8StartButton vs Open Shell

Struggling to choose between 8StartButton and Open Shell? Both products offer unique advantages, making it a tough decision.

8StartButton is a Os & Utilities solution with tags like start-menu, windows-8, utility.

It boasts features such as Restores Start button and Start menu, Adds familiar interface from previous Windows versions, Offers extra customization options compared to default Windows 8 Start screen, Lets you boot directly to desktop instead of Start screen, Lets you resize Start button and change its position, Includes variety of themes and skins for Start menu visuals and pros including Free, Easy to use, Adds back useful Start menu, Highly customizable, Lightweight and fast.

On the other hand, Open Shell is a Os & Utilities product tagged with start-menu, explorer-replacement, windows-shell.

Its standout features include Classic start menu interface, Advanced configuration options, Support for themes and skins, Fully customizable menus and shortcuts, Plugin architecture for extensions, Multi-monitor support, Search box with advanced filtering, Keyboard shortcuts and hotkeys, and it shines with pros like Lightweight and fast, Highly customizable, More options than Windows 10 start menu, Familiar interface for Windows 7 users, Completely free and open source.

To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison of these two products, delving into their features, pros, cons, pricing, and more. Get ready to explore the nuances that set them apart and determine which one is the perfect fit for your requirements.

8StartButton

8StartButton

8StartButton is a free utility that restores the Start button and Start menu in Windows 8 and 8.1, bringing back the familiar interface from previous Windows versions. It adds an extra level of customization options compared to the default Windows 8 Start screen.

Categories:
start-menu windows-8 utility

8StartButton Features

  1. Restores Start button and Start menu
  2. Adds familiar interface from previous Windows versions
  3. Offers extra customization options compared to default Windows 8 Start screen
  4. Lets you boot directly to desktop instead of Start screen
  5. Lets you resize Start button and change its position
  6. Includes variety of themes and skins for Start menu visuals

Pricing

  • Free

Pros

Free

Easy to use

Adds back useful Start menu

Highly customizable

Lightweight and fast

Cons

Limited features compared to paid Start menu replacements

Occasional bugs or glitches

Some features may not work fully on Windows 8.1

Lacks support or updates


Open Shell

Open Shell

Open Shell is a free and open-source start menu replacement for Windows that provides advanced configuration options and customization. It aims to restore the classic start menu for users who prefer the Windows XP or Windows 7 interface.

Categories:
start-menu explorer-replacement windows-shell

Open Shell Features

  1. Classic start menu interface
  2. Advanced configuration options
  3. Support for themes and skins
  4. Fully customizable menus and shortcuts
  5. Plugin architecture for extensions
  6. Multi-monitor support
  7. Search box with advanced filtering
  8. Keyboard shortcuts and hotkeys

Pricing

  • Free
  • Open Source

Pros

Lightweight and fast

Highly customizable

More options than Windows 10 start menu

Familiar interface for Windows 7 users

Completely free and open source

Cons

Less intuitive for new Windows users

Requires some time to configure

Occasional bugs or crashes

Limited native integration with Windows 10 features