When comparing OsmAnd Maps & Navigation vs Nova Launcher Prime, the Slant community recommends Nova Launcher Prime for most people. In the question“What are the most useful Android phone apps?” Nova Launcher Prime is ranked 6th while OsmAnd Maps & Navigation is ranked 7th. The most important reason people chose Nova Launcher Prime is:
Nova Launcher provides an experience that's similar to stock Android, but adds multiple customization options. Customization ranges in ways that interactions and the user interface can be changed both aesthetically and functionally.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Based around crowdsourced OpenStreetMap data
OSM provides a map editable by everyone; just like the web-based encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
Using a community edited map allows one to correct isses they encounter. Combined with the monthly turn around, these edits are added for navigation quickly.
Pro OpenStreetMap contributing made convenient
One can also utilize features to contribute back to OSM. This includes reporting a bug or adding a POI. This feature doesn't require an internet connection as the points can be uploaded latter upon request.
Pro Works offline once the maps are downloaded
Pro Helpful lane guidance
Lane guidance can assist in deciding if one should stay in the right or left lanes. OsmAnd provides detailed information on the number of lanes and which are valid for your chosen destination; based on the data available it may show too many or too few lanes.
Pro Excellent general map viewing
Sometimes one needs more than just navigation, they have a need to view a map or specify a specific route. OsmAnd provides a very nice, detailed map. This can be good for seeing what is around you or showing a place you are talking about to a friend.
It also provides a means to add waypoints on the map which can be used to dictate a specific route (not simple enough to do routinely).
Pro Routinely updated maps
Utilizing the community driven OpenStreetMap data has allowed for monthly publishing of new maps that the user can use. Though that doesn't necessarily mean the map data has changed.
Pro Free and open source
Pro Shows speed limit
Pro Contour lines enable understanding the terrain
Through the use of an additional plugin OsmAnd Maps & Navigation is able to utilize contour lines on its maps which helps view the landscape and terrain.
Pro For car navigation, vehicle parameters and specifications can be entered
This helps in optimizing route calculations based on vehicle's maximum speed or a country's maximum speed limits, typical driving speeds, width and height of the vehicle and so on.
Pro Has an option to FAVOUR (rather than avoid) unpaved roads (remember when you have this selected!)
This helps in avoiding often congested main roads and in casually discovering alternative routes, sometimes dirt roads as well, which are commonly far less-travelled in most places. Odd place for this option though, should be near the section where you can select which types of roads to avoid instead.
Pro Has a more customizable stock Android experience
Nova Launcher provides an experience that's similar to stock Android, but adds multiple customization options. Customization ranges in ways that interactions and the user interface can be changed both aesthetically and functionally.
Pro Fast
Speed of Nova Launcher is one of the app's key points. Even with a lot of widgets Nova Launcher performs speedy.
Pro Drawer style options
Options include horizontal pages, vertical scrolling or list. The user is also able to adjust the background transparency. This way the users drawer can look unique while also offering more or less apps on the page depending on their preference.
Pro Custom grid size
From the Nova Settings menu, users can create a custom grid size for their desktop and app drawer, up to a maximum of 12 columns and rows. Discriminating users can also adjust the size of the margins on the top, bottom, left and right. This allows for users to set how many widgets and apps can fit on these screens.

Pro Custom icon packs
Not all custom launchers allow custom icon packs. Nova supports most custom icon packs that are in the Play Store.
Pro Infinite home screen scroll
Turning on infinite scrolling allows the user to move seamlessly among all of their home screens, rather than having to scroll backward when the last page is reached. This proves particularly useful if the user has a large number of homescreens. Infinite scrolling can also be enabled in the app drawer.
Pro Extra dock pages
There are extra bottom row dock pages accessible when swiping left or right on the dock. In Nova's settings there is support for a maximum of five dock pages and a minimum of one.
This way you can set up to 25 shortcuts in the dock that can be scrolled though, leaving plenty of room on the home screen for widgets and other apps.
Pro Tapping & swiping a shortcut can have different results
Nova has the ability to add an assortment of action shortcuts to the home-screen which can be performed when swiping on particular areas or icons (as opposed to when tapping).
Pro Folders in the app drawer
Nova Launcher has the ability to add folders into the app drawer making for easy sorting of many apps.

