The Best Fences Alternative for Desktop Organization
Fences, a popular paid Windows software, excels at helping users compartmentalize and organize their desktop by dividing it into sections. However, its exclusive availability on Windows and its price tag lead many to seek a reliable Fences alternative. Whether you're a Windows user looking for free options or a macOS or Linux user needing similar functionality, there are excellent desktop organization tools available.
Top Fences Alternatives
Looking to declutter your digital workspace without Fences? Here are some of the best alternatives that offer similar, if not enhanced, features for desktop organization across various platforms.
Folderview Screenlet
Folderview Screenlet is a fantastic free Linux Fences alternative that allows you to create customizable fences directly on your desktop. It offers similar icon grouping features and the ability to resize or move icons, even hiding them all with a double-click, much like Fences. It's an excellent choice for Linux users seeking to organize their desktop icons efficiently.
Sideslide
SideSlide is a powerful and free Windows desktop extension that serves as a robust Fences alternative for managing clutter. Its unique use of containers allows for instant access to applications and files, promoting multitasking. Being portable, it keeps all configuration files in a single folder, making it a clean and efficient solution for Windows users.
iCollections
For Mac users, iCollections is a commercial Fences alternative that excels at desktop organization. It allows you to create distinct areas on your desktop for grouping icons, keeping related files like pictures, documents, and applications neatly arranged. Its customizable and drag-n-drop interface, along with the ability to create photo frames, makes it a popular choice for Mac desktop management.
Nimi Places
Nimi Places is a free personal Windows Fences alternative that organizes your desktop into customizable, scrollable containers. It's excellent for displaying folder contents, including local folders and network locations, as icons or thumbnails. Its in-built thumbnail engine supports various file types, making it a versatile and configurable tool for file management on Windows.
ICU - Icon Configuration Utility
ICU - Icon Configuration Utility is a free and open-source Windows tool that serves as a simple yet effective Fences alternative for restoring icon layouts. If your desktop icons frequently get rearranged by applications or games, this portable utility ensures they return to their normal place, offering a quick fix for icon disarray.
ToolBox
ToolBox is a free personal application launcher for Windows that also doubles as a Fences alternative for desktop organization. It features a drag-and-drop interface for creating shortcuts to applications, drives, and folders, and can group desktop icons. As a fully portable application, it requires no installation, making it a convenient solution for customizing and organizing your Windows desktop.
Dragthing
DragThing is a Freemium Mac application that functions as an original dock designed to tidy up your Macintosh desktop, serving as a Fences alternative for Mac users. It puts all your documents, folders, and applications a single click away, offering highly flexible and customizable docks. It also features a clippings storage and hotkey support, enhancing productivity on macOS.
Desktop Groups
Desktop Groups is a commercial Mac application that serves as a Fences alternative by allowing you to create titled groups of related files directly on your desktop. You can easily move these groups around and add or remove files via drag & drop, providing a flexible way to organize projects, photos, or documents on your Mac desktop.
DesktopShelves
DesktopShelves is a commercial Mac app that fights desktop clutter by organizing files on virtual shelves, making it a unique Fences alternative. Each shelf holds numerous files while saving screen space, and files are quickly accessible via hotkey. Its drag-and-drop functionality, even for text selections, streamlines file creation and organization on macOS.
Fluid Icon Organizer
Fluid Icon Organizer is a commercial Windows tool designed to help you stop constantly rearranging your desktop icons. As a Fences alternative, it integrates seamlessly with your desktop, consumes minimal resources, and is user-friendly, providing an efficient way to maintain your icon layout on Windows.
With a variety of Fences alternatives available across different operating systems and price points, you're sure to find a solution that fits your specific desktop organization needs. Explore these options to discover the best fit for a cleaner, more efficient workspace.