Open Shell vs StartW8

Struggling to choose between Open Shell and StartW8? Both products offer unique advantages, making it a tough decision.

Open Shell is a Os & Utilities solution with tags like start-menu, explorer-replacement, windows-shell.

It boasts features such as 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 pros including Lightweight and fast, Highly customizable, More options than Windows 10 start menu, Familiar interface for Windows 7 users, Completely free and open source.

On the other hand, StartW8 is a Os & Utilities product tagged with start-menu, windows-8, windows-81, replacement, customizable.

Its standout features include Classic start menu interface, Quick access to apps, documents, settings, Lightweight, Customizable, and it shines with pros like Brings back familiar start menu, Easy access to files and apps, Small resource footprint, Can customize look and feel.

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.

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


StartW8

StartW8

StartW8 is a lightweight and customizable start menu replacement for Windows 8 and 8.1. It brings back the familiar start menu interface, with quick access to apps, documents, settings and more.

Categories:
start-menu windows-8 windows-81 replacement customizable

StartW8 Features

  1. Classic start menu interface
  2. Quick access to apps, documents, settings
  3. Lightweight
  4. Customizable

Pricing

  • Freemium

Pros

Brings back familiar start menu

Easy access to files and apps

Small resource footprint

Can customize look and feel

Cons

May not work well with some systems

Limited configuration options

Not officially supported by Microsoft