Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

LinkedIn VS Open Shell

Compare LinkedIn 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.

LinkedIn logo LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a business-oriented social networking service, mainly used for professional networking.

Open Shell logo Open Shell

Open Shell is a fork of the Classic Shell project for Windows that getting back the classic start...
  • LinkedIn Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-01-23
  • Open Shell Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-02-07

LinkedIn features and specs

  • Professional Networking
    LinkedIn is specifically designed for professional networking, allowing users to connect with colleagues, industry experts, and potential employers.
  • Job Opportunities
    The platform lists job openings and allows users to apply directly through LinkedIn, making it easier to find and apply for jobs.
  • Industry News
    LinkedIn provides a steady stream of industry news and updates, helping professionals stay informed about trends and developments in their field.
  • Personal Branding
    Users can build a personal brand by sharing content, engaging with posts, and showcasing their skills and accomplishments on their profile.
  • Skill Endorsements
    LinkedIn allows connections to endorse each other for specific skills, which can add credibility to a userโ€™s profile.
  • Educational Content
    Through LinkedIn Learning, users have access to a wide range of courses and tutorials to enhance their professional skills.

Possible disadvantages of LinkedIn

  • Spam and Irrelevant Messages
    Users often receive unsolicited messages and connection requests, which can be annoying and time-consuming to manage.
  • Privacy Concerns
    There are ongoing concerns about data privacy, as personal and professional information is stored and shared on the platform.
  • Overemphasis on Job-Seeking
    The platform is heavily focused on job-seeking and recruitment, which may not be relevant for all users.
  • Premium Features
    Many of LinkedIn's advanced features, such as InMail and detailed analytics, require a paid subscription.
  • Endorsement Credibility
    The skill endorsement feature can be easily gamed, making it less reliable as proof of expertise.
  • Time Consumption
    Active participation on LinkedIn can be time-consuming, as users need to constantly engage with content and connections to maintain visibility.

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 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.

LinkedIn videos

How To Use LinkedIn For Beginners - 7 LinkedIn Profile Tips

More videos:

  • Review - Is LinkedIn Premium Worth It? | Nils Smith: Your Social Media Guide
  • Review - LinkedIn Learning Review

Open Shell videos

Classic Menu for Windows 10 with Open Shell

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to LinkedIn and Open Shell)
Job Boards
100 100%
0% 0
Note Taking
0 0%
100% 100
Hiring And Recruitment
100 100%
0% 0
LMS
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using LinkedIn and Open Shell. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Reviews

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

LinkedIn Reviews

  1. AnnaBenjamin
    Essential Professional Network โ€” Valuable but Sometimes Noisy

    I use LinkedIn almost every day for career networking, following industry news, and job hunting, and overall itโ€™s been very useful. Itโ€™s the go-to place to connect with colleagues, recruiters, and professionals in your field โ€” and Iโ€™ve gotten valuable opportunities just from profile visibility and posts.

    The job search tools are solid, with alerts and recommended roles based on your profile. Itโ€™s also handy for building your personal brand by sharing content or engaging with discussions in your industry.

    That said, LinkedInโ€™s feed can sometimes feel noisy with overly promotional posts, irrelevant updates, or recruiters spamming every connection. And while the Premium subscription adds features like InMail and deeper insights, it feels pricey if youโ€™re only occasionally job hunting.

    Overall, LinkedIn is a powerful professional platform that delivers real value, but itโ€™s not perfect

    ๐Ÿ Competitors: indeed
    ๐Ÿ‘ Pros:    Excellent networking and career-building platform.
    ๐Ÿ‘Ž Cons:    Feeds can get cluttered with irrelevant posts or spam.
  2. Great website for professional network, started using it recently and already found some business partners and a couple of job opportunities.

    ๐Ÿ‘ Pros:    Networking

The Best Startup Talent Marketplaces of 2025
One of LinkedInโ€™s greatest strengths is its ability to facilitate direct communication between candidates and employers. By leveraging LinkedInโ€™s networking tools, job seekers can build meaningful relationships that often lead to opportunities not publicly advertised. If youโ€™re looking to expand your professional network while exploring startup jobs, LinkedIn is a must-use...
The 7 Best Facebook Alternatives in 2024
While LinkedIn isnโ€™t exactly an excellent alternative to Facebook for people who want to chat about family gossip. It is a great social network for those who wish to post and read about companies, finance, real estate, and other more professional topics. Itโ€™s also an excellent replacement for those who used the Facebook Marketplace to search for or post job openings....
The 10 Best Twitter Alternatives if Youโ€™re Thinking of Quitting X
LinkedIn is designed with the professional in mind. It encourages the sharing of achievements, thought leadership articles, and industry news, making it a powerhouse for professional development and brand building.
10+ Top Facebook Alternatives That Value Your Privacy in 2024
While LinkedIn displays ads to users, the social media platform does not directly share any personal data with 3rd parties. It also allows users to easily restrict or change the way their data is used.
Top 10 free Websites to find Remote Job
LinkedInโ€™s content platform allows professionals to share articles, industry insights and thought leadership. Engaging with and creating relevant content can help establish your expertise and attract remote job opportunities.

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, LinkedIn seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 126 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.

LinkedIn mentions (126)

  • GitHub Profile README Generator โ€” Free Tool, 3 Templates, 10 Seconds
    If you have ideas, DM me on LinkedIn or open an issue on GitHub. - Source: dev.to / about 1 month ago
  • Stealth Browser: How AI Agents Bypass Bot Detection
    Bridge_cdp_connect(port=9222) Bridge_cdp_navigate(url='https://linkedin.com') # Full access to logged-in sessions. - Source: dev.to / 4 months ago
  • End-to-End Automation with Terraform: A DevOps Engineerโ€™s Guide to Infrastructure as Code
    Have questions or want to share how youโ€™re using Terraform in your environment? Drop a comment, connect with me on LinkedIn, or explore my GitHub for reusable Terraform modules. - Source: dev.to / 11 months ago
  • Best Practices for Hiring Top Talent in 2025
    Job Portals: Platforms like LinkedIn, Indeed, and Glassdoor provide access to a vast talent pool. Referral Programs: Encourage employees to refer qualified candidates in exchange for incentives. Industry Events and Conferences: Networking at relevant events helps connect with potential hires. University Partnerships: Collaborate with educational institutions to attract early-career professionals. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • Ask HN: Freelancer? Seeking freelancer? (November 2024)
    SEEKING WORK | USA | Remote Web Developer + Graphic Designer I am a graphic designer and web developer who creates websites, brand identities and marketing material for a variety of companies including startups, agencies and non-profit organizations. In addition to my design skills, I am also a full-stack web developer. DESIGN: websites, mobile apps, logos, banner ads, marketing material, advertising, billboards,... - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
View more

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 LinkedIn and Open Shell, you can also consider the following products

indeed - Find jobs using Indeed, the most comprehensive search engine for jobs.

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.

Glassdoor - Glassdoor is a jobs and career marketplace.

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.

Monster.com - Monster.com is one of the largest employment websites and job search engine in the world.

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.