Open Shell Alternatives

Open Shell is described as 'Fork of the Classic Shell project for Windows that getting back the classic start menu to modern versions of Microsoft Windows' and is a popular app in the os & utilities category. There are more than 25 alternatives to Open Shell for Windows. The best Open Shell alternative is Classic Shell, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Open Shell are 7+ Taskbar Tweaker, FastKeys, StartAllBack and StartIsBack.

Open Shell alternatives are mainly System Tweakers but may also be Text Expanders or Clipboard Managers. Filter by these if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Open Shell.

Open Shell

Free • Open Source
System Tweaker

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

More about Open Shell

Open Shell alternatives page was last updated

Classic Shell
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
System Tweaker
Windows
32 Classic Shell alternatives
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.
- - Classic Shell is the most popular Windows alternative to Open Shell.
- - Classic Shell is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Open Shell.
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Classic Shell Features
Customizable
Change Start Button
Multiple languages
Customize Windows
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.

Comments about Classic Shell as a Alternative to Open Shell
pros, cons and recent comments
Guest
I'm an IT / PC /Mac Network consultant. Classic shell is the original version of Open Shell. Open Shell still seems to work fine with Windows 10 v1903. I am not a big fan of the new Windows (formerly called "Metro") Interface, and install Open Shell on every W10 computer I use. My clients also are very pleased with it.
Positive comment •
4
7+ Taskbar Tweaker
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Proprietary
System Tweaker
Windows
28 7+ Taskbar Tweaker alternatives
Customize the Windows taskbar with dozens of exclusive options.
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7+ Taskbar Tweaker Features
1. Portable7+ Taskbar Tweaker can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
Customize Windows
Multiple languages
FastKeys
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Freemium • Proprietary
Text Expander
Clipboard Manager
Application Launcher
Windows
119 FastKeys alternatives
All in one Windows automation software. Fully configurable text expander, start menu, shortcuts, auto complete and mouse gestures. User-defined commands to run files, open webpages, send macros or automate anything. Incredibly powerful but yet simple to use.
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FastKeys Features
1. AutocompletionFastKeys can predict and complete the rest of a word or phrase you're typing.
2. PortableFastKeys can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
Mouse Gestures
Autohotkey
Run Windows software
Exe Compiler
Launcher
Macro Recording
Support for Hotkeys
StartAllBack
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
Windows
27 StartAllBack alternatives
The Windows 11 version of the Startisback replacement shell. This software allows you to make Windows 11 look like previous versions of Windows or a modified version of itself.
- - StartAllBack is the most popular commercial alternative to Open Shell.
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StartAllBack Features
Customize Windows
StartIsBack
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
Windows
29 StartIsBack alternatives
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.
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StartIsBack Features
1. PortableStartIsBack can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
Customizable
Start11
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
System Tweaker
Windows
28 Start11 alternatives
Customize the Start Menu and Taskbar in Windows 10 / Windows 11 . Quickly access your most used items, search your PC more effectively and personalize the look and feel of your start menu.
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Start11 Features
Customizable
Start Menu X
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Freemium • Proprietary
Windows
26 Start Menu X alternatives
Start Menu X is a replacement of the system menu for professionals.

Virtual Groups Group programs by purpose (office applications, graphics, etc) without changing their location on the hard drive.

One-click start

The PRO version allows you to assign a primary program to any f.
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Start Menu X Features
Customizable
Tabbed interface
Comments about Start Menu X as a Alternative to Open Shell
pros, cons and recent comments
0x6A7232
It supports tabs. And themes. Excellent.
Positive comment •
0
RetroBar
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Windows
17 RetroBar alternatives
Pining for simpler times? RetroBar teleports you back in time by replacing your modern Windows taskbar with the classic Windows 95, 98, Me, 2000, or XP style.
RetroBar has no features, suggest some!
Start8
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
System Tweaker
Windows
28 Start8 alternatives
Return the Start Button to Windows 8 With these features:
- Search for Windows 8-style (Modern UI) apps
- Pin desktop and Metro apps to the start menu
- Jump List support
- Unified Search for apps, settings and files
- Boot directly to the Windows 8 desktop
- One click access to.
Start8 has no features, suggest some!
WindowBlinds
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
System Tweaker
Windows
13 WindowBlinds alternatives
WindowBlinds is a computer program that allows users to skin the Windows graphical user interface. It has been developed by Stardock since 1998, and is the most popular component of their flagship software suite, Object Desktop.
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WindowBlinds Features
Customize Windows
Skins
Power8
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Windows
23 Power8 alternatives
Start menu replacement for Windows.
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Power8 Features
Multiple languages
Launcher
Start Menu Reviver
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Proprietary
Windows
29 Start Menu Reviver alternatives
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.
Start Menu Reviver has no features, suggest some!