StartAllBack vs Windhawk (2026): which should you pick?

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

Pick Windhawk if

• Fits if you want to change small things in Explorer or the taskbar
• Works for people who can read a mod's source before installing it

Look elsewhere if

• Not for you if you use a Mac or Linux, as only Windows is listed
• Watch out: mods come from community authors, so what each one changes depends on who wrote it
• Watch out: some mods target specific Windows versions, like the Windows 11 Start menu styler
• Skip it if you want one supported tool, since there is no vendor help desk on record

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.

Windhawk

• Windows only; no macOS or Linux version is listed.
• Mods are written by community authors, so what a mod changes depends on its author.
• Some mods target specific Windows versions, such as the Windows 11 Start menu styler.

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.

Windhawk

Mod marketplace

Browse and install community mods from inside the app. The home page features mods such as a Start menu styler and a vertical taskbar for Windows 11.

Mods as source code

Each mod comes as source code that you can read before installing, so you can check what it does.

Per-program targeting

Every mod lists the programs it applies to, for example explorer.exe or StartMenuExperienceHost.exe.

Options for each mod

Mods are customized through options in the interface; the vendor says no computer expertise is needed.

Runs in the background

The vendor says it is designed to run constantly without a noticeable impact on the system.

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.

Windhawk

• Free$0

  Free to download and use, with all listed mods.