I just installed KISS to check it out, this is really nice too! I think niagara has a couple more bells and whistles, but it also could be I'm unfamiliar.

sliding across app for quick select actions is missing, haven't figured out how to access these yet (ie to jump directly into composing an email or text)(See edit 2)
inline notifications is a big difference standing out for me, I still need to use the notification bar?
KISS seems very focused on their search bar which is feeling like a bit more typing. I can tap the circle for an app list but it's on the far side of the phone? (See edit 1)
Niagara tries to be smart enough to bring apps you'll want to the front homepage, when youll need it. ie connecting to Bluetooth headphones pushes my Spotify to the top. I know KISS doesn't know my habits, but it seems simpler based on history of launches.
niagara relies on more gestures and swipes
KISS adding contacts to the home screen is a neat approach, people centric design is good

Overall It's small details though functionallly they seem very close to me. KISS still great and I love it's FOSS. They're doing a solid job of a simple, get stuff done launcher. I don't want to sound like I'm shilling, but Niagara has a free version you could evaluate for yourself

Edit: hmm after digging through the settings I see KISS supports a gesture for opening the app list - however none of the gestures are functional on my s23. Strange..

Edit2: Ah ha! Quick actions are available from the search, and add themselves to the history. I don't love having visible duplicates but it's workable.

[–] Dave@lemmy.nz 7 points 8 months ago

Thanks for the run down! I saw there's a free version but didn't seem too different, so it's good to get the opinions of a user!

Rather than having to search everything you can have your commonly used apps show in a list on the home screen. Personally I turn this off and have a clean home screen, but pin favorites above the search bar. Tapping the search bar shows the most commonly used apps.

Also I think gestures are not from search results but from the home screen. I use gestures on my blank home screen. I have it set up so a swipe down opens the notification tray, a swipe right opens the camera, swipe left opens search, swipe up opens browser. But this is customizable. Not sure if it works if you have the common apps list showing on the home screen.

I don't think KISS has smarts like Niagara seems to. Just showing commonly used apps is about as smart as it gets. To my knowledge no notifications on the home screen either, though you can add widgets so maybe that's solvable in some way.

Anyway, seems they are similar but Niagara is a bit superior with KISS being a bit inferior but FOSS, both good options!