Classic Shell vs Start8

Struggling to choose between Classic Shell and Start8? Both products offer unique advantages, making it a tough decision.

Classic Shell is a Os & Utilities solution with tags like start-menu, windows-shell, classic-ui, open-source.

It boasts features such as Restores Start Menu from Windows XP, Vista and 7, Adds quick launch toolbar, Lets you customize Start Menu layout, Supports themes and skins, Lets you boot to desktop instead of Start screen, Adds desktop icons and taskbar and pros including Free and open source, Lightweight and customizable, Familiar interface for longtime Windows users, Active development and support.

On the other hand, Start8 is a Os & Utilities product tagged with start-menu, windows-8, windows-7, interface, desktop.

Its standout features include Restores the classic Start menu, Adds a Start button to the taskbar, Lets you boot directly to the desktop, Customizable Start menu with resizable tiles, Start menu skins and styles, Taskbar customization options, Advanced configuration settings, and it shines with pros like Brings back familiar Windows 7 interface, Highly customizable, Easy to use, Affordable pricing.

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.

Classic Shell

Classic Shell

Classic Shell is a free, open-source program that restores the Start menu and other interface elements from older versions of Windows. It brings back the familiar menus and toolbars for users who prefer the classic Windows UI.

Categories:
start-menu windows-shell classic-ui open-source

Classic Shell Features

  1. Restores Start Menu from Windows XP, Vista and 7
  2. Adds quick launch toolbar
  3. Lets you customize Start Menu layout
  4. Supports themes and skins
  5. Lets you boot to desktop instead of Start screen
  6. Adds desktop icons and taskbar

Pricing

  • Free
  • Open Source

Pros

Free and open source

Lightweight and customizable

Familiar interface for longtime Windows users

Active development and support

Cons

May not work fully with latest Windows versions

Some features need tweaking to work properly

No official support from Microsoft


Start8

Start8

Start8 is a program that restores the Start menu and other interface features from Windows 7 and earlier versions in Windows 8 and 8.1. It brings back the familiar Start button, Start menu, and boot to desktop capabilities for users who prefer the classic Windows user experience.

Categories:
start-menu windows-8 windows-7 interface desktop

Start8 Features

  1. Restores the classic Start menu
  2. Adds a Start button to the taskbar
  3. Lets you boot directly to the desktop
  4. Customizable Start menu with resizable tiles
  5. Start menu skins and styles
  6. Taskbar customization options
  7. Advanced configuration settings

Pricing

  • Free
  • One-time purchase
  • Subscription-based

Pros

Brings back familiar Windows 7 interface

Highly customizable

Easy to use

Affordable pricing

Cons

May not appeal to Windows 8 fans

Requires an extra program just to get basic Windows features

Some customization options require paid upgrades