Software Alternatives & Reviews

Start8 VS Classic Shell

Compare Start8 VS Classic Shell and see what are their differences

Start8 logo Start8

Start8 returns the familiar Start menu to Microsoft's latest Windows 8 operating system.

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.
  • Start8 Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-12
  • Classic Shell Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-09-30

Start8

Categories
  • OS & Utilities
  • Note Taking
  • LMS
  • Bookmarks
Website stardock.com
Details $-

Classic Shell

Categories
  • OS & Utilities
  • Note Taking
  • LMS
  • Bookmarks
Website classicshell.net
Details $

Start8 videos

Start8 review (and the reason why Metro UI's name was changed)

More videos:

  • Review - Start8 review
  • Tutorial - How to get Start Menu back in Windows 8 with Stardock Start8 - Tutorial

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 Start8 and Classic Shell)
LMS
38 38%
62% 62
Note Taking
35 35%
65% 65
OS & Utilities
41 41%
59% 59
Bookmarks
31 31%
69% 69

User comments

Share your experience with using Start8 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 seems to be more popular. 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.

Start8 mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Start8 yet. Tracking of Start8 recommendations started around Mar 2021.

Classic Shell mentions (18)

  • Scrollbars Are Becoming a Problem
    There's a great add-on called... ClassicShell http://classicshell.net/. - Source: Hacker News / 6 months ago
  • What software would be used to remove the red elements and change the layout of the tray icon?
    Windows Classic Shell is what I have used for over a decade. It brings back the old start menu and can be customized. Source: about 1 year ago
  • Microsoft is turning Windows 11's Start Menu into an advertisement delivery system
    ClassicShell is no longer being developed. OpenShell succeeded it. (c.f., http://classicshell.net/). Source: over 1 year ago
  • Is it possible to install windows 8.1 on the surface pro 5?
    Http://classicshell.net/This lets you pick UI goodness you want. Source: over 1 year ago
  • looking for a taskbar replacement
    Other, non-rainmeter options that I'm aware of include TranslucentTB and Classic Shell (note: Open Shell is the newer version, but I'm unsure if it has the same features). Source: about 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Start8 and Classic Shell, you can also consider the following products

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.

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

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!

StartIsBack - StartIsBack returns Windows 10 and Windows 8 a real fully featured start menu and start button, behaving exactly like the ones in Windows 7. It's totally awesome and easy solution for your new Windows woes.

Start11 - Start11 is a program that gives you the flexibility to customize your PC’s start menu and Windows taskbar with a tile-based interface that scrolls between large display images.

Power8 - Start menu replacement for Windows