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StartIsBack VS Open Shell

Compare StartIsBack VS Open Shell and see what are their differences

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StartIsBack logo 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.

Open Shell logo Open Shell

Open Shell is a fork of the Classic Shell project for Windows that getting back the classic start...
  • StartIsBack Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-21
  • Open Shell Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-02-07

StartIsBack features and specs

  • Classic Start Menu
    StartIsBack restores the classic Start menu which many users are familiar with and prefer over the modern versions in Windows 8 and later.
  • Customization
    The software offers extensive customization options for the Start menu, taskbar, and other UI elements, allowing users to tweak their experience to their liking.
  • Lightweight
    StartIsBack is a lightweight application with a small memory footprint and does not slow down the system.
  • Improved Productivity
    By providing a familiar and efficient interface, it enhances user productivity by making it easier to find and launch programs and settings.
  • Seamless Integration
    The application integrates seamlessly with Windows, providing a native feel that doesn't disrupt the overall user experience.

Possible disadvantages of StartIsBack

  • Cost
    StartIsBack is a paid application, which may be a drawback for users looking for a free solution.
  • Limited to Windows
    The software is only compatible with Windows, so users on other operating systems cannot benefit from its features.
  • System Updates
    Major Windows updates can sometimes cause compatibility issues, requiring users to wait for a new version of StartIsBack to address problems.
  • Customization Complexity
    Though it's highly customizable, the multiple options can overwhelm less tech-savvy users, making it difficult for them to find the best settings.
  • Additional Resource Usage
    Although lightweight, it still uses some system resources, which might be a concern for very low-end systems.

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.

StartIsBack videos

+ Add

StartisBack++ 2.6.2 | Review | Full Version | Full Function | 2018

More videos:

  • Review - Customize Windows 10 With StartIsBack++ And Visual Styles
  • Tutorial - StartIsBack Windows 8 App Review - How to Get the Windows 7 Start Menu in Windows 8

Open Shell videos

+ Add

Classic Menu for Windows 10 with Open Shell

Category Popularity

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

StartIsBack

Open Shell

Note Taking
52 52%
Note Taking
48% 48
LMS
53 53%
LMS
47% 47
OS & Utilities
49 49%
OS & Utilities
51% 51
Bookmarks
50 50%
Bookmarks
50% 50

User comments

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

Based on our record, StartIsBack seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 10 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.

StartIsBack mentions (10)

  • PSA: If anyone wants a better start menu experience on Windows, install Open Shell
    If you use Windows 10, startisback is by the same dev as StartAllBack: http://startisback.com/. Source: over 2 years ago
  • I made Windows 10 look like Windows 8.1
    Just a sec, I made Windows 10 look like Windows 8.1 with Startisback (get it at startisback.com if you don't have it). Source: almost 3 years ago
  • Glad to say I stayed with vegas pro since i started editing about 7 years ago. Just finished cutting 1000+ clips from EOS r6 10bit clog3 and a7iii 8bit final time of 1 and half hour in my laptop and it never had a single hic-cup. Might be due to the last build 636 update that it is much stable now.
    Haha..got you there....its a windows 10 and I added startallback (https://startisback.com) for that sweet windows 7 logo only. I hate that boxy logo design of win 10. It's a msi prestige 15 11th gen i7 with 16gb ram. Video cards are Intel Iris Xe and Nvidia 1650. The intel graphics tends to do better when selected as primary for vegas pro since it runs parallel with nvidia and can decode faster that way. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • Everyday Im reminded I will lose Windows 8.1 in less then a year. I saw some people posting their setups so I thought it might be a not bad idea to post mine.
    Non-free: https://startisback.com/. Source: about 3 years ago
  • Honestly, Windows 11 is not that impressive.
    StartAllBack, startisback.com, 30-day trial and $4.99 after that. I wasn't totally satisficed with it. When Start11 added the Windows 10 start menu, I went back to it. Source: over 3 years 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 StartIsBack and Open 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.

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.

StartAllBack - StartAllBack is software that helps to customize the start menu to Windows 7 & 8.

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!

Power8 - Start menu replacement for Windows

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