Fences, free desktop customization tool from Stardock, which lets you clear clutter of desktop icons by organizing same file type icons of programs, docs, folders into separate groups is no longer freeware with Fences 2.0 version release onwards. Stardock has released Fences v2.0 yesterday, which you can evaluate it for 30 days, after that, you need to purchase its license for $10 or if you’d already have Fences license, then you can unlock this version.
UPDATE: Fences 3.0 released with Windows 10 support and Roll-up Fences feature
Fences 2.0 is a paid program now, its new features
New features included in this release are: folder portals and Desktop pages. The former one lets you “Expose folders containing documents or pictures onto your desktop in “fenced” areas making them easy to access “. And with the latter one “you can now have multiple pages of “fences” on your desktop. To flip a page, just take your mouse cursor to the edge of your screen and click and drag a new page of “fences” onto your desktop.”
My Cool Desktop Turns All Desktop Icons into Cool Shapes
Arrange Your Desktop: Get A Clean Desktop without Clutter
How to access Fences 2 new features
If you try to access either of the two features mentioned above, welcome to Fences pop up comes in your way which offers options to purchase, evaluate or unlock previous purchase, to continue using its trial version for 30 days, you need to click on “Try fences”.
Fences 2.0 annoyances
Paid version comes with crap, AVG security toolbar.
Where to download Fences free version?
Want Fences Freeware version? Download Fences 1.0.1 from here. I’ve installed Fences 1.0.1 free version and its working fine without any issues as you can see from the screenshot below, of course, this version doesn’t offer pro or new features such as Folder Portal and Desktop pages included in the latest release.
Customize Your Desktop using SE-DesktopConstructor
Do you purchase Fences 2.0 that come with crap (AVG Security toolbar) which offers above mentioned two new features? Or will you stick to the free version? Or you don’t need this tool at all? Let us know your opinions in the comments.
Appreciate the article. Was thinking about moving to 2.0 but needed the 411 before making the decision. The new features sound good however I want Fences, not another crapware toolbar. Will stick with the free version that thankfully installs without the unwanted.
I’ll be still using version 1.01 – it has everything I need and it’s free.
True.
I like the new version and I bought it, but I sure did not appreciate the tripwires in the install, that’s for sure. I did avoid them.
Version 1 on another computer has become an ad for Version 2 so whether or not that can be rought to heel will determine whether or not it stays.
I would be willing to buy the new version for about $5. There is just not enough features for me to fork over double what I think it is worth. Also the bs on install is a issue.
Yea no thanks to the adware/shareware trial.
Only found out about that change tonight when I recommended the program to a friend and they kept getting bugged to pay for it when double clicking the desktop.
Promptly advised to uninstall and sent them the installer for 1.0.1.
It’s never had enough value to be payware and now with toolbars that they get paid to include.
I tried upgrading to the 2.0 to see how the feature works.. but the ad popup to chose one of the three upgrade payment option annoyed me continously and made me to downgrade to freeware version…
Me too. Was no way to stop popup other than pay for new version or get old one. I am going back to old one. I wish I could have found this info on the website. I did not know it wasn’t going to be free anymore.
Tried the free 1.01 version on Win8. It runs but does not start properly during boot… One has to RIGHT-mouse click on otherwise blank screen to get the desktop icons displayed. After that it works fine. Anyone has a remedy?
Agreed with most above re: version 2.0. The program GUI learning, installation and maintenance is consuming just about as much time as it is going to save. Sending money to anyone and have them checking for “updates” is not worth it, never mind the crapware. Another one dies by its own greed.
“Another one dies by its own greed.”
So true. Fences has been a very useful little software that I kept installed on all of my systems, but it’s simply doesn’t worth $10 even with the new features. And for some reasons I find Stardock’s policy to get some extra cash a little repulsive.
Hey it’s $10
How old are you guys?
You all sound like kids without enough pocket money
or old fogies who think splashing out $10 is like spending your entire life savings
PRO TIP: get a job then you can afford version 2
Its not about money always? is the program included with Crapware is worth $10? that’s the question.
Even if i was the richest person alive i still would not pay £10 or even 50p for something that is not worth the price. Fences should remain a simple free tool, the fancy version should be available for around £3-5 .
Making comments that insult people you do not know does not make you big, all it does is make people want to retaliate, like what i am doing now.
ty.
