Talisman Desktop Alternatives

Talisman Desktop is described as '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' and is an app in the os & utilities category. There are more than 10 alternatives to Talisman Desktop for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Linux, Mac, Android and iPhone apps. The best Talisman Desktop alternative is Files, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Talisman Desktop are Open Shell, File Explorer, Cairo Shell and Finder.

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

Talisman Desktop

Paid • Proprietary

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.

More about Talisman Desktop

Talisman Desktop alternatives page was last updated Jun 25, 2024

Files
Introducing Files, the ultimate file manager app for Windows. With its sleek and intuitive design, navigating through your files has never been easier. Files features tabs for easy switching between different folders, a column view for quick file browsing, and dual pane support...
116 Files alternatives
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application types
- File Manager
- File Search Utility
Platforms
- Windows
+2
Top Files Features
1. Dark Mode
2. Column View
3. Image Preview
4. Built-in themes
5. Ad-free
6. Dual Pane Support
7. Git integration
8. Cloud Sync
9. File Tagging
10. No registration required
11. Privacy focused
12. Works Offline
Show all NaN Files features ▾
Files VS Talisman Desktop
Is Files a good alternative to Talisman Desktop?
- Files is the most popular Windows alternative to Talisman Desktop.
- Files is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Talisman Desktop.
- Files is Free and Open SourceTalisman Desktop is Paid and Proprietary
- Files is Privacy focusedTalisman Desktop is not according to our users

Open Shell
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
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application type
- System Tweaker
Platforms
- Windows
+2
Open Shell Features
1. Customize Windows
2. Change Start Button
3. System Tweaker
4. Support for Themes
5. Windows Explorer Extension
6. Lightweight
7. Privacy focused
8. Make Taskbar Transparent
Show all NaN Open Shell features ▾
Open Shell VS Talisman Desktop
Is Open Shell a good alternative to Talisman Desktop?

File Explorer
File Explorer is a file manager application that is included with releases of the Microsoft Windows operating system from Windows 95 onwards. It is sometimes referred to as the Windows shell, explorer.exe, or simply "Explorer".
124 File Explorer alternatives
License model
- Free • Proprietary
Application types
- File Manager
- File Search Utility
Platforms
- Windows
+1
Top File Explorer Features
1. Windows Compatible
2. Built-in Image viewer
3. Dark Mode
4. No registration required
5. Ad-free
6. Lightweight
7. Supports Zip files
8. Works Offline
9. Bundled with Windows
10. Tabbed interface
11. Graphical User Interface
12. Virtual Disk
Show all NaN File Explorer features ▾
File Explorer VS Talisman Desktop
Is File Explorer a good alternative to Talisman Desktop?

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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/
Learn More
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 Talisman Desktop
Is Cairo Shell a good alternative to Talisman Desktop?

Finder
The Finder is the first thing that you see when your Mac finishes starting up. It opens automatically and stays open as you use other apps. It includes the Finder menu bar at the top of the screen and the desktop below that.
139 Finder alternatives
License model
- Free • Proprietary
Application type
- File Manager
Platforms
- Mac
Finder Features
File Tagging
Support for FTP
WebDAV Support
Miller columns
Show all NaN Finder features ▾
+1
Finder VS Talisman Desktop
Is Finder a good alternative to Talisman Desktop?
- Finder is the most popular Mac alternative to Talisman Desktop.
- Finder is Free and ProprietaryTalisman Desktop is Paid 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 Talisman Desktop
Is WindowBlinds a good alternative to Talisman Desktop?
- WindowBlinds is the most popular commercial alternative to Talisman Desktop.
- WindowBlinds is Paid and ProprietaryTalisman Desktop is also Paid and Proprietary

NERD tree
The NERDTree is a file system explorer for the Vim editor. Using this plugin, users can visually browse complex directory hierarchies, quickly open files for reading or editing, and perform basic file system operations.
72 NERD tree alternatives
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application type
- File Manager
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Vim
NERD tree Features
Vim plugin
Tree structure
Show all NaN NERD tree features ▾
NERD tree VS Talisman Desktop
Is NERD tree a good alternative to Talisman Desktop?
- NERD tree is the most popular Linux alternative to Talisman Desktop.
- NERD tree is Free and Open SourceTalisman Desktop is Paid 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 Talisman Desktop
Is BB4Win a good alternative to Talisman Desktop?

bug.n
bug.n is a tiling window manager add-on for Microsoft Windows. It is written in the scripting language AutoHotkey.
78 bug.n alternatives
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application type
- Window Manager
Platforms
- Windows
bug.n Features
1. Portable
2. Tiling
3. Workspaces
4. Customization
5. Feed Reader
Show all NaN bug.n features ▾
bug.n VS Talisman Desktop
Is bug.n a good alternative to Talisman Desktop?

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 Talisman Desktop
Is bbLean a good alternative to Talisman Desktop?

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 Talisman Desktop
Is Window Maker a good alternative to Talisman Desktop?

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 Talisman Desktop
Is SharpEnviro a good alternative to Talisman Desktop?