Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Classic Shell VS QuickTile

Compare Classic Shell VS QuickTile and see what are their differences

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.

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.

QuickTile logo QuickTile

A lightweight utility for allowing you to quickly snap windows to a tiling grid under your existing...
  • Classic Shell Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-09-30
  • QuickTile Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-29

Classic Shell features and specs

  • 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 of Classic Shell

  • 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.

QuickTile features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    QuickTile provides a straightforward approach to window tiling, allowing users to manage window layouts efficiently without complex configurations.
  • Customization
    It supports extensive customization, enabling users to define their own tiling layouts and shortcuts to suit their workflow needs.
  • Lightweight
    QuickTile is lightweight and doesn't consume significant system resources, making it suitable for older or less powerful machines.
  • Cross-Platform
    QuickTile is compatible with various Linux distributions, making it accessible to a wide range of Linux users.

Possible disadvantages of QuickTile

  • Linux Only
    QuickTile is designed for Linux systems, which means users on other operating systems like Windows or macOS cannot use it.
  • Limited Features
    Compared to full-fledged tiling window managers, QuickTile offers a more limited set of features focused solely on tiling.
  • Manual Configuration
    Some users may find the initial setup and configuration to be manual and time-consuming, especially if they want to tailor their shortcuts extensively.
  • No GUI
    QuickTile operates without a graphical user interface, which might not appeal to users who prefer visual configuration tools.

Analysis of Classic Shell

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.

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

QuickTile videos

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

Add video

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Classic Shell and QuickTile)
Note Taking
100 100%
0% 0
Window Manager
0 0%
100% 100
LMS
100 100%
0% 0
OSX Tools
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using Classic Shell and QuickTile. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Classic Shell should be more popular than QuickTile. 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)

View more

QuickTile mentions (4)

  • My (challenging) experience building a window switcher for Ubuntu
    As the author of QuickTile, which is written in Python but even closer to what you describe than a window manager would be, I have to say that, yeah, doing X11 stuff takes a lot of knowledge that's not ideally documented in non-print sources. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Rust's problematic reliance on GitHub
    Actually, I plan to add a .nojekyll file and then use something like Pelican with custom plugins, then set GitHub Actions to run my update.sh on push... Similar to how http://ssokolow.com/quicktile/ is a Sphinx-based site hosted on GitHub Pages and automatically regenerated from the pushed sources. Source: about 4 years ago
  • tilling wm on elementary os ?
    I've been using ssokolow.com/quicktile for this purpose, it does what I need and doesn't replace the wm. Source: over 4 years ago
  • Converting an array, slice or vector to base58 encoding WITH check
    The best I could do for the API documentation for this project of mine was to use the automodule directive to autogenerate at the coarsest level possible and remember to never create new .py files if I could possibly avoid it. Source: almost 5 years ago

What are some alternatives?

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

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.

GridMove - GridMove - A window management tool that can quickly arrange your windows into desktop grids.

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.

Preme for Windows - Speeds up your window switching.

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!

WinDock - WinDock is a window manager ideal for large, or multi-monitor setups. Features: