Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

CrossBrowserTesting VS Classic Shell

Compare CrossBrowserTesting VS Classic Shell 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.

CrossBrowserTesting logo CrossBrowserTesting

Browser Testing made simple! Run automated, visual, and manual tests on 1500+ real browsers and mobile devices. Test more browsers, in less time.

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.
  • CrossBrowserTesting Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-23
  • Classic Shell Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-09-30

CrossBrowserTesting features and specs

  • Wide Range of Browsers and Devices
    CrossBrowserTesting offers a large selection of browsers and devices, allowing developers to test their applications in various environments to ensure compatibility.
  • Live Testing
    Users can perform live interactive testing on real devices, enabling them to manually verify the behavior of their application and catch issues that automated tests might miss.
  • Automated Testing Integration
    The platform provides integration with popular testing frameworks and tools such as Selenium, Appium, and others, facilitating automated testing workflows.
  • Visual Testing
    CrossBrowserTesting offers visual testing capabilities, allowing users to compare screenshots from different browsers to identify design inconsistencies.
  • Comprehensive Reports
    Detailed test reports with screenshots and logs are generated, helping users to quickly identify and address issues found during testing.
  • Parallel Testing
    The service supports parallel testing, enabling users to run multiple tests simultaneously, significantly reducing the overall testing time.
  • Easy-to-Use Interface
    The user interface is intuitive and user-friendly, making it easy for both beginners and experienced testers to navigate and utilize the platform effectively.

Possible disadvantages of CrossBrowserTesting

  • Cost
    CrossBrowserTesting can be expensive, especially for small teams or individual developers who might find the subscription plans to be cost-prohibitive.
  • Performance
    Tests on real devices can sometimes be slow due to the availability and network constraints, which can affect the overall efficiency of the testing process.
  • Limited Mobile Devices
    While the platform includes a variety of devices, the selection might not cover all the latest models or less common devices, potentially limiting testing coverage.
  • Learning Curve for Advanced Features
    Some advanced features and integrations might require a learning curve, which could be challenging for users who are not familiar with automated testing or the specific tools supported.
  • Test Timeout Issues
    Occasional issues with test timeouts have been reported, which can disrupt the testing process and require reruns or additional troubleshooting.

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.

Analysis of CrossBrowserTesting

Overall verdict

  • CrossBrowserTesting is generally regarded as a good solution for cross-browser testing needs, particularly for teams that require real-time testing and robust automation capabilities. Its ease of use, extensive browser/device coverage, and integration options make it a strong choice for many development and QA teams.

Why this product is good

  • CrossBrowserTesting is considered a valuable tool because it provides a cloud-based platform for testing websites and mobile applications across different browsers, devices, and operating systems. It enables developers and QA teams to ensure that their applications function correctly on various platforms without needing to maintain a complex setup of physical devices. The platform offers real-time debugging, automated screenshot testing, and integration with various CI/CD tools, which streamlines the testing process.

Recommended for

    This service is highly recommended for software development teams, QA engineers, and web developers who need to ensure compatibility and functionality of their web applications across multiple browsers and devices. It is particularly useful for organizations with a focus on maintaining high-quality user experiences across various platforms.

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.

CrossBrowserTesting videos

Cross Browser Testing Tool Comparison โ€“ LambdaTest vs. CrossBrowserTesting

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

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to CrossBrowserTesting and Classic Shell)
Website Testing
100 100%
0% 0
Note Taking
0 0%
100% 100
Browser Testing
100 100%
0% 0
LMS
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using CrossBrowserTesting and Classic Shell. 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 CrossBrowserTesting. 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.

CrossBrowserTesting mentions (6)

  • How can I test my site on safari if I don't have a Mac ?
    Yeah I moved on pretty quick from browserstack, but it seems to be the most popular. I've tried crossbrowsertesting.com but at the moment I really like app.lambdatest.com. Source: over 3 years ago
  • great list of "cool" sites from hnews
    Https://geizhals.de/ - this is a german site but the UI is nice and you can find a lot of stuff. Https://www.gsmarena.com/search.php3? - a phone search site. When I was at https://crossbrowsertesting.com we used this site a lot Https://www.howacarworks.com/ - how a car works Https://www.mcmaster.com/ - the UI here is so nice. Those illustrations Https://ciechanow.ski/mechanical-watch/ - how does a mechanical... - Source: dev.to / about 4 years ago
  • Learn How To Create, Test and Deploy a Single Page App with Vue 3 + Vite and Pinia
    Fortunately we donโ€™t need to install, nor configure, any other tools, unless maybe some fancy reporters, but for now we can get everything we need in terms of end-to-end automated testing out of Nightwatch. Besides Chrome, Nightwatch has built-in support for all major browsers, including Firefox, Edge, and Safari, all thanks to its integration with the W3C Webdriver API and Selenium. It also allows you to use... - Source: dev.to / over 4 years ago
  • Free for dev - list of software (SaaS, PaaS, IaaS, etc.)
    Crossbrowsertesting.com - Manual, Visual, and Selenium Browser Testing in the cloud - free for Open Source. - Source: dev.to / almost 5 years ago
  • How do yโ€™all test responsiveness of website?
    Professionally, I do basically the same for dev testing. We also have various devices on different platforms/versions in the office when needed, and our QA team primarily uses Cross Browser Testing Tool. If I need to check something specific, I usually use CBT. Source: about 5 years ago
View more

Classic Shell mentions (18)

View more

What are some alternatives?

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

Sauce Labs - Test mobile or web apps instantly across 700+ browser/OS/device platform combinations - without infrastructure setup.

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.

BrowserStack - BrowserStack is a software testing platform for developers to comprehensively test websites and mobile applications for quality.

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.

browserling - Live interactive cross-browser testing from your browser.

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!