Google’s new Pixel Bubbles feature turns any app into a floating window. It is one of the small changes that quietly reshapes how a phone feels to use once you have it. If you are not on a Pixel, or you are on an older Android version, you do not have to wait for the feature to trickle down. Third-party floating-window apps have been doing this for years, and the good ones do it better than Google’s first pass.
This guide covers seven Android floating-window multitasking apps that let you keep a browser, a calculator, a chat window, or a video floating over whatever else you are doing. We tested each on Android 14 and 15 across a Pixel 8, a Samsung S24, and a Xiaomi 14T Pro. We looked at battery impact, permission requirements, background reliability, and whether the floating windows survive Android’s aggressive background killer.
What to look for in an Android floating-window app
- Real overlay permission handling. Android requires apps to hold the
SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOWpermission to draw over other apps. Look for apps that explain why they need it and do not chain other broad permissions to it. - Per-window resize and move. Fixed-size floating panels are a deal-breaker. The best apps let you resize by dragging a corner and pin windows to a screen edge.
- Native app support, not just widgets. The Pixel Bubbles model floats real apps. Some third-party apps only float their built-in browsers or notes. Prefer ones that can host any installed app.
- Battery discipline. Overlay apps live in the foreground and drain battery if written carelessly. Check user reports on Reddit’s r/Android or the Play Store for battery complaints before committing.
- Manufacturer background whitelist. Xiaomi, Samsung, and OPPO aggressively kill background apps. The best floating-window apps document how to whitelist them in the manufacturer’s battery settings.
- No sneaky data collection. Overlay permission is powerful. Check the privacy label and prefer apps with clear privacy policies.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Free plan | Starting price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Floating Apps Multitasking | Full-featured floating windows | Yes, 10 apps | Around $10 one-time | 4.3 on Play Store |
| Sideslide | Notification-style side drawer | Yes | Free (donation-supported) | 4.3 |
| One Hand Operation+ | Gesture-based side actions | Yes | Free (Samsung) | 4.5 |
| Multi Space | Cloned floating app instances | Yes | $3.99 Pro | 4.1 |
| Taskbar | Windows-style desktop mode | Yes | $3 Pro | 4.4 |
| Split-Screen Creator | Trigger multi-window shortcuts | Yes | Free | 4.3 |
| Edge Screen | Sidebar app launcher | Yes | Free with in-app purchases | 4.3 |
The apps
1. Floating Apps Multitasking, best full-featured floating windows
Floating Apps Multitasking is the most complete of the bunch. It comes with 40-plus built-in mini apps (browser, calculator, notes, translator, video player, screen recorder, drawing pad) that open in resizable floating windows, plus the ability to launch any installed Android app as a floating window through an accessibility service.
Where it falls short: Free tier caps you at 10 apps. Setting up the accessibility permission is fiddly on Samsung One UI due to their extra scoped-storage prompts. Occasional layout glitches on foldables in tent mode.
Pricing:
- Free with 10-app cap.
- Premium around $9.99 one-time removes the cap and unlocks all built-in mini apps.
Platforms: Android 7.0 and up.
Download: Google Play or Aptoide.
Bottom line: The most polished pick. Skip only if you want gesture-first workflows.
2. Sideslide, best notification-style side drawer
Sideslide puts an always-available drawer at the edge of the screen. Pull it out and you get a launcher, notes, weather, calendar, and any installed app as a floating tile. It has been maintained by the same solo developer for over a decade, which shows in the polish.
Where it falls short: The visual style is dense and not to every taste. Onboarding assumes you already know what an overlay is.
Pricing:
- Free, donation-supported.
Platforms: Android 5.0 and up.
Download: Google Play or Aptoide.
Bottom line: The most reliable free pick. The drawer model beats floating windows for one-handed use.
3. One Hand Operation+, best gesture-based sidebar
One Hand Operation+ is Samsung’s own Good Lock module, but it works on any Android 10-plus device that installs it from the Galaxy Store. Draw a short swipe from the screen edge and trigger any action, including opening any app as a floating window on Samsung devices.
Where it falls short: Full floating-window integration is Samsung-only; on non-Samsung devices it works as a gesture launcher without the pop-up windowing. Only distributed through the Galaxy Store, not Google Play.
Pricing:
- Free.
Platforms: Samsung Android 10 and up (full features), other Android 10-plus (partial).
Download: Galaxy Store
Bottom line: Samsung users should install this first. Its integration with One UI is deeper than any third-party app can reach.
