DesktopShelves AlternativesDesktop Customization Tools and other similar apps like DesktopShelves

DesktopShelves is described as 'Helps you fight the clutter on your desktop by organizing files on shelves. A shelf the size of 5 icons holds 20 files' and is a desktop customization tool in the os & utilities category. There are more than 10 alternatives to DesktopShelves for Windows, Mac and Steam. The best DesktopShelves alternative is Fences. It's not free, so if you're looking for a free alternative, you could try Portals: Desktop Organization or iTop Easy Desktop. Other great apps like DesktopShelves are Sideslide, DeskSweep, ICU - Icon Configuration Utility and DesktopOK.

Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard
DesktopShelves alternatives page was last updated

Alternatives list

  1. Fences icon
     299 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Desktop organization tool for Windows 10/11, automating file and app categorization in customizable areas. Includes snapshot saving, quick-access keys, Chameleon feature, and enterprise deployment tools.

    29 Fences alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Pay once or Subscription
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Steam
     
    • Fences is the most popular Windows alternative to DesktopShelves.

    • Fences is the most popular commercial alternative to DesktopShelves.

    • Fences is Paid and ProprietaryDesktopShelves is also Paid and Proprietary
  2. Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Create containers (aka Portals) on your desktop which show the contents of a specified folder. Divide your desktop into folders then use Portals to display the contents of the folders in an organized fashion - you can even hide the folders away somewhere else.

    19 Portals: Desktop Organization alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
    • Portals: Desktop Organization is the most popular free alternative to DesktopShelves.

    • Portals: Desktop Organization is Free and ProprietaryDesktopShelves is Paid and Proprietary
    • Portals: Desktop Organization is Lightweight and CustomizableDesktopShelves is not according to our users
  3. Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Automates desktop organization for Windows by grouping files, apps, and folders into customizable boxes, supporting appearance adjustments, instant hotkey access, multi-page desktops, double-click hiding, Folder Portal, and fast search functionality.

    27 iTop Easy Desktop alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Subscription)
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  4. Sideslide icon
     17 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    SideSlide is an advanced, portable, unobtrusive, dockable, skinnable, instantly accessible, highly configurable Desktop Extension on Steroids! Clean desktop clutter and make your computer friendlier and faster than ever before.

    24 Sideslide alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  5. DeskSweep icon
     3 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Boost your productivity by eliminating clutter—DeskSweep automatically organizes your desktop by moving files to a designated folder, ensuring a clean and distraction-free workspace.

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
     
    • DeskSweep is the most popular Mac alternative to DesktopShelves.

    • DeskSweep is Paid and ProprietaryDesktopShelves is also Paid and Proprietary
    • DeskSweep is Privacy focused and LightweightDesktopShelves is not according to our users
  6. Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Restore your desktop when the icons get “rearranged”.

    Melba23 and I found we were working on very similar ideas to restore the Desktop icons to their normal place if they became “rearranged”. Vista seems to like this doing on occasion just for fun – but we all know some applicat.

    14 ICU - Icon Configuration Utility alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
    • ICU - Icon Configuration Utility is the most popular Open Source alternative to DesktopShelves.

    • ICU - Icon Configuration Utility is Free and Open SourceDesktopShelves is Paid and Proprietary
  7. DesktopOK icon
     28 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Saves and restores the positions of desktop shortcuts.

    8 DesktopOK alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  8. iCollections icon
     12 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Create custom containers on Mac desktop, group icons, files, folders, and applications, display photo slideshows or static images, customize appearance, snap to grid, integrate with Finder, choose icon sizes, and enjoy an uncluttered, personalized workspace.

    22 iCollections alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Pay once or Subscription
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
     
  9. Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    It records the layout and positions of icons and programs on the Windows Desktop, and permits restoration of the layout. It appears to operate correctly under Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows 2000 and Windows XP.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  10. Partitions icon
     3 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Organize and declutter your desktop by creating containers of icons and shortcuts or add multiple explorer windows right on your desktop.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Pay once)
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  11. IconRestorer icon
     7 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Preserves icon and wallpaper layouts by storing multiple desktop profiles for each screen resolution, enabling automatic or manual recovery after crashes, screen changes, or auto-arrangement, and supporting multi-monitor setups with distinct profiles.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
12 of 16 DesktopShelves alternatives