Best windows taskbar replacement

wsTaskborg 1.4.0.2

Janis Elsts

This is a small utility that lets you organize your taskbar buttons by dragging them around and grouping/ungrouping them as you wish.

Platform: Windows

Utilities & Drivers

Type: Shareware

Cost: $17.00 US

Size: 587 K

Released: Jan 07, 2007

Download: http://w-shadow.com/files/wstaskborg_setup.exe

Keywords: Windows xp, taskbar buttons, taskbar organizer, taskbar groups, sort buttons

NextSTART 3.3

Winstep Software Technologies

Skinnable menu system and task management utility that can be used as a replacement or supplement to the Windows Start Menu. Also, it offers an incredible amount of flexibility so that the user can customize it to his needs and tastes.

Platform: Windows

Utilities & Drivers

Type: Shareware

Cost: $24.95 US

Size: 4302 K

Released: Mar 10, 2005

Download: http://www.winstep.net/ns3-full.zip

Keywords: Dock, nextstart, winstep, nextstep, openstep

WorkShelf 1.80

Winstep Software Technologies

In the world of Windows, WorkShelf is the Swiss Army knife of User Interface enhancements. Intended as a multi-leveled desktop replacement, it is equally at home functioning as a tabbed program launcher. Like a dock, but better. It enables you to organize your most often used applications and documents into categorized shelves while taking as little screen space as possible: when not in use, it automatically collapses into a small strip of tabs.

Platform: Windows

Utilities & Drivers

Type: Shareware

Cost: $29.95 US

Size: 6721 K

Released: Jun 26, 2005

Download: http://www.winstep.net/ws-full.zip

Keywords: Themes, start menu, menu, taskbar, systray

Skin Clock 1.5

Alcyonesoft

SkinClock is the replacement for standard tray clock having skinned interface. You are able to select between multiple differently styled skins. It lets you showing date and calendar, adjust and synchronize time, create and run reminders

Platform: Windows

Desktop Enhancements

Type: Shareware

Cost: $29.95 US

Size: 2165 K

Released: Nov 21, 2005

Download: http://www.alcyonesoft.com/files/skinclock.zip

Keywords: Atomic clock, atomic time, taskbar clock, clock, tray

Skin Clock 1.8

Alcyonesoft

SkinClock is the advanced replacement for standard Windows clock having eye catching skinned interface and providing you with additional features. You are able to select between multiple skins those are differently styled and colored. It lets you showing current date and calendar only with the one mouse click, adjust and synchronize time via Internet easily. SkinClock has advanced alarm center which lets user to create and run reminders

Platform: Windows

Desktop Enhancements

Type: Shareware

Cost: $15.00 US

Size: 2230 K

Released: Jun 08, 2006

Download: http://www.alcyonesoft.com/files/skinclock.zip

Keywords: Atomic time software, atomic time program, synctime, desktop, trayclock

Taskbar Button Manager 2.2

Innovative Solutions

Taskbar Button Manager is a simple utility that helps you arrange the buttons on your Windows taskbar in any way you want by using drag and drop. Moving your task buttons is very easy, no hotkey needed.

Platform: Windows

Utilities & Drivers

Type: Freeware

Cost: $0.00 US

Size: 1419 K

Released: Jul 11, 2006

Download: http://innofiles.com/soft/tbm/taskbar_button_manager.exe

Keywords: Buttons, arrange, move, easy

Taskbar Hide - hide windows program 1.28

Eusing Software

With Taskbar Hide you can fully control the taskbar.Hide windows program (hide applications) or close them completely through a hotkey,or minimize them to system tray.Hide some less used icons from system tray.Reorder the windows on taskbar based on your choice.Change the icon and title of any window.Automatically maximize all new windows or only new IE windows.Set any application window always on top or show it's property.

Platform: Windows

Utilities & Drivers

Type: Shareware

Cost: $19.95 US

Size: 747 K

Released: Jul 21, 2005

Download: http://www.eusing.com/Download/THSetup.exe

Keywords: Hide task, stay on top window, minimize to tray, hide windows tool, maximize windows

xNeat Windows Manager Pro 3.0.0.0

x Neat Software

xNeat is a very handy windows enhancement utility that gives you full control over your windows and adds functionality to your desktop that you wish that Microsoft had included. It's neat, compact and combines many useful programs into one.

