5 Cool Start Menu Alternatives and Alternatives for Windows 10

With the recent release of the Windows 10 Anniversary Update, Microsoft has once again made changes to the way the Start Menu works. Some people prefer the new flat, tile-centric approach, while others just want to go back to the simpler days of the Windows 7-style Start menu. Still others want something extra, something much more powerful than what the default Start menu offers. So today we are going to list the best applications to replace the Start Menu.

1. Classic shell

Classic Shell is probably the most popular Start Menu alternative. Although it’s been around since the days of Windows 7, it only became popular after the release of Windows 8 and continues to be popular among Windows 10 users. The reason is simple. It’s free to use, highly customizable , and seamlessly replaces the default Start menu.

Starting with the appearance, you can also make the Classic Start Menu look like a Windows 7 menu . And if that’s not enough, you can also make it look like Windows XP or Windows 95 . Talk about nostalgia!

Classic Shell offers a wealth of customization options. You can customize the Start button and taskbar, change what the Windows key does, and choose what types of files and applications appear in the search bar.

Despite its looks, Classic Shell not only searches for apps and files, but also has intelligent search algorithms that learn from your usage patterns and get better the more you use them. For example, let’s say you often use the FileZilla program and type “file” in the search bar. Items such as File Explorer and FileHistory.exe will appear above FileZilla. However, with further use, Classic Shell will “learn” your preferred applications and start moving them up the search results until they are the first item that appears when you type “file.”

For some, Classic Shell’s seemingly endless options and customizability are its biggest benefits, while others may find the maze of options on the settings screen overwhelming. For those who want something simpler and more user-friendly, the next title on the list is ideal.

Download (free) [Compatible with Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7]

2.Start 10

Stardock’s Start10 has the most sophisticated and ready-to-use experience of any Start menu replacement. While it doesn’t offer the vast amount of customization options that Classic Shell does, it’s no slouch either. The settings interface is definitely the most user-friendly, and the menu itself has the best and most professional look of the bunch.

Apart from Windows 7 styles, we also offer Windows 10 styles for those who like the way the default Start menu works, but prefer the greater customization possibilities of Start10. There’s also a modern style that combines Windows 7 and 10 styles. It’s also my personal favorite style. Start10 allows you to customize the appearance of the Start menu, Start button, and even the taskbar using one of the pre-built textures or your own custom image.

Download ($4.99, 30-day free trial) [Supports Windows 10]

Note : If you previously purchased Stardocks’ Start8 application for your Windows 8 machine, you will receive a 20% discount off the Start10 price. You can check your eligibility here.

3.Star Toys Back

If you want a simple, inexpensive alternative to Start10 that closely mimics the style and functionality of Windows 7, try StartIsBack . In our testing, it most closely replicates the Windows 7 Start menu and taskbar. Of course, there are customization options to give it a different look, inspired by Windows 8 or 10. This is the Start menu of choice for ” install and forget ” types of users.

Download ($2.99; free trial version) [Compatible with Windows 10, 8.1, 8]

Other Windows 10 Start Menu Alternatives

These Start menu replacement features are very powerful, but some users want something even more powerful. Whether you want to save a few keystrokes, prefer a more keyboard-oriented workflow, or automate regular daily tasks, the following tools serve as powerful add-ons to your Start menu and satisfy any enthusiast. Helpful.

1. Kipirinha

While Keypirinha isn’t exactly a Start menu replacement, it can do much of the same things as the Start menu, like launching apps and finding files on your system, but it does a lot more. This is good news for keyboard ninjas, as it can be operated without using a mouse at all . Configuration is also done by editing configuration files, not the GUI.

Once you download and run it (it’s a portable app, so no installation required), you’ll be presented with a spartan interface where you can immediately start typing to search for apps and other tools .

For example, if you want to start Chrome, just start typing and you should see the application appear in a drop-down list. Just press Enter and Chrome will start. There is nothing unusual so far. Now, start Keypirinha again (hotkey: Ctrl+Win+k ) and type “chr” again. Then press the Tab key and enter the web address.

Press Enter to start Chrome and open .com (opens the website in a new tab if Chrome is already running) or the website you want to open.

Keypirinha also allows you to use the program’s context-specific features . For example, enter any URL (for example, wikipedia.org ). Press Enter and the page will open in your default browser (Chrome in my case). Instead, type the URL and press Tab. A drop-down list will appear with other options, such as opening the URL in private (or incognito) mode or copying the URL to your clipboard. Just use the arrow keys to select. You can also search for saved bookmarks.

A handy (and very powerful) calculator is also included. Start with “ = ” (equals sign) The key is followed by the expression to be evaluated. Press Enter to copy the results to your clipboard. Parentheses, functions, powers, square roots, constants, and even Boolean operators are supported.

Kipirinha’s abilities don’t end there. You can perform tasks such as killing open processes and launching saved PuTTY sessions.

download (Free) [Compatible with Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7. 64-bit systems only ]

2. Key Breeze

If you want many of the features of Keypirinha , but find the configuration files a little too nerdy, try Keybreeze. Apart from the usual tasks like launching apps and searching for files, it also supports direct launching of URLs and basic calculations.

Several search engines are integrated into the application, including Google (g), Wikipedia (w), YouTube (yt), and DuckDuckGo (d). For example, typing yt followed by your search term will search YouTube for that term.

Other features of Keybreeze include the ability to create notes and reminders, automate actions using macros, and more. Check out the great tutorials on the Keybreeze website.

Download (free) [Compatible with Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7, Vista, XP]

See also: 13 best ways to customize the Windows 10 Start menu

Reclaim the magic with these Start Menu alternatives

That concludes our roundup of Windows 10 Start Menu alternatives. From simple recreations of the Windows 7 experience to powerful launcher tools, we strived to accommodate everyone’s needs, from casual users to super enthusiasts. If you still think we’re missing something, or if you have your own Start Menu replacement or launcher to share, please write in the comments section below.