# Minimalist Launcher — user reviews > 1,425 indexed App Store user reviews of Minimalist Launcher by Ankit Kumar, rated 4.70/5 from 3,447 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/minimalist-launcher/id6498880303/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/minimalist-launcher/id6498880303.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 2,964 · 4★ 211 · 3★ 60 · 2★ 48 · 1★ 164 ## What do users think of Minimalist Launcher? Overall sentiment: positive **Pros** - 🚀 Reduces screen time - 👍 Simple and easy to use - 💡 Helpful for digital minimalism - 🔒 Responsive developer - 👍 Customizable home screen - 🚀 Seamless transition between apps - 👍 Clean and minimal design **Cons** - 🐛 Occasional bugs with widgets - 🔒 Free trial not clearly mentioned - 🔒 Paid version required for full functionality **Commonly reported bugs** - Widgets sometimes show blank rectangles - Time/date display not always accurate - Clunky transition when opening apps **Most requested features** - Allow more than 6 apps on home screen - Add ability to customize app names - Improve widget transparency and alignment - Provide more wallpaper/theme options ## Newest reviews (17 of 1,425) ### 2/5 — Free but eventually blocks apps opening unless paid *2026-08-31, version 29* Works ok but after a week or so it wouldn’t let me open apps without blocking via some paywall screen, force quit tried again and then deleted app ### 5/5 — Great help to my focus on life around me. *2026-08-09, version 29* Keeps me on task and less distracted, bridges the gap between a dumb phone and all the luxuries of iPhone. ### 5/5 — absolute sigma *2026-08-03, version 29* it is ### 5/5 — Transform your phone! *2026-08-02, version 29* Excellent app. Easy learning curve. Totally changes your cell phone using experience. Beautifully simple. ### 5/5 — Great app! Super easy! One mix up on the instructions. *2026-08-02, version 29* The app was super easy to install and set up very intuitive set up. But when you get to the part about removing the word minimal from below the icons, it just goes to the next step instead of teaching you how to do it. Other than that phenomenal. ### 5/5 — This app is perfect! *2026-07-31, version 29* Thank you guys for making this app free! In a market that is oversaturated by subscription based services (in this case, dumb phone/minimalist apps), this app stands out as being a great FREE tool for anyone to use. This app has all of the basic functions you could need for a minimalist/digital detox tool: - No app icons, with the added ability to keep pages WITH app icons if desired. - The ability to block certain apps indefinitely, OR make a custom schedule for when you can and cannot use certain apps. I have certain apps blocked during work, and just before bed, and have noticed a dramatic change in my focus and sleep already. I highly recommend this app! ### 5/5 — WOW, and it did NOT ASK FOR MONEY *2026-07-28, version 28.3* Amazing, simple, and clever¡ ### 5/5 — Helps reduce screen time (and it’s free) *2026-07-19, version 28.3* I’m happy that I found a free app that dumbifys your phone. It definitely helps to reduce screen time, especially because you actually have to read and see which app you’re looking for instead of just clicking on the picture. I can read I swear, you know what I mean. IT IS a little complicated to set up (that’s iPhones fault for limiting our customization), but the app walks you through it step by step. ### 5/5 — Really works! *2026-07-19, version 28.3* I wasn’t sure how it would go but I love it. Often times put my phone right back down because I didn’t need it. ### 5/5 — It’s a good option *2026-07-19, version 28.3* Works pretty well. Def ways to get around it but I like the minimalist look- does help with focus on the most important things ### 2/5 — Amazing until recent bug *2026-07-17, version 28.3* Absolutely love this app. Unfortunately, this week I’m unable to use the launcher as I’m getting a pop up prompting me to purchase their detox subscription. There’s no option to turn it off. I don’t want the detox, I just want the launcher which I’ve been using for years now. Unusable until this is fixed, unfortunately. ### 5/5 — Great!!! *2026-07-14, version 28.3* I’ve enjoyed it a lot! It has reduced my screen time by lots… ### 5/5 — helped me so much *2026-07-14, version 28.3* helped me so much! screen time down by 80% ### 3/5 — It will be able to get caught up in my life *2026-07-11, version 28.3* The client is a great way to get the best out of the house and I am not sure if I can get a good idea for your reference ### 5/5 — Game changer *2026-07-07, version 28.3* Never any glitches, super sleek appearance. Used an older version for four years and am buying the lifetime bundle for a new phone. Really appreciate this app ### 4/5 — Great App but a little buggy *2026-07-07, version 28.3* Fantastic application. Saved me from buying a flip phone to get away from the distractions. I can eliminate the distractions while still keeping the essentials. The app can be a little buggy in some places but it still gets the job done and got me to use my phone a lot less. ### 5/5 — Great *2026-07-05, version 