Fences AlternativesOnly apps categorised as Application Launchers

The best Application Launcher alternative to Fences is Sideslide, which is free. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 10 alternatives to Fences and eight of them are Application Launchers so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Application Launcher alternatives to Fences are Nimi Places, Coodesker, XLaunchpad and CLaunch.

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Fences alternatives are mainly Application Launchers but may also be Desktop Customization Tools or Shell Extensions.  Other popular filters includes Windows + Free. Filter by these or use the filter bar below if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Fences.
Fences iconFences
  294
  • ...

Desktop organizer for Windows 10/11, arranging files in customizable shaded areas. Features include quick access, snapshot layouts, and enterprise tools.

More about Fences
More about Fences
Fences alternatives page was last updated Oct 11, 2024
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Alternatives
  1. Sideslide icon

    Sideslide

     16 likes
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    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.

    21 Sideslide alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Sideslide screenshot 1

    Sideslide Features

    1.  Launcher
    2.  Multitasking
    3.  Portable

    Sideslide VS Fences

     
    Comments about Sideslide as an Alternative to Fences
    Most Recent Comment
    Guest
    Positive •Nov 25, 2022
    0

    Very full featured program with a steep learning curve, but it's worth it.

    Guest
    Negative •May 11, 2020
    1

    Because it's not similar and easy to use like Fences that is a very intuitive application

    Guest
    Positive •Apr 21, 2021
    0

    It's a very comprehensive program with lots of features that can change the way you work with Windows.

    Show more comments
    3 of 4 comments
    Fences Icon
    Sideslide icon

    • Some users think Sideslide is a great Fences alternative, some don't.

    • Sideslide is Free and ProprietaryFences is Paid and Proprietary
  2. Nimi Places icon

    Nimi Places

     53 likes
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    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...

    16 Nimi Places alternatives

    License model

    • Free Personal • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Nimi Places screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Configurable

    Features

    1.  Portable
    2.  Group Icons
    3.  Skinnable
    4.  Special Folders

    Nimi Places VS Fences

     
    Comments about Nimi Places as an Alternative to Fences
    Top Positive Comment
    Guest
    Feb 7, 2018
    3

    Free, and it works almost the same. Just has a little more setup than Fences does.

    Top Negative Comment
    Guest
    Apr 25, 2018
    6

    This 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 Comment
    Guest
    Positive •Mar 5, 2020
    -2

    Nimi 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.

    Show more comments
    3 of 7 comments
    Fences Icon
    Nimi Places icon

    • Some users think Nimi Places is a great Fences alternative, some don't.

    • Nimi Places is Free Personal and ProprietaryFences is Paid and Proprietary
    • Nimi Places is LightweightFences is not according to our users
  4. Coodesker icon

    Coodesker

     2 likes
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    Automatically organize your desktop shortcuts icons and running tasks.

    12 Coodesker alternatives

    License model

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Coodesker screenshot 1

    Coodesker Features

    1.  Works Offline
    2.  Ad-free

    Coodesker VS Fences

     
    Comments about Coodesker as an Alternative to Fences
    phantasmrevolutionary
    Positive •Jun 26, 2023
    0

    by far the best alternative to Stardock Fences, better even than Stardock Fences itself.

    Fences Icon
    Coodesker icon
    • Coodesker is Paid and ProprietaryFences is also Paid and Proprietary
  5. XLaunchpad icon

    XLaunchpad

     34 likes
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    XLaunchpad gives you instant access to all your shortcuts. Arrange apps in XLaunchpad any way you like by dragging icons to different locations or by grouping apps in folders. Simply drag one icon over another to create a folder.

    54 XLaunchpad alternatives

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    XLaunchpad screenshot 1

    XLaunchpad Features

    1.  Portable
    2.  Launcher

    XLaunchpad VS Fences

     
  6. CLaunch icon

    CLaunch

     13 likes
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    You are free to choose double-click on the desktop and move mouse to the corner of the screen, such as a hot key, how to display more than 100.

    56 CLaunch alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    CLaunch screenshot 1
    Warning

    VirusTotal categorizes it as a trojan when uploaded to the site: https://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/16c7a291d2fceda4942a17bdeef55ae34fd9db781a18e4d43dfcb8f79d13e957

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Support for Themes
    3.  Customizable

    Features

    1.  Ad-free
    2.  No registration required
    3.  Dark Mode
    4.  Portable
    5.  Works Offline
    6.  Support for Gestures

    CLaunch VS Fences

     
  7. ToolBox icon

    ToolBox

     7 likes
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    ToolBox is an application launcher for Windows operating systems with many amazing features. Easy to install, you can get going in minutes. Its drag & drop interface creates shortcuts to almost anything; applications, drives, folders, even simple files.

    9 ToolBox alternatives

    License model

    • Free Personal • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Organized Desktop
    Discontinued

    The program is no longer updated. Last version, 2.97h, released in May 2011, can be still downloaded from the official website.

    Properties

    1.  Customizable

    Features

    1.  Portable
    2.  Drag and Drop
    3.  Group Icons

    ToolBox VS Fences

     
  9. xBar for Windows icon

    xBar for Windows

     1 like
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    A Central Hub for User-Categorized Shortcuts to Apps, Files & Folders, Quick Access to Drives & System Folders with PC Info & Resource Monitoring Dashboards and One-Click Access to Common Windows Operations.

    1 xBar for Windows alternatives

    License model

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    xBar for Windows with Black Theme and Docked on the Right, Showcasing 15% Transparency

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Ad-free
    2.  Dark Mode
    3.  Workflow

    xBar for Windows VS Fences

     
  10. Dragthing icon

    Dragthing

     7 likes
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    DragThing is the original dock designed to tidy up your Macintosh desktop.

    It puts all your documents, folders, and applications just a single click away. Highly flexible, it allows multiple docks, each customised to suit your exact needs.

    It stores frequently-used clippings su.

    67 Dragthing alternatives

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • GB flagUnited Kingdom

    Platforms

    • Mac
    Dragthing screenshot 1
    Discontinued

    Notice on https://www.dragthing.com/ of discontinuation as of 2019.

    Dragthing Features

    1.  Dock
    2.  Launcher

    Dragthing VS Fences

     
8 of 8 Fences alternatives