vsNova LauncherKore Launcher vs Nova Launcher
Nova Launcher is one of the best-known Android launchers. Kore Launcher is a newer, one-time-purchase launcher built with Jetpack Compose. Here is what each listing offers.
Facts from each app's Google Play listing, checked October 11, 2026. “Not mentioned” means the listing does not say, not that the app lacks it.
| Feature |  Kore Launcher | Nova Launcher |
|---|---|---|
| Price | One-time purchase, no subscription | Free to download with in-app purchases (Nova Launcher Prime) |
| Ads | No “Contains ads” label on Google Play | “Contains ads” label on Google Play |
| Icon packs | Third-party icon packs with adaptive icon backdrops | Thousands of icon themes, with icon reshaping |
| Widgets | Any Android widget plus custom widgets in Widget Studio | Widgets and icons placed between grid cells (subgrid) |
| Home layouts | Classic pages, minimal text home, Agenda home or personal dashboard | Customizable home screen, app drawer and folders |
| Search | Universal search across apps, contacts, settings and files, plus a calculator | Search across apps, contacts and services with instant results |
| Folders | Smart folders that sort apps into categories | App drawer groups (Prime) |
| Gestures | Optional gestures through an accessibility service, off by default | Home screen gestures and icon swipe gestures (Prime) |
| App lock | Lock apps behind fingerprint, face or PIN | Hide apps from the drawer (Prime) |
| Status pill | Kore Pill for charging, ringer, unlock and now playing | Not mentioned in its Google Play listing |
| Backup and restore | Not mentioned in its Google Play listing | Local or cloud backups |
| Colours | Themes, style presets and optional liquid glass | Material You colours or custom colours, light and dark themes |
Which one fits you?
Choose Kore Launcher if
You prefer paying once with no ads, and want built-in app lock, Widget Studio, smart folders and several home layouts.
Choose Nova Launcher if
You want a free launcher with a long history, subgrid placement and cloud backup, and are fine with ads in the free version.
Nova Launcher is developed by Instabridge Sweden AB. AeroLoom Studio is not affiliated with Instabridge Sweden AB; the name is used only to identify the app. Listings change, so check Google Play for the latest details.