Software Alternatives & Startups

UserVoice VS Open Shell

Compare UserVoice VS Open Shell and see what are their differences

UserVoice

UserVoice integrates easy-to-use feedback, helpdesk, and knowledge base management tools in one platform that empowers users to speak and companies to understand.

Rating
0 reviews
Open Shell

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

Rating
0 reviews
Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, UserVoice seems to be more popular. It has been mentioned 8 times since March 2021.

social mentions
8 vs 0
Customer Feedback popularity
100% vs 0%
alternatives listed
240+ vs 44

Base details

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

UserVoice
Open Shell
Website uservoice.com open-shell.github.io
Company Startup from the United States —
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

UserVoice 6 features
Open Shell 5 features
  • User Feedback Gathering
    UserVoice allows businesses to collect feedback directly from users, helping to prioritize product improvements based on actual user needs.
  • Customization
    The platform is highly customizable, which allows organizations to tailor it to their specific needs and branding requirements.
  • Integration with Other Tools
    UserVoice integrates with other popular tools like Slack, Jira, and Salesforce, making it easier to consolidate feedback and manage workflows.
  • Analytics and Reporting
    Robust analytics and reporting tools provide actionable insights into user feedback trends and sentiment.
  • User Engagement
    Features like voting and commenting encourage user participation and create a sense of community.
  • Scalability
    The platform can scale to accommodate organizations of various sizes, from startups to large enterprises.

Possible disadvantages

  • Pricing
    UserVoice can be expensive for small businesses or startups, making it less accessible for organizations with limited budgets.
  • Learning Curve
    There can be a steep learning curve for new users, which might require additional training and onboarding.
  • Limited Customization at Lower Tiers
    While the platform is customizable, lower-tier plans offer limited customization options compared to higher-tier plans.
  • Complexity
    Advanced features and integrations can add complexity, which may require dedicated staff for proper management.
  • Response Time
    Some users have reported slower response times from customer support, which can be frustrating during critical issues.
  • Feature Clutter
    The abundance of features can sometimes feel overwhelming, making navigation and usage less intuitive for some users.
  • 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

  • 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.

Analysis

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

UserVoice
Open Shell

Overall verdict

  • UserVoice is a good solution for businesses looking to systematically incorporate customer feedback into their product development process. It is particularly beneficial for organizations seeking to improve customer engagement and make data-driven decisions.

Why this product is good

  • UserVoice is a popular platform for gathering and managing customer feedback. It provides tools for users to submit, vote, and discuss ideas, which can help companies prioritize product development based on customer demand. The platform is praised for its ease of use, integration capabilities with other tools, and its robust reporting features, which allow businesses to track feedback trends and measure customer satisfaction effectively.

Recommended for

    UserVoice is recommended for medium to large-sized businesses, product managers, customer experience teams, and any organization looking to foster a more interactive relationship with their customer base to drive product improvements. It suits industries where customer feedback is a critical component of growth and innovation, such as technology, software development, and digital services.

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.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

UserVoice 3 videos + Add
Open Shell 1 video + Add

UserVoice Review

More videos

  • - How to Use Customer Feedback on Your Product by UserVoice CEO
  • - UserVoice

Classic Menu for Windows 10 with Open Shell

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
UserVoice
Open Shell
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
LMS
100% 100%

User comments

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

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Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

UserVoice no reviews yet
Open Shell no reviews yet
  • 10 Best Canny Alternatives and Competitors in 2025
    clickup.com · Oct 2024

    UserVoice is a Canny.io alternative that dives deeper into customer feedback. While Canny offers feedback based on upvoting, UserVoice goes further by collecting feedback from multiple avenues including email,...

  • 17 Best Canny Alternatives in 2024
    supahub.com · Feb 2024

    UserVoice is a customer feedback management tool that helps you collect, organize and prioritize all of your feedback in one place. UserVoice is the most complete and most popular tool for collecting feedback from...

  • 30+ Customer Feedback Tools comparison
    clearflask.com · Nov 2021

    For optimal user experience, your customer should not sense they are leaving your website and using another platform for feedback. The look and feel of the feedback platform must be customizable to match your design....

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We have no reviews of Open Shell yet. Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

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

UserVoice 8 mentions
Open Shell 0 mentions
  • YARWL (Yet Another Remarkable Wishlist)
    I have sent them some user stories, complete with storyboard images. I am not a beta participant though. I suggested that it would be helpful if they rolled out something like UserVoice's Feedback Manager, so there is transparency to... Source: almost 4 years ago
  • Ask HN: Could you please share which SaaS you are using for your SaaS?
    - Collecting customer's feature requests: This is a tough one, I am using https://uservoice.com/ but I don't like it that much. I am searching for a self-hosted alternative to https://canny.io/. - Source: Hacker News / over 4 years ago
  • "Help us to improve your reMarkable experience"
    I think that RM should consider a solution such as UserVoice which will let the user community vote on what critical bug fixes or new features we feel are most important. Not only can a user upvote a feature request or critical fix, but... Source: over 4 years ago

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Tracking Open Shell since Mar 2021.

Alternatives to UserVoice and Open Shell

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