TaskbarX vs RetroBar

TaskbarX8.8Visit RRetroBar7.5Visit

Higher score TaskbarX #2 in Taskbar Customization Software 8.8/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 5 of 6 features Visit TaskbarX

vs

R RetroBar #11 in Taskbar Customization Software 7.5/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 5 of 6 features Visit RetroBar

• TaskbarX fits best

  Portable taskbar centering and visual effects

• RetroBar fits best

  Classic taskbar layouts across multiple monitors

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature	TaskbarX 8.8/10 Visit ↗	RRetroBar 7.5/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	8.8	7.5
Ranking	#2 in Taskbar Customization Software	#11 in Taskbar Customization Software
Best for	Portable taskbar centering and visual effects	Classic taskbar layouts across multiple monitors
Pricing model	Free	Free
Starting price	Free plan	Free plan
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Desktop	Desktop
Platforms	Windows	Windows
Support	Community	Community
Built for	Solo, Small business	Solo
Features TaskbarX 5/6 · RetroBar 5/6
Taskbar positioning	✓	✓
Transparency controls	✓	✓
App grouping controls	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Multi-monitor support	✓	✓
Taskbar sizing	✓	✓
Portable version	✓	✓
Specs
Platform	Windows	Windows
Our review
Pros	Free, open source, and portable without installation or background services Combines centering, offsets, animations, transparency, blur, and acrylic styles Supports multi-monitor, vertical taskbars, sizing, spacing, segments, and color controls	Classic Windows 95 through Vista-style layouts Multi-monitor taskbars with positioning and resizing Free, open-source project with installer and portable versions
Cons	Icon centering does not work on modern Windows 11 builds Primarily designed for Windows 10 The GitHub repository is archived and read-only	Windows-only availability Retro visual focus may not suit modern interface preferences No AI features
Our verdict	TaskbarX is a free, open-source Windows utility for customizing taskbar layout and appearance. It centers taskbar icons or places them with custom offsets, and it is aimed at Windows users who want more control over positioning, spacing,… Read the review →	RetroBar replaces the default Windows taskbar with classic Windows 95, 98, Me, 2000, XP, or Vista-style layouts. It is designed for Windows users who want a retro desktop interface while keeping everyday taskbar functions, including a… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• TaskbarX — where it wins

  • Free, open source, and portable without installation or background services
  • Combines centering, offsets, animations, transparency, blur, and acrylic styles
  • Supports multi-monitor, vertical taskbars, sizing, spacing, segments, and color controls

  Where it doesn't

  • Icon centering does not work on modern Windows 11 builds
  • Primarily designed for Windows 10
  • The GitHub repository is archived and read-only

• RetroBar — where it wins

  • Classic Windows 95 through Vista-style layouts
  • Multi-monitor taskbars with positioning and resizing
  • Free, open-source project with installer and portable versions

  Where it doesn't

  • Windows-only availability
  • Retro visual focus may not suit modern interface preferences
  • No AI features

• TaskbarX8.8/10 · Free plan

  A free, portable Windows 10 taskbar customizer with limited modern Windows 11 support.

  Visit TaskbarXFull verdict →
• RRetroBar7.5/10 · Free plan

  A free, open-source taskbar replacement for classic layouts and multi-monitor setups.

  Visit RetroBarFull verdict →