Classic Start Menu Alternatives

Classic Start Menu is described as 'Is considered as a perfect replacement to Windows 7 Start Menu. It helps you to find programs and folders many times faster. You always know where you put your things because folders expand when you hover over them' and is an app. There are more than 10 alternatives to Classic Start Menu for Windows. The best Classic Start Menu alternative is Open Shell, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Classic Start Menu are Classic Shell, 7+ Taskbar Tweaker, StartIsBack and RetroBar.

Classic Start Menu iconClassic Start Menu
  2
  • Freemium • Proprietary
  • ...

Classic Start Menu is considered as a perfect replacement to Windows 7 Start Menu. It helps you to find programs and...

More about Classic Start Menu
More about Classic Start Menu
Classic Start Menu alternatives page was last updated Jun 16, 2024
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  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 Classic Start Menu

     

    • Open Shell is the most popular Windows alternative to Classic Start Menu.

    • Open Shell is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Classic Start Menu.

    • Open Shell is Free and Open SourceClassic Start Menu is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Open Shell is Lightweight and Privacy focusedClassic Start Menu is not according to our users
  2. Classic Shell icon

    Classic Shell

     208 likes
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    Classic Shell is free software that improves your productivity, enhances the usability of Windows, and empowers you to use the computer the way you like it.

    30 Classic Shell alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • BG flagBulgaria
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Explorer Settings
    Discontinued

    The developer announced that Classic Shell will be no longer developed because Windows 10 is updated too frequently and because Microsoft is making more difficult to customize Windows: http://www.classicshell.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=8147 Last version, 4.3.1, released in August 2017, can be still downloaded from the official website, together with the source code.

    Properties

    1.  Customizable

    Features

    1. File Explorer icon  Windows Explorer Extension
    2.  Change Start Button
    3.  Customize Windows
    4.  Multiple languages

    Classic Shell VS Classic Start Menu

     
  4. 7+ Taskbar Tweaker icon

    7+ Taskbar Tweaker

     98 likes
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    Customize the Windows taskbar with dozens of exclusive options.

    26 7+ Taskbar Tweaker alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • IL flagIsrael

    Platforms

    • Windows
    7+ Taskbar Tweaker screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Portable
    2.  Customize Windows
    3.  Multiple languages

    7+ Taskbar Tweaker VS Classic Start Menu

     
  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. StartIsBack icon

    StartIsBack

     32 likes
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    StartIsBack returns Windows 8 a real fully featured start menu and start button, behaving exactly like the ones in Windows 7. StartIsBack radically improves desktop usability and makes new Start screen clutter-free.

    27 StartIsBack alternatives

    License model

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Boot to Desktop

    Properties

    1.  Customizable

    Features

    1.  Works Offline
    2.  Dark Mode
    3.  Portable
    4.  Ad-free

    StartIsBack VS Classic Start Menu

     

    • StartIsBack is the most popular commercial alternative to Classic Start Menu.

    • StartIsBack is Paid and ProprietaryClassic Start Menu is Freemium and Proprietary
  7. RetroBar icon

    RetroBar

     11 likes
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    Pining for simpler times? RetroBar teleports you back in time by replacing your modern Windows taskbar with the classic Windows 95, 98, Me, 2000, XP, Longhorn, or Vista style.

    18 RetroBar alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Country of Origin

    • CA flagCanada

    Platforms

    • Windows
    RetroBar screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Customizable

    Features

    1.  Customize Windows
    2.  Themes

    RetroBar VS Classic Start Menu

     
  8. 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 Classic Start Menu

     
  10. RoundedTB icon

    RoundedTB

     6 likes
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    Add margins, rounded corners and segments to your taskbars! - GitHub - torchgm/RoundedTB: Add margins, rounded corners and segments to your taskbars!

    7 RoundedTB alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Windows
    RoundedTB screenshot 1
    Discontinued

    The GitHub repository was archived in September 2023.

    Properties

    1.  Customizable

    Features

    1.  Customize Windows

    RoundedTB VS Classic Start Menu

     
  11. Power8 icon

    Power8

     14 likes
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    Start menu replacement for Windows.

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Power8 screenshot 1

    Power8 Features

    1.  Multiple languages
    2.  Launcher

    Power8 VS Classic Start Menu

     
  12. Handy Start Menu icon

    Handy Start Menu

     12 likes
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    Do you often find yourself looking for a program in the long list of the Start menu?

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Country of Origin

    • RU flagRussia

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Handy Start Menu screenshot 1
    Discontinued

    The program seems to be no longer updated. Last version, 1.98, released in June 2015, can be still downloaded from the official website.

    Handy Start Menu VS Classic Start Menu

     
  13. Start Menu Reviver icon

    Start Menu Reviver

     10 likes
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    Start Menu Reviver offers an improved Start Menu for Windows 8/7 that blends the traditional Start Menu functions with the Windows 8 design concept and provides quick access to all your desktop and Modern GUI (Metro) applications.

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Country of Origin

    • CA flagCanada

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Start menu

    Start Menu Reviver VS Classic Start Menu

     
  14. IObit Start Menu 8 icon

    IObit Start Menu 8

     15 likes
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    Start Menu 8 can help users who are not willing to change their behaviors and bring back the classic start menu. Users can enjoy a familiar start menu again with just one click while other styles are also available.

    License model

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • CN flagChina

    Platforms

    • Windows
    IObit Start Menu 8 screenshot 1
    Bundleware

    The installer may contain third-party softwares. Be careful during the installation: https://alternativeto.net/discussions/applications/11718/be-careful-in-the-installation/

    IObit Start Menu 8 VS Classic Start Menu

     
  15. ViStart icon

    ViStart

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    A skinnable start menu to replace your existing Windows XP start menu. It also allows you to get the Windows Start Menu back on Windows 7, 8 or 10.

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Windows
    ViStart screenshot 1
    Discontinued

    The program seems to be no longer updated. Last version, 8.1 Build 5208, released in March 2016, can be still downloaded from the official website.

    Warning

    Trojan detected by VirusTotal.

    Properties

    1.  Customizable

    Features

    1.  Skinnable

    ViStart VS Classic Start Menu

     
12 of 15 Classic Start Menu alternatives