WindowBlinds AlternativesShell Extensions and other similar apps like WindowBlinds

Alternatives list

1. 

   

   Open Shell

    121 likes

   Open Shell is a fork of the Classic Shell project for Windows that getting back the classic start menu to modern versions of Microsoft Windows.

   41 Open Shell alternatives

   Cost / License

   • Free
   • Open Source (MIT)

   Application type

   • System Tweaker

   Platforms

   • Windows

   

   

   

   +2

   

   More about Open Shell  

   

   Good alternative?Is Open Shell a good alternative to WindowBlinds?

    

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   1comment

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   Open Shell vs WindowBlinds Comments

   Negative comment by James Long · Mar 2, 2026

   Open Shell is phenomenal! I use it on every Windows machine I set up.

   However.. it does not theme WINDOWS, just the Start Menu, Taskbar and etc.

   1 of 1 comments

   

   

   • Open Shell is Free and Open SourceWindowBlinds is Paid and Proprietary
   • Open Shell is Lightweight and Privacy focusedWindowBlinds is not according to our users
2. 

   

   Start11

    35 likes

   Enhance Windows 10/11 personalizing Start Menu and Taskbar with style changes, icon and section adjustments, taskbar improvements, quick access menus, and advanced search features for improved productivity.

   25 Start11 alternatives

   Cost / License

   • Paid
   • Proprietary

   Application type

   • System Tweaker

   Origin

   • United States

   Platforms

   • Windows

   • United States

   

   

   

   +9

   

   More about Start11  

   

   Good alternative?Is Start11 a good alternative to WindowBlinds?

    

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   1comment

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   Start11 vs WindowBlinds Comments

   Negative comment by James Long · Mar 3, 2026

   This ia a paid option that has open source peers. I have no use for it, but it doesn't skin Windows, just the start menu and etc.

   1 of 1 comments

   

   

   • Start11 is Paid and ProprietaryWindowBlinds is also Paid and Proprietary
   • Start11 is CustomizableWindowBlinds is not according to our users
4. 

   

   Classic Shell

    209 likes

   Classic Shell is free software that improves your productivity, enhances the usability of Windows, and empowers you to use the computer the way you like it.

   28 Classic Shell alternatives

   Cost / License

   • Free
   • Open Source

   Origin

   • Bulgaria
   • EU

   Alerts

   • Discontinued

   Platforms

   • Windows

   • Bulgaria
   • EU

   

   

   

   +3

   

   More about Classic Shell  

   

   Good alternative?Is Classic Shell a good alternative to WindowBlinds?

    

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   1comment

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   Discontinued

   The developer announced that Classic Shell will be no longer developed because Windows 10 is updated too frequently and because Microsoft is making more difficult to customize Windows: http://www.classicshell.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=8147 Last version, 4.3.1, released in August 2017, can be still downloaded from the official website, together with the source code.

   Classic Shell vs WindowBlinds Comments

   Negative comment by James Long · Mar 3, 2026

   Classic Shell is a Junior Chipmunk version of Open Shell. IT works fine, if that's what you want, but again, it's to skin the start menu, not the entirety of Windows.

   1 of 1 comments

   

   

   • Classic Shell is Free and Open SourceWindowBlinds is Paid and Proprietary
   • Classic Shell is CustomizableWindowBlinds is not according to our users
5. Ad

   

   

   Curtains

   Enables creation and application of new interface styles for Windows 10 using a style editor, with fine-grained customization for title bars, buttons, gradients, fonts, and shadows, supporting pre-made themes, legacy OS designs, ...

   https://www.stardock.com

   Learn More
6. 

   

   7+ Taskbar Tweaker

    104 likes

   Customize the Windows taskbar with dozens of exclusive options.

   24 7+ Taskbar Tweaker alternatives

   Cost / License

   • Free
   • Open Source (GPL-3.0)

   Application type

   • System Tweaker

   Platforms

   • Windows

   

   

   

   +2

   

   More about 7+ Taskbar Tweaker  

   

   Good alternative?Is 7+ Taskbar Tweaker a good alternative to WindowBlinds?

    

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   2comments

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   7+ Taskbar Tweaker vs WindowBlinds Comments

   Negative comment by Guest · Oct 10, 2021

   It's a taskbar tweaker, nothing like windowsblinds.

   Negative comment by VeldrinMinamoto · Jan 19, 2023

   It's a great little tool to add functionality to the native Windows taskbar, but it doesn't really change the look. It is a tool to change the behaviour of the taskbar. Furthermore, the application also only refers to the taskbar. WindowBlinds, on the other hand, does not change the way the taskbar or Windows works, but changes the visuals and more than just the taskbar. Therefore, the two programmes are not comparable. Nevertheless, it is an essential little tool that everyone should know.

   2 of 2 comments

   

   

   • 7+ Taskbar Tweaker is Free and Open SourceWindowBlinds is Paid and Proprietary
   • 7+ Taskbar Tweaker is LightweightWindowBlinds is not according to our users
7. 

   

   FastKeys

    122 likes

   All in one Windows automation software. Fully configurable text expander, start menu, shortcuts, auto complete and mouse gestures. User-defined commands to run files, open webpages, send macros or automate anything. Incredibly powerful but yet simple to use.

   138 FastKeys alternatives

   Cost / License

   • Paid
   • Proprietary

   Application typeApplication types

   • Text Expander
   • Task Automation

   Platforms

   • Windows

   

   

   

   +9

   

   More about FastKeys  

   

   Good alternative?Is FastKeys a good alternative to WindowBlinds?

