Software Alternatives & Reviews

Classic Shell VS Cairo Shell

Compare Classic Shell VS Cairo Shell and see what are their differences

Classic Shell logo Classic Shell

Classic Shell was developed for Windows 8 since that was the first version of the popular operating system to forgo the iconic Start menu.

Cairo Shell logo Cairo Shell

Cairo is a desktop environment for Windows.
  • Classic Shell Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-09-30
  • Cairo Shell Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-19

Classic Shell

Categories
  • OS & Utilities
  • Note Taking
  • LMS
  • Bookmarks
Website classicshell.net
Details $

Cairo Shell

Categories
  • Image Optimisation
  • Cloud Computing
  • Cloud Infrastructure
  • Note Taking
Website cairodesktop.com
Details $

Classic Shell videos

Classic Shell with Windows 10!

More videos:

  • Review - Classic Shell Review | Make Windows 8 Like Windows 7 with Classic Shell
  • Review - Classic Shell 4.0.2 Review

Cairo Shell videos

No Cairo Shell videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

+ Add video

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Classic Shell and Cairo Shell)
Note Taking
65 65%
35% 35
Image Optimisation
0 0%
100% 100
LMS
100 100%
0% 0
OS & Utilities
64 64%
36% 36

User comments

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

Based on our record, Classic Shell should be more popular than Cairo Shell. It has been mentiond 18 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Classic Shell mentions (18)

  • Scrollbars Are Becoming a Problem
    There's a great add-on called... ClassicShell http://classicshell.net/. - Source: Hacker News / 6 months 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: about 1 year 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: over 1 year ago
  • Is it possible to install windows 8.1 on the surface pro 5?
    Http://classicshell.net/This lets you pick UI goodness you want. Source: over 1 year ago
  • looking for a taskbar replacement
    Other, non-rainmeter options that I'm aware of include TranslucentTB and Classic Shell (note: Open Shell is the newer version, but I'm unsure if it has the same features). Source: about 2 years ago
View more

Cairo Shell mentions (2)

  • Microsoft is turning Windows 11's Start Menu into an advertisement delivery system
    Back when I was an edgy teenager I tried every Windows desktop shell replacement available. My favorites were LiteStep and Emerge Desktop. I was there when Cairo Shell first emerged but has never tried a working version since I moved to other OSes before any usable version was out. I am now using Windows for work and I think it’s time to revisit these options. Source: over 1 year ago
  • My first personal server
    Hyper-V Server 2019 gets my vote, with the Cairo Desktop it's a near unbeatable setup. Add the FoD pack, browser of your choice, Windows Admin Center for local management of the entire system including virtualized guests. It's a very robust enterprise grade server that requires NO LICENSE and ends up having a very nice GUI for a core server. Source: over 2 years ago

What are some alternatives?

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

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

WindowBlinds - WindowBlinds is a computer program that allows users to skin the Windows graphical user interface.

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.

bug.n - Provide views (i. e. virtual desktops) for showing only those windows, which you need to do your work..

StartIsBack - StartIsBack returns Windows 10 and Windows 8 a real fully featured start menu and start button, behaving exactly like the ones in Windows 7. It's totally awesome and easy solution for your new Windows woes.

VirtuaWin - VirtuaWin is a virtual desktop manager for the Windows operating system (Win9x/ME/NT/Win2K/XP/Win2003/Vista/Win7/Win10). A virtual desktop manager lets you organize applications over several virtual desktops (also called 'workspaces').