Suggestions appear as you type. Use the up and down arrows to choose one and Enter to open it.

This page's audience our own tag's counts — open to see them
–Visits
–Page views
–Clicks to vendors
–Time on page
–Reading now
Clicks to vendors, by tool
  • –
Top countries
  • –
Devices
  • –

– · visits, page views and clicks counted by our own tag, which counts more than our checked analytics; every figure rounded down · how we count

StartupStar

#10 of 30 in Startup Manager Software

StartupStar: A focused Windows startup manager with paid blocking, filtering, delays, and backups. Ranked #10 of 30 in Startup Manager Software by our editors (7.8/10); pricing: 30-day trial; best for paid startup blocking and delays.

7.8/10Editor score
StartupStar7.8 Visit StartupStar

At a glance

  • Editor score
    7.8 / 10
  • Pricing
    30-day trial
  • Best for
    Paid startup blocking and delays
  • Free plan
    No
  • Paid from
    €29.95 one-time
  • Startup delay
    Yes
  • Founded
    1994 · Ganderkesee, Germany
  • Facts checked
    20 Sep 2026
StartupStar screenshot
  • Where it wins

    • Blocks, delays, activates, or deactivates startup entries
    • Autostart firewall warns about and blocks unwanted entries
    • Backs up startup configuration and includes entry filtering
  • Where it doesn't

    • Windows-only, supporting Windows 7 through 11
    • No free plan after the 30-day trial
    • Paid license required for continued use

Our verdict on StartupStar

StartupStar is a Windows utility for controlling programs that launch with the operating system. It suits users who want more than a simple startup list, particularly those who need to inspect entries, prevent unwanted launches, or delay programs until after startup. The product supports Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10, and 11, and has been available since 1994. Its scope is deliberately focused on startup management rather than broader system administration.

The Full Version costs €29.95 as a one-time purchase and includes startup entry management, delay controls, an autostart firewall, free email support, advertising-free use, and at least six months of free updates. A 30-day trial is available, but there is no free plan. The autostart firewall is the standout control: it warns about newly installed startup entries and can block unwanted entries. Users can also add programs to the startup list, search entries, filter them by status, and create a backup of the startup configuration.

StartupStar is a good fit for Windows users who want explicit controls over what launches, when it launches, and whether new startup entries should be allowed. The combination of inspection, filtering, delay rules, blocking, and configuration backup gives it useful depth for this narrow task. It is less suitable for people who need a free utility, support for another operating system, or a wider system-management suite. Buyers should also note that the product is centered on startup entries, so it is best chosen for controlling launch behavior rather than managing every type of Windows background activity.

Your product? Our editors can test StartupStar in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →

StartupStar pricing

Plans 30-day trial No free plan — trial or paid only. Prices checked 20 Sep 2026.
See plans on abelssoft.de

All 1 StartupStar plans and prices →

StartupStar fact sheet

Free planNo
Paid from€29.95 one-time
Startup delayYes
Service controlNot verified
Startup inspectionYes
Windows supportWindows 7 to 11
Portable editionNot verified
Startup item limitNot verified
Free trial30 days
DeploymentDesktop
PlatformsWindows
SupportEmail
Built forSolo, Small business (editorial estimate)
Pricing30-day trial (source)
Websiteabelssoft.de
Facts checked20 Sep 2026

Alternatives to StartupStar

See all StartupStar alternatives →

Used StartupStar? Be the first to review it

The editor score above is our own research. What this page doesn't have yet is a reader's view — what you used StartupStar for, what worked and what didn't. No stars are seeded and no review is paid for; an editor reads every one before it appears.

Write a reviewTwo minutes · verified accounts only · read by an editor before it appears

Reviews come only from verified accounts. Sign in or create an account first — your e-mail is never shown.

Your rating

0 characters · at least 80, up to 3,000

Posted from your verified account. Reviews appear after an editor reads them, usually within two working days.

Featured on iTechGuides

Featured on iTechGuides — StartupStar 7.8/10

StartupStar is listed in our Startup Manager Software directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.

<a href="https://www.itechguides.com/products/startupstar/"><img src="https://www.itechguides.com/best/badge/startupstar.svg" alt="Featured on iTechGuides" width="230" height="46"></a>

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

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.

Last updated · How we research and update