Samsung’s One UI 9 started rolling out to the Galaxy S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra this week. The headline features port over from the Z Fold 8: a smarter Now Brief with customizable cards, a Quick Panel you can rearrange like a Lego set, and My FanCam personalization. It is a real upgrade if you were skeptical after One UI 8.
But One UI is only the platform. What you install on top of it is where the S26 stops being “another Samsung” and starts being your phone. Here are the best apps for the Galaxy S26 with One UI 9, from Samsung’s own Good Lock modules to third-party tools that fill the remaining gaps.
What matters in an S26 companion app
- Native One UI 9 support. Some launchers and icon packs still assume One UI 6 or 7.
- Good Lock module coverage. Many customizations that were separate apps are now Good Lock plugins.
- Battery friendliness. The S26 Ultra’s 5,000mAh battery is generous but not immune to background app abuse.
- Cross-Galaxy sync so a Watch or Buds pairing carries settings across your ecosystem.
- Regular maintenance. Samsung’s OS updates land quarterly and break unmaintained apps.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Platforms | Free plan | Starting price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good Lock | Samsung-native customization | Android (Samsung) | Yes | $0 | 4.7/5 |
| Nova Launcher | Home screen power users | Android | Yes | Around $5 one-time | 4.6/5 |
| Tasker | Automation and macros | Android | 7-day trial | Around $4 one-time | 4.6/5 |
| SmartThings | Samsung smart home hub | Android | Yes | $0 | 4.4/5 |
| Samsung Notes | Handwritten notes and PDFs | Android (Samsung) | Yes | $0 | 4.5/5 |
| Niagara Launcher | Minimalist single-column | Android | Yes | Around $10 one-time | 4.7/5 |
| Modes and Routines | Context-based automation | Android (Samsung) | Yes | $0 | 4.5/5 |
The apps
1. Good Lock, best for Samsung-native customization
Good Lock is Samsung’s toolkit for the customizations they will not put in Settings. Modules include Home Up (launcher tweaks), NavStar (gesture bar), Sound Assistant (per-app audio), Keys Cafe (keyboard tuning), and Nice Catch (notification history). Every S26 owner should install this and browse the module list once.
Where it falls short: modules install one by one, and some do not surface obvious defaults. It rewards a slow afternoon of tinkering.
Pricing:
- Free: full app and all modules.
- Paid: none.
Platforms: Android (Samsung Galaxy devices only).
Download: Google Play · Galaxy Store · Publisher site
Bottom line: the first app to install on any new Galaxy.
2. Nova Launcher, best for home screen power users
Nova Launcher is the third-party launcher most Android power users default to. It survived multiple ownership changes and returned to active development in 2026 with One UI 9 support. Icon packs, custom gestures, sub-grids, and app drawer scrolling shortcuts all work with the new Quick Panel.
Where it falls short: Nova’s history of ownership changes made some long-time users cautious. Development is active again but the trust rebuild is ongoing.
Pricing:
- Free: full launcher with a handful of Prime features locked.
- Paid: around $5 one-time for Nova Prime.
Platforms: Android.
Download: Google Play · Publisher site
Bottom line: the launcher for anyone who wants deep home-screen control.
3. Tasker, best for automation
Tasker is the automation app that Modes and Routines cannot beat for complexity. Any trigger you can name (a specific Bluetooth device, a WiFi SSID, a text pattern in a notification), any action you can imagine (send a message, change a setting, launch an app, run a shell command).
Where it falls short: the learning curve is real. First-time users bounce off the Tasker UI regularly.
Pricing:
- Free: seven-day trial.
- Paid: around $4 one-time from the Play Store.
Platforms: Android.
Download: Google Play · Publisher site
Bottom line: the automation ceiling on Android.
4. SmartThings, best for Samsung smart home
SmartThings is Samsung’s smart home hub, and with Matter support baked in it now controls almost anything with a Matter certification. If you have a Samsung TV, fridge, or washer, this is your remote. With One UI 9’s Now Brief cards, you can surface SmartThings routines on the lock screen.
Where it falls short: the app is bloated. Cold starts on the S26 Ultra are noticeable.
Pricing:
- Free: full app.
- Paid: none.
Platforms: Android, iOS.
Download: Google Play · Publisher site
Bottom line: required if you own any Samsung smart-home hardware.
5. Samsung Notes, best for handwritten notes and PDFs
Samsung Notes got a proper feature push in One UI 9. Handwriting recognition is faster, PDF markup with the S Pen (S26 Ultra) is native, and notes sync across Galaxy devices without OneNote. If you own the S26 Ultra, this replaces most of the third-party note apps you were considering.
Where it falls short: cross-platform sync is limited to Samsung and Microsoft ecosystems. iPad users are out of luck.
Pricing:
- Free: full app.
- Paid: none.
Platforms: Android (Samsung), Windows (Samsung Book).
Download: Google Play · Publisher site
Bottom line: the S Pen’s best friend.
6. Niagara Launcher, best for minimalists
Niagara Launcher is the anti-Nova. A single scrolling column of your most-used apps and nothing else. Widgets are inline. Notifications summarize next to the app icon. On the S26 with One UI 9’s Quick Panel it plays surprisingly well.
Where it falls short: not for anyone who wants folders, grids, or icon packs. The whole point is that those go away.
Pricing:
- Free: base launcher.
- Paid: around $10 one-time for Niagara Pro (color themes, more widgets).
Platforms: Android.
Download: Google Play · Publisher site
Bottom line: the launcher for people who reached for their phone twice as much as they wanted.
7. Modes and Routines, best for context automation
Modes and Routines is Samsung’s built-in automation app. In One UI 9 it gained better home-screen widget triggers and tighter integration with Now Brief. If Tasker feels like too much, this is the on-ramp.
Where it falls short: limited compared to Tasker, and some triggers require SmartThings.
Pricing:
- Free: full app.
- Paid: none.
Platforms: Android (Samsung Galaxy devices).
Download: Preinstalled on One UI 9. Publisher site
Bottom line: the automation on-ramp before you graduate to Tasker.
How to pick the right one
- Install Good Lock on day one. Nothing else on this list unlocks as much for free.
- Add SmartThings if you own any Samsung smart-home device.
- Add Samsung Notes if you own the S26 Ultra with an S Pen.
- Try Modes and Routines first for automation. If you outgrow it, jump to Tasker.
- Choose a launcher based on temperament: Nova for depth, Niagara for restraint, or keep the One UI launcher if the new Quick Panel already suits you.
FAQ
Is One UI 9 available on older Galaxy phones? The initial rollout targets the Galaxy S26 series first, with the S25 line and older flagships following on Samsung’s usual phased schedule.
Do I need to install Good Lock manually? Yes. It ships in the Galaxy Store and Google Play as a standalone install. The modules install from within the Good Lock app.
Is Nova Launcher safe to use in 2026? Development is active again as of 2026 with One UI 9 support in the latest builds. Read the current changelog before installing if the ownership history matters to you.
Which Samsung app replaces the third-party ones I used to buy? Samsung Notes (note-taking), Modes and Routines (automation), Good Lock (customization), and SmartThings (smart home) cover most of the “one paid app” niches Samsung owners used to fill from the Play Store.
Does the S26 Ultra come with the S Pen? Yes, integrated in the body. Bluetooth features from earlier Notes and S22 Ultra generations are not carried forward.
