StartW8 vs Open Shell

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

StartW8 is a Os & Utilities solution with tags like start-menu, windows-8, windows-81, replacement, customizable.

It boasts features such as Classic start menu interface, Quick access to apps, documents, settings, Lightweight, Customizable and pros including Brings back familiar start menu, Easy access to files and apps, Small resource footprint, Can customize look and feel.

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	StartW8	Open Shell
Overall Score	N/A	N/A
Primary Category	Os & Utilities	Os & Utilities

Product Overview

StartW8

Description: 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.

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

StartW8 Features

• Classic start menu interface
• Quick access to apps, documents, settings
• Lightweight
• Customizable

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

StartW8

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

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

StartW8

• Freemium

Open Shell

• Free
• Open Source