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 StartAllBack, Start11, StartIsBack and RetroBar.

filter to find the best alternatives

Classic Shell alternatives are mainly Disk Usage Analyzers but may also be System Tweakers or System Cleaners.  Filter by these or use the filter bar below if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Classic Shell.
  • ...

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.

More about Classic Shell
Classic Shell alternatives page was last updated Jun 16, 2024
  1. Open Shell icon
     97 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.

    39 Open Shell alternatives
    Open Shell screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows

    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 iconClassic Shell Icon

    Open Shell VS Classic Shell

    Is Open Shell a good alternative to Classic Shell?
     
    Comments about Open Shell as an Alternative to Classic Shell
     
       
    Guest
    1. It is supported. 2. It works with the 2019 Windows 10 1903. 3. It's free
    Top positive commentJun 17, 2019
    11
    Guest

    A nice alternative to classic shell. Thanks

    Positive commentOct 25, 2020
    -1
    RemovedUser

    Most of the skins made for Classic Shell work for Open Shell as well

    Positive commentMar 27, 2020
    0
    Show more comments
    3 of 5 comments
    Classic Shell Icon
    Open Shell icon
    • Almost everyone thinks Open Shell is a great Classic Shell alternative.

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

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

    • Open Shell is Free and Open SourceClassic Shell is also Free and Open Source
    • Open Shell is Lightweight and Privacy focusedClassic Shell is not according to our users
  2. StartAllBack icon
     24 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.

    27 StartAllBack alternatives
    Desktop showcase

    License model

    Platforms

    • Windows

    StartAllBack Features

    1.  Customize Windows
    2.  Context Menu extension
    StartAllBack iconClassic Shell Icon

    StartAllBack VS Classic Shell

    Is StartAllBack a good alternative to Classic Shell?
     
    • StartAllBack is the most popular commercial alternative to Classic Shell.

    • StartAllBack is Paid and ProprietaryClassic Shell is Free and Open Source
  3. Start11 icon
     23 likes

    Start11 is a software for personalizing the Start Menu and Taskbar in Windows 10 and 11. Users can choose from a variety of styles, add or remove sections, change icons, and incorporate tabs. Features like color changes, transparency adjustments, spacing, alignment...

    28 Start11 alternatives
    Start11 screenshot 1

    License model

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Start11 iconClassic Shell Icon

    Start11 VS Classic Shell

    Is Start11 a good alternative to Classic Shell?
     
  4. StartIsBack icon
     32 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.

    27 StartIsBack alternatives
    Boot to Desktop

    License model

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows

    StartIsBack Features

    1.  Works Offline
    2.  Dark Mode
    3.  Portable
    4.  Ad-free
    StartIsBack iconClassic Shell Icon

    StartIsBack VS Classic Shell

    Is StartIsBack a good alternative to Classic Shell?
     
    Comments about StartIsBack as an Alternative to Classic Shell
     
    Guest

    It has Windows 7 style, Windows 8 style, Windows 10 basic, and can turn the taskbar colors to glossy like Windows 7 and Vista had, also change the Windows start icon to the Windows 7 way or Windows 8 way.

    Positive commentFeb 11, 2020
    0
    Classic Shell Icon
    StartIsBack icon
    • Almost everyone thinks StartIsBack is a great Classic Shell alternative.

    • StartIsBack is Paid and ProprietaryClassic Shell is Free and Open Source
  5. RetroBar icon
     10 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.

    18 RetroBar alternatives
    RetroBar screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Windows

    RetroBar Features

    1.  Themes
    RetroBar iconClassic Shell Icon

    RetroBar VS Classic Shell

    Is RetroBar a good alternative to Classic Shell?
     
  6. WinExt Free icon
     9 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.

    255 WinExt Free alternatives
    WinExt Free screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows

    WinExt Free Features

    1.  Delete Temporary Files
    2.  Works Offline
    3.  Registry repairing
    4.  Folder Size
    5.  Synchronization
    WinExt Free iconClassic Shell Icon

    WinExt Free VS Classic Shell

    Is WinExt Free a good alternative to Classic Shell?
     
  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.

    25 Start Menu X alternatives
    Start Menu X screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows

    Start Menu X Features

    1.  Tabbed interface
    Start Menu X iconClassic Shell Icon

    Start Menu X VS Classic Shell

    Is Start Menu X a good alternative to Classic Shell?
     
  8. WindowBlinds icon
     17 likes

    WindowBlinds is a software application that allows users to customize the appearance of their Windows interface, including the Start menu, taskbar, window frames, control buttons, and more for Windows 10 and 11.

    39 WindowBlinds alternatives
    WindowBlinds screenshot 1

    License model

    Platforms

    • Windows

    Properties

    1.  Support for Themes

    Features

    1.  Customize Windows
    2.  Skins
    3.  Themes
    WindowBlinds iconClassic Shell Icon

    WindowBlinds VS Classic Shell

    Is WindowBlinds a good alternative to Classic Shell?
     
  9. Start8 icon
     29 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.
    27 Start8 alternatives
    Start8 screenshot 1

    License model

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Discontinued

    The program is only for Windows 8 and no longer updated. For Windows 10 or 11, Stardock offers Start11 icon Start11

    Start8 iconClassic Shell Icon

    Start8 VS Classic Shell

    Is Start8 a good alternative to Classic Shell?
     
  10. Power8 icon
     14 likes

    Start menu replacement for Windows.

    24 Power8 alternatives
    Power8 screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Windows

    Power8 Features

    1.  Multiple languages
    2.  Launcher
    Power8 iconClassic Shell Icon

    Power8 VS Classic Shell

    Is Power8 a good alternative to Classic Shell?
     
10 of 29 Classic Shell alternatives