Classic Shell Alternatives

Classic Shell is described as 'Is free software that improves your productivity, enhances the usability of Windows, and empowers you to use the computer the way you like it' and is a very popular app in the os & utilities category. There are more than 25 alternatives to Classic Shell for Windows, Android, Android Tablet, F-Droid and Microsoft 365 (Office). The best Classic Shell alternative is Open Shell, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Classic Shell are Start11, StartAllBack, StartIsBack and Start8.

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Classic Shell alternatives page was last updated

Alternatives list

  1. Open Shell icon
     118 likes

    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.

    41 Open Shell alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
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    6
  2. Start11 icon
     31 likes

    Enhance Windows 10/11 personalizing Start Menu and Taskbar with style changes, icon and section adjustments, taskbar improvements, quick access menus, and advanced search features for improved productivity.

    26 Start11 alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  3. StartAllBack icon
     29 likes

    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.

    25 StartAllBack alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  4. StartIsBack icon
     34 likes

    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.

    25 StartIsBack alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
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    1
  5. Start8 icon
     30 likes

    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.

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  6. RetroBar icon
     13 likes

    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.

    17 RetroBar alternatives

    Cost / License

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  7. Start Menu X icon
     26 likes

    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.

    23 Start Menu X alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  8. Power8 icon
     14 likes

    Start menu replacement for Windows.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  9. 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.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  10. 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.

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Bundleware

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  11. WinExt Free icon
     11 likes

    Powerful Win utilities: fix registry, clean junk, protect privacy, optimize system, quick launch, find duplicates, folder size, see more recent resources, activity monitor, batch operation, synchronization, disable context menus, skip UAC, trace file.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
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