Best Android Customization Apps (2026)

Wallpapers from Hampus Olsson, the artist behind many OnePlus stock backgrounds. The app is a curated set of abstract collections in 4K, with new packs added over time.

• What we like: consistent art direction, so every wallpaper you pick works with the rest of your setup. Bold colors also give Material You a strong palette to pull from.
• Watch out: it is a focused, abstract-only library. Look elsewhere for photos or nature. Some packs may sit behind an in-app purchase.
• Best for: people who want a polished, modern look without browsing thousands of uploads.

Abstruct - Wallpapers in 4K

GET IT ONGoogle Play

Google's own wallpaper picker. Browse categories, pick from curated collections, or set a daily rotation so the background changes on its own.

• What we like: free, no ads, and made by Google, which ships the Pixel wallpapers. The daily rotation is the easiest way to keep a phone feeling fresh.
• Watch out: the library is smaller and safer than community apps. The standalone Play Store listing has not been updated since September 2020, and on Pixel phones the same picker is built into Wallpaper and style. Features differ by phone and Android version.
• Best for: anyone who wants good wallpapers with zero setup.

Wallpapers

GET IT ONGoogle Play

A large wallpaper library built on community submissions. Each upload is reviewed before it goes live, so quality stays higher than an open upload site.

• What we like: wide range of styles, from minimal to photography, plus a search that surfaces new uploads often.
• Watch out: the free version shows ads, and some premium features need an unlock.
• Best for: browsing art beyond stock phone backgrounds.

Backdrops - Wallpapers

GET IT ONGoogle Play

Open-source live wallpaper that refreshes your background with artwork from sources you pick. It can blur or dim the image so icons stay readable.

• What we like: the background changes by itself, and it stays calmer and lighter than an animated live wallpaper.
• Watch out: it works through a live wallpaper service, and you choose the art source yourself, so setup takes a minute.
• Best for: people who like art on the homescreen and hate picking a new wallpaper every week.

The most flexible live wallpaper tool on Android (jump here from our wallpaper apps list). Build your own layouts from scratch, or import presets from theme packs on the Play Store.

• What we like: wallpapers can react to time, weather, battery and scrolling, so the homescreen can act as a dashboard.
• Watch out: a steep learning curve, and animated presets cost more battery than a static image. Creating your own presets works in the free version, which shows ads. KLWP Pro ($6.99 on Google Play in the US) removes ads and unlocks importing presets from other KLWP theme apps.
• Best for: power users who want a one-of-a-kind homescreen and enjoy tinkering.

KLWP Live Wallpaper Maker

GET IT ONGoogle Play

Long the default recommendation for grid control, icon sizing, subgrid positioning and drawer layout. Almost every layout choice has a setting. Swedish company Instabridge bought Nova from Branch in January 2026 and says it will keep Nova maintained; the app is getting updates again.

• What we like: deep customization, full icon pack support, Material You colors and backup and restore. Gestures (swipe, pinch, double tap), drawer groups and hidden apps are part of Nova Prime.
• Watch out: the free version is now labeled "Contains ads" on Google Play. Instabridge says Prime stays ad-free. Prime is sold as a yearly subscription or a lifetime purchase (Nova Launcher Lifetime Prime is $29.99 on Google Play in the US). If ads are a deal breaker, Lawnchair and Smart Launcher below are ad-free.
• Best for: people who want control over every detail of the homescreen and are happy to pay for Prime.

Nova Launcher: Home Screen

GET IT ONGoogle Play

A vertical, alphabetized app list instead of a traditional grid. Everything sits within thumb reach, and a few widgets can sit at the top.

• What we like: very fast for one-handed use, and it makes a busy phone feel calm.
• Watch out: it is not a grid launcher, so skip it if you want icons everywhere. Some features need Niagara Pro, sold as an in-app purchase. There are no ads.
• Best for: minimalists and big-screen phone users.

Niagara Launcher ‧ Home Screen

GET IT ONGoogle Play

Open-source Pixel-style launcher with Material You theming, icon pack support and optional recents integration via QuickSwitch. Lawnchair 15 Beta 3 (Play Store update of April 18, 2026) is still the current release in October 2026. It is labeled beta, and it can now import Nova Launcher backups (grid, widgets, folders and icon pack), which makes switching easy.

• What we like: the Pixel look on any phone, free and open source, with a clean settings menu.
• Watch out: beta status means occasional rough edges, and recents integration takes extra setup.
• Best for: getting a Pixel-style homescreen on a Samsung, Xiaomi or other phone.

