Comparison of Start menu replacements for Windows 8

[[Microsoft]]'s [[Windows 8]] [[operating system]] introduced an updated [[Start menu]] known as the "Start screen", which uses a full-screen design consisting of tiles to represent applications. This replaced the Windows desktop as the primary interface of the operating system. Additionally, the on-screen Start button was replaced by a hidden button in the corner of the screen; Microsoft explained that the Start button was removed because few people used it, noting the addition of "pinning" apps to the [[taskbar]] from [[Windows 7]].<ref name="PC Pro">{{cite web|url=http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/enterprise/375550/why-microsoft-killed-the-windows-start-button |title=Why Microsoft killed the Windows Start button |publisher=PC Pro |date= |accessdate=2012-12-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Whitney |first=Lance |url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-10805_3-57371830-75/microsoft-removes-start-button-in-windows-8/ |title=Microsoft removes start button in Windows 8 |work=CNET |date=2012-02-06 |accessdate=2012-12-15}}</ref>

The change was controversial among users, and a market ensued for applications which restore the visible Start button, emulate the previous Start menu design, or allow users to boot directly to the Desktop instead of the Start screen.<ref>{{cite web|last=Whitney |first=Lance |url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-10805_3-20119131-75/microsoft-reacts-to-gripes-over-windows-8-start-screen/ |title=Microsoft reacts to gripes over Windows 8 Start screen |work=CNET |date=2011-10-12 |accessdate=2012-12-15}}</ref>

