Disclosure: we make Rafiqa, so this page is not neutral by nature. The facts about BIG Launcher come from its own Google Play listing and website (viewed 27 October 2026). Where something is not listed we say so instead of guessing.
BIG Launcher (its listing says users have trusted it since 2011) replaces the Android home screen with large buttons and text. It is free to try, with paid plans for the full version.
Rafiqa and BIG Launcher side by side
| Feature | Rafiqa | BIG Launcher |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A standalone Android app: a simple home screen for the parent plus a management panel for the adult child | A launcher: it replaces the phone’s home screen with big buttons and text, with companion apps for calls (BIG Phone), SMS, alarms and notifications |
| Simplified screen for the parent | Yes: large buttons, large text and about 20 modules such as phone, SMS, reminders, magnifier, flashlight and radio | Yes, and very customisable: shortcuts for apps, contacts, websites and widgets, large high-contrast themes, hiding confusing apps, TalkBack and hardware-keyboard support |
| Setup from your own phone | Yes: the child panel manages alarms, reminders and which tiles appear on the parent’s home screen | Not described on its Google Play listing or website. A helper sets it up on the senior’s own phone, then locks the settings with a password (a paid-version feature) |
| Location sharing | Map with safe zones and leave alerts, plus a 7-day location history; the parent can switch sharing off at any time | No continuous sharing described. The SOS button sends an SMS with the location to chosen contacts |
| Fall detection and SOS | Fall detection and a one-tap help button alert the family. They rely on the phone’s sensors and internet, can miss an event or trigger by mistake, and do not replace emergency services | SOS button: one tap texts the location to chosen family members and places a speakerphone call; a short countdown lets the senior cancel an accidental tap. Fall detection is not listed |
| Reminders and alarms | Alarms and daily-routine reminders; the child can see whether a reminder was marked done | BIG Alarm is a separate, simple alarm-clock app in the BIG Apps family |
| Platform | Android 8.0 or newer, phones only. No iPhone version: the parent’s and the child’s phone must both be Android | Android 6.0 or newer; Android only |
| Price | 7 days free in the app, no card needed (it starts when the parent links), plus Google Play’s 7-day trial for first-time subscribers. Then a Google Play subscription: from $5.99/month or $49.99/year in the US for one parent; local prices vary (October 2026) | The free version has no time limit but is restricted (only the right-hand column can be customised, 5 extra screens, no settings password, occasional purchase reminders). The full version is an in-app purchase: monthly, yearly or lifetime plans per app, or a BIG Apps Suite PREMIUM bundle. Prices vary by country |
| Languages | English, Turkish, Spanish, Greek, German | 70 languages |
| Track record | New app with a small user base so far | Its listing says users have trusted it since 2011; Google Play shows 1M+ downloads and 4.1 stars from about 8,100 reviews (updated 24 October 2026) |
“Not listed” means the feature is not mentioned in the app’s own Google Play listing or website. It does not prove the app lacks it.
When BIG Launcher is the better choice
- You only need the phone itself to be easier, and you will set it up in person. BIG Launcher offers more on-phone customisation than Rafiqa.
- The person has low vision or needs TalkBack, high-contrast themes or a hardware keyboard, or reads a language outside Rafiqa’s five (BIG lists 70).
- You want a long-established app with 1M+ downloads and a free version that does not expire.
- The phone is older: BIG Launcher runs on Android 6.0 and newer, Rafiqa needs 8.0.
When Rafiqa is the better choice
- You are not nearby and want to change alarms, reminders and the home screen from your own phone.
- You want location with safe zones, plus fall and SOS alerts that reach every linked family member’s phone through the app rather than an SMS.
- You want reminders you can follow: the child sees whether a reminder was marked done.
- You prefer an app that does not replace the phone’s system home screen: Rafiqa is an ordinary app, and your parent can leave it at any time.
Frequently asked questions
Is Rafiqa a good BIG Launcher alternative?
Partly. Both give a senior a big-button home screen. They differ in what they add: BIG Launcher is a launcher with deep on-phone customisation, while Rafiqa is a standalone app that adds a child panel for remote setup, location with safe zones, fall detection and SOS alerts. For a short version of this comparison see Rafiqa vs BIG Launcher.
Does BIG Launcher let me manage my parent’s phone remotely?
Not according to its Google Play listing or website (October 2026). They describe a helper setting up the phone on the senior’s own device and locking the settings with a password. Rafiqa’s child panel is built for remote setup: alarms, reminders and the home-screen layout are changed from your own phone.
Is BIG Launcher free?
It has a free version with no time limit, with restrictions (for example only the right-hand column of buttons can be customised and settings cannot be password-protected). The full version is a paid in-app purchase; BIG’s pricing page lists monthly, yearly and lifetime plans, says prices vary by country and says plans are being rolled out gradually. Check Google Play for the price you would actually pay. Rafiqa has 7 days free in the app without a card (plus Google Play’s 7-day trial for first-time subscribers), then a Google Play subscription.
Can I use BIG Launcher and Rafiqa together?
Technically yes, because Rafiqa is an ordinary app and not a launcher. In practice two “simple” screens on one phone tend to confuse more than they help, so most families pick one.
See whether it fits your parent
More comparisons
Sources and date
Viewed on 27 October 2026. Apps, plans and prices change, so check the current listing before you decide.
BIG Launcher and other product names are trademarks of their owners and are used here only to identify the apps being compared. Rafiqa is not affiliated with or endorsed by them.
Rafiqa is not a medical device and does not replace emergency services. Fall detection and the help button rely on the phone’s sensors and internet connection and can miss an event or trigger by mistake.