LaunchMenu vs Start Menu Reviver

LaunchMenu is a free, open-source launcher that provides utilities called applets through a keyboard-oriented interface. Its menus support recursive fuzzy search, pattern filters, and prioritization of frequently used items. Users can navigate with arrow keys, activate primary actions with Enter, and open context menus with Tab; controls can be customized. Multi-select allows compatible actions to be applied to several items together. Applets include a dictionary, notes, file manager, internet search, calculator, translator, snippets, time tracker, and calendar. Users can adjust applet settings and themes, import or export settings, and manage official or third-party applets. LaunchMenu runs on macOS and Windows. The site identifies Windows as the primary development and test platform, while Mac testing has been less extensive. Linux support is planned and has not yet been worked on. Developers can build applets using TypeScript and React, compile them into LaunchMenu-ready packages, and upload completed applets to npm with the launchmenu-applet keyword. The listed free plan costs nothing.

Start Menu Reviver is a free Windows utility that restores a Start Menu with a Metro-style interface. Its customizable tiles can open applications, Windows tasks, websites, shortcuts, documents, and media files; the product page says capacity increased from 32 to 64 tiles. A search box finds applications, computer settings, and documents. From the menu, users can launch traditional desktop programs and Windows 8 modern applications, or open the Windows 8 Start screen directly. The touch-optimized interface is described as suitable for Windows 8-based tablets. It is listed for Windows 7, 8, and 10, with requirements of a 300MHz-or-higher CPU, 256 MB RAM, and 22 MB of disk space. The download page offers version 3.0.6.4. ReviverSoft provides support articles and a contact-support option. The company says Corel acquired its Windows and Mac utility software and resources in September 2014.