Fences vs StartAllBack (2026): which should you pick?

Pick Fences if

• Fits if your Windows desktop is buried under shortcuts and loose files
• Works for people who want new files on the desktop filed into boxes by rules

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you're on a Mac or Linux, as it's Windows 10 and 11 only
• Not for you if you dislike software that switches off, because the subscription copy stops working when it lapses
• Tight if you have more than one PC, since the Single plan covers one device and up to 5 PCs need Multi-Device
• Watch out: the $29.99 Steam license is permanent but stops at 6.x updates, and more devices are a $19.99 add-on
• Watch out: Multi-Device and Object Desktop prices aren't shown in US dollars, and business pricing is built per order

Pick StartAllBack if

• Fits if you miss the older Windows taskbar and Start menu
• Works for businesses that want group-policy control over the Start menu

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you are on Windows 10 or earlier, as that is a different product, StartIsBack
• Watch out: after the 30-day trial the Start menu goes blank until you activate a key
• Not for you if you use Mac or Linux, as it is Windows only
• Watch out: new versions for new Windows releases may need a licence upgrade payment, and activation is tied to your hardware

Fences

• Windows 10 and 11 only, including ARM devices; no Mac or Linux version is listed.
• A copy bought as a subscription stops working if the subscription is allowed to lapse.
• A permanent license covers Fences 6 and its 6.x updates but not later major versions, and the Steam edition is permanent-license only.
• The Single plan covers one device; running Fences on up to 5 PCs needs the Multi-Device plan or a 5-pack license.

StartAllBack

• Windows 11 only for StartAllBack; Windows 10 and 8 use StartIsBack versions.
• After the 30-day trial the Start menu goes blank and a reminder appears at every boot until a key is activated.
• New versions for new Windows releases may need a license upgrade payment, according to the vendor's FAQ.
• Activation is tied to the PC's hardware, and one key activates a limited number of computers.

Fences

Fence groups

Desktop icons, files and folders sit in shaded areas whose size, color, transparency and sorting can be changed. A fence can be rolled up to keep its contents out of sight until needed.

Automatic sorting rules

Rules place new desktop items into fences by file type, name, time or target location, for example collecting every screenshot in one fence.

Folder Portals

Mirror any folder, including cloud and network folders, onto the desktop as a fence, so its contents can be reached without opening File Explorer.

Peek

Pressing the Windows key and Space brings your fences on top of all open windows for quick access to files, folders and applications.

Tabs, Icon Tint and Chameleon

Fences 6 stacks several fences together as tabs, applies a uniform color tint to desktop icons, and can fade icons into the background to reduce visual noise.

Business deployment

Fences 6 for Business adds tooling to deploy configurations from network drives, content locking, single-key activation and centralized activation management.

StartAllBack

Taskbar restore

Shows labels on task icons, sets icon size and margins, and moves the taskbar to the top, left or right edge.

Start menu

Brings back a Start menu that opens programs and system places in one click, with its own search.

File Explorer and Control Panel

Restores a revamped ribbon and command bar, a bottom details pane and the older search box.

Context menus

Replaces the Windows 11 menus with rounded acrylic ones that the vendor says open faster.

Styles and recoloring

Offers Windows 7, Windows 8 and third-party taskbar and Start menu styles and recolors UI in many windows apps.

Light footprint

The vendor says it uses less RