Cairo Shell Alternatives for Windows
There are many alternatives to Cairo Shell for Windows if you are looking for a replacement. The best Windows alternative is Files, which is both free and Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 25 alternatives to Cairo Shell and 19 are available for Windows so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Windows alternatives to Cairo Shell are VirtuaWin, ModernFlyouts, BB4Win and SharpEnviro.
Cairo Shell alternatives are mainly Desktop Environments but may also be Window Managers or File Managers. Filter by these if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Cairo Shell.Files is a file manager which leverages the latest features of the Windows platform including Fluent Design, seamless updates, and APIs which enable the performance and lifecycle behavior that users expect.
Files vs Cairo Shell opinions
Files UWP merely replaces the file browser, not the full explorer shell like Cairo.
This application aims to provide a Fluent Design System based replacement for the old, built-in, Metro Design based Audio/Airplane mode/Brightness flyouts present in Windows (which haven't been updated since Windows 8 LOL) which are shown while pressing the media or volume...
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.
Discontinued
Latest release 2009, see http://bb4win.sourceforge.net/
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.
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.
The NERDTree is a file system explorer for the Vim editor. Using this plugin, users can visually browse complex directory hierarchies, quickly open files for reading or editing, and perform basic file system operations.
NERD tree vs Cairo Shell opinions
slippycheezeNERD tree has absolutely nothing to do with desktop window management, and should never have been listed as an alternative.
XanderDTthis does not stand alone, rather sits inside Vim; and is a file manager, not a shell
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.
Discontinued
The project is no longer developed. Last version, 1.17.1, released in May 2009, can be still downloaded from the official website.
bug.n is a tiling window manager add-on for Microsoft Windows. It is written in the scripting language AutoHotkey.
No screenshots yetEmerge Desktop is a replacement Windows "shell" (the desktop environment normally provided by Windows Explorer) for Windows 2000 and above.
Discontinued
Emerge Desktop is no longer maintained. Last version, 6.1.3, released in 2012, and the source code are still available on SourceForge
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.