Open-Shell review (2026): is it any good?
Free classic-style Start menu and Explorer tweaks for Windows
Open-Shell report card
Very good · out of 4.0 · graded Nov 13, 2026
Best for a classic Start menu on Windows
Open Shell brings back a classic-style Start menu and some Explorer toolbar and status bar tweaks, free. It runs only on Windows and support comes from GitHub and chat rooms.
Who Open-Shell is for
- Fits if you want the old Windows Start menu back
- Works for people who like skins and a customised start button
Who Open-Shell is not for
- Not for you if you want a help desk, as support is GitHub issues, Discussions, Gitter and Discord
- Watch out: the GitHub page warns against versions older than 4.4.196 on Windows for ARM because login can fail after reboot
- Watch out: the classic copy dialog applies to Windows 7 only
- Skip it if you use a Mac or Linux, as it is Windows only
Why Open-Shell gets a 3.0
Five grades, each with its reason. The GPA is their average: an A is 4 points, an F is none.
- AValue for moneyFree, which is below anything in the category.
- AFree plan and trialFree outright with no cap, released on GitHub.
- BFeaturesClassic Start menu, Explorer toolbar and status bar, skins and custom start buttons, with stable and nightly builds. The classic copy dialog works on Windows 7 only.
- BEase of useNo rating on record. Install it and the menu replaces the default.
- DPlatforms and integrationsWindows only. Windows only; no Mac, Linux, phone or web version.
What these grades rest on. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Open-Shell's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. How we review and grade.
Make Open-Shell? Put this grade on your site
Paste this where you want the badge. It links here and follows the grade if it changes. About badges
<a href="https://toolgpa.com/tools/open-shell#review"><img src="https://toolgpa.com/badge/open-shell.svg" alt="Open-Shell: 3.0 GPA on ToolGPA" width="196" height="56"></a>Where Open-Shell stands among desktop utilities
Open-Shell's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 154 of the 186 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 27.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 107 of 186) and worst on platforms and integrations (D, above 0).
Open-Shell has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 187 desktop utilities we grade, cut by the letter each got. Open-Shell’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 55 of 186, level with 131
- AFree plan and trialAbove 107 of 186, level with 79
- BFeaturesAbove 113 of 186, level with 72
- BEase of useAbove 78 of 186, level with 108
- DPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 186, level with 110
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 103 desktop utilities. Further left costs less, and higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Point at a dot to see which tool it is.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
Keep Open-Shell, or make your own?
Keep it
Open-Shell is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces. It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 3.0 is higher than 154 of the 186 other desktop utilities we grade.
What you could not
- A launcher wired into the operating system.
- A real app for Windows. Something home-made would be a web page.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. Open-Shell’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
What is Open-Shell?
Open-Shell is a set of free Windows add-ons that bring back older interface parts, chiefly a classic-style Start menu. It also adds a toolbar and a status bar to Windows Explorer. The project continues the Classic Shell software by Ivo Beltchev and is published under the MIT license on GitHub.
Worth knowing
- Windows only. The classic copy dialog applies to Windows 7 alone.
- The GitHub page warns against installing versions older than 4.4.196 on Windows for ARM, because login can fail after a reboot.
- Support is through GitHub issues, Discussions, Gitter and Discord rather than a vendor help desk.
Key features
- Classic Start menu
- A classic-style Start menu for Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10 and 11.
- Explorer toolbar
- Adds a toolbar to Windows Explorer.
- Explorer status bar
- Shows file size and disk space in the Explorer status bar.
- Skins and custom start buttons
- The project site has guides for skinning the Start menu and for custom Start buttons.
- Stable and nightly builds
- A stable release and a nightly build are both offered for download.
Open-Shell pricing
As of Nov 13, 2026, Open-Shell is free to use.
- Starts at
- Free
- Free plan
- The whole project is free; releases are published on GitHub.
- Free trial
- None listed
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | All components, with stable releases and nightly builds on GitHub. |
Read from open-shell.github.io on Nov 13, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Open-Shell before you buy.
Open-Shell alternatives
- Open-Shell vs StartAllBack
Free trial · from $4.99 one-time
- Open-Shell vs Fences
Free trial · from $9.99/yr
Common questions
Does Open-Shell have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Open-Shell is listed for Windows.
Does Open-Shell have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Open-Shell is listed for Windows.
Is Open-Shell open source?
Yes. Open-Shell is open source, according to its own site.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Nov 13, 2026.