Liteshell!

WindowBlinds is a computer program that allows users to skin the Windows graphical user interface. It has been developed by Stardock since 1998, and is the most popular component of their flagship software suite, Object Desktop. It is also available separately, and as an ActiveX/COM component called DirectSkin. Now in its sixth version, it supports alpha blending effects similar to the compositing of Windows Vista, but on Windows XP.

Cairo Shell is a replacement shell for the Microsoft Windows operating systems. Like other shell alternatives, it replaces the default Windows Shell. Cairo Shell will be free to download and use when it is released.

Emerge Desktop is a replacement Windows "shell" (the desktop environment normally provided by Windows Explorer) for Windows 2000 and above. In order to replace Windows Explorer as a shell, it provides a system tray (the area that collects the icons collected at the lower right corner in Explorer), called emergeTray. It will also provide access to the users programs (normally accessed with the Windows "start" button) via a right-click on the desktop, via emergeCore.

LiteStep is a replacement desktop interface for Windows.

SharpEnviro (or SharpE) is an open source shell replacement system for Microsoft Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7. When using SharpEnviro the default Windows desktop is replaced by a new and more powerful desktop environment. The goal of SharpEnviro is not only to create a user friendly desktop environment which provides many advanced and modern desktop features, but to also create a desktop environment which is easily configurable and which you can customise to your needs. You can decide how your desktop will look like and how it will work – adjust your desktop environment to work like you want it to. »

BB4Win (Blackbox for Windows) is an alternative shell for Microsoft Windows. The program aims to emulate the look and feel of a Linux based desktop. The BB4Win project was discontinued in 2005 but various branches have been built from the source. BB4Win's primary feature is speed. The interface is designed for minimalism to provide basic desktop functionality without wasting system resources on "bloated" or needless features. There are many plug-ins and hundreds of themes available to change the look of your desktop. »

bbLean is the lean version of Blackbox for Windows. It tries to keep balance between features and complexity, to give you some efficient means within a compact shell.

Talisman Desktop is a configurable Windows shell replacement introduced in 1997 by Lighttek Software. It is available in a number of languages including English, French, Spanish, Swedish, Portuguese, Russian and Italian. Talisman Desktop is shareware, available as a free trial download that expires in 30 days. The registration fee for continued use is 25 USD.

GeoShell - The premier minimalist Windows shell replacement. It replaces the default Explorer interface. It features menu bars—“geoBars”—that can be dragged-and-dropped anywhere on the users screen. There are also desktop menus that can be triggered whenever a user clicks anywhere on the desktop, and global keyboard shortcuts. It also has plugins that other developers write to add functionality, and skins to change its appearance. Most settings are configured by directly editing the Windows registry, although more recent versions of GeoShell have a configuration utility, GeoConfig, which simplifies configuration tasks. »