Comparison

MinimalLauncher vs Launcher

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

MinimalLauncher

This app provides a streamlined way to launch applications by displaying only their names, eliminating the need for icon grids and scrolling. It allows for extensive customization of app name appearance and offers widget support for quick access.

Highlights
  • Displays only app names
  • Customizable app name colors
  • Insert line breaks and separators
  • Clipboard content display
  • URL scheme support
  • Home widget support
  • Change app icons
Features
Read full description

MinimalLauncher is a minimal launcher app that displays only app names. There are many launcher apps available on the App Store, and most of them launch apps by tapping displayed icons. With those launcher apps, when you register many apps, the screen quickly becomes filled with icons, and in some cases you need to scroll in order to launch apps located at the bottom. Although the purpose of using a launcher app is to quickly launch apps, I personally found it bothersome that scrolling adds an extra step. With this in mind, I thought it would be nice to have a launcher app that can display a large number of apps on one screen by listing only app names, and so I created MinimalLauncher. The number varies depending on the device's screen size and the font size and spacing settings for app names, but it is possible to display around 100 apps on one screen. *Please note that before removing the limitation via an in-app purchase, the number of apps that can be registered is limited to 10. After checking the usability, you can make an in-app purchase to remove the limitation and register apps without restriction. *Please note that this app does not have a feature that automatically sets a URL scheme when you select an app. By using Apple's official "Shortcuts" app, you can launch apps that do not have a URL scheme or whose URL scheme is unknown. For details, please refer to the following URL: https://broad-connect.net/2020/03/01/minimallaunchershortcut/ ◆Main Features ・A set of three launchers-MainLauncher, LeftLauncher, and RightLauncher-that can be switched instantly by swiping left or right. ・Freely set the color of each app name (separate colors can be set for Light Mode and Dark Mode) ・Insert line breaks or separators at arbitrary positions ・Display clipboard contents (enter "_CLIP_" as the app name) ・Set URLs using clipboard contents (enter "_ENCCLIP_" in the URL; for example, if you set the URL to "http://www.google.com/search?q=_ENCCLIP_", you can search Google using the clipboard contents) ・Change app icons ・Home widget support (there are limitations described below; please note that these apply) ・URL scheme support   Launch: minimallauncher://   Add app: minimallauncher://add/?name=[Name]&url=[URL] *Please note that when using "_CLIP_" or "_ENCCLIP_", on iOS 16 and later, an alert related to pasting is displayed every time. This issue can be avoided by updating the OS to iOS 16.1 or later and changing the following settings in the Settings app. ①In the Settings app, select "MinimalLauncher" and then select "Paste from Other Apps". ②Change the setting to "Allow". *Please note that even after changing the setting to "Allow", notifications related to pasting will still be displayed. Due to iOS limitations, these notifications cannot be turned off. ◆Home Widget Limitations ・Since the home widget has a fixed size, it may not be able to display all registered apps.  In that case, please adjust the settings by reducing the font size in the MinimalLauncher app's settings screen or by moving apps you want to prioritize toward the top.  (If you tap the blank area of the home widget, the MinimalLauncher app itself will launch, so you can start apps that could not be displayed in the widget from there.) ・Due to iOS limitations, the home widget cannot access the clipboard.  Therefore, it does not support the feature that displays clipboard contents using "_CLIP_". ・Due to iOS limitations, the home widget cannot directly launch each registered app.  As a result, each registered app is launched after going through the MinimalLauncher app once. ・The launcher in the home widget is generated using a completely different mechanism from the launcher displayed in the MinimalLauncher app itself.  Please note that, as a result, the layout, fonts, and other aspects may not be 100% identical to those of the launcher displayed in the app itself.

About

Launcher

This utility app allows users to customize their lock and home screens with widgets that launch applications instantly. It supports a wide range of apps and offers extensive design possibilities with various visual elements. The app is free to use and designed for iOS devices.

Highlights
  • Instant app launching
  • Lock screen customization
  • Supports most applications
  • Customizable widgets
  • Includes symbols, emojis, and icons
  • Web and shortcut support
Features
Read full description

Launcher is a free application launcher. You can add anything to the lock screen and it starts instantly with a single tap. Lets you fully customize your lock screen widget, the possibilities are endless! Features: - Free forever - easy and fast - Supports most applications - Create unique lock screen designs - Provides symbols, emojis, icons, and custom images - Additional support for web, shortcuts and customization - Supports iOS 16 If you like the app, please consider leaving a positive review and review, it helps support the development. The application will continue to add content in the future, thank you for your use!

Screenshots

MinimalLauncher3 screens
Launcher3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Launcher at 4.3 against MinimalLauncher's 1.0. Launcher also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 4) and review sentiment (100% vs 67%). MinimalLauncher's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. MinimalLauncher sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Launcher asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Launcher holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Launcher has 19 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 67% of MinimalLauncher's written reviews are positive against 100% of Launcher's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

MinimalLauncher ships an update every 2 weeks, Launcher every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
MinimalLauncher versus Launcher: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMinimalLauncherLauncher
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.0 (1 ratings)4.3 (19 ratings) — better
Positive reviews66.7% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings119 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 2 months
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesAd-supported — better
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS17.016.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size8 MB21 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAkihiro UsuiDindot Network Technology (Huizhou) Co., Ltd.

Customer experience

MinimalLauncher

All ratings1 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%

Launcher

All ratings16 ratings
Positive87.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative12.5%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

4 purchases

MinimalLauncher

One-time4
  • Snack-Sized Tip$0.49
  • Restriction Removal$1.99
  • Coffee-Sized Tip$1.99
Show 1 more
  • Lunch-Sized Tip$3.99
None

Launcher

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is MinimalLauncher free?
MinimalLauncher is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Launcher free?
Launcher is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, MinimalLauncher or Launcher?
Launcher is rated higher. MinimalLauncher averages 1.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Launcher averages 4.3 from 19 ratings.
Do MinimalLauncher or Launcher have ads?
Both MinimalLauncher and Launcher show ads.
Which is updated more often, MinimalLauncher or Launcher?
MinimalLauncher ships an update every 2 weeks, and Launcher every 2 months. Most recently, MinimalLauncher was updated on October 29, 2026 and Launcher on October 24, 2026.

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