Flow Launcher vs StartAllBack (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Flow Launcher grades higher than StartAllBack: 3.0 against 2.4 out of 4.0.
Checked Oct 6, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 · graded Oct 10, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 by ToolGPA
Flow Launcher grades higher on the free plan and features. They get the same grade on value for money, ease of use and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Flow Launcher
Free, open-source app launcher and file search for Windows
Free
StartAllBack
Windows 11 taskbar, Start menu and Explorer restyling tool
Free trial · from $4.99 one-time
Which one is for you
Pick Flow Launcher if
- Fits if you want a keyboard launcher on Windows at no cost
- Works for people who already use Everything and want its results in a launcher
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you're on a Mac or Linux, as it only supports Windows 10 and later
- Not for you if you want a support desk, since help comes through GitHub, Discord and Reddit
- Not for you if unsigned software is a no on your work PC, because the code isn't signed and Windows may warn on install
- Watch out: Spotify, Steam, Obsidian and other extras are community-made plugins, not part of the core app
Pick StartAllBack if
- Fits if you miss the older Windows taskbar and Start menu
- Works for businesses that want group-policy control over the Start menu
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you are on Windows 10 or earlier, as that is a different product, StartIsBack
- Watch out: after the 30-day trial the Start menu goes blank until you activate a key
- Not for you if you use Mac or Linux, as it is Windows only
- Watch out: new versions for new Windows releases may need a licence upgrade payment, and activation is tied to your hardware
How we grade them
| 3.0GPAFlow LauncherVery good | 2.4GPAStartAllBackFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AFree and open source under the MIT licence, a plain install, and so are the plugins. The project asks for sponsors, and that part is up to you. | A$4.99 once for personal use, far under the category's cheaper quarter. Businesses pay $50 for 10 PCs. |
| Free plan and trial | AThe whole launcher is free, as an installer, a portable ZIP or through winget, Scoop or Chocolatey. Nothing is kept back for a paid version. | CA 30-day trial with no feature limits, and no card is mentioned. After that, a limited mode with a blank Start menu. |
| Features | BThe launcher job is covered end to end: apps, files and file contents through Everything or Windows Search, web searches, bookmarks, system and PowerShell commands, sums, a preview panel and Dialog Jump for Open and Save boxes. A Plugin Store adds the rest. | CRestores taskbar labels and placement, a Start menu, Explorer commands and old-style context menus. It does one job on Windows 11 only, and Windows 10 and 8 need StartIsBack. |
| Ease of use | BNo store rating is on record, but there's nothing to set up: press Alt+Space and type. One bump at the start, which the README admits: Windows may raise a security warning on first install because the code isn't signed. | BNo rating on record. You install it and the taskbar changes, with options to adjust. |
| Platforms and integrations | DWindows only, version 10 and later, so a single operating system. It ties into Everything and Windows Search, and community plugins add the likes of Spotify, Steam and Obsidian. No Mac or Linux. | DWindows 11 only for this product. No other platform and no integrations. |
| Best for | a free keyboard launcher on Windows | an older-style Windows 11 taskbar and Start menu |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Flow Launcher and StartAllBack. How we grade
Where they differ
- Flow Launcher is open source, according to its own site.
- StartAllBack can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Flow Launcher also covers launcher, file management and calculator.
- StartAllBack also covers menu bar app.
In commonWindows
At a glance
| Flow Launcher | StartAllBack | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free trial |
| Starts at | Free | $4.99 one-time for a personal license |
| Free plan | The whole app and its plugins are free and open source under the MIT license. The project asks for support through sponsorship. | None |
| Free trial | None listed | 30-day trial with no feature limits; afterward it runs in a limited mode with a blank Start menu |
| Windows | ||
| Made by | Flow Launcher Team | Stanislav Zinukhov (StartIsBack) |
| Price read from | flowlauncher.com | startisback.com |
| Checked | Oct 6, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Flow Launcher
- Windows only; the download section says it supports Windows 10 and later.
- On first install, Windows may raise a security warning because the code is not signed, according to the README.
- Integrations such as Spotify, Steam and Obsidian come from community-made plugins and not from the core app.
- Help comes through GitHub, Discord and Reddit, and the project is funded by sponsors.
StartAllBack
- Windows 11 only for StartAllBack; Windows 10 and 8 use StartIsBack versions.
- After the 30-day trial the Start menu goes blank and a reminder appears at every boot until a key is activated.
- New versions for new Windows releases may need a license upgrade payment, according to the vendor's FAQ.
- Activation is tied to the PC's hardware, and one key activates a limited number of computers.
Key features
Flow Launcher
- App and file search
- Search for and launch apps, and find files or file contents using Everything or the Windows index, from a window opened with a customizable hotkey.
- Web searches and bookmarks
- Run a web search with your chosen search engine, open URLs and find bookmarks from different browsers.
- System and shell commands
- Shut down, restart, sleep or lock the PC, search Windows and Control Panel settings, and run batch or PowerShell commands as Administrator or another user.
- Plugin Store
- Install community plugins from the Plugin Store in Settings or by typing pm install. Plugins can be written in C#, F#, Python, JavaScript or TypeScript.
- Dialog Jump
- Search for a file or folder and jump an Open or Save As dialog to its path. Alt+G points the dialog at the folder open in the active file manager.
- Preview panel and themes
- F1 toggles a preview panel that can show media files as large images. Themes, window size, animation and sound can be changed, or you can build your own theme.
StartAllBack
- Taskbar restore
- Shows labels on task icons, sets icon size and margins, and moves the taskbar to the top, left or right edge.
- Start menu
- Brings back a Start menu that opens programs and system places in one click, with its own search.
- File Explorer and Control Panel
- Restores a revamped ribbon and command bar, a bottom details pane and the older search box.
- Context menus
- Replaces the Windows 11 menus with rounded acrylic ones that the vendor says open faster.
- Styles and recoloring
- Offers Windows 7, Windows 8 and third-party taskbar and Start menu styles and recolors UI in many windows apps.
- Light footprint
- The vendor says it uses less RAM and starts fewer processes than the default shell.
Plans
Flow Launcher
Flow Launcher$0
The complete launcher as an installer or portable ZIP, or through winget, Scoop or Chocolatey. Sponsorship is optional.
StartAllBack
Personal$4.99
one-time, personal use
License key stated to work with any StartIsBack version, including StartAllBack. Personal use only; the site also mentions a family pack.
Business, 10 PCs$50.00
one-time for 10 PCs
Required for business use. Adds group policies, priority email support and future optional updates; 100 PCs is $450 and 1,000 PCs is $3,000.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Flow Launcher or StartAllBack?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Flow Launcher is free, and StartAllBack starts at $4.99 one-time for a personal license.
Which has a free plan, Flow Launcher or StartAllBack?
As of Nov 12, 2026, only Flow Launcher has a free plan. StartAllBack does not, though it has a free trial.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.