    

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   1comment

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   FastKeys vs WindowBlinds Comments

   Negative comment by James Long · Mar 3, 2026

   Never used it, but from the description it has nothing to do with skinning or themeing Windows.

   1 of 1 comments

   

   

   • FastKeys is Paid and ProprietaryWindowBlinds is also Paid and Proprietary
   • FastKeys is a Text Expansion WindowBlinds is a System Tweaker
   • FastKeys is LightweightWindowBlinds is not according to our users
9. 

   

   StartAllBack

    30 likes

   The Windows 11 version of the Startisback replacement shell. This software allows you to make Windows 11 look like previous versions of Windows or a modified version of itself.

   25 StartAllBack alternatives

   Cost / License

   • Paid
   • Proprietary

   Platforms

   • Windows

   

   

   More about StartAllBack  

   

   Good alternative?Is StartAllBack a good alternative to WindowBlinds?

    
10. 

    

    StartIsBack

     34 likes

    StartIsBack returns Windows 8 a real fully featured start menu and start button, behaving exactly like the ones in Windows 7. StartIsBack radically improves desktop usability and makes new Start screen clutter-free.

    25 StartIsBack alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows

    

    

    

    +1

    

    More about StartIsBack  

    

    Good alternative?Is StartIsBack a good alternative to WindowBlinds?

     

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    1comment

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    StartIsBack vs WindowBlinds Comments

    Negative comment by James Long · Mar 3, 2026

    For like the fourth time, It's a paid option where open source versions exist, AND it's not intended to skin Windows, just the start menu and etc.

    1 of 1 comments

    

    

    • StartIsBack is Paid and ProprietaryWindowBlinds is also Paid and Proprietary
    • StartIsBack is CustomizableWindowBlinds is not according to our users
11. R

    R

    RetroBar

     13 likes

    Pining for simpler times? RetroBar teleports you back in time by replacing your modern Windows taskbar with the classic Windows 95, 98, Me, 2000, XP, Longhorn, or Vista style.

    17 RetroBar alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (Apache-2.0)

    Origin

    • Canada

    Platforms

    • Windows

    • Canada

    

    More about RetroBar  

    R

    

    Good alternative?Is RetroBar a good alternative to WindowBlinds?

     

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    1comment

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    RetroBar vs WindowBlinds Comments

    Negative comment by James Long · Mar 3, 2026

    I swear to God. This just themes the taskbar, not Windows.

    1 of 1 comments

    

    R

    • RetroBar is Free and Open SourceWindowBlinds is Paid and Proprietary
    • RetroBar is CustomizableWindowBlinds is not according to our users
12. 

    

    Doorwin

     Like

    Doorwin is a professional measurement, take-off, and quotation software for door and window projects. It is designed for architects, manufacturers, PVC and aluminum window companies, and installation teams.

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Origin

    • Türkiye

    Platforms

    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • Android
    • Android Tablet

    • Türkiye

    

    

    

    More about Doorwin  

    

    Good alternative?Is Doorwin a good alternative to WindowBlinds?

     
13. 

    

    Window Maker

     11 likes

    Window Maker has a reputation for being fast, efficient and highly stable. Window Maker has been characterized as reproducing "the elegant look and feel of the NeXTstep GUI" and is noted as "easy to configure and easy to use.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application typeApplication types

    • Window Manager
    • Desktop Environment

    Origin

    • United States

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD

    • United States

    

    

    

    +8

    

    More about Window Maker  

    

    Good alternative?Is Window Maker a good alternative to WindowBlinds?

     
14. 

    

    Start Menu X

     26 likes

    Start Menu X is a replacement of the system menu for professionals.

    Virtual Groups Group programs by purpose (office applications, graphics, etc) without changing their location on the hard drive.

    One-click start

    The PRO version allows you to assign a primary program to any f.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Origin

    • Ukraine

    Platforms

    • Windows

    • Ukraine

    

    

    

    More about Start Menu X  

    

    Good alternative?Is Start Menu X a good alternative to WindowBlinds?

     

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    1comment

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    Start Menu X vs WindowBlinds Comments

    Negative comment by James Long · Mar 3, 2026

    Again, a proprietary option that ONLY skins the start menu and etc. That's two strikes.

    1 of 1 comments

    

    

    • Start Menu X is Freemium and ProprietaryWindowBlinds is Paid and Proprietary
    • Start Menu X is CustomizableWindowBlinds is not according to our users
15. 

    

    Start8

     30 likes

    Return the Start Button to Windows 8 With these features:

    • Search for Windows 8-style (Modern UI) apps
    • Pin desktop and Metro apps to the start menu
    • Jump List support
    • Unified Search for apps, settings and files
    • Boot directly to the Windows 8 desktop
    • One click access to.

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Origin

    • United States

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Windows

    • United States

    

    

    

    +2

    

    More about Start8  

    

    Good alternative?Is Start8 a good alternative to WindowBlinds?

     

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    1comment

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    Discontinued

    The program is only for Windows 8 and no longer updated. For Windows 10 or 11, Stardock offers Start11

    Start8 vs WindowBlinds Comments

    Negative comment by James Long · Mar 3, 2026

    Come on now! None of these reskins Windows!!

    1 of 1 comments

    

    

    • Start8 is Paid and ProprietaryWindowBlinds is also Paid and Proprietary