bbLean Alternatives

bbLean is described as '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' and is an app in the os & utilities category. There are more than 10 alternatives to bbLean for Windows, Linux and BSD. The best bbLean alternative is Open Shell, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like bbLean are Cairo Shell, WindowBlinds, Window Maker and BB4Win.

bbLean iconbbLean
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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...

More about bbLean
More about bbLean
bbLean alternatives page was last updated Jun 25, 2024
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Alternatives
  1. Open Shell icon

    Open Shell

     99 likes
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    Open Shell is a fork of the Classic Shell project for Windows that getting back the classic start menu to modern versions of Microsoft Windows.

    40 Open Shell alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Open Shell screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Support for Themes
    2.  Lightweight
    3.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Customize Windows
    2.  Change Start Button
    3.  System Tweaker
    4. File Explorer icon  Windows Explorer Extension
    5.  Make Taskbar Transparent
    6.  Ad-free

    Open Shell VS bbLean

     

    • Open Shell is the most popular Windows alternative to bbLean.

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

    • Open Shell is Free and Open SourcebbLean is also Free and Open Source
    • Open Shell is Lightweight and Privacy focusedbbLean is not according to our users
  2. Cairo Shell icon

    Cairo Shell

     48 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.

    43 Cairo Shell alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Cairo Shell screenshot 1

    Cairo Shell VS bbLean

     
  4. WindowBlinds icon

    WindowBlinds

     18 likes
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    Customize Windows 10 and 11 with skins for Start menu and taskbar. Includes SkinStudio for designing skins, offering personalized fonts, and color and transparency adjustments.

    39 WindowBlinds alternatives

    License model

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Windows
    WindowBlinds screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Support for Themes

    Features

    1.  Customize Windows
    2.  Skins
    3.  Themes

    WindowBlinds VS bbLean

     

    • WindowBlinds is the most popular commercial alternative to bbLean.

    • WindowBlinds is Paid and ProprietarybbLean is Free and Open Source
  5. Ad
    Screenshot
    WindowBlinds icon
    WindowBlinds

    Customize Windows 10 and 11 with skins for Start menu and taskbar. Includes SkinStudio for designing skins, offering personalized fonts, and color and transparency adjustments.

    https://www.stardock.com
    Learn More
  6. Window Maker icon

    Window Maker

     7 likes
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    Window Maker has a reputation for being fast, efficient and highly stable. Window Maker has been characterized as reproducing "the elegant look and feel of the NeXTstep GUI" and is noted as "easy to configure and easy to use.

    40 Window Maker alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    Window Maker, from www.windowmaker.org

    Window Maker Features

    1.  Unix-like

    Window Maker VS bbLean

     

    • Window Maker is the most popular Linux alternative to bbLean.

    • Window Maker is Free and Open SourcebbLean is also Free and Open Source
  7. BB4Win icon

    BB4Win

     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.

    22 BB4Win alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Windows
    For those who prefer a not-so-minimal setup. If I tried to put 82 icons on my explorer desktop I doubt they'd fit in a single column
    Discontinued

    Latest release 2009, see http://bb4win.sourceforge.net/

    BB4Win Features

    1.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    2.  Linux-based

    BB4Win VS bbLean

     
  8. Emerge Desktop icon

    Emerge Desktop

     15 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...

    23 Emerge Desktop alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • GB flagUnited Kingdom

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Emerge Desktop screenshot 1
    Discontinued

    Emerge Desktop is no longer maintained. Last version, 6.1.3, released in 2012, and the source code are still available on SourceForge

    Emerge Desktop VS bbLean

     
  10. SharpEnviro icon

    SharpEnviro

     14 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.

    23 SharpEnviro alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • DE flagGermany
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Default Setup
    Discontinued

    As of december 2011 the SharpEnviro project is no longer under active development. All files provided come without any warranty or support! It is uncertain if or how well the previously released versions of SharpEnviro will work with any new or updated Windows system after Windows 7 Service Pack 1.

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Ad-free
    2.  Support for Multiple Monitors
    3.  Dark Mode

    SharpEnviro VS bbLean

     
  11. SphereXP icon

    SphereXP

     4 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.

    14 SphereXP alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Windows
    SphereXP screenshot 1
    Discontinued

    Official website not accessible. Available here: http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/spherexp.html

    SphereXP VS bbLean

     
  12. Talisman Desktop icon

    Talisman Desktop

     5 likes
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    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.

    22 Talisman Desktop alternatives

    License model

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Talisman 3.0, theme: Carbon

    Properties

    1.  Customizable

    Features

    1.  Customize Windows

    Talisman Desktop VS bbLean

     
  13. GeoShell icon

    GeoShell

     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...

    21 GeoShell alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Example of GeoShell desktop
    Discontinued

    The official website is no longer available. Last version, 4.11.10, can be still downloaded from SourceForge.

    Properties

    1.  Configurable

    Features

    1.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    2.  Skinnable

    GeoShell VS bbLean

     
  14. Liteshell icon

    Liteshell

     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.

    10 Liteshell alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Liteshell screenshot 1
    Discontinued

    It's discontinued. Last update was 25th June 2008.

    Liteshell VS bbLean

     
  15. SmartWindows icon

    SmartWindows

     3 likes
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    SmartWindows streamlines the way you work. It is perfect for professionals looking to optimize the overall work experience or switch between projects. You can save display preferences for applications with the help of a few clicks.

    11 SmartWindows alternatives

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • PK flagPakistan

    Platforms

    • Windows
    SmartWindows supports unlimited profiles. It helps increase productivity by creating multiple profiles. Each profile remembers the desktop apps, their window size, and display position on the screen.

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Works Offline
    2.  Workflow Management
    3.  Desktop Application
    4.  Multiple Profiles
    5.  Remembers position in file

    SmartWindows VS bbLean

     
12 of 13 bbLean alternatives