Taskbar Alternatives

Taskbar is described as 'Puts a start menu and recent apps tray on top of your screen accessible at any time, increasing your productivity and turning your Android tablet or phone into a real multitasking machine' and is an app in the office & productivity category. There are more than 10 alternatives to Taskbar for Windows. The best Taskbar alternative is Open Shell, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Taskbar are Classic Shell, StartAllBack, Start11 and RetroBar.

Taskbar iconTaskbar
  3
  • Free • Open Source
  • ...

Puts a start menu and recent apps tray on top of your screen accessible at any time, increasing your productivity and...

More about Taskbar
More about Taskbar
Taskbar alternatives page was last updated Jun 29, 2024
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  1. Open Shell icon

    Open Shell

     101 likes
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    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

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Open Shell screenshot 1

    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 VS Taskbar

     

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

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

    • Open Shell is Free and Open SourceTaskbar is also Free and Open Source
    • Open Shell is Lightweight and Privacy focusedTaskbar is not according to our users
  2. Classic Shell icon

    Classic Shell

     209 likes
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    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.

    29 Classic Shell alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • BG flagBulgaria
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Explorer Settings
    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.

    Properties

    1.  Customizable

    Features

    1. File Explorer icon  Windows Explorer Extension
    2.  Change Start Button
    3.  Customize Windows
    4.  Multiple languages

    Classic Shell VS Taskbar

     
  4. StartAllBack icon

    StartAllBack

     26 likes
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    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.

    26 StartAllBack alternatives

    License model

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Desktop showcase

    StartAllBack Features

    1.  Customize Windows
    2.  Context Menu extension

    StartAllBack VS Taskbar

     

    • StartAllBack is the most popular commercial alternative to Taskbar.

    • StartAllBack is Paid and ProprietaryTaskbar is Free and Open Source
  5. Ad
    Screenshot
    Start8 icon
    Start8

    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 dire...
    https://www.stardock.com
    Learn More
  6. Start11 icon

    Start11

     26 likes
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    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.

    27 Start11 alternatives

    License model

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Start11 screenshot 1

    Start11 VS Taskbar

     
  7. RetroBar icon

    RetroBar

     12 likes
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    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

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Country of Origin

    • CA flagCanada

    Platforms

    • Windows
    RetroBar screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Customizable

    Features

    1.  Customize Windows
    2.  Themes

    RetroBar VS Taskbar

     
  8. StartIsBack icon

    StartIsBack

     32 likes
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    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

    License model

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Boot to Desktop

    Properties

    1.  Customizable

    Features

    1.  Works Offline
    2.  Dark Mode
    3.  Portable
    4.  Ad-free

    StartIsBack VS Taskbar

     
  10. WindowBlinds icon

    WindowBlinds

     18 likes
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    Customize Windows 10 and 11 with skins for Start menu and taskbar. Includes SkinStudio for designing skins, offering personalized fonts, and color and transparency adjustments.

    39 WindowBlinds alternatives

    License model

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Windows
    WindowBlinds screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Support for Themes

    Features

    1.  Customize Windows
    2.  Skins
    3.  Themes

    WindowBlinds VS Taskbar

     
  11. Start Menu X icon

    Start Menu X

     26 likes
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    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.

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Country of Origin

    • UA flagUkraine

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Start Menu X screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Customizable

    Features

    1.  Tabbed interface

    Start Menu X VS Taskbar

     
  12. Start8 icon

    Start8

     30 likes
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    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.

    License model

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Start8 screenshot 1
    Discontinued

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

    Start8 VS Taskbar

     
  13. Power8 icon

    Power8

     14 likes
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    Start menu replacement for Windows.

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Power8 screenshot 1

    Power8 Features

    1.  Multiple languages
    2.  Launcher

    Power8 VS Taskbar

     
  14. Handy Start Menu icon

    Handy Start Menu

     12 likes
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    Do you often find yourself looking for a program in the long list of the Start menu?

    46 Handy Start Menu alternatives

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Country of Origin

    • RU flagRussia

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Handy Start Menu screenshot 1
    Discontinued

    The program seems to be no longer updated. Last version, 1.98, released in June 2015, can be still downloaded from the official website.

    Handy Start Menu VS Taskbar

     
  15. Start Menu Reviver icon

    Start Menu Reviver

     10 likes
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    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.

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Country of Origin

    • CA flagCanada

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Start menu

    Start Menu Reviver VS Taskbar

     
12 of 24 Taskbar alternatives