The following is a list of Start menu replacements for Windows 8 which have received coverage from third-party sources:  {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Name !! Developer !! License !! Skins !! Run !! Pinning !! Aero !! Sort !! Boot to desktop !! Notes |- | BringBack<ref>[http://www.laptopmag.com/review/software/revel-bringback-beta.aspx Revel BringBack (beta) Review | Windows 8 Start Menu Apps]</ref> || Revel Software || {{Dropped|[[Discontinued]]}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || Discontinued <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.revel-software.it/about-us|title=Revel Software - About Us|accessdate=2014-01-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131207091058/http://revel-software.it/about-us|archive-date=2013-12-07|url-status=dead}}</ref> (http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/revel_bringback8.html) |- | [[Classic Shell]]<ref name=9menus/><ref name="Extreme" /><ref name="CNET">[http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-33642_7-57496506-292/how-to-get-the-start-menu-back-in-windows-8/ How to get the Start menu back in Windows 8 | Windows 8 – CNET Reviews updated 2012/12/31]</ref><ref name="Geek">{{cite web|url=http://www.howtogeek.com/127699/6-start-menu-replacements-for-windows-8/ |title=6 Start Menu Replacements for Windows 8 |date=29 October 2012 |publisher=HowToGeek.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Spector |first=Lincoln |url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/261980/give_windows_8_the_start_menu_it_deserves.html |title=Give Windows 8 the Start menu it deserves |publisher=PCWorld |date=2012-09-06 |accessdate=2012-12-11}}</ref> || Classic Shell team || {{Free|[[MIT License]]}}<ref>[http://www.classicshell.net/faq/#general_oss Classic Shell FAQ, Is Classic Shell open-source?]</ref> || {{yes|10+extensible}}<ref>[http://www.softpedia.com/reviews/windows/Classic-Shell-Review-418806.shtml Classic Shell Review: Softpedia]</ref> || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || Allows Modern UI related tweaks<br />Discontinued and [[Classic Shell#History|forked]] to [[#Open-Shell|Open-Shell]] |- | Classic Start 8<ref>[http://www.classicstart8.com Free Traditional Start Menu Style for Use with Windows® 8]</ref> || Crawler, LLC || {{free|[[Freeware]]}} || {{no}} || {{yes}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || |- | Classic Windows Start Menu<ref>{{cite web|title=Classic Windows Start Menu|url=http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/OS-Enhancements/Classic-Windows-Start-Menu.shtml|website=[[Softpedia]]|publisher=SoftNews|accessdate=18 September 2014|date=28 April 2014}}</ref>|| SourceCodeBoy || {{Proprietary|[[CC-BY-NC-ND]]}} (Freeware for non-commercial use only) <ref>{{cite web|last1=SourceCodeBoy|title=SourceCodeBoy homepage|url=http://sourcecodeboy.esy.es/|accessdate=2015-01-09|archive-date=2015-01-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150109061328/http://sourcecodeboy.esy.es/|url-status=dead}}</ref> || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{no}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || Discontinued (last version here http://www.pypa.es/Utilidades/Software/) |- | Ex7forW8<ref>{{cite web|url=http://betanews.com/2012/12/11/disable-the-new-windows-8-interface-for-good-with-ex7forw8/|title=Disable the new Windows 8 interface for good with Ex7ForW8|date=11 December 2012 }}</ref> || Tihiy || {{Free|[[Freeware]]}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || Discontinued (http://tihiy.net/files/ex7forW8_1.0.zip) |- | Finalbird<ref>{{cite web|url=http://download.cnet.com/Finalbird/3000-2072_4-76182974.html|title=Finalbird - Free download and software reviews - CNET Download.com}}</ref> || Svyatoslav Yudin || {{Free|[[Freeware]]}} || {{no}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{no}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || Favorites of Start Menu is unified with the other software parts |- | Handy Start Menu<ref>[http://download.cnet.com/Handy-Start-Menu/3000-2344_4-75300511.html Handy Start Menu – CNET Download.com]</ref> || ChemTable Software || {{Free|[[Freeware]]}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || |- | Open-Shell<ref>{{Citation |title=Open-Shell/Open-Shell-Menu |date=2022-07-18 |url=https://github.com/Open-Shell/Open-Shell-Menu |publisher=Open-Shell |access-date=2022-07-18}}</ref>|| {{dunno}} || {{Free|[[MIT]]}} || {{yes}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{yes}} || Fork of Classic Shell |- | [[Pokki]]<ref name=9menus/><ref name="Extreme" /><ref name="Geek" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sfgate.com/business/prweb/article/Pokki-Brings-Back-the-Start-Menu-to-Help-Confused-3953494.php |title=Pokki Brings Back the Start Menu to Help Confused Windows 8 Users |publisher=SFGate |date=2012-10-16 |accessdate=2012-12-11}}</ref> || SweetLabs, Inc. || {{Free|[[Freeware]]}} || {{no}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{yes}} || |- | Power8<ref name=9menus/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.informationweek.com/byte/personal-tech/desktop-operating-systems/what-windows-81-must-be/240143750 |title=What Windows 8.1 Must Be – Personal-tech – Desktop Operating Systems – BYTE |publisher=Informationweek.com |date=2012-12-04 |accessdate=2012-12-15}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web|url=https://github.com/AgentMC/power8/wiki |title=Home · AgentMC/power8 Wiki · GitHub |publisher= Mike Makarov AgentMC |date=2015-04-09 |accessdate=2015-11-03}}</ref> || Power8 Team || {{Free|[[GNU General Public License]]}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || |- | [[RetroUI]] Pro<ref name=9menus/><ref name="CNET" /><ref>{{cite web|author=Adrian Kingsley-Hughes |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/adriankingsleyhughes/2012/12/04/make-windows-8-look-like-windows-7/ |title=Make Windows 8 Look Like Windows 7 |work=Forbes |date=2012-04-18 |accessdate=2012-12-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Erez Zukerman |url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/2030481/review-retroui-tries-to-fix-windows-8s-usability-woes-but-only-makes-them-worse.html |title= RetroUI tries to fix Windows 8's usability woes, but only makes them worse |publisher=PCWorld}}</ref> || Thinix || {{Nonfree|[[Trialware]]}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || |- | Samsung Quick Starter<ref>{{cite web|author=Chris Smith |url=http://www.techradar.com/us/news/software/operating-systems/samsung-to-return-classic-start-menu-to-windows-8-with-free-app-1104855 |title=Samsung to return classic Start menu to Windows 8 with free app | News |publisher=TechRadar |date=2012-10-16 |accessdate=2012-12-15}}</ref> || [[Samsung]] || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || |- | Start Menu 8<ref name=9menus/><ref name="Extreme" /><ref name="Geek" /><ref>Pegoraro, Rob (24 November 2012), [http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20121124/BUSINESS09/311240046/Windows-8-woes-Get-Start-menu-sub?