Atera VS Classic Shell

Compare Atera VS Classic Shell and see what are their differences

Rating: 5.0 · 1 review
Pricing: Paid Free trial

Alternatives Is it good?

Rating: 0 reviews
Pricing: Open source

Alternatives Is it good?

EcholoN

EcholoN is an Enterprise Application Framework and configurable software platform for ESM, ITSM, Service Desk, CMDB, Customer Service, Field Service Management and custom digital business processes. sponsored

Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, Classic Shell should be more popular than Atera. It has been mentioned 18 times since March 2021.

social mentions: 5 vs 18
Monitoring Tools popularity: 100% vs 0%
alternatives listed: 240+ vs 99

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

	Atera	Classic Shell
Website	atera.com	classicshell.net
Pricing	Paid Free trial Official pricing	Open source
Platforms	Windows Mac OSX Linux	—
Company	2001	—
Listed in	Monitoring Tools Remote Monitoring And Management IT Management Patch Management MSP Remote Support IT Asset Management Help Desk Managed Service Provider +6	OS & Utilities Note Taking LMS Bookmarks +1

About Atera and Classic Shell

In their own words, as submitted to SaaSHub.

Atera

Classic Shell

Built to streamline and scale operations, Atera empowers IT teams to efficiently manage and preemptively protect infrastructure, improve service delivery, and ensure organizational needs are met. Serving over 12,000 customers across 120 countries, Atera’s platform offers powerful tools including...

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Atera 7 features

Classic Shell 5 features

Remote Monitoring
Help desk
IT Asset Management
Network Monitoring
Remote Desktop Access
Remote Control
Patch Management

Customizable Start Menu
Classic Shell allows users to customize the Start Menu to a significant extent, including changing the style and appearance to resemble earlier versions of Windows (XP, Vista, and 7).
Performance Enhancements
The software is lightweight and generally does not consume significant system resources, making it a performance-efficient alternative to the default Start Menu.
Enhanced Usability
It brings back certain features and functionalities that are familiar and preferred by users, enhancing overall user experience, particularly for those transitioning from older Windows versions.
Frequent Updates
Classic Shell is regularly updated to ensure compatibility with new Windows updates, providing a reliable solution over time.
Free of Cost
Classic Shell is available for free, making it an accessible option for anyone looking to improve their Start Menu without financial investment.

Possible disadvantages

Limited Official Support
As Classic Shell is developed primarily by volunteers, official support may be limited compared to commercial software.
Complexity
The extensive customization options might be overwhelming for less tech-savvy users, leading to a steeper learning curve.
Potential Compatibility Issues
Although updated frequently, there can be temporary compatibility issues with the latest Windows updates, requiring users to wait for the next release.
Lack of Modern Features
Classic Shell aims to replicate older versions of Windows Start Menus, which might lack some of the modern features available in the default Windows Start Menu.
Discontinued Development
Official development of Classic Shell was discontinued in December 2017. While community forks like Open-Shell continue the project, the lack of official development could be seen as a disadvantage.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

Atera

Classic Shell

Overall verdict

Atera is generally considered a good remote monitoring and management (RMM) tool for IT professionals and managed service providers (MSPs).

Why this product is good

Atera offers a comprehensive solution that combines RMM, Professional Services Automation (PSA), and remote access into a single platform. Users appreciate its intuitive interface, robust feature set, and scalability. Additionally, it provides real-time alerting, patch management, and remote control capabilities, which are essential for efficient IT management. Atera's pricing model is also attractive as it's based on a per-user basis, allowing unlimited devices, which can be cost-effective for many businesses.

Recommended for

Atera is recommended for small to medium-sized MSPs, IT consultants, and internal IT departments that need an all-in-one solution for IT management. It is particularly beneficial for those who prefer a cloud-based platform and value the flexibility of a pay-per-user pricing structure.

Overall verdict

Overall, Classic Shell is considered a good tool for those who want to enhance their Windows experience with more customization and a nod to classic Windows aesthetics. It's reliable, widely used, and addresses some of the usability concerns people have with newer Windows versions.

