Best Start Menu Customization Software in 2026
Updated
In short: Launchy is ranked #1 of 39 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of IObit Uninstaller and Parkdale. The best-ranked option with a free plan is IObit Uninstaller. The lowest first paid tier on this page is IObit Uninstaller at $1.23/mo.
If you want a Start menu that works differently, compare tools by the parts of Windows they let you change. Compared on replacement mode, saved profiles, custom search, Start button controls and taskbar controls, these entries cover several ways to adjust access to apps and desktop features. Launchy, Fluent Search and Open-Shell Menu are among the names to consider. Supported Windows versions can help you check compatibility, while free-plan availability and paid-from pricing give you cost details to weigh. Focus on the specific controls you want and the Windows version you use when comparing the available options.
39 start menu customization software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
14 of the 25 here have a free tier you can use, 0 have open-source code on record, and 0 have full bars: free, open, on most of your devices and documented.
| # | App | Signal | Free tier | Open code | Devices | From | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LaunchyWindows · Mac · Linux · Android | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 2 | IObit UninstallerWindows | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | $1.23/mo | 6.4 | |
| 3 | ParkdaleWindows · Mac · Android | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 4 | Cairo Desktop EnvironmentWindows | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.3 | |
| 5 | Fluent SearchWindows | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.3 | |
| 6 | KeypirinhaWindows | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.3 | |
| 7 | ListaryWindows | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.3 | |
| 8 | Open-Shell MenuWindows | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.3 | |
| 9 | Seelen UIWindows | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.3 | |
| 10 | Start Menu ReviverWindows | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.3 | |
| 11 | Start Menu XWindows | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.3 | |
| 12 | SystemTrayMenuWindows | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.3 | |
| 13 | ViStartWindows | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.3 | |
| 14 | ExplorerPatcherWindows | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.2 | |
| 15 | WoxWindows · Mac · Linux | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.4 |
| 16 | StarlingWindows · Linux | One bar | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 17 | LaunchMenuWindows · Mac | No signal | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 18 | PinpointWindows | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 19 | Power8Windows | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 20 | Dawn LauncherWindows | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 21 | MaxLauncherWindows | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 22 | PExplorerWindows | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 23 | Portable Start MenuWindows | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 24 | SbieShellWindows | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 25 | Start EverywhereWindows | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | App | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Supported Windows | Replacement mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Launchy | 6.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 2 | IObit Uninstaller | 6.4 | Free plan | $1.23/mo | No | 7.99 one-time | windows_10 | shell_replacement |
| 3 | Parkdale | 6.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | both | overlay |
| 4 | Cairo Desktop Environment | 6.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | both | shell_replacement |
| 5 | Fluent Search | 6.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | both | launcher |
| 6 | Keypirinha | 6.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 7 | Listary | 6.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | 19.95 one-time | both | launcher |
| 8 | Open-Shell Menu | 6.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | both | shell_replacement |
| 9 | Seelen UI | 6.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | both | shell_replacement |
| 10 | Start Menu Reviver | 6.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | windows_10 | shell_replacement |
| 11 | Start Menu X | 6.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | 14.99 one-time | both | overlay |
| 12 | SystemTrayMenu | 6.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | both | launcher |
| 13 | ViStart | 6.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | both | — |
| 14 | ExplorerPatcher | 6.2 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 15 | Wox | 5.4 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 16 | Starling | 5.3 | No | — | — | — | both | shell_replacement |
| 17 | LaunchMenu | 5.2 | No | — | Yes | — | — | launcher |
| 18 | Pinpoint | 5.2 | No | — | — | — | — | launcher |
| 19 | Power8 | 5.2 | No | — | — | — | windows_10 | overlay |
| 20 | Dawn Launcher | 5.1 | No | — | Yes | — | both | launcher |
| 21 | MaxLauncher | 5.1 | No | — | — | — | both | launcher |
| 22 | PExplorer | 5.1 | No | — | Yes | — | windows_10 | shell_replacement |
| 23 | Portable Start Menu | 5.1 | No | — | Yes | — | both | launcher |
| 24 | SbieShell | 5.1 | No | — | Yes | — | — | shell_replacement |
| 25 | Start Everywhere | 5.1 | No | — | Yes | — | both | shell_replacement |
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored, and a sponsored row is labelled as paid.
Questions about this list
Which start menu customization software is ranked first on Freedom251?
Launchy is ranked #1 of 39 with a score of 6.5. IObit Uninstaller is second and Parkdale third.
How many of these have a free plan?
14 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, IObit Uninstaller has the lowest first paid tier we found: $1.23/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked free-and-open first: a usable free tier and open-source code, then the platforms it runs on and its documentation.