Compare software

Cairo Desktop vs Open-Shell: catalog facts
Cairo Desktop	Open-Shell
Free Free and open source.	Free Free and open source under the MIT licence.
Windows	Windows
Full replacement for the Windows taskbar and shell Customizable interface	A classic hierarchical Start menu on Windows 7 through 11, in several styles Explorer toolbar and a status bar showing file size and free disk space
Windows only Replacing the shell can conflict with how Windows expects to behave	On Windows for ARM, installing a version before 4.4.196 locks you out of your account after reboot Windows only
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Open source	Open source
License not stated	License: MIT
No account needed	No account needed
Works offline	Works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 24, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 21, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.