Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Guru VS Open Shell

Compare Guru VS Open 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.

Guru logo Guru

Guru makes it easy for employers and freelancers to connect, collaborate and get work done flexibly and securely. Browse 1. 5 million freelancers for hire and thousands of projects.

Open Shell logo Open Shell

Open Shell is a fork of the Classic Shell project for Windows that getting back the classic start...
  • Guru Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-12-13
  • Open Shell Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-02-07

Guru features and specs

  • Wide Range of Freelancers
    Guru has a large database of freelancers across various fields, making it easier to find the right talent for any specific project.
  • Payment Protection
    Guru offers a SafePay service that holds funds securely, ensuring that both employers and freelancers are protected during the transaction process.
  • Flexible Payment Options
    Guru allows employers to choose from multiple payment methods and scheduling options such as hourly, milestone-based, and recurring payments.
  • Workroom Feature
    Guru provides a Workroom where employers and freelancers can manage their projects, communicate, share files, and track progress efficiently.
  • Cost-Effective
    Guru charges relatively lower fees compared to some other freelancing platforms, making it a cost-effective option for both employers and freelancers.

Possible disadvantages of Guru

  • Website Downtime
    As indicated by the site down page, Guru may experience occasional website downtimes, which can disrupt access to services and communication.
  • User Interface
    Some users find Guru's user interface less intuitive and harder to navigate compared to other freelance platforms.
  • Limited Customer Support
    Users have reported that Guru's customer support can be slow to respond and less helpful, which can be frustrating during urgent issues.
  • Service Fees
    While it's generally cost-effective, Guru still charges service fees which can accumulate, especially for freelancers who deal with multiple small projects.
  • Quality Variability
    With such a wide pool of freelancers, the quality of work can vary significantly, making it necessary for employers to thoroughly vet candidates.

Open Shell features and specs

  • Customization
    Open Shell provides extensive customization options, allowing users to modify the Start menu to fit their preferences, from design to functionality.
  • Familiar Interface
    It offers a classic start menu which is familiar to users of older Windows versions, making it easier for them to navigate.
  • Open Source
    Being an open-source project, it allows for community contributions, making it more transparent and potentially more secure.
  • No Cost
    Open Shell is free to use, providing a cost-effective solution for users who want a different Start menu experience without paying for software.
  • Regular Updates
    The project is fairly well-maintained, receiving updates that add new features and fix potential issues, improving user experience over time.

Possible disadvantages of Open Shell

  • Compatibility Issues
    There could be compatibility problems with certain Windows updates or third-party applications, requiring troubleshooting and fixes.
  • Learning Curve
    While it offers many customization options, new users might find the settings and customization process overwhelming and confusing initially.
  • Community Support
    As an open-source project, it relies heavily on community support rather than professional customer service, which can be a drawback for users needing prompt assistance.
  • Resource Usage
    Though generally lightweight, Open Shell can consume additional system resources, which might be impactful on less powerful machines.

Analysis of Guru

Overall verdict

  • Guru.com is considered a good platform for freelancers and clients looking for reliable project-based work. It provides various tools and resources to support project management and ensure successful collaborations. However, like any platform, it has its share of limitations, such as competition and service fees.

Why this product is good

  • Guru.com is a reputable freelancing platform that connects freelancers with clients across a wide range of industries. It is known for its user-friendly interface, flexible payment options, and diverse job categories. The platform offers a secure workroom environment for communication and file sharing, facilitating smooth collaboration between clients and freelancers.

Recommended for

    Guru is recommended for freelancers seeking flexible work opportunities in fields such as writing, graphic design, programming, and digital marketing. It's also suitable for clients looking for skilled professionals to complete short-term or long-term projects.

Analysis of Open Shell

Overall verdict

  • Open Shell is considered a good tool for those who desire a more traditional Start Menu experience on modern Windows versions. It is reliable, versatile, and generally well-received by the community for resurrecting the familiar interface from previous Windows iterations.

Why this product is good

  • Open Shell (formerly known as Classic Shell) is appreciated for its ability to bring back the classic Start Menu functionality to Windows, particularly for users who prefer the interface design and usability of older versions of Windows. It provides a customizable menu, various skins, and additional enhancements for the Start Button, File Explorer, and Internet Explorer. The software is lightweight, free, and open source, allowing for a high degree of personalization and adaptability.

Recommended for

  • Users who prefer the classic Windows Start Menu.
  • Individuals who are not satisfied with the default Start Menu on newer Windows versions.
  • Users seeking a highly customizable and lightweight menu solution.
  • Technical users who appreciate open-source software and want to tweak their system appearance and functionality.
  • Anyone upgrading from older Windows versions who wants to maintain a consistent user interface experience.

Guru videos

How To Get Clients EASILY on Guru.com (Step-By-Step Method for Freelance Websites)

More videos:

  • Review - Guru.com review video

Open Shell videos

Classic Menu for Windows 10 with Open Shell

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Guru and Open Shell)
Freelance Marketplace
100 100%
0% 0
Note Taking
0 0%
100% 100
Work Marketplace
100 100%
0% 0
LMS
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Guru and Open Shell

Guru Reviews

The 10 Best Alternatives to Upwork
Guru offers several advantages over Upwork that make it a preferred choice for freelancers and businesses alike. With its secure payment system, flexible payment options, and collaborative WorkRooms, Guru provides a streamlined and efficient platform for freelancers and clients to work together seamlessly.
Source: www.twine.net
UPWORK ALTERNATIVES: THE 10 BEST PLATFORMS FOR FINDING FREELANCERS
Guru caters to freelancers with diverse skills and expertise by offering a wide range of project categories. Whether freelancers specialize in writing, design, programming, marketing, or other fields, they can find relevant opportunities on Guru.
Source: medium.com
Top 10 free Websites to find Remote Job
Guru is a freelance marketplace that connects employers with freelancers for various projects, including remote jobs. It provides a platform for freelancers to find remote job opportunities, collaborate with clients, and receive payment, making it a useful resource for individuals seeking remote work.
Top Sites Like Fiverr โ€“ The Best Alternatives For Freelancers in 2022
It is one of the best Fiverr competitors that gives an easy way to get contacted by potential employers. This platform posts a massive amount of jobs every day. Guru deducts 5% to 9% payment you got after successfully completing a task.
9 Best Upwork Alternatives
Guru offers access to over 3 million freelancers from around the world. You can hire experienced freelancers for anything from logo design to sound engineering.

Open Shell Reviews

We have no reviews of Open Shell yet.
Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Guru seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 3 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.

Guru mentions (3)

  • I tried to kill myself today
    Guru.com and similar website have tons of resources for starting freelancers. You won't land yourself a cushy programming job in the first week, you may need to hustle long work weeks and multiple employers, but if you are a trained programmer, you shouldn't have much trouble finding a job, after you take care of yourself. Source: almost 5 years ago
  • Web stack for advertisement platform
    Cloud hosted, haven't done any assessment. Maybe something like freelancer.com or guru.com is similar. Source: about 5 years ago
  • How do you get the initial SEO backlinks?
    Go to guru.com and get a data miner to find you a list of 500 relevant blogs, contact details etc. Source: about 5 years ago

Open Shell mentions (0)

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

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Guru and Open Shell, you can also consider the following products

Upwork - Forget the old rules. You can have the best people. Right now. Right here.

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.

Freelancer.com - Search for jobs related to Www freelancer com homepage or hire on the world's largest freelancing marketplace with 12m+ jobs. It's free to sign up and bid on jobs.

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.

Fiverr - One marketplace, millions of professional services.

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.