Classic Start Menu vs Open Shell

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

Classic Start Menu is a Os & Utilities solution with tags like start-menu, windows, customization, shortcut, accessibility.

It boasts features such as Restores classic Start menu for Windows 7, 8, 8.1 and 10, Customizable menu style and layout, Lets you pin apps, documents, folders, Search bar for quick program access, Supports themes and skins, Option for small or full-size Start menu, Boot to desktop option, Customizable shortcuts and pros including Familiar interface for longtime Windows users, Highly customizable, Lightweight and fast, No learning curve, Completely free with no ads or upsells.

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.

Feature	Classic Start Menu	Open Shell
Overall Score	N/A	N/A
Primary Category	Os & Utilities	Os & Utilities

Product Overview

Classic Start Menu

Description: Classic Start Menu is a free program that restores the familiar Start menu interface from older versions of Windows, providing quick access to programs, documents, and settings. It allows customization of the menu style and shortcuts.

Open Shell

Description: 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.

Key Features Comparison

Classic Start Menu Features

• Restores classic Start menu for Windows 7, 8, 8.1 and 10
• Customizable menu style and layout
• Lets you pin apps, documents, folders
• Search bar for quick program access
• Supports themes and skins
• Option for small or full-size Start menu
• Boot to desktop option
• Customizable shortcuts

Open Shell Features

• 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

Pros & Cons Analysis

Classic Start Menu

Pros

• Familiar interface for longtime Windows users
• Highly customizable
• Lightweight and fast
• No learning curve
• Completely free with no ads or upsells

Cons

• May not appeal to users who prefer the Windows 8/10 Start screen
• Occasional minor bugs
• Limited options compared to paid Start menu replacements

Open Shell

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

Pricing Comparison

Classic Start Menu

• Free

Open Shell

• Free
• Open Source