Sorry, but $10 here, $10 there… $10 someplace else will eventually add up. I’ve had a decent job with good pay for 25 years. I’ve learned how to spend money wisely. When I retire, I will have a very nice nest-egg with no worries. There are too many “things” people buy they really don’t need. This is a throw away society now. Too many “things” break, get tossed, and more money is spent. Manufacturers build things to break or fall apart, and the cycle continues. And I bet Version 3 of fences will be out in late 2013, for an upgrade charge. No thanks.
Switched to Nimi Places instead of fences 2.0. has file sorting capabilities and is free.
I was kinda puzzled when I re-installed my laptop and re-downloaded Fences. Huh? Does is cost 10 bucks now? What did I miss?
Ok let’s try the 30 day trial.. Downloading.. Launching the setup.. CRAPWARE! Oh noes, cancel installation and moved the setup to the recycle bin. I could have lived with paying the $10 bucks but the, by default enabled, crapware is unforgiving. Goodbye Stardocks.
Thanks for your article. Was about to scrap using fences completely, when I saw that a free version is no longer available, but going to continue using the free version thanks to your link. Free version has all I need. :) Thanks again.
You’re welcome.
You guys do realize that you don’t have to install the AVG toolbar, right? Just click “decline” on that page of the installer.
This is a sign of shady business practices. Any piece of software that I install does not have 3rd party toolbars as an option. I used to use Foxit PDF Reader until they started adding toolbars enabled by default. It’s not good business. If you want to include a 3rd party tool (you shouldn’t) it should be my choice to install it or explicitly stated prior to downloading.
You know, you don’t have to install the toolbars. Just decline it.
Gediminas, I had never heard of Nimi Places before. Thanks for the suggestion!
Thank you Gediminas for telling about Nimi Places.
Now I know why I’m being nagged everyday to upgrade. Actually the price hardly bothers me. But it’s sad to hear that they “upgraded” to craprware. I also think that the free version I have already has all the features I need.
I came here looking for a way to get back my old, cute, free Fences.
It’s nice, but not worth paying for.
However, if the old version is going to keep prompting me to upgrade, I will do without it too.
Thanks for the info.
Don’t worry free version 1.0.1 won’t nag you to upgrade to pro version, because Fences commercialized from v2.
u can change setting in fences to disable auto check update
To turn off fences update reminder:
Right click on desktop,
select configure fences
go to the about tab
uncheck updates box on lower left
Fences was a really good software. But is an accessory. They should have waited for a couple of more versions. Most people dont pay for softwares unless it becomes a necessity.
As a happy user of 1.0 I trusted the update dialog/link and downloaded it… such a cunning and bad, rude plug to get people buy it that I reverted to my dear old version after 5 seconds – I didn’t delete my previous installer. I think the free version has all I need after all, a paid “pro-like” upgrade is ok, welcome and accepted, this method is shameful from Stardock. Thanks for the blog and the old download link, I still wonder why I didn’t ditch the program and boycott the house after that, probably because the program itself is great.
Fences solved a desktop problem it reorganized itself sort of randomly (Vista on Lenovo Laptop). Fences 2 was OK until the trial ran out, then it went a bit crazy with some programs off the edge of the monitor, and a habit of moving things around on its own. My wife has the version 1 and it works fine, I wonder if I can load version 1 on top of version 2 to preserve the organization I already have?
Its not possible.
I was thinking “10$, no problem” – but then two thinks kept me from spending the money: 1. the crapware bundled with Fences, 2. the license terms. Not per person, but per machine installed. That’s not 10$ anymore, thats 40$ in my case, and fourty is too much for a little program like this, nice as it is.
So, thanks for the article – very helpful to me!
Got the old installation all over the web!!!! Free for everyone!!!!
Its good that Stardock hasn’t pulled off old version from internet.
I came here by a google search looking for free fences after I had to reinstall my Win7 (was getting too slow).
Thanks for ther 1.0.1 link! Much appreciated. I better save the installer to my Nas.
Good idea to save the installer for future use.
thanks for the warning re: spyware installation. i like fences and was prepared to pay the $10, but i don’t want to support a company that bundles malware with their stuff.
Now children, be quiet and look up chalkboard.
Today’s lesson: Don’t be a spoiled brat.
1) Fences is great. You love Fences. That’s why you are here.
2) You did not build Fences. Someone else built it for you, with their own time, money and effort.
3) Still, they gave it to you for free. Wasn’t that nice?
4) Then, they built another version with more features. They decided not to give this version away for free, in hopes of receiving some compensation for their hard work. They showed it to you and gave you the choice to either purchase it or keep using the free version. Wasn’t that nice?
