Start Menu Modifier vs Open Shell

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

Start Menu Modifier is a Os & Utilities solution with tags like start-menu, customization, utility.

It boasts features such as Customize visual styles of Start menu, Rearrange Start menu items, Pin/unpin apps to Start menu, Add custom app folders, Modify frequently used programs list, Change size and position of Start menu and pros including Free and open source, Lightweight and easy to use, Lots of customization options, Active development and updates.

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.

Start Menu Modifier

Start Menu Modifier

Start Menu Modifier is a small, free utility that allows you to customize and tweak the Windows Start Menu to your liking. It provides options to change visual styles, rearrange menu items, pin apps, and more.

Categories:
start-menu customization utility

Start Menu Modifier Features

  1. Customize visual styles of Start menu
  2. Rearrange Start menu items
  3. Pin/unpin apps to Start menu
  4. Add custom app folders
  5. Modify frequently used programs list
  6. Change size and position of Start menu

Pricing

  • Free
  • Open Source

Pros

Free and open source

Lightweight and easy to use

Lots of customization options

Active development and updates

Cons

Limited documentation

Some features may not work on latest Windows versions

Potential conflicts with Windows updates

Modifying system files could cause issues if not careful


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