The best start menu replacements, according to hackers
3 start menu replacements were recommended on Hacker News between November 2025 and November 2026. We rank them by how many separate people recommend each one, and 1 earns the Hacker Approved badge.
Top pick
The most recommended start menu replacement with the badge. Each figure is one person. RecommendsCriticizes One comment
Brings back desktop features Explorer lacked
Free Windows shell replacement that people use for a beautiful, functional desktop with virtual desktops and add-ons. Common caveat: it changes only the shell, leaving window management unchanged.
All 3 start menu replacements, ranked
Select a column heading to sort. Approval share is recommenders out of everyone who gave an opinion; the tick on each bar marks the 2 to 1 line the badge needs. Months counts the months, out of 13, in which someone recommended it.
| Rank | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LiteStep | 10 | 1 | 91% | 6 | — | Approved |
| 2 | Start11 by Stardock | 7 | 0 | 100% | 3 | — | — |
| 3 | Classic Shell | 5 | 1 | 83% | 4 | — | — |
How we rank
Rank is the number of separate people who recommend a product in a Hacker News comment over the past year. Someone who praises the same start menu replacement in five threads counts once.
The badge goes to start menu replacements that at least 10 people recommend, with recommenders outnumbering critics at least 2 to 1, recommended in at least 4 of the 13 months.
Rankings are never for sale. We may earn a commission when you buy through our links. It never changes the order.