Windows Sidebar Alternatives

Windows Sidebar is described as 'Long, vertical bar that is displayed on the side of your desktop. It contains mini-programs called gadgets, which offer information at a glance and provide easy access to frequently used tools' and is an app in the os & utilities category. There are six alternatives to Windows Sidebar for Windows. The best Windows Sidebar alternative is Rainmeter, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Windows Sidebar are Pokki, Moo0 System Monitor, GiMeSpace QuickMenu and Vista Rainbar.

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Windows Sidebar alternatives are mainly System Information Utilities but may also be Desktop Customization Tools or Application Launchers.  Filter by these or use the filter bar below if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Windows Sidebar.
Windows Sidebar iconWindows Sidebar
  9
  • Free • Proprietary
  • ...

Windows Sidebar is a long, vertical bar that is displayed on the side of your desktop. It contains mini-programs called gadgets, which offer information at a glance and provide easy access to frequently used tools.

More about Windows Sidebar
More about Windows Sidebar
Windows Sidebar alternatives page was last updated Sep 9, 2022
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  1. Rainmeter icon
    Rainmeter icon

    Rainmeter

     463 likes
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    Rainmeter allows you to display customizable skins on your desktop, from hardware usage meters to fully functional audio visualizers. You are only limited by your imagination and creativity.

    33 Rainmeter alternatives
    Rainmeter screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Rainmeter screenshot 1
    Rainmeter screenshot 2
    +1
    Rainmeter screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Customizable
    2.  Lightweight
    3.  Support for Themes

    Features

    1.  Widgets
    2.  Customize skin
    3.  CPU Monitoring
    4.  Custom widgets
    5.  Live Wallpapers
    6.  Ad-free
    7.  Works Offline
    8.  Hardware Monitoring
    9.  Desktop Widget
    10.  No registration required
    11.  Colored Text
    12.  Support for Multiple Monitors
    Rainmeter iconWindows Sidebar Icon

    Rainmeter VS Windows Sidebar

    Is Rainmeter a good alternative to Windows Sidebar?
     

    • Rainmeter is the most popular Windows alternative to Windows Sidebar.

    • Rainmeter is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Windows Sidebar.

    • Rainmeter is Free and Open SourceWindows Sidebar is Free and Proprietary
    • Rainmeter is Customizable and LightweightWindows Sidebar is not according to our users
  2. Pokki icon
    Pokki icon

    Pokki

     41 likes
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    Pokki puts web-connected apps in your taskbar, so they're always only one click away. Welcome to the modern desktop.

    16 Pokki alternatives
    Pokki screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows

    Pokki Features

    1.  Launcher
    Pokki screenshot 1
    Pokki screenshot 2
    Discontinued

    The program seems to be no longer updated. Social pages are not updated since 2014. Last version can be still downloaded from the official website.

    Pokki iconWindows Sidebar Icon

    Pokki VS Windows Sidebar

    Is Pokki a good alternative to Windows Sidebar?
     

  4. Moo0 System Monitor

     8 likes
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    Lets you keep your eye on system resource usages of your PC. It supports 43 kinds of information including CPU, Memory, Network, and detailed HDD usages, so you may discover what's limiting your system performance in each occasion.

    14 Moo0 System Monitor alternatives
    From the official webpage

    License model

    • Free Personal • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows

    Moo0 System Monitor Features

    1.  Portable
    2.  Temperature Monitoring
    3.  Hardware Monitoring
    4.  Web-Based
    5.  System analysis
    Windows Sidebar Icon

    Moo0 System Monitor VS Windows Sidebar

    Is Moo0 System Monitor a good alternative to Windows Sidebar?
     
  5. GiMeSpace QuickMenu icon
    GiMeSpace QuickMenu icon

    GiMeSpace QuickMenu

     14 likes
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    A simple and fast task launcher and switcher. Press a custom assigned mouse/keyboard key, the menu pops up at the place of the mouse cursor, move to the desired task, release the key, and that is all! Can not be quicker or easier!.

    25 GiMeSpace QuickMenu alternatives
    GiMeSpace QuickMenu screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows

    GiMeSpace QuickMenu Features

    1.  Launcher
    GiMeSpace QuickMenu iconWindows Sidebar Icon

    GiMeSpace QuickMenu VS Windows Sidebar

    Is GiMeSpace QuickMenu a good alternative to Windows Sidebar?
     
    Comments about GiMeSpace QuickMenu as an Alternative to Windows Sidebar
     
    Guest

    Windows sidebar allows user to display various information on desktop through "widgets", QuickMenu is an alternative way to switch/start programs.

    Negative comment •Oct 6, 2015
    0
    Windows Sidebar Icon
    GiMeSpace QuickMenu icon
    • GiMeSpace QuickMenu is Free and ProprietaryWindows Sidebar is also Free and Proprietary
  6. Vista Rainbar icon
    Vista Rainbar icon

    Vista Rainbar

     1 like
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    Vista Rainbar is a Windows Sidebar clone for Rainmeter.

    Entirely free and easy for using, this sidebar, whose you can change the background between around ten choice, offers many gadgets such as clock, calendar, RSS feeds, weather... with the possibility, for most of them, to c.

    1 Vista Rainbar alternatives
    Vista Rainbar screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows

    Vista Rainbar Features

    1.  Sidebar
    2.  Widgets
    Discontinued

    Last version, 4.3, was released on July 2008, but it is still downloadable.

    Vista Rainbar iconWindows Sidebar Icon

    Vista Rainbar VS Windows Sidebar

    Is Vista Rainbar a good alternative to Windows Sidebar?
     
  7. Cubiez icon
    Cubiez icon

    Cubiez

     3 likes
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    Cubiez takes what you love the most about your mobile phones and brings it to your computer: instant access to your favorite content and apps.

    0 Cubiez alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Discontinued

    Homepage not available.

    Cubiez iconWindows Sidebar Icon

    Cubiez VS Windows Sidebar

    Is Cubiez a good alternative to Windows Sidebar?
     
6 of 6 Windows Sidebar alternatives