Most Popular Nova Launcher Sold Again, Here are the Alternatives

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AI Summarize

Nova Launcher remains one of the most widely used third-party launchers for Android, even after several years. The developers recently pushed Nova Launcher v8 to the stable channel, wherein they overhauled almost every element of the launcher.

Nova Launcher 8 Features

Nova Launcher 8 is now on the stable channel with powerful, customizable, and versatile home screen replacement. Nova brings advanced features to enhance your home screens, whether you want to completely overhaul your home screens or are looking for a cleaner, faster home launcher.

Here’s a breakdown of the key features that users can expect from this update:

Material You Theming
Redesigned Nova Settings
Shortcut and Contact search
API Integrations to expand Search
Additional Search More providers
Swipe left/right desktop gestures
Cards in App Drawer and Search
- Media Player
- Weather
- (Beta) Map Locations

Nova Launcher has been sold to Instabridge

Swedish company Instabridge has acquired Nova Launcher, ensuring the beloved Android customization tool isn’t shutting down. This is the second time Nova Launcher has been sold, first to an analytics tracking company called Branch. The new owners promise to maintain Nova’s core identity: speed, performance, and user control.

However, the latest update of Nova Launcher 8.2.4 puts new Ad Trackers Facebook Ads (advertisement) Google AdMob (advertisement), on top of the Branch (analytics) Bugsnag (crash reporting) Google CrashLytics (crash reporting), and Google Firebase Analytics (analytics)

Instabridge plans careful stewardship rather than radical changes. They’re committed to bug fixes, Android compatibility, and listening to community feedback before making major decisions.

To ensure sustainability, ads may be introduced to the free version, though Nova Prime will remain ad-free. Existing Prime purchases will be honored, with pricing now set at $3.99 USD after recent confusion.

Nova Launcher Under Fire: Privacy Concerns as Popular Android App Adds Ad Trackers

A recent update to Nova Launcher, one of Android’s most beloved customization tools, has sent shockwaves through the community. The update arrived without a changelog, but what users discovered upon closer inspection has raised serious red flags about the app’s future direction and commitment to user privacy.

This revelation, shared in a Reddit thread by user celso_a, has sparked widespread concern among Nova Launcher’s loyal user base.

The first major discovery was a change in ownership. Nova Launcher now appears to be owned by Instabridge Sweden AB, a company primarily known for developing eSIM and WiFi access applications. This ownership transition happened quietly, without any official announcement or transparency to the user community—a move that has already eroded trust among longtime users.

The lack of communication surrounding this acquisition is particularly troubling for users who have invested in Nova Launcher Prime, the paid version of the app that was supposed to offer an ad-free, premium experience.

The Tracker Problem

According to analysis using Exodus Privacy, a tool that scans Android apps for trackers and permissions, the differences between versions are stark:

Version 8.1.6 (Previous)

2 trackers:
Branch (analytics)
Bugsnag (crash reporting)
30 permissions

Version 8.2.4 (Current)

6 trackers:
Facebook Ads (advertisement)
Google AdMob (advertisement)
Branch (analytics)
Bugsnag (crash reporting)
Google CrashLytics (crash reporting)
Google Firebase Analytics (analytics)
36 permissions

What Are These Trackers Actually Doing?

Facebook Ads and Google AdMob are designed to:

Collect user behavior data
Track app usage patterns
Build advertising profiles
Enable targeted advertising across platforms
Share data with third-party advertising networks

While Google Firebase Analytics, Google CrashLytics, and Branch can serve legitimate purposes for improving app stability and user experience, their presence alongside advertising trackers raises questions about data sharing and the true scope of data collection.

Alternatives to Nova Launcher

While Nova Launcher has been a community favorite for years, this development may prompt users to explore other options that maintain stronger privacy commitments:

Lawnchair: Open-source launcher with frequent updates
Niagara Launcher: Minimalist approach with privacy focus
Smart Launcher: Feature-rich alternative with transparent policies
KISS Launcher: Lightweight, open-source option
Action Launcher: Another established player with a different approach