Listary vs Open-Shell Menu
Listary
listary.comOpen-Shell Menu
open-shell.github.ioSide by side
| Figure | Listary | Open-Shell Menu |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 2 | 1 |
| Spec score · Start Menu Customization Software | 8.0 (#10) | 7.4 (#24) |
| Purpose | Listary is a Windows file search tool and app launcher. | Open-Shell is a collection of utilities bringing back classic features to Windows. |
| Support | The maker provides a Help Center, troubleshooting guidance, and a contact form or support email. | The project directs users to report issues, ask in Discussions, and join its Gitter room or Discord. |
Plans
In their own words
Listary
Listary is a Windows file search tool and app launcher that brings files, folders, and apps into a single search workflow. It finds files by name, path, or format and ranks results based on usage habits; the maker says searches can return results in 0.01 seconds. The launcher supports fuzzy matching. Quick Save & Open lets users move to a target folder from Windows file dialogs when opening or saving files. It supports storage including OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox, file servers, NAS, USB drives, and external hard drives. Standard Windows dialogs are supported, with adaptations for Bandizip, AutoCAD, WinRAR Extract Dialog, and WPS File Dialog, though some custom dialogs may not work. Listary works offline. Full-text search is mainly available through companion app Gety, with partial results integration in the V7 beta. The Free plan is for personal use; Pro costs 19.95 USD once and adds a commercial license and use on up to three computers owned by you. V6 supports 64-bit Windows 10 and 11, while V5 versions are listed for Windows 7 and XP.
Open-Shell Menu
Open-Shell Menu is a free collection of Windows utilities that brings back classic interface features. Its classic-style Start menu supports Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10 and 11, with Start button controls and custom search. It also adds a toolbar and a status bar to Windows Explorer; the status bar can show file size and disk space. A classic copy interface is available for Windows 7 only, and Open-Shell provides title-bar and status-bar features for Internet Explorer. The project says it is compatible with Windows for ARM beginning with version 4.4.196, while warning that older versions may prevent account login after reboot. It was originally known as Classic Shell and is described as having been created by Ivo Beltchev. Free code signing is provided by SignPath.io with a certificate from SignPath Foundation. The project directs users to issue reporting, Discussions, Gitter and Discord for support. A temporary language option uses a downloaded language DLL placed in the installation folder or Open-Shell Languages folder.