Lawnchair

GET IT ONGoogle Play

Sorts your apps into categories automatically, supports icon packs, and has an adaptive theme that follows your wallpaper. Built-in widgets and widget stacks cover weather, calendar, battery and music.

• What we like: the drawer stays tidy with no manual folders, and it runs light on older phones.
• Watch out: the free version is enough for most people, but some features sit behind a paid tier.
• Best for: a tidy drawer without setting it up by hand.

Pixel-inspired launcher with Quickedit, Quickdrawer and Covers folders. It pairs well with icon packs and adaptive wallpaper colors.

• What we like: gesture shortcuts that open app actions from a swipe, and folders that show a cover app.
• Watch out: several features are locked behind a paid upgrade ($4.99 to $12 in-app on Google Play in the US), and the free version is labeled "Contains ads".
• Best for: Pixel fans who want more features than the stock Pixel launcher.

Shows only the apps you whitelist. The rest of the phone stays out of sight until you look for it. Basic layout tweaks are built in.

• What we like: a text-based homescreen with little to tap, so it helps you spend less time on the phone.
• Watch out: it is intentionally plain, so it will not suit anyone who wants icons, widgets and effects. The extras are a one-time purchase with no ads and no subscription.
• Best for: a calmer phone without deleting apps.

Before Launcher | Go Minimal

GET IT ONGoogle Play

Pair with preset packs (Shadow KWGT, Flow KWGT and others) or build widgets from scratch. Widgets can show time, weather, battery, music and calendar data in any layout you design, plus steps, sleep and calories through Health Connect.

• What we like: near-unlimited design freedom, and a huge library of community presets.
• Watch out: same pro rule as KLWP: your own designs are free (with ads), and KWGT Pro ($6.99) removes ads and unlocks importing third-party presets. Presets with heavy formulas can use extra battery.
• Best for: matching widgets to your icon pack and wallpaper colors exactly.

KWGT Kustom Widget Maker

GET IT ONGoogle Play

Polished weather widgets with radar, alerts and multiple layout styles. The app lists more than 70 widgets and 12 animated themes.

• What we like: widgets look better than most stock weather widgets, and the animated backgrounds are easy on the eye.
• Watch out: the free tier is usable but includes ads. Pro unlocks extra widget skins and data sources.
• Best for: a good-looking weather widget without building one in KWGT.

Overdrop - Weather & Widgets

GET IT ONGoogle Play

Clean countdown widgets for launches, trips, deadlines or events, in multiple sizes. It can import events from your calendar and sync countdowns across devices. On Google Play it currently goes by the name Hurry Christmas Day Countdown.

• What we like: simple to set up, and readable at a glance on the homescreen.
• Watch out: it does one job, the free version is labeled "Contains ads", and a $1.49 in-app purchase is available.
• Best for: counting down to a trip, release or exam.

Hurry Christmas Day Countdown

GET IT ONGoogle Play

Google's keyboard with glide typing, GIF and sticker search, clipboard history, inline translation and theme customization. Preinstalled on many phones.

• What we like: fast, reliable and free, with themes that follow your wallpaper colors on supported Android versions.
• Watch out: it sends typing suggestions through Google services if you turn those features on, so review the privacy settings.
• Best for: most people. Set it as default even if you use a different launcher.

Gboard - the Google Keyboard

GET IT ONGoogle Play

Build a custom lock screen with the same Kustom engine family as KLWP and KWGT. Match your home screen style, without news feeds or ads on the lock screen.

• What we like: the lock screen can match your KLWP and KWGT designs exactly.
• Watch out: it sits in front of your normal lock screen and can behave differently across phone brands. Like KLWP and KWGT, the free version shows ads and Pro costs $6.99. See the safety note below.
• Best for: Kustom users who want the whole phone to match.

KLCK Kustom Lock Screen Maker

GET IT ONGoogle Play

Adds always-on display options on phones that lack a native AOD or have limited settings. Shows the clock, date and notification icons while the phone is idle.

• What we like: many clock styles, and it gives older AMOLED phones a feature they never had.
• Watch out: always-on features cost battery, and the free version includes ads. Pixel and Samsung phones already have a native AOD, so try that first.
• Best for: AMOLED phones with no built-in always-on display.

Always On AMOLED

GET IT ONGoogle Play