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CBusiness%7Cs Windows 8 woes? Get Start menu sub], retrieved 10 December 2012</ref> || IObit || {{Nonfree|[[Trialware]]}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{no}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{yes}} || |- | Start Menu Reviver<ref>[http://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/3-windows-8-start-menu-apps-compared WINDOWS 8 START MENU APPS SHOWDOWN]</ref> || ReviverSoft || {{Free|[[Freeware]]}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{yes}} || touch screen support |- | Start Menu X<ref>{{cite web|author=Sandeep Yadav |url=http://www.techfeb.com/start-menu-x-get-start-menu-button-windows-8/ |title=Start Menu X: Get Start Menu and Button in Windows 8 |publisher=TechFeb |date=2012-08-29 |accessdate=2013-02-12}}</ref> || OrdinarySoft || {{Partial|[[Freemium]]}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || |- | Start8<ref name=9menus/><ref name="Extreme" /><ref>{{cite web |author=Gregg Keizer |url=http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9231773/_5_buys_a_Start_button_Start_screen_bypass_for_Windows_8 |title=$5 buys a Start button, Start screen bypass for Windows 8 |publisher=Computerworld |date=2012-09-27 |accessdate=2012-12-11 |archive-date=2014-08-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140821031844/http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9231773/_5_buys_a_Start_button_Start_screen_bypass_for_Windows_8 |url-status=dead }}</ref> || [[Stardock Corporation]] || {{Nonfree|[[Trialware]]}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{yes}} || |- | StartFinity<ref>{{cite web|author=Preston Gralla |url=http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9232749/Windows_8_cheat_sheet?taxonomyId=125&pageNumber=8 |title=Windows 8 cheat sheet |publisher=COMPUTERWORLD |date=2012-10-12 |accessdate=2013-10-05}}</ref> || WinAbility Software || {{Partial|[[Freemium]]}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{yes}} || Supports automatic localization of Start menu |- | StartIsBack<ref name=9menus>{{cite web|url=http://www.itworld.com/327541/9-windows-start-menus-windows-8?page=0,2 |title=9 Windows Start menus for Windows 8 |publisher=IT World |date= |accessdate=2012-12-15}}</ref><ref name="Extreme" /><ref name="CNET" /> || Пуск Будет Удобнее || {{Nonfree|[[Trialware]]}} || {{yes|4+}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{yes}} || modifies existing hot corners |- | StartMenuPlus8<ref>{{cite web|author=Jon L. Jacobi |url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/2020422/review-startmenuplus8-is-just-another-utility-to-give-windows-8-a-start-menu.html |title=Review: StartMenuPlus8 is just another utility to give Windows 8 a Start Menu |publisher=PCWorld |date= |accessdate=2012-12-15}}</ref> || Winok || {{Nonfree|[[Trialware]]}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || |- | StartW8<ref>[http://www.mobilenapps.com/articles/6083/20130105/want-back-start-menu-windows-8-here-how.htm Want To Get Back The Start Menu In Windows 8? Here's How | Mobile & Apps]</ref> || SODATSW || {{Free|[[Freeware]]}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || |- | SyMenu || UGMFree || {{Free|[[Freeware]]}} || {{yes|6}} || {{dunno}} || {{yes}} || {{dunno}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || The menu is fully portable |- |Tweaks.com Start for Windows 8<ref>{{cite web|title=Tweaks.com Start for Windows 8|url=http://tweaks.com/software/start/|publisher=Advanced PC Media LLC|accessdate=18 November 2017}}</ref> || Advanced PC Media || {{Free|[[Freeware]]}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || |- | ViStart<ref>{{cite web|last=Muchmore |first=Michael |url=https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2403139,00.asp |title=Tip: How to Get the Start Menu Back in Windows 8 |publisher=PCMag.com |date=2012-04-17 |accessdate=2012-12-11}}</ref> || Lee-Soft || {{Partial|[[Adware|Ad-supported]]}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{no}} || {{dunno}} || {{yes}} || |- | Wentutu Start Menu<ref>[http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/OS-Enhancements/Wentutu-Start-Menu.shtml Bring the Start Menu back in Windows 8 with this app]</ref> || Wentutu || {{Dunno}}|| {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || |- | Win8StartButton<ref>[http://www.informationweek.com/software/windows8/6-things-microsoft-must-do-in-2013/240145370 6 Things Microsoft Must Do In 2013 – Software – Windows 8]</ref> || Torch Media Inc. || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || |- | Win8Starter<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chip.de/news/Win8Starter-Startmenue-gratis-fuer-Windows-8_59334728.html |title=Win8Starter: Startmenü gratis für Windows 8 – News – CHIP Online |publisher=Chip.de |date=2011-08-27 |accessdate=2012-12-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121214072124/http://www.chip.de/news/Win8Starter-Startmenue-gratis-fuer-Windows-8_59334728.html |archive-date=2012-12-14 |url-status=dead }}</ref> || Engelmann Media GmbH || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || |- | Xeesa 1b QuickStart<ref>[http://1b.xeesa.com Xeesa 1b] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150802231115/http://1b.xeesa.com/ |date=2015-08-02 }}</ref> || Xeesa Services || {{Partial|[[Freemium]]}} || {{No}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || Cloud Start Menu available |}

