommended Nova Launcher in Hacker News comments, 7 had mixed feelings and 57 criticized it, November 2025 to October 2026. People who said how long they have used it report a median of 10 years, among 12 people. It was recommended in 5 of 12 months, in 7 threads. It does not meet the Hacker Approved badge rule. 16 of the 31 people who recommend it commented in one thread, “Nova Launcher Added Facebook and Google Ads Tracking”. **Verdict:** Criticized more than recommended, mainly for worry about ads and tracking since its sale; those who recommend it cite a stable, customizable Android home screen with gestures, tabbed app drawer and good backup. Summary written by Claude from the comments below. ## What people warn about - Ads and tracking after sale (6 comments in the sample): "I basically have zero faith that being a paid member will turn off any of their shady tracking stuff" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46694305)) "the latest update comes with the Facebook Ads and Google AdMob SDKs and require extra permissions" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46686656)) "They've started displaying ads: https://www.reddit.com/r/NovaLauncher/comments/1qhzbws/is_no..." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46693836)) - Battery drain and lag (4 comments in the sample): "Nova caused the battery to appear to fail, and would drain the battery still on a new phone" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46703997)) "I have been trying to figure out why my phone has beep going stupid and laggy with the launcher lately" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46687684)) "I was having issues recently with my Pixel phone hanging/freezing/going stupid, it was Nova." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46697911)) - Updates break features and downgrades (2 comments in the sample): "I can't seem to get the launcher to downgrade after it automatically updated last night." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46692272)) "I would honestly have stayed in version 6 of Nova because of the as yet unrecreated magical feature" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46692300)) - Needs permissions, closed source (2 comments in the sample): "I can't remember why I didn't go with Nova Launcher again, might have been related to the permissions required." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46687726)) "why would you use a proprietary program like Nova and not expect these kinds of behaviors" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46706465)) ## Why people recommend it - Polished, feature-complete launcher (5 comments in the sample): "I've checked many alternatives and none are as polished as Nova." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46716110)) "it's been essentially feature-complete for several years" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46687604)) "Nova really made the perfect product." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46690657)) - Used for a decade (3 comments in the sample): "Nova carried me for almost a decade, and I'll miss it." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46696951)) "Nova served me well for more than 10 years" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46690663)) "I've been using Nova Launcher to mimic webOS for almost 10 years." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46687620)) - Keeps setup across phones (3 comments in the sample): "for the sole reason of not having to reconfigure Nova on a new phone" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46698000)) "Nova remembers app locations when I change phones." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46705465)) "I used Nova mainly because I use 2 phones and it is easier to keep things similar." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46700472)) - Tabbed app drawer with folders (2 comments in the sample): "Somehow only Nova does tabbed app drawer pages (and allows folders within them" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46700782)) "I want predictable, user ordered apps in tabs so I can open one by heart with my eyes closed." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46699487)) ## Other Android launchers people recommend - [Kiss Launcher](https://hackerapproved.com/p/kiss-launcher/): 26 recommend, 2 mixed, 4 criticize - [Lawnchair Launcher](https://hackerapproved.com/p/lawnchair-launcher/): 22 recommend, 5 mixed, 7 criticize - [Niagara Launcher](https://hackerapproved.com/p/niagara-launcher/): 20 recommend, 3 mixed, 2 criticize - [Octopi Launcher](https://hackerapproved.com/p/octopi-launcher/): 11 recommend, 3 mixed, 4 criticize ## Where to get it - [Visit the official site](https://novalauncher.com/) ## The badge A product earns the Hacker Approved badge when at least 10 people recommend it, recommenders outnumber critics at least 2 to 1 (mixed feelings count toward neither side), it was recommended in at least 4 of the 12 months and in at least 5 different threads, and no single thread supplies more than half of the people who recommend it. Health and money products are never badged. ## Cite as Hacker Approved, "Nova Launcher", https://hackerapproved.com/p/nova-launcher/ (31 recommend, 7 mixed, 57 criticize; Hacker News comments, November 2025 to October 2026). Counts updated 2 Nov 2026, with data through October 31, 2026.