You can customize your Android phone the way you want. This flexibility in terms of customization can give your device a fresh look and offer you more control over different elements.

The best way to personalize an Android phone is through launchers. A launcher will not only change the look of your smartphone but also customize its behaviors. It can change the icons, page transitions, widgets, improve usability, and much more.

But with so many to choose from, which is the right one for you? Here's our guide to the best Android launchers for all types of user.

Best All-Round Launcher: Nova Launcher

Nova is a highly customizable launcher that uses minimal system resources due to its smaller app size. It allows you to customize the home screen, app drawer, folders, search, icons, and so much more.

You can even install various icon packs to use with Nova. Here are some of the most beautiful icon packs available for Android.

Nova supports dark mode, which you can schedule based on your current device settings or activate at a specific time of your choice. In addition, it lets you change the animations that appear when you open an app, and you can also change how your files and folders appear on the home screen.

The system font styles and sizes are customizable, and the app also has a backup feature that saves your custom settings for easy future setup.

Nova provides all the main features for free. However, there are some limitations in the free version, such as hiding apps, drawer groups, and gestures. You can upgrade to the prime version from the Play Store to get the advanced features.

Download: Nova Launcher (Free, premium version available)

Best for One-Handed Use: Niagara Launcher

Niagara is a minimalist launcher that focuses on accessibility. It has a different interface compared to traditional Android launchers. Its look is clean and shows only your favorite apps on the home screen.

The launcher is ideal for enabling you to use your phone one-handed. Through its sidebar, you can access every app easily using one hand, as each app is accessible with your thumb.

Niagara is designed in a way that boosts accessibility. For example, it changes how your notifications appear. You don't need to expand the notification bar to view your notifications because they simply appear as a pop-up on the screen.

Niagara is free for all its basic features. To get advanced features such as custom widgets and pop-up widgets, you need to purchase the pro version of the app.

Download: Niagara Launcher (Free, in-app purchases available)

Best for Looks: hyperion launcher

Many people look for new launchers to improve the visual appearance of their phones. And for this purpose, hyperion is among the best options. It allows you to customize the colors of each home screen element, such as the search bar, app drawer, widgets, folders, the dock, and your icons, to create a custom theme.

You can use various third-party icon packs and change the icon shapes. It also lets you change the home screen and app drawer grids to add as many icons as you want on the screen. You can change the animations when you launch apps, and customize their speed. In addition, you can add third-party integrations such as Google Feed.

hyperion has some limitations in its free version. You can upgrade to the premium version to access gestures, biometric lock, and other advanced features.

Download: hyperion launcher (Free, in-app purchases available)

Most Information-Packed: AIO Launcher

If you want to stay informed about what's happening around you without needing to constantly tap in and out of apps, your mobile launcher can help you. AIO provides you with all the information on your phone's home screen.

It displays the weather in your location and device information such as battery percentage and device storage. You don't need to search for your latest mails from the notification bar or the email app, as it shows them all on the home screen. AIO displays your Twitter and news feeds, too, to keep you updated. Moreover, you can also keep an eye on the exchange rate of your preferred currencies right from your home screen.

AIO is free and has a premium version for advanced features such as Android widget support, stocks widgets, themes, and more.

Download: AIO Launcher (Free, in-app purchases available)

Best Minimalist Launcher: Before Launcher

If you want to give your device a simple look to stay focused, you can try a minimalist launcher.

Before is a simple launcher that provides a clean interface to your device to keep the distractions away. You can choose your favorite apps to appear on the home screen, and all the other apps will stay in a separate list that you can access by swiping right.

You can change the background with solid colors and apply third-party icon packs or the default black and white icons for an elegant look. It also supports a notification filter so that unnecessary notifications are snoozed. Before is a free launcher, but you'll need the pro version for some advanced features like hidden apps.

Download: Before Launcher (Free, in-app purchases available)

Best Open-Source Launcher: Olauncher

Olauncher is open-source, with all of its features available for free. If security and privacy are major priorities for you, then open-source is the way to go.

Olauncher is a more minimalist launcher but still gives you plenty of options for customization. You can get a new daily wallpaper to refresh the look of your phone, it lets you keep your favorite and most used apps on the home screen, and in addition, it supports dark and light modes as well.

You can set up custom gestures, such as a double-tap, for different actions. Moreover, there are no app icons in Olauncher, making it blazing fast and clean.

Download: Olauncher (Free)

If Your Prefer Microsoft to Google: Microsoft Launcher

Finally, if you are a Microsoft user or generally prefer Microsoft to Google, Microsoft Launcher should be a must-have for you. It's a feature-packed launcher for Android.

You can customize your home screen, wallpapers, icon, fonts, and much more. It also lets you create custom themes. You can use gestures as well that allow you to perform certain actions through swipe or double-tap, and it has a feed feature that shows you personalized news, cards, and widgets.

Microsoft Launcher is free, and you can still use the launcher if you don't have a Microsoft account. If you want, you can go one step ahead and transform your Android phone into a Microsoft phone.

Download: Microsoft Launcher (Free)

Customize Your Android Phone With These Launchers

To personalize your Android device, you don't need to change everything. Just choose the launcher of your choice, and it will do all the heavy lifting for you.

The list we have shared contains all types of launchers. Whatever you need it for, you should find your perfect launcher here. But if you're working with an old or budget phone, you might be able to get even better performance by choosing a lightweight launcher guaranteed to run smoothly on low-end devices.