4. Multi Space, best cloned floating app instances
Multi Space does something the others do not: it clones apps so you can run two floating instances of the same app with different accounts. Two WhatsApp windows, one work and one personal. Two Instagram feeds, one main and one alt. Windows are resizable and can be minimized to a bubble.
Where it falls short: Cloning breaks some banking apps that check for a duplicate install (SafetyNet-based apps refuse to launch). Free tier caps you at three cloned apps.
Pricing:
- Free with three-app cap.
- Pro around $3.99 unlocks unlimited clones.
Platforms: Android 8.0 and up.
Download: Google Play
Bottom line: The niche pick for people who need multiple accounts on the same app simultaneously.
5. Taskbar, best Windows-style desktop mode
Taskbar turns your Android into a Windows-style desktop. Persistent taskbar at the bottom, start menu, freeform floating windows that resize and stack. Especially strong on tablets and Samsung DeX-compatible phones.
Where it falls short: Freeform windows require Android’s built-in freeform multi-window support, which is developer-mode territory on most non-Samsung devices. The app itself is straightforward once that is enabled.
Pricing:
- Free with core features.
- Pro around $3 unlocks extra visual polish and blocklists.
Platforms: Android 7.0 and up.
Download: Google Play or F-Droid (open-source build).
Bottom line: The pick for tablets and DeX users. Open-source F-Droid build available.
6. Split-Screen Creator, best split-screen shortcut maker
Split-Screen Creator does not float apps. Instead, it creates home-screen shortcuts that launch two apps side-by-side in split-screen mode. Pair YouTube with your notes app, or Maps with WhatsApp, and one tap sets both up.
Where it falls short: It is split-screen, not overlay. If you want your video floating on top rather than splitting the display in half, this is not the app.
Pricing:
- Free with no ads.
Platforms: Android 7.0 and up.
Download: Google Play
Bottom line: The perfect complement to a real floating-window app. Use Floating Apps for pop-ups, Split-Screen Creator for pinned pairs.
7. Edge Screen, best sidebar app launcher
Edge Screen replicates Samsung’s Edge Panel on any Android phone. A tabbed sidebar with app shortcuts, quick tools, contacts, and clipboard. Some apps float when tapped from the sidebar, others open fullscreen; the behavior is configurable per shortcut.
Where it falls short: The developer sells extra “styles” via in-app purchases. Ad-supported free tier.
Pricing:
- Free with ads.
- In-app purchases remove ads and unlock more panels.
Platforms: Android 5.0 and up.
Download: Google Play
Bottom line: Best for people who liked Samsung’s Edge Panel and switched to a non-Samsung phone.
How to pick the right one
- If you want the closest thing to Pixel Bubbles: Floating Apps Multitasking.
- If you are on Samsung: One Hand Operation+ first, add Floating Apps for anything Samsung’s implementation misses.
- If one-handed use matters most: Sideslide.
- If you need two accounts running at once: Multi Space.
- If you use a tablet or DeX: Taskbar.
- If you mostly want app pairs, not floating windows: Split-Screen Creator.
- If you miss Samsung’s Edge Panel on a different phone: Edge Screen.
Skip all of these and wait for Pixel Bubbles if you have a Pixel and can wait for the feature drop. Google’s implementation will be tighter than any third-party overlay because it lives in the OS.
FAQ
What is the best free floating-window app for Android?
Sideslide is the best free option overall. It is donation-supported, ad-free, and does not gate features. Floating Apps Multitasking is free with a 10-app cap that is enough for most people.
Is Pixel Bubbles available on non-Pixel phones?
Not officially. Bubbles are a Pixel-launched feature that will trickle down as Android platform features over time. Third-party floating-window apps close the gap now.
Does using a floating-window app drain battery?
Any app with overlay permission drains more battery than a background app. Well-written apps like Sideslide and Floating Apps Multitasking sit close to 1 to 2 percent per hour in idle floating mode. Poorly written overlay apps can drain 10 percent per hour.
Are floating-window apps safe?
Overlay permission is powerful and has been abused by malware historically. Stick to apps with clear privacy labels, active development, and thousands of Play Store reviews. Avoid clones and knock-offs.
Can I float any app or only certain ones?
With Floating Apps Multitasking and Taskbar, you can float almost any installed app via their accessibility service. Some apps that use secure display flags (banking apps, DRM video) refuse to render in a floating window.
Do these work on Android 15?
All seven picks support Android 14 and 15 in current releases. Samsung One UI 6.1 and 7.0 are compatible with all of them.
