RainbowTaskbar vs TaskbarX

RainbowTaskbar is a Windows app for changing the taskbar’s appearance with animations, colors, images, websites, and other effects. It supports web configurations as well as instruction-based configurations. Web configurations can respond to mouse input, use WebGL, canvas graphics, and video, and call the RainbowTaskbar API to adjust taskbar style and transparency. The app supports positioning and transparency controls, along with complex multi-monitor setups involving scaling and positioning. Through the RainbowTaskbar Workshop, users can download configurations without an account; uploading one requires signing in with Google or GitHub. The app is portable, but needs the.NET 8 runtime if that runtime is not already installed. The maker warns that RainbowTaskbar conflicts with TranslucentTB and says to close that app before running it. RainbowTaskbar is free and open-source, with a free plan listed at free. Its maker describes it as a passion project first released in 2021.

TaskbarX is a free, open-source Windows utility for positioning taskbar icons and changing taskbar styling. Icons can be placed at the exact center or nudged left or right, with adjustable spacing and size. Animation choices include fade, slide, other easing styles, or no animation. Backgrounds can be transparent, blurred, opaque, or accent-colored. Unlimited taskbars can have independent settings per monitor, including vertical taskbars. The portable build needs no installer, makes no registry edits, and uses no background services. TaskbarX is released under the MIT license. The site says Windows 10 is fully supported; on Windows 11, centering works through build 22621.1265 but not on modern builds. Version 1.7.8.0 is listed as latest stable, and the GitHub repository is archived and read-only. A Store version offers automatic updates for an optional donation.