Why this product is good

Classic Shell is popular among users who prefer the familiar interface and user experience of older versions of Windows, particularly Windows 7 or even XP. It offers customization options for the Start Menu, Explorer, and other UI elements, allowing a more personalized and comfortable experience for those who are not fond of newer Windows UI changes.

Recommended for

Classic Shell is recommended for users who miss the classic Windows Start menu and layout, those who find the new Windows designs less intuitive, and individuals who want more control over their interface customization. It's particularly suitable for people transitioning from older Windows versions to newer ones who wish to maintain a certain level of familiarity.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Atera 8 videos + Add

Classic Shell 3 videos + Add

Enter a new era of AI-powered IT with Atera

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100

Atera

Classic Shell

100% 100%

Monitoring Tools

0% 0%

Note Taking

100% 100%

IT Management

0% 0%

LMS

100% 100%

User comments

Share your experience with using Atera and Classic Shell. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

Atera 5.0 · 1 review

Classic Shell no reviews yet

Great tool!
SaaSHub review

· Mar 2024

Atera streamlines IT operations, making them more efficient and accessible. Whether you're a seasoned pro or new to IT, Atera's intuitive platform is a game-changer. Highly recommended for businesses looking to...
HWMonitor Review & Alternatives for 2023
www.comparitech.com · Oct 2023

The Atera system is a cloud-based service that includes server time and space for processing and storage, so the MSP that signs up for this package doesn’t need to have any major infrastructure on its own site. The...
10 Best RMM Software | Remote Monitoring & Management Tools 2021
www.softwaretestinghelp.com · Aug 2021

Verdict: With its fixed pricing for unlimited devices, and its ease of use, Atera is truly the ultimate all-in-one software IT professionals need. Try 100% free for 30-days. It’s risk-free, no credit card required,...

We have no reviews of Classic Shell yet. Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

Atera 5 mentions

Classic Shell 18 mentions

Chat is a mess...
Our 24x7 live chat support is the best way to troubleshoot this issue quickly. You can contact them out from our website (atera.com bottom right corner) or from within the app help widget. Source: almost 4 years ago
Best HaloPSA alternatives?
Check out atera.com and feel free to let me know if you have any questions! Source: almost 4 years ago
Atera ticketing issue
If after the setup it's still not working, can you pls try to reach out to our support via the live chat channel ? You can contact them using the help icon the right bottom corner of our website, atera.com . Source: about 4 years ago

Scrollbars Are Becoming a Problem
There's a great add-on called... ClassicShell http://classicshell.net/. - Source: Hacker News / almost 3 years ago
What software would be used to remove the red elements and change the layout of the tray icon?
Windows Classic Shell is what I have used for over a decade. It brings back the old start menu and can be customized. Source: over 3 years ago
Microsoft is turning Windows 11's Start Menu into an advertisement delivery system
ClassicShell is no longer being developed. OpenShell succeeded it. (c.f., http://classicshell.net/). Source: almost 4 years ago

Alternatives to Atera and Classic Shell

When comparing Atera and Classic Shell, you can also consider the following products.

NinjaOne
NinjaOne (Formerly NinjaRMM) provides remote monitoring and management software that combines powerful functionality with a fast, modern UI. Easily remediate IT issues, automate common tasks, and support end-users with powerful IT management tools.

Compare NinjaOne to Atera or Classic Shell:

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Fences
Keep your desktop organized with Fences. This is a simple software program that allows you to sort the tabs on your desktop and create files that are easily recognizable to you.

Compare Fences to Atera or Classic Shell:

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Intercom
Intercom is a customer relationship management and messaging tool for web businesses. Build relationships with users to create loyal customers.

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Start Menu X
Start Menu X with Start Button. Power users know how inconvenient and time-consuming it is to launch programs from the system menu.

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tawk.to
tawk.to is a free live chat app that lets you monitor and chat with visitors on your website or from a free customizable page

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Start Menu Reviver
Free Download! Recover and update your computer with Driver Reviver and Registry Reviver. Easily update software, unlock new functionality and remove hardware device errors and clean, repair and optimize your registry in a few simple mouse clicks!

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