Platform: Windows

Desktop Enhancements

Type: Shareware

Cost: $15.00 US

Size: 796 K

Released: Aug 20, 2008

Download: http://www.xneat.com/windows-manager/download/xNeatProSetup.exe

Keywords: Transparent, translucent, transparency, desktop extension, min to tray

Taskix 1.0

Robust IT

Taskix is a free utility that allows you to reorder the buttons in your Windows XP taskbar in-place using your mouse. If you have "Group similar taskbar buttons" set, it also works inside stacked groups! Simply extract the files from the ZIP into a folder of your choice and start the EXE. It is most straightforward to use and uses very few system resources. You also have the option to configure it to be restarted with Windows.

Platform: Windows

Utilities & Drivers

Type: Freeware

Cost: $0.00 US

Size: 62 K

Released: Nov 20, 2006

Download: http://robustit.com/taskix/Taskix1.0.zip

Keywords: Drop, DND, buttons, items, in-place

axExplorerBar 1.1

R.M. de Boer Software

Add XP Taskbar functionality to your software axExplorerBar is based on the 'Taskbar' navigation menu bar introduced in Windows XP. An ExplorerBar provides a visually attractive and versatile way to present a grouped list of options.

Platform: Windows

Developer Tools

Type: Shareware

Cost: $129.00 US

Size: 1465 K

Released: Apr 10, 2004

Download: http://www.winsoft98.com/programs/axeb11.exe

Keywords: Listbar, software, automatic, activex, visual basic

Taskbar Manager 3.5

Askarya Technologies

Drag and Drop buttons on taskbar and change their order as you wish, Save and Restore order of taskbar buttons, Hide buttons on taskbar, Disable annoying Startup programs, Schedule automatic System shutdown/logoff/restart, Quick shortcuts to shutdown, logoff or reboot your machine

Platform: Windows

Utilities & Drivers

Type: Shareware

Cost: $9.95 US

Size: 427 K

Released: Feb 08, 2007

Download: http://www.askarya.com/download/tbmsetup.zip

Keywords: Hide, applications, startup, programs, reorder

Replacement of Wall-paper 3.0

Ya-Soft

Replacement of Wall-paper (ROW) - one of the best wallpaper manager for Windows. ROW is intended for management of desktop wallpapers.

Platform: Windows

Utilities & Drivers

Type: Shareware

Cost: $5.00 US

Size: 737 K

Released: Jul 29, 2002

Download: http://ya-soft.narod.ru/row.exe

Keywords: Wall, wallpaper, manager, windows, fast

Atomic Alarm Clock 4.9

Drive Software Company

Alert yourself about important events with different alarms and replace your tray clock using different skins. Alarm clock that will play a MP3 file. It also can run a program, log off, reboot, shut down, or power off. Atomic Alarm Clock also an atomic-time synchronizer and advanced replacement for Windows tray clock, over 130 skins are included in the distribution. This alarm clock is built into your personal PC and is completely customizable.

Platform: Windows

Desktop Enhancements

Type: Shareware

Cost: $29.95 US

Size: 1583 K

Released: Sep 10, 2007

Download: http://www.drive-software.com/download/ataclock.zip

Keywords: Digital clock, desktop clock, clock tray, windows clock, tray clock

Clock Tray Skins 3.91

Drive Software Company

Advanced replacement for standard Windows tray clock. See the time, day, date and system UpTime in different skins. Displays the time for any of the time zones. Over 100 skins are included in the distribution. It's also an atomic-time synchronizer.

Platform: Windows

Desktop Enhancements

Type: Shareware

Cost: $19.95 US

Size: 1215 K

Released: Sep 14, 2007

Download: http://www.drive-software.com/download/clocktsk.zip

Keywords: System tray clock, tray clock replacement, date in system tray, seconds on windows clock, change windows clock

Best windows taskbar replacement software