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Calm VS Open Shell

Compare Calm VS Open Shell and see what are their differences

Calm

Calm.com can help you reduce stress and increase calm.

Rating
0 reviews
Alternatives Is it good?
Open Shell

Open Shell is a fork of the Classic Shell project for Windows that getting back the classic start...

Rating
0 reviews
Alternatives Is it good?
Mind Diary
MindDiary therapy practice management software: digital intake, lead capture, client check-ins, therapist-reviewed AI notes, telehealth, and revenue follow-up. 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, Calm seems to be more popular. It has been mentioned 8 times since March 2021.

social mentions
8 vs 0
Meditation popularity
100% vs 0%
alternatives listed
240+ vs 44

Base details

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

Calm
Open Shell
Website calm.com open-shell.github.io
Company Startup from the United States —
Listed in
Meditation Health And Fitness Mental Health Sleep +1
OS & Utilities Note Taking LMS Bookmarks +1

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Calm 5 features
Open Shell 5 features
  • User-Friendly Interface
    Calm offers a clean, easy-to-navigate interface that makes it accessible for users of all ages and technical abilities.
  • Wide Range of Content
    Calm provides a broad variety of meditation types, sleep stories, and relaxation music, catering to various preferences and needs.
  • High-Quality Audio
    The app's audio quality is excellent, enhancing the overall user experience and effectiveness of its meditative and sleep-inducing content.
  • Expert-Led Sessions
    Meditations and lessons are led by experienced mindfulness instructors, offering professional quality guidance.
  • Regular Updates
    Calm frequently adds new content, keeping the experience fresh and engaging for long-time users.

Possible disadvantages

  • Subscription Cost
    Calm requires a subscription for full access, which might be expensive for some users compared to other meditation and relaxation apps.
  • Limited Free Content
    The free version of the app offers limited access to its features, restricting the user's experience until they subscribe to the premium service.
  • Compatibility Issues
    Some users have reported occasional compatibility problems with certain devices or operating systems.
  • Data Usage
    Streaming high-quality audio content can consume a significant amount of data, which might be a concern for users with limited data plans.
  • Distracting Notifications
    Some users find the in-app notifications and suggestions for premium content distracting, disrupting the meditative experience.
  • Customization
    Open Shell provides extensive customization options, allowing users to modify the Start menu to fit their preferences, from design to functionality.
  • Familiar Interface
    It offers a classic start menu which is familiar to users of older Windows versions, making it easier for them to navigate.
  • Open Source
    Being an open-source project, it allows for community contributions, making it more transparent and potentially more secure.
  • No Cost
    Open Shell is free to use, providing a cost-effective solution for users who want a different Start menu experience without paying for software.
  • Regular Updates
    The project is fairly well-maintained, receiving updates that add new features and fix potential issues, improving user experience over time.

Possible disadvantages

  • Compatibility Issues
    There could be compatibility problems with certain Windows updates or third-party applications, requiring troubleshooting and fixes.
  • Learning Curve
    While it offers many customization options, new users might find the settings and customization process overwhelming and confusing initially.
  • Community Support
    As an open-source project, it relies heavily on community support rather than professional customer service, which can be a drawback for users needing prompt assistance.
  • Resource Usage
    Though generally lightweight, Open Shell can consume additional system resources, which might be impactful on less powerful machines.

Analysis

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

Calm
Open Shell

Overall verdict

  • Calm is generally regarded as a beneficial tool for individuals looking to incorporate mindfulness and relaxation practices into their daily routine. Its wide array of resources and personalized content make it a standout choice among meditation and wellness apps.

Why this product is good

  • Calm is considered a good application due to its comprehensive range of features aimed at improving mental well-being. These features include guided meditations, sleep stories narrated by well-known voices, soothing music, and breathing exercises. The app is praised for its user-friendly interface and its ability to cater to both beginners and experienced users in meditation and relaxation techniques.

Recommended for

  • Individuals seeking stress relief and relaxation
  • People interested in learning meditation techniques
  • Those struggling with sleep issues
  • Users looking for mental well-being and focus improvement
  • Anyone wanting to include mindfulness practices in their routine

Overall verdict

  • Open Shell is considered a good tool for those who desire a more traditional Start Menu experience on modern Windows versions. It is reliable, versatile, and generally well-received by the community for resurrecting the familiar interface from previous Windows iterations.

Why this product is good

  • Open Shell (formerly known as Classic Shell) is appreciated for its ability to bring back the classic Start Menu functionality to Windows, particularly for users who prefer the interface design and usability of older versions of Windows. It provides a customizable menu, various skins, and additional enhancements for the Start Button, File Explorer, and Internet Explorer. The software is lightweight, free, and open source, allowing for a high degree of personalization and adaptability.

Recommended for

  • Users who prefer the classic Windows Start Menu.
  • Individuals who are not satisfied with the default Start Menu on newer Windows versions.
  • Users seeking a highly customizable and lightweight menu solution.
  • Technical users who appreciate open-source software and want to tweak their system appearance and functionality.
  • Anyone upgrading from older Windows versions who wants to maintain a consistent user interface experience.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Calm 3 videos + Add
Open Shell 1 video + Add

Calm App Review 2020: A Psychologist's Honest Opinion

More videos

  • - Meditation Apps: Headspace vs Calm!
  • - I Drank MAGNESIUM Before Bed for a Month | CALM MAGNESIUM HONEST REVIEW

Classic Menu for Windows 10 with Open Shell

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
Calm
Open Shell
100% 100%
Meditation
0% 0%
0% 0%
Note Taking
100% 100%
100% 100%
Health And Fitness
0% 0%
0% 0%
LMS
100% 100%

User comments

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

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Reviews and articles

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

Calm no reviews yet
Open Shell no reviews yet

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

Social recommendations and mentions

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

Calm 8 mentions
Open Shell 0 mentions
  • Alternatives to scrolling Reddit?
    Meditation. try the calm app or calm.com for sleep stories or sleep body scans. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Redeeming Benefit via App Store?
    If I purchase the Calm membership through the app store, will the rebate still post? I saw in the details it specified "calm.com." Does anyone know for sure? Source: about 4 years ago
  • [NeedAdvice] 1 Thinking too much is destroying my life. How can I shut down thinking and start living outside of my head?
    I found Waking Up to require more effort than calm.com (or headspace). The latter apps tend to focus on simple things: e.g. Focus on your breathing whereas Waking Up is actually much more about challenging your beliefs of what it even... Source: about 4 years ago

View more

Tracking Open Shell since Mar 2021.

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