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Open Shell VS Kando

Compare Open Shell VS Kando and see what are their differences

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Contents:
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  2. » Videos
  3. » Reviews
  4. » Alternatives

Open Shell logo Open Shell

Open Shell is a fork of the Classic Shell project for Windows that getting back the classic start...

Kando logo Kando

Kando offers an unconventional, fast, highly efficient, and fun way of interacting with your computer! You can use it to run commands, execute macros, open files, and much more.
  • Open Shell Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-02-07
  • Kando Landing page
    Landing page //
    2025-06-10

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.

Kando features and specs

No features have been listed yet.

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.

Analysis of Kando

Overall verdict

  • Kando is a well-regarded open-source pie menu launcher that offers a fast, customizable way to trigger commands and shortcuts across Windows, macOS, and Linux, making it a solid choice for users seeking to boost productivity through gesture-based menus.

Why this product is good

  • Free and open-source, so there are no licensing costs and the community can contribute improvements
  • Cross-platform support covering Windows, macOS, and Linux
  • Highly customizable pie/marking menus that let you bind apps, scripts, hotkeys, and system commands
  • Fast, mouse-and-keyboard-friendly workflow that reduces the time spent hunting for actions
  • Actively developed with a growing community and regular updates

Recommended for

  • Power users who want quick access to frequently used apps and commands
  • Developers and tinkerers comfortable with configuring and scripting their tools
  • People who value keyboard and mouse gesture-based productivity workflows
  • Users across multiple operating systems needing a consistent launcher experience
  • Anyone who prefers free, open-source software over paid alternatives

Open Shell videos

+ Add

Classic Menu for Windows 10 with Open Shell

Kando videos

+ Add

আর কতদিন ফেলুদা বেচে খাবেন?Joto Kando Kolkatatei - যত কান্ড কলকাতাতেই | Review by Tom Thrush

More videos:

  • Review - KANDO Gear - Trooper PRO
  • Review - আর কতদিন ফেলুদা বেচে খাবেন?Joto Kando Kolkatatei - যত কান্ড কলকাতাতেই | Review by Tom Thrush

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Open Shell and Kando)

Open Shell

Kando

Note Taking
80 80%
Note Taking
20% 20
Productivity
0 0%
Productivity
100% 100
LMS
100 100%
LMS
0% 0
Mac
0 0%
Mac
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using Open Shell and Kando. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Kando seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 1 time 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.

Open Shell mentions (0)

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

Kando mentions (1)

  • Building the Mouse Logitech Won't Make
    I built my daily driver with QMK [0... It has 9 buttons, most bringing per app specific custom pie-menus with Kando [1] the design respects the most neutral position of the human arm anatomy, which lies between a slant angle of 20° up to 30° [2] [0] https://www.reddit.com/r/ErgoMechKeyboards/comments/1jksi0x/mourseee/ [1] https://kando.menu/ [2] https://www.jospt.org/doi/pdf/10.2519/jospt.2004.34.10.638. - Source: Hacker News / 11 months ago

What are some alternatives?

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

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.

Pieoneer - Let your apps fly — in a pie

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.

Pie Menu - The radial menu for Mac tailored to your active app. Speed up all your favorite programs with only one shortcut!

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.

Charmstone - The quicker switcher launcher for macOS

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