Liteshell Alternatives

Liteshell is described as 'Tiny windows shell (explorer.exe) replacement designed for slow PCs. Is a minimalist's shell - no screen space is occupied by the shell. When you right-click on the desktop or press a hotkey, a menu provides access to your programs, documents, tasks and anything else you' and is an app in the os & utilities category. There are more than 10 alternatives to Liteshell for Windows, Linux and BSD. The best Liteshell alternative is Cairo Shell, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Liteshell are WindowBlinds, BB4Win, bbLean and Window Maker.

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Liteshell alternatives are mainly Desktop Environments but may also be Window Managers or System Tweakers. Filter by these or use the filter bar below if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Liteshell.

Liteshell

Free • Proprietary

tiny windows shell (explorer.exe) replacement designed for slow PCs. Is a minimalist's shell - no screen space is occupied by the shell. When you right-click on the desktop or press a hotkey, a menu provides access...

More about Liteshell

Liteshell alternatives page was last updated Jun 24, 2024

Cairo Shell
Cairo is a desktop environment for Windows. Its goal is to develop a desktop experience that increases productivity and advances current technology standards.
41 Cairo Shell alternatives
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application type
- Desktop Environment
Platforms
- Windows
Cairo Shell Features
Customizable
Show all NaN Cairo Shell features ▾
+2
Cairo Shell VS Liteshell
Is Cairo Shell a good alternative to Liteshell?
- Cairo Shell is the most popular Windows alternative to Liteshell.
- Cairo Shell is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Liteshell.
- Cairo Shell is Free and Open SourceLiteshell is Free and Proprietary

WindowBlinds
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
License model
- Paid • Proprietary
Application type
- System Tweaker
Platforms
- Windows
WindowBlinds Features
Support for Themes
Customize Windows
Skins
Themes
Show all NaN WindowBlinds features ▾
WindowBlinds VS Liteshell
Is WindowBlinds a good alternative to Liteshell?
- WindowBlinds is the most popular commercial alternative to Liteshell.
- WindowBlinds is Paid and ProprietaryLiteshell is Free and Proprietary

BB4Win
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.
21 BB4Win alternatives
License model
- Free • Open Source
Platforms
- Windows
BB4Win Features
Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
Linux-based
Show all NaN BB4Win features ▾
+1
Discontinued
Latest release 2009, see http://bb4win.sourceforge.net/
BB4Win VS Liteshell
Is BB4Win a good alternative to Liteshell?

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WindowBlinds
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.

https://www.stardock.com/products/windowblinds/
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bbLean
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.
13 bbLean alternatives
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application type
- System Tweaker
Platforms
- Windows
bbLean Features
Lightweight
No registration required
Windows Explorer Extension
Show all NaN bbLean features ▾
Discontinued
The project is no longer developed. Last version, 1.17.1, released in May 2009, can be still downloaded from the official website.
bbLean VS Liteshell
Is bbLean a good alternative to Liteshell?

Window Maker
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.
40 Window Maker alternatives
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application types
- Desktop Environment
- Window Manager
Platforms
- Windows
- Linux
- BSD
Window Maker Features
Unix-like
Show all NaN Window Maker features ▾
+8
Window Maker VS Liteshell
Is Window Maker a good alternative to Liteshell?
- Window Maker is the most popular Linux alternative to Liteshell.
- Window Maker is Free and Open SourceLiteshell is Free and Proprietary

SharpEnviro
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.
23 SharpEnviro alternatives
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application types
- File Manager
- Desktop Environment
Platforms
- Windows
SharpEnviro Features
Ad-free
Lightweight
Support for Multiple Monitors
Dark Mode
Show all NaN SharpEnviro features ▾
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.
SharpEnviro VS Liteshell
Is SharpEnviro a good alternative to Liteshell?

Emerge Desktop
Emerge Desktop is a replacement Windows "shell" (the desktop environment normally provided by Windows Explorer) for Windows 2000 and above. In order to replace Windows Explorer as a shell, it provides a system tray (the area that collects the icons collected at the...
23 Emerge Desktop alternatives
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application type
- Desktop Environment
Platforms
- Windows
Discontinued
Emerge Desktop is no longer maintained. Last version, 6.1.3, released in 2012, and the source code are still available on SourceForge
Emerge Desktop VS Liteshell
Is Emerge Desktop a good alternative to Liteshell?

Talisman Desktop
Talisman Desktop is a configurable Windows shell replacement introduced in 1997 by Lighttek Software. It is available in a number of languages including English, French, Spanish, Swedish, Portuguese, Russian and Italian.
22 Talisman Desktop alternatives
License model
- Paid • Proprietary
Platforms
- Windows
Talisman Desktop Features
Customizing
Customize Windows
Show all NaN Talisman Desktop features ▾
Talisman Desktop VS Liteshell
Is Talisman Desktop a good alternative to Liteshell?

GeoShell
GeoShell - The premier minimalist Windows shell replacement. It replaces the default Explorer interface. It features menu bars—“geoBars”—that can be dragged-and-dropped anywhere on the users screen. There are also desktop menus that can be triggered whenever a user clicks...
21 GeoShell alternatives
License model
- Free • Open Source
Platforms
- Windows
GeoShell Features
Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
Skinnable
Configurable
Show all NaN GeoShell features ▾
Discontinued
The official website is no longer available. Last version, 4.11.10, can be still downloaded from SourceForge.
GeoShell VS Liteshell
Is GeoShell a good alternative to Liteshell?

SmartWindows
SmartWindows streamlines the way you work. It is perfect for professionals looking to optimize the overall work experience or switch between projects. You can save display preferences for applications with the help of a few clicks.
11 SmartWindows alternatives
License model
- Freemium • Proprietary
Platforms
- Windows
+3
SmartWindows Features
1. Works Offline
2. Lightweight
3. Workflow Management
4. Desktop Application
5. Multiple Profiles
6. Remembers position in file
Show all NaN SmartWindows features ▾
SmartWindows VS Liteshell
Is SmartWindows a good alternative to Liteshell?