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Open Shell VS TaskbarTools

Compare Open Shell VS TaskbarTools and see what are their differences

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Contents:
  1. » Base Details
  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...

TaskbarTools logo TaskbarTools

Set the Windows Taskbar to any opacity and colour desired.
  • Open Shell Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-02-07
  • TaskbarTools Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-27

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.

TaskbarTools 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 TaskbarTools

Overall verdict

  • TaskbarTools is a solid, lightweight open-source utility for Windows that lets users customize the taskbar's appearance, offering transparency and color tweaks that Windows lacks natively, making it a good choice for those wanting a cleaner desktop look.

Why this product is good

  • Free and open-source, so it's transparent and community-verifiable
  • Lightweight with minimal system resource usage
  • Allows fine-grained control over taskbar transparency, color, and accent effects
  • Simple, portable tool that doesn't require complex installation
  • Actively used by the Windows customization community

Recommended for

  • Windows users who want to customize taskbar transparency and appearance
  • Desktop customization enthusiasts and rice communities
  • Users seeking a lightweight, free alternative to paid customization tools
  • Those comfortable running open-source utilities from GitHub

Open Shell videos

+ Add

Classic Menu for Windows 10 with Open Shell

TaskbarTools videos

No TaskbarTools videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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Category Popularity

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

Open Shell

TaskbarTools

Note Taking
88 88%
Note Taking
12% 12
OS & Utilities
87 87%
OS & Utilities
13% 13
LMS
88 88%
LMS
12% 12
Bookmarks
100 100%
Bookmarks
0% 0

User comments

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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Open Shell and TaskbarTools, 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.

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.

TranslucentTB - TranslucentTB make Windows Taskbar transparent

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.

Lively Wallpaper - What is it? Lively is a Free and Open-Source Software (FOSS) for animated desktop wallpapers.

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!

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