Fences AlternativesTop Desktop Customization Tools and other similar apps like Fences
Fences is described as 'Desktop organizer for Windows 10/11, arranging files in customizable shaded areas. Features include quick access, snapshot layouts, and enterprise tools' and is a very popular desktop customization tool in the os & utilities category. There are more than 10 alternatives to Fences for Windows, Mac and Linux. The best Fences alternative is Portals: Desktop Organization, which is free. Other great apps like Fences are Nimi Places, iTop Easy Desktop, Sparkle AI and Sideslide.
filter to find the best alternatives
Fences alternatives are mainly Desktop Customization Tools, but if you're looking for Application Launchers or File Managers you can filter on that. Other popular filters include Windows + Free. You can also filter by region, for example EU-based alternatives if you prefer software developed in the European Union. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to Fences.- Desktop Customization Tool
- Paid • Proprietary
- 13 Portals: Desktop Organization alternatives
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.
License model
- Free • Proprietary
Application types
Country of Origin
United States
Platforms
- Windows
Comments about Portals: Desktop Organization as an Alternative to Fences
Free and beautiful. A must have.
- 17 Nimi Places alternatives
Organizes desktop into customizable containers - showing folders (e.g.: local folders, network locations) contents, displayed as icons/thumbnails on scrollable surface. In-built thumbnail engine is capable of displaying thumbnails for supported Open Documents and PSD images, but...
License model
- Free Personal • Proprietary
Application types
Country of Origin
Portugal
EU
Platforms
- Windows
Comments about Nimi Places as an Alternative to Fences
Top Positive CommentFree, and it works almost the same. Just has a little more setup than Fences does.
Top Negative CommentThis performs ONE of Fences' secondary functions: displaying the contents of directories OTHER THAN the Desktop as virtual containers on the Desktop. IT IS NOT for organizing Desktop icons/files or setting up automatic rules for categorization of new Desktop icons/files.
Most Recent CommentNimi Places is not an exact replica of Fences, but(!) it will give you the look and feel. Instead of everything being on your desktop, it links it a folder. I am just going to change my behavior a tad and just know that my files, when placed in the fence, are not stored on the actual desktop. I still have easy access to move the files between the desktop to fence and vice versa, which is most important to me.
- 21 iTop Easy Desktop alternatives
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.
License model
- Freemium • Proprietary
Application type
Country of Origin
Hong Kong SAR China
Platforms
- Windows
Comments about iTop Easy Desktop as an Alternative to Fences
Most Recent CommentbitooleanIt automatically manages new icons added to the desktop by installers repetitively every time that software gets updated by remembering which container they are assigned to and thus avoiding having to manage duplicates manually.
phantasmrevolutionaryCoodeDesker, StarDock Fences and iTop Easy Desktop are the only softwares for desktop (professional-looking specifically) organization via containers that are worth trying. iTop Easy Desktop might be the worst of those 3, but it's the one that has a free option.
heartilyBest free alternative to Fences.
- 21 Sparkle AI alternatives
Sparkle uses AI to create a unique folder system and organize every new file (and all your old ones) into the right place. It manages your Downloads, Desktop, and Documents folders so you don't have to.
License model
- Paid • Proprietary
Application type
Country of Origin
United States
Platforms
- Mac
Sparkle AI Features
- 20 Sideslide alternatives
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.
License model
- Free • Proprietary
Application types
Country of Origin
Israel
Platforms
- Windows
Sideslide Features
Comments about Sideslide as an Alternative to Fences
Most Recent CommentVery full featured program with a steep learning curve, but it's worth it.
Because it's not similar and easy to use like Fences that is a very intuitive application
It's a very comprehensive program with lots of features that can change the way you work with Windows.
License model
- Free • Proprietary
Application types
Country of Origin
Portugal
EU
Platforms
- Linux
- Screenlets
DiscontinuedThe program is no longer updated. Last version, 0.9.9, released in August 2010, can be still downloaded from the official website.
Folderview Screenlet Features
- 16 iCollections alternatives
iCollections is an expertly designed application which helps you keep your desktop organized. The app's unique features are what make it the most popular method of desktop organization for Mac users.
License model
- Paid • Proprietary
Country of Origin
Poland
EU
Platforms
- Mac
Comments about iCollections as an Alternative to Fences
Jim BolRuns on Mac, has beautiful drawers that auto-shrink, can use (different levels of) transparency, is even more easy to use than Fences on Windows.
- 24 Dropzone alternatives
Dropzone is a productivity app for the Mac that makes it faster and easier to move and copy files, launch applications, upload to many different services, and more.
License model
- Paid • Proprietary
Country of Origin
New Zealand
Platforms
- Mac
Dropzone Features
It looks like windows native.