28.3* Great ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Bait & Switch *2026-08-18, version 29* I downloaded this app and spent ten minutes setting it up. It was working fine until after a few days I click on the widget and it sends me to a page to pay for the app to continue using it because my “free trial ended.” Problem is, I never signed up for a free trial. I was never asked to pay until after I had already spent time setting it up and started using it. This is a sneaky bait & switch that wasted my time. Whoever decided to set up the app this way should be ashamed of themselves. If there is a fee, be upfront, don’t try to trick the users. ### 1/5 — 6$ a month for a shortcut app lol… *2026-08-15, version 29* UPDATE: Smile app does the same exact thing but is 100% free!!:) I’m tired of these apps that don’t provide much of anything thinking they’re worth more than what they are. You can get this same product easily in a ton of different ways, but they want you to pay 60$ a month so you can have a widget on your home screen instead of buttons… Con artists, i’m moving to another app that doesn’t try to rob me for the dumbest thing. Ignore the bot reviews ### 1/5 — My phone *2026-07-20, version 28.3* It doesn’t work on my phone ### 1/5 — Sketchy *2026-06-29, version 28.3* weirdly extremely for profit, not even offering a free version, and concealing the fact that you are on a trial of premium, so once you feel confident and comfortable with the system you have to start coughing up bucks. would be fine if there were just more transparent. ### 1/5 — Misleading about "free" app *2026-05-15, version 28.2* It was good until they informed me after 7 days I was on a trial and had to pray for what I was already getting. No prior info told me that. Pretty misleading tactic to pay for something that should be free ### 1/5 — Subscription based *2026-04-14, version 27.2* Tricked me into thinking it was free ### 1/5 — Dead *2026-03-26, version 26* No longer useful on the new iOS ### 1/5 — Subscription service not free *2026-02-26, version 21* Functionally works great, then it slaps you with “actually this isn’t free and now you have to pay to subscribe” - deleted the app now ### 1/5 — Doesnt work on iphone *2026-02-24, version 21* Bad ### 1/5 — Scam *2026-02-20, version 21* Let’s you set up your phone and then asks for payment a week later saying your trial has ended. Waste of time. Don’t say it’s free when it’s not. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Excellent *2026-09-01, version 29* This is more of a guided DIY app, but honestly, that makes it even better! Because it helps you take control and feel the ownership. ### 5/5 — Honest review *2026-08-31, version 29* Not bad really if you have a busy life and trying to be productive without your phone ### 5/5 — Great minimalist widgets *2026-08-19, version 29* I had been looking for a launcher to help make my iPhone more minimalist and have only essential apps on my Home Screen and of course cut down on screen time. What i didn’t realize launchers do not exist because IOS doesn’t allow it and I think that’s the biggest disconnect people have about this app. People expectations are install app boom it’s done. It uses widgets to create the minimalist look. I felt the process was pretty easy to setup along with creating Smart Stack for other apps and really enhanced the experience. It was easy to purchase the forever license after the trial ### 5/5 — So effective *2026-08-17, version 29* So effective. Curing this disease one phone at a time. ### 5/5 — Love this app!! *2026-08-15, version 29* I really like this app and I find it really useful to dumb down my phone without too much effort. I recommend purchasing the full thing to benefit from what this app has to offer. It’s no thrills, easy to set up and completely intuitive without unnecessary gubbins. Note to creator: would it be possible to roll out some basic font options for the main list widget? I would love to see a font that leans into a retro coding/computer feel :) ### 5/5 — This works *2026-08-15, version 29* I love that instant drop in usage and interest of my phone, I just go on to use it for a purpose after just 2 days of using! Worth giving it a go! ### 5/5 — I love it *2026-08-14, version 29* Love how easy it is to set up and really simplified my phone to make me go on it less and only with a specific purpose. Awesome! ### 5/5 — Great help to my focus on life around me. *2026-08-14, version 29* Keeps me on task and less distracted, bridges the gap between a dumb phone and all the luxuries of iPhone. I love that I can still bank, call cabs/ubers, browse the web, etc. but it’s all tucked behind a search bar that’s feels way more intentional than clicking on an app. Highly recommended. ### 5/5 — Minimalist is Amazing *2026-08-12, version 29* Love this app ### 5/5 — Very easy to use and clean *2026-08-11, version 29* I like this app bc it’s easy to use, it doesn’t need to do none of that shortcut bs like other apps, and it’s just very clean. The steps are simple and my Home Screen just looks very nice and aesthetic. Def would recommend ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-03.*