:Comparison of Start menu replacements for Windows 8

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{{Primary sources|date=April 2014}}

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.{{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}}{{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}}

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.{{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}}

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[http://www.laptopmag.com/review/software/revel-bringback-beta.aspx Revel BringBack (beta) Review | Windows 8 Start Menu Apps]	Revel Software	{{Dropped|Discontinued}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}	Discontinued {{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}} (http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/revel_bringback8.html)
Classic Shell[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]{{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}}{{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}}	Classic Shell team	{{Free|MIT License}}[http://www.classicshell.net/faq/#general_oss Classic Shell FAQ, Is Classic Shell open-source?]	{{yes|10+extensible}}[http://www.softpedia.com/reviews/windows/Classic-Shell-Review-418806.shtml Classic Shell Review: Softpedia]	{{yes}}	{{yes}}	{{yes}}	{{yes}}	{{yes}}	Allows Modern UI related tweaks Discontinued and forked to Open-Shell
Classic Start 8[http://www.classicstart8.com Free Traditional Start Menu Style for Use with Windows® 8]	Crawler, LLC	{{free|Freeware}}	{{no}}	{{yes}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}
Classic Windows Start Menu{{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}}	SourceCodeBoy	{{Proprietary|CC-BY-NC-ND}} (Freeware for non-commercial use only) {{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}}	{{yes}}	{{yes}}	{{no}}	{{yes}}	{{yes}}	{{yes}}	Discontinued (last version here http://www.pypa.es/Utilidades/Software/)
Ex7forW8{{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 }}	Tihiy	{{Free|Freeware}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}	Discontinued (http://tihiy.net/files/ex7forW8_1.0.zip)
Finalbird{{cite web|url=http://download.cnet.com/Finalbird/3000-2072_4-76182974.html|title=Finalbird - Free download and software reviews - CNET Download.com}}	Svyatoslav Yudin	{{Free|Freeware}}	{{no}}	{{yes}}	{{yes}}	{{no}}	{{yes}}	{{yes}}	Favorites of Start Menu is unified with the other software parts
Handy Start Menu[http://download.cnet.com/Handy-Start-Menu/3000-2344_4-75300511.html Handy Start Menu – CNET Download.com]	ChemTable Software	{{Free|Freeware}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}
Open-Shell{{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}}	{{dunno}}	{{Free|MIT}}	{{yes}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}	{{yes}}	Fork of Classic Shell
Pokki{{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}}	SweetLabs, Inc.	{{Free|Freeware}}	{{no}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}	{{yes}}
Power8{{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}} {{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}}	Power8 Team	{{Free|GNU General Public License}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}
RetroUI Pro{{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}}{{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}}	Thinix	{{Nonfree|Trialware}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}
Samsung Quick Starter{{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}}	Samsung	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}
Start Menu 8Pegoraro, 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	IObit	{{Nonfree|Trialware}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}	{{no}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}	{{yes}}
Start Menu Reviver[http://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/3-windows-8-start-menu-apps-compared WINDOWS 8 START MENU APPS SHOWDOWN]	ReviverSoft	{{Free|Freeware}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}	{{yes}}	touch screen support
Start Menu X{{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}}	OrdinarySoft	{{Partial|Freemium}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}
Start8{{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 }}	Stardock Corporation	{{Nonfree|Trialware}}	{{yes}}	{{yes}}	{{yes}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}	{{yes}}
StartFinity{{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}}	WinAbility Software	{{Partial|Freemium}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}	{{yes}}	Supports automatic localization of Start menu
StartIsBack{{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}}	Пуск Будет Удобнее	{{Nonfree|Trialware}}	{{yes|4+}}	{{yes}}	{{yes}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}	{{yes}}	modifies existing hot corners
StartMenuPlus8{{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}}	Winok	{{Nonfree|Trialware}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}
StartW8[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]	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{{cite web|title=Tweaks.com Start for Windows 8|url=http://tweaks.com/software/start/|publisher=Advanced PC Media LLC|accessdate=18 November 2017}}	Advanced PC Media	{{Free|Freeware}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}
ViStart{{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}}	Lee-Soft	{{Partial|Ad-supported}}	{{yes}}	{{yes}}	{{yes}}	{{no}}	{{dunno}}	{{yes}}
Wentutu Start Menu[http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/OS-Enhancements/Wentutu-Start-Menu.shtml Bring the Start Menu back in Windows 8 with this app]	Wentutu	{{Dunno}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}
Win8StartButton[http://www.informationweek.com/software/windows8/6-things-microsoft-must-do-in-2013/240145370 6 Things Microsoft Must Do In 2013 – Software – Windows 8]	Torch Media Inc.	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}
Win8Starter{{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 }}	Engelmann Media GmbH	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}	{{dunno}}
Xeesa 1b QuickStart[http://1b.xeesa.com Xeesa 1b] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150802231115/http://1b.xeesa.com/ |date=2015-08-02 }}	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.{{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}} RetroUI is offered in 33 languages, and also for Windows Server 2012, and adds a taskbar and resizable windows.{{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 }} StartIsBack is also localized.[http://startisback.com StartIsBack web site] 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.[http://www.classicshell.net Classic Shell] The Pokki download to restore the Start menu is free; as of January 2013, it has about 1.5 million users.[https://news.yahoo.com/more-people-miss-old-windows-start-menu-microsoft-184541670.html Yahoo! News, Jan. 16, 2013] The Pokki application platform, based on Chromium, enables desktop applications to be built—like mobile apps—using standard web languages like HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript.{{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}} It is also available for Windows XP and Windows 7.[http://www.pokki.com/ Pokki web site] Pokki has raised $21.5M from investors like Google, Intel, and O'Reilly;{{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}} its business model is to make a commission on software sold through its app store.{{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}} Start8 has been downloaded over 5 million times.{{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}}