5) The lifetime fee for the new version is less than you spent in Starbucks in the past 48 hours. They also included an OPTIONAL toolbar from a reputable security company, which allows them to make a little more money for their hard work and effort. Don’t you think these nice people deserve to be rewarded for their time, effort, and generosity?
5.5) Just is case you are confused, the OPTIONAL toolbar from the reputable security company is not malware.
6) It’s OK to still use the free version. No one is forcing you to use the paid version. Maybe enough people will use the paid version so these nice people will keep making great software. And that’s right, Nuance and Taljr, you can even tell the free version to stop reminding you about the new version. Isn’t that nice?
Now Veruca, did we learn something today?
Ha Ha well said master, though toolbar offered with Fences is not malware, it is definitely considered as adware which hijacks user browsers search engine and other browsers preferences.
Searching for a free version of Fences brought me to this page (thanks for he link, Venkat). However, I completely agree with what Calvin states! The developer(s) put in their efforts and learning into building this neat, nifty utility, but people complaining here are acting entitled and spoiled.
I have been using Fences for way over a year- for free. I’m not a complainer, but this is bad business practice as far as I am concerned. I shot and e-mail to Stardock telling them that it’s bad business practice to update a product and then turn around and want to charge people for something that’s been free from the get-go. There needs to be a way for these makers to at least show a little bit of integrity to those people out there that have been using this program, in true faith that it would remain free. Then to update it, only to learn you get a trial version- I’m sorry that just not very considerate. If Stardock wants people to utilize and purchase their products, they need to have a bit more respect and honor toward the consumer.
Thanks for sharing your opinion.
Sure let them make some $$ for a good and useful upgrade! BUT just leave OFF the toolbar crapola.
I just spent the better part of 6 hours “disinfecting” my primary machine from a lot of crap brought on by forgetting to “UNCHECK” that little box that says “Optional.”
http://imgur.com/xeALMEX
For those who want a visual with the instructions to DISABLE the update entirely.
Thanks! Exactly what I came here to find.
i intrested in fences software so i’should want to buy stardock fencs immediatley
Thanks for sharing your opinion ravi.
I liked Nimi Places better than fences until I re-read the license agreement..
“(d) APPLICATION might COLLECT, UPLOAD, DOWNLOAD and STORE:ANY INFORMATION and THIRD PARTY INFORMATION without confirmation and prior notice.”
The problem with the free version is it doesn’t work correctly. You can no longer drag an drop items into the fence group. You must use cut & Paste. Also sometimes when you restart the computer, when you go to the desktop a great many of the icons have magically moved from the fence group back to the desktop. And they are all mixed up so you have to spend a bit of yime figuring out where they all go. Stardock should partner with Microsoft and offer fences as a normal feature when you load windows. would make a lot more money that way than charging for the program.
The things you’re saying as not working are working for me in free version. Can you recheck them once again on your end, uninstalling and reinstalling Fences free version might fix these, try and let me know.
I DID download the paid ver. 2 edition, thinking that it was free.
When I went to the “Want Fences Freeware version? Download Fences 1.0.1 from here. “…..just to download it and try it out (to see how LESS talented it really is), I did notice on the download page that there’s a list of all the Win versions the OLD Fences version is compatible with.
Windows 10 is NOT on the list.
Anyone try it anyway? And find out if it works ok or not? (Or are all you version 1 users already running it on Win10?)
Thanks for any info.
I have purchased Vers 3.0.5.12 and still get the nag screen to update, and there is no way to turn off the update checker. I am very happy with my version except that it is limited to only one machine. I have 3 and am running the free vers on the others.
Use the free version at work, along with hundreds of others. Got this message from our software police:
>>>> Recently, [employer’s] Cyber Security Incident Response Team (CSIRT) identified a concerning security vulnerability with the Fences software. The application requires open access to the PC, including the ability to install executable files directly on hosts without administrator permissions. IT has determined that the Stardock Fences application must be removed from all [employer’s] assets. The denial of the use of this application is a proactive and necessary approach to defending [employer’s] assets. A compromise of the Stardock website prior to the download of an application update may result in malicious files being downloaded and installed on [employer’s] hosts with the Fences software, and ultimately may propagate throughout [employer’s] network and create a large-scale malware outbreak. <<<<
. . . as with most freeware, the real value to the developer is the re-sale of collected data and the pushing of commercials from third-party "associates" that all pay a fee for the access.
Michael Scott asked in Jan 2018 if anyone knew if the OLD FREE ver 1.01 works at all with Windows 10. Does anyone know? Thanks