Launchy vs Start Menu Reviver

Launchy is a free utility for opening programs, files, folders, and websites with a few keystrokes. It indexes start-menu programs and can search directories and file types that users add. It stays in the background until the hotkey is pressed: Alt+Space by default, or Control+Space on Linux. Users can customize its appearance with skins and extend it through plugins for web searches, calculations, custom commands, and bookmark access. Other listed plugin examples include PuTTY sessions, task switching, and system power controls; these are made by other developers, and Launchy does not guarantee their functionality or behavior. Portable mode stores configuration files in the directory where Launchy runs, so it can be used from a USB stick. The bundled Calcy calculator supports addition, division, subtraction, multiplication, and parentheses. The listed platforms are Android, Linux, macOS, and Windows. Launchy is free to download with no fixed price; the listed recommended value is $10 USD, and the plan notes suggest considering a $3 contribution.

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.