Stardock Forums
What makes Start10 better than the total free Classic Start Menu?
I wish i could demo start10 so i could compare the two.
Nothing really except that you don't get lost in Start10 like you do in classic shell's settings. 
With Start10 it is easy to set up, it does not make your head spin.
Yea, I agree with Some1, Start10 works better, and is easier to use than Classic Shell on Windows 10.
While, I'm here, I have a suggestion for SD... Include classic Windows Explorer/File explorer versions with Start10.
There are plenty of Windows explorer alternatives available, but I bet SD could do a better job than most.
I have downloaded the demo.
I have to disagree with you both. Over all Classic Start Menu (CCM) is far better.
CCM: The setting window is plain and simple. Very little scrolling up and down as the scroll windows are twice as big.
Start10: Spent to much effort on a pretty GUI. confusing.
Start10 is really kinda confusing to use. Some parts just dont make sense or are just plain hard to follow.
CCM has two view make changes. Default (4 tabs) and "Show all settings" (13 tabs). Nice. Each view is setup is a very simple to follow tab format.
CCM also tracks the changes you make, so you know what you changed. Nice.
Start10 the Control and Desktop dont even make sense as to what the options do.
Start10 if you hover over an option nothing happens.
CCM if you hover over an option a quick window shows telling you what the option does. Nice.
Start10 only lets you hide the Search box.
CCH gives 14 options for the search box. Plus you can hide it. or you can just remove the "Search the Internet option".
I am not promoting CCM, I am just pointing out that 4.99 Start10 is a waste of money seeing how it over all very limited as to what it can do and is confusing.
CCM is straight forward and easy to understand what the options do.
Fences is in a class by itself. It is a must have. Dont just buy one buy two.
I think you may have entered into this with a conclusion in mind already even if it was not intentional possibly from having personal experience of one of the products...
You find Start10 confusing (Well reviewed for its simplicity) and yet apparently having 13 tabs of settings is not confusing. You find tooltips useful on all controls (personally I hate those), but never read the Start10 manual.
Additionally Start10 offers additional settings in the Start10Tweak app. We do not believe it overloading a user interface with settings and our customers seem to agree with this policy. Sometimes less is more... 14 options for showing the search box, perhaps not the best idea for the casual user?
I am afraid I will have to respectfully disagree with your entire post and I imagine you will find many people will do the same. Our sales figures and reviews speak for themselves I think.
To OP. By now you will have found arguments in favour of both Start 10 and Classic Shell, and you will have decided upon one or the other.
But for the benefit of other readers: I've tried both, and I won't attempt to influence anyone by saying which I settled for, but I will say I had a hard time choosing, as they both do the job admirably, it really does come down to personal preference. Price is hardly a factor, seeing that Stardock is practically giving it away, and Classic Shell really needs donation support. So my answer is: take the opinions with a pinch of salt, and try them both. As a result of doing just that, people will generally claim that the one they are using (whichever) is the better one, when what they mean is, it's better for them.
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