Software Alternatives & Reviews

Classic Shell VS Classic Start Menu

Compare Classic Shell VS Classic Start Menu 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.

Classic Start Menu logo Classic Start Menu

Classic Start Menu is considered as a perfect replacement to Windows 7 Start Menu.
  • Classic Shell Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-09-30
  • Classic Start Menu Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-20

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

Classic Start Menu videos

Classic Start Menu For Windows 10

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Classic Shell and Classic Start Menu)
Note Taking
73 73%
27% 27
LMS
70 70%
30% 30
OS & Utilities
66 66%
34% 34
Bookmarks
80 80%
20% 20

User comments

Share your experience with using Classic Shell and Classic Start Menu. 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 seems to be more popular. 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

Classic Start Menu mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Classic Start Menu yet. Tracking of Classic Start Menu recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Classic Shell and Classic Start Menu, 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...

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.

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!

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.

Start8 - Start8 returns the familiar Start menu to Microsoft's latest Windows 8 operating system.

Skip Metro Suite - Skip Metro Suite is a simple and intuitive tool that is used by millions of users around the world for personalizing the Windows Start Menu and making it look like a professional app.