Pro Can automatically sort inside of folders alphabetically
The user can sort their folders in the drawer and home-screen alphabetically.
Pro Tablet support
The app drawer and widgets take full advantage of a tablets extra screen real estate.

Pro Outstanding widget support
With the custom grids, most widgets can be sized to specifications which give added control over Android home screens.

Pro Allows hiding the status bar
Within Nova's setting the user can set the notification bar to stay hidden, allowing for more screen real estate.
Pro Desktop lock
It has an option to lock the icons and widgets in place as well as locks out the ability to delete apps, preventing accidental rearranging or deletions.
Pro Folder contents synced between drawer and homescreen
- Create a folder in the drawer.
- Drag the folder from the drawer to a home screen.
- Add more items to the drawer folder.
- The item gets added automatically to the home screen folder (because it is the same folder).
In addition, the user can set a custom icon for the folder (or for each shortcut).
Pro Google widget customizations
Pro Sesame Shortcuts integration
Pro Gesture support
Use gestures (swipe up, double tap, etc.) to easily launch apps.

Pro Stable
Solid performance for getting work (and play) done, no crashes, no slow downs.
Pro Useful visual customization options
Allows you to customize scroll effects, scroll speeds, animation speed, app animations, gestures.
All of these options allow for very individualistic differences in how the launcher performs and looks, making for a great way to set ones phone apart from others.
Pro A free version available
A free version, Nova Launcher is available, but it lacks gestures, unread counts, custom drawer groups, ability to hide apps from the app drawer, icon swipes and additional scroll effects.
Pro Backup option available.
Users can save their configuration in a backup file and quickly restore it.
Pro Unread counts
Nova Launcher Prime offers unread counts for all supported apps, a feature not available on all launchers. Although it requires the free installation of TeslaUnread.
What TeslaUnread does is add unread count numbers to certain application icons in ones application drawer and home screen, giving a quick overview of how many unread notifications they have in that supported application.
Cons
Con Slow and sometimes poor search
Most often does not find what you are looking for (which is not caused by bad OSM data).
Con Slow rendering
It can take some time for an area to be rendered. This tends not to be a problem during navigation since only a small area must be rendered as the map moves, and this area isn't immediately needed; though likely a bigger issue with smaller screens.
Con Poor navigation interface
The interface is not the most intuitive, though is continually progressing. It doesn't provide a 3D view like many navigation apps.
Con Near impossible to scroll through map
Due to the slow rendering (already mentioned) it is near impossible to scroll through OsmAnd's maps. You move the map only slightly and it takes ages to redraw all vector layers.
Con No display when the next speed limit occurs
When driving on unknown streets you are often surprised by speed limits or town signs, so you have to friction brake.
Con Terrible address data
This is a limitation of OSM's data, but it is unreliable for locating an address while offline. Even with internet it doesn't appear that it can locate most addresses.
Con No recorded voices can be found for download, only text-to-speech
Though not generally a problem, since OsmAnd+ favours TTS-based voice prompts it does advertise also supporting recorded voice prompts. However they cannot be downloaded or selected anywhere in the app, so you'll end up with awkward pronunciation, depending on your device's TTS engine, especially when setting your language to English in a non-English speaking area. Disabling street names will help as a limited workaround, but for those looking for clear and well-pronounced instructions, it's better to look elsewhere.
Con Being based on OpenStreetMap data can be lacking
The use of OSM also has the drawback of many places not getting the attention needed for updates. Depending on the geographic location OSM may have the most detailed maps or the most bare/outdated map.

Con Lacks automatic backup
There is no way to automatically back up settings or content. Reinstalling the launcher on the same device will lose all settings and content.
Con Overwhelming at first
Nova Launcher offers such a huge amount of customization that at first it is quite a bit overwhelming. There are settings everywhere and other launchers offer more of a step-by-step setup process. Nova Launcher could take you hours to set up how you like it. On the other hand the pure amount of settings allows you to set it up almost exactly how you like it.
Con Notification count not included
Notification count need tesla Unread app to be installed
Con unable to inherit icon size on dock - dekstop - drawer
you need to set icon size separately on dock - dekstop - drawer
Con Less icon packs
This launcher has less icon packs. The system icons it has, are not HD quality.

Con Memory utilisation is a bit high
With all of the features and options Nova Launcher offers there is an understandable loss of RAM, though it could always be optimized better.
