Start Menu 8 PRO: A Windows 7 Style Start Menu for Windows 8 and 10
Start Menu 8 PRO is an $18.95 lifetime tool from IObit that replaces the Start menu on Windows 8 and Windows 10 with the Windows 7 style menu and Start button. It's for people still on those systems who dislike the default menu.
IObit doesn't list Windows 11, so if you're on Windows 11, this isn't the product to buy. It also isn't a program to choose without trying, since a free edition exists.
Quick facts
- Version: 6.0.0.2, file dated January 5, 2025
- Developer: IObit
- Platform: Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista and XP, as listed by IObit
- Price: $18.95 once for the lifetime license
- Free edition: yes
- Download size: 11.8 MB
What we checked: installer version 6.0.0.2 (digitally signed by IObit), and the order page, which showed $18.95 as a lifetime license with no renewal, on November 6, 2026. We didn't run it on a PC, and IObit publishes only illustrations of it, so this page has no screenshots.
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Before you buy
- Try the free edition first. IObit's refund policy generally refuses refunds for a change of mind or for not liking what a product does, so don't count on its money-back guarantee as a trial.
- Check your Windows version. Windows 11 isn't on the list, and Windows 10 no longer gets free Microsoft support.
- Read each setup screen. A PCWorld review noted the setup asking you to install paid software.
Overview
Microsoft removed the Start button in Windows 8 and redesigned the menu again in Windows 10. Start Menu 8 was built for people who wanted the old layout back. Version 6 is the latest IObit has released, and the product page is largely unchanged from the Windows 10 years.
Features
Brings back the Windows 7 style Start menu
Start Menu 8 PRO replaces the default menu with the familiar two-column layout and restores the Start button on Windows 8, 8.1 and 10.
Boots straight to the desktop
Start Menu 8 PRO can skip the Windows 8 tile screen and go directly to the desktop when the PC starts.
Faster file search
Start Menu 8 PRO has its own search, which IObit says is 20% faster and more accurate than before.
Your own Start icon, and no ads
Start Menu 8 PRO lets you set a custom Start icon, and IObit says ads are disabled completely in the Start menu.
Who It's For, and Who Should Skip It
Start Menu 8 PRO fits someone on Windows 10 or 8 who wants an old-style menu and prefers a one-time payment.
Skip it on Windows 11. Tools such as Start11 and StartAllBack are made for it. Skip it if you're happy with a free tool: Open-Shell, the continuation of Classic Shell, does a similar job at no cost. It's also a poor fit for a shared office PC, since staff are better off learning the standard menu.
Usage Guide
- Install the free edition and read each setup screen.
- Open the Start menu and check it suits you.
- If it does, buy the license and enter the code.
- Open the settings to pick the icon and choose what the Start button does.
Where it falls short
- It's aging. The latest installer dates from January 2025, and IObit's page still talks about Windows 8.
- Taskbar quirk. PCWorld noted it doesn't keep the taskbar from auto-hiding, in the Windows 8 version it tested.
- Windows updates can interfere. A third-party comparison mentions compatibility problems with some Windows updates, as is common for Start menu replacements.
What Users Say
PCWorld, February 7, 2013
Jon L. Jacobi reviewed the free version on Windows 8: "If you're a Windows 8 user missing your Start menu, download this free replacement." He listed "Asks you to install paid software" as a drawback. That's a useful record of the original product, though not of version 6.
On IObit's site
- Juerg, on support: "They answered quickly and gave me the solution to my problem in no time!"
- Dan Jurden: "Since I started using Start Menu 8, I have had NO issues with the start menu."
The pattern: feedback is old and comes from Windows 8 users who liked getting the Start button back. We found no recent independent review of the paid edition on Windows 10.
Comparisons
Start Menu 8 PRO vs Open-Shell
Open-Shell is free and open source, with similar classic menu styles. Start Menu 8 PRO offers a simpler setup and a paid vendor behind it. Most people should try Open-Shell first.
Start Menu 8 PRO vs Start11
Start11 from Stardock targets Windows 10 and 11. If you plan to move to Windows 11, it makes more sense than buying a tool that doesn't list it.
Editions and Pricing
| Edition | Price | Term |
|---|
| Start Menu 8 Free | Free | No limit |
| Start Menu 8 PRO Lifetime | $18.95 | One payment, no renewal |
| Start Menu 8 PRO yearly | $9.99 at checkout, $7.99 on IObit's page | 1 year, 1 PC |
The lifetime license is the better deal if you plan to keep using it for two years or more, and the yearly plan renews automatically.
FAQs
Does Start Menu 8 work on Windows 11?
IObit doesn't list Windows 11 for Start Menu 8. Its page names Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista and XP, so don't buy it for a Windows 11 PC.
Is IObit's money-back guarantee a free trial for Start Menu 8?
No. IObit's refund policy generally excludes a change of mind or disappointment with what a product does. It covers cases such as wrong or duplicate purchases and technical faults support can't fix. Use the free edition to try it.
Is the Start Menu 8 PRO lifetime license a one-time payment?
Yes. The Start Menu 8 PRO lifetime license at $18.95 showed no renewal on the order page.
Is this the same Start Menu 8 made by OrdinarySoft?
No. IObit's Start Menu 8 is a different program from the older OrdinarySoft tool with the same name.
Is there a Mac version of Start Menu 8?
No. Start Menu 8 is a Windows tool.
System Requirements
- Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista or XP
- 11.8 MB download
Conclusion
Verdict: Start Menu 8 PRO is only worth buying if you're staying on Windows 10 or 8, have tried the free edition and want its extras. At $18.95 once, the cost is low, and the lifetime license beats paying yearly.
The one reason to buy is a familiar menu for a modest one-time price. The main reason not to is that free alternatives exist, and this tool doesn't list Windows 11, where most PCs are heading.
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