LiteStep Alternatives for Windows

There are many alternatives to LiteStep for Windows and since it's discontinued a lot of people are looking for a replacement. The best Windows alternative is Cairo Shell, which is both free and Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 10 alternatives to LiteStep and 11 are available for Windows so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Windows alternatives to LiteStep are Emerge Desktop, SharpEnviro, BB4Win and bug.n.

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Alternatives list

  1. Cairo Shell icon
     52 likes
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    Cairo is a desktop environment for Windows. Its goal is to develop a desktop experience that increases productivity and advances current technology standards.

    38 Cairo Shell alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
    • Cairo Shell is the most popular Windows alternative to LiteStep.

    • Cairo Shell is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to LiteStep.

    • Cairo Shell is Free and Open SourceLiteStep is Free and Proprietary
    • Cairo Shell is CustomizableLiteStep is not according to our users
  2. Emerge Desktop icon
     16 likes
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    Emerge Desktop is a replacement Windows "shell" (the desktop environment normally provided by Windows Explorer) for Windows 2000 and above. In order to replace Windows Explorer as a shell, it provides a system tray (the area that collects the icons collected at the...

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  3. SharpEnviro icon
     15 likes
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    SharpEnviro (or SharpE) is an open source shell replacement system for Microsoft Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7. When using SharpEnviro the default Windows desktop is replaced by a new and more powerful desktop environment.

    25 SharpEnviro alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  4. BB4Win icon
     19 likes
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    BB4Win (Blackbox for Windows) is an alternative shell for Microsoft Windows. The program aims to emulate the look and feel of a Linux based desktop. The BB4Win project was discontinued in 2005 but various branches have been built from the source.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  5.  12 likes
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    bug.n is a tiling window manager add-on for Microsoft Windows. It is written in the scripting language AutoHotkey.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  6. SphereXP icon
     5 likes
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    The SphereXP is a 3D desktop replacement for Microsoft Windows. Taking the known concept of three-dimensional desktops to its own level. It offers a new way to organize objects on the desktop such as icons and applications. It has been tried out by millions worldwide.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  7. bbLean icon
     10 likes
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    bbLean is the lean version of Blackbox for Windows. It tries to keep balance between features and complexity, to give you some efficient means within a compact shell.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  8. Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Talisman Desktop is a configurable Windows shell replacement introduced in 1997 by Lighttek Software. It is available in a number of languages including English, French, Spanish, Swedish, Portuguese, Russian and Italian.

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
    • Talisman Desktop is the most popular commercial alternative to LiteStep.

    • Talisman Desktop is Paid and ProprietaryLiteStep is Free and Proprietary
    • Talisman Desktop is CustomizableLiteStep is not according to our users
  9. DeskSpace icon
     5 likes
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    DeskSpace is a 3D desktop visualisation tool, allowing you to seamlessly switch between 9 desktops.

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  10. GeoShell icon
     3 likes
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    GeoShell - The premier minimalist Windows shell replacement. It replaces the default Explorer interface. It features menu bars—“geoBars”—that can be dragged-and-dropped anywhere on the users screen. There are also desktop menus that can be triggered whenever a user clicks...

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  11. Liteshell icon
     2 likes
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    tiny windows shell (explorer.exe) replacement designed for slow PCs. Is a minimalist's shell - no screen space is occupied by the shell. When you right-click on the desktop or press a hotkey, a menu provides access to your programs, documents, tasks and anything else you.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
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