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StartIsBack VS TaskbarTools

Compare StartIsBack VS TaskbarTools and see what are their differences

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.

Rating
0 reviews
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Alternatives Is it good?
TaskbarTools

Set the Windows Taskbar to any opacity and colour desired.

Rating
0 reviews
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Alternatives Is it good?
Tempreon
A personal memory layer for your AI tools, connected over MCP. sponsored

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, StartIsBack seems to be more popular. It has been mentioned 10 times since March 2021.

social mentions
10 vs 0
Note Taking popularity
100% vs 0%
alternatives listed
33 vs 9

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

StartIsBack
TaskbarTools
Website startisback.com github.com
Listed in
OS & Utilities Note Taking LMS Bookmarks +1
OS & Utilities Wallpapers Personalization Windows Tools +1

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

StartIsBack 5 features
TaskbarTools 0 features
  • 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

  • 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.

No features have been listed yet.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

StartIsBack
TaskbarTools

Overall verdict

  • Overall, StartIsBack is considered a reliable and user-friendly program that delivers on its promise to restore and improve the classic Windows interface. It is appreciated for its simplicity, efficiency, and ability to integrate seamlessly into the Windows operating system.

Why this product is good

  • StartIsBack is a popular tool for Windows users who prefer the classic Start menu and taskbar functionality that was present in older versions of Windows, such as Windows 7. It brings back and enhances these features, offering a customizable experience which can greatly improve productivity and user satisfaction for those who are not fond of the default Start menu in newer Windows iterations.

Recommended for

    StartIsBack is particularly recommended for users who find the default Windows Start menu and taskbar interface in versions like Windows 8 or Windows 10 lacking in functionality or aesthetic appeal. It's ideal for those who prefer a more traditional desktop environment or wish to enhance their efficiency with a tailored Start menu and taskbar experience.

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

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

StartIsBack 3 videos + Add
TaskbarTools 0 videos + Add

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

More videos

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

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

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
StartIsBack
TaskbarTools
100% 100%
Note Taking
0% 0%
0% 0%
Wallpapers
100% 100%
100% 100%
LMS
0% 0%
0% 0%
Personalization
100% 100%

User comments

Share your experience with using StartIsBack and TaskbarTools. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

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Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

StartIsBack 10 mentions
TaskbarTools 0 mentions
  • 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: almost 4 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: over 4 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... Source: over 4 years ago

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Tracking TaskbarTools since Mar 2021.

Alternatives to StartIsBack and TaskbarTools

When comparing StartIsBack and TaskbarTools, you can also consider the following products.

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