
Fences
Start Menu X
Start Menu Reviver
Open Shell
StartAllBack
Power8
StartIsBack
Classic Shell was developed for Windows 8 since that was the first version of the popular operating system to forgo the iconic Start menu.

Designer Daily Report
TOOOLS.design
a-fresh.website
Off-Grid
RocketDock
Panda
Landdding
The five best design links of the day, freshly redesigned

Which is more popular?
Based on our record, Classic Shell should be more popular than Sidebar. It has been mentioned 18 times since March 2021.
Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.
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| Website | classicshell.net | sidebar.io |
| Pricing | — | |
| Listed in |
What each product offers, as listed by its team.


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


Overall verdict
Why this product is good
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.
Overall verdict
Why this product is good
Recommended for
Sidebar is particularly recommended for UI/UX designers, graphic designers, web designers, and other creative professionals who want to keep up with the latest developments in the design world, as well as those looking for inspiration and ongoing education in their field.
Walkthroughs and reviews on video.
Classic Shell with Windows 10!
More videos
React Animated Sidebar Code Review
More videos
How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.


Share your experience with using Classic Shell and Sidebar. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.


There's a great add-on called... ClassicShell http://classicshell.net/. - Source: Hacker News / about 3 years ago
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
ClassicShell is no longer being developed. OpenShell succeeded it. (c.f., http://classicshell.net/). Source: almost 4 years ago
Now one thing is missing for me is Hacker News for design. Something like Designer News which sadly is gone. The close I found is Sidebar[1] but do not have comments section for discussion. 1. https://sidebar.io. - Source: Hacker News / 4 months ago
Sidebar Sidebar.io Daily links to the best design articles. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
I usually go with the followings: Sidebar[0], Kottke.org[1], Waxy[2]. Obviously, Twitter and Hacker News get interesting links first, so typically these 3 websites repost after something becomes famous. [0] https://sidebar.io/. - Source: Hacker News / almost 3 years ago
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