The number of skins in the table givens the number of built-in skins. If there are downloadable skins, then a "+" is appended to the number to indicate that download extensions are possible.

[[RetroUI]], StartIsBack, [[Classic Shell]], Start8, and [[Pokki]] are five of the more notable of these.<ref name=9menus /><ref name="Extreme">{{cite web | last = Sebastian | first = Anthony | title = How to bring back the Start menu and button to Windows 8 | publisher = Extremetech.com | date = 2013-02-20 | url = http://www.extremetech.com/computing/141702-how-to-bring-the-start-menu-and-button-back-to-windows-8}}</ref> RetroUI is offered in 33 languages, and also for [[Windows Server 2012]], and adds a taskbar and resizable windows.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.retroui.com/ |title=RetroUI web site |access-date=2013-04-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130326174037/http://retroui.com/ |archive-date=2013-03-26 |url-status=dead }}</ref> StartIsBack is also localized.<ref>[http://startisback.com StartIsBack web site]</ref> [[Classic Shell]] used to be free and open source (now proprietary freeware), major items are localized and installing the Language Pack from [[Windows Update]] makes all items fully localized; Classic Shell is also available for Windows 7 and Windows Server, and claims over 25 million downloads.<ref>[http://www.classicshell.net Classic Shell]</ref> The Pokki download to restore the Start menu is free; as of January 2013, it has about 1.5 million users.<ref>[https://news.yahoo.com/more-people-miss-old-windows-start-menu-microsoft-184541670.html Yahoo! News, Jan. 16, 2013]</ref> The Pokki application platform, based on [[Chromium (web browser)|Chromium]], enables desktop applications to be built—like mobile apps—using standard web languages like HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript.<ref name="bizapp">{{cite web|last=Kincaid|first=Jason|date=30 June 2011|title=OpenCandy's Pokki Brings Web Apps To The Desktop, With Style|url=https://techcrunch.com/2011/06/28/opencandys-pokki-brings-web-apps-to-the-desktop-with-style/|work=TechCrunch|accessdate=13 November 2012}}</ref> It is also available for [[Windows XP]] and Windows 7.<ref>[http://www.pokki.com/ Pokki web site]</ref> Pokki has raised $21.5M from investors like Google, Intel, and O'Reilly;<ref>{{cite web|last=Wauters|first=Robin|date=29 September 2011|title=SweetLabs Raises $13 Million From Intel, Google And Others For Pokki App Platform|url=https://techcrunch.com/2011/09/29/sweetlabs-raises-13-million-from-intel-google-and-others-for-pokki-app-platform/|work=TechCrunch|accessdate=13 November 2012}}</ref> its business model is to make a commission on software sold through its app store.<ref name="bizapp" /><ref>{{cite web|last=Alex|first=Wilhelm|date=17 April 2012|title=Meet Pokki: Bringing the power of mobile apps to your desktop|url=https://thenextweb.com/insider/2012/04/17/meet-pokki-bringing-the-power-of-mobile-apps-to-your-desktop/|work=The Next Web|accessdate=13 November 2012}}</ref> Start8 has been downloaded over 5 million times.<ref>{{cite web|last=Mossberg |first=Walter S. |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887323372504578468952800573028 |title=Review of Start8 and Pokki: Bringing an Old Start to a New Windows - WSJ.com |publisher=Online.wsj.com |date=2013-05-07 |accessdate=2013-05-29}}</ref>

==See also==

* [[List of alternative shells for Windows]]

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

==External links== * [http://www.classicshell.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=2399 Compare Start Menus:Classic Shell vs StartIsBack, Start8 etc]   *[http://blog.laptopmag.com/5-windows-8-apps-to-bring-back-the-start-menu 5 Windows 8 Apps to Bring Back the Start Menu by LAPTOP Magazine]

[[Category:Windows 8]] [[Category:Software comparisons|Start Menu replacements for Windows 8]]