Software Alternatives & Reviews

Classic Shell VS Start10

Compare Classic Shell VS Start10 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.

Start10 logo Start10

Start10 adds the familiar Windows 7 start menu experience to Windows 10.
  • Classic Shell Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-09-30
  • Start10 Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-04-27

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

Start10 videos

Start10 for Windows 10 Review

More videos:

  • Tutorial - How to Organize Your Desktop Using Stardock Fences
  • Review - Start10, the first Windows 10 Start menu alternative - Start10 Review and Features
  • Review - Windows Start10 Review

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Classic Shell and Start10)
Note Taking
75 75%
25% 25
LMS
75 75%
25% 25
OS & Utilities
72 72%
28% 28
Bookmarks
69 69%
31% 31

User comments

Share your experience with using Classic Shell and Start10. 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

Start10 mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Start10 yet. Tracking of Start10 recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Classic Shell and Start10, 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.

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.

Power8 - Start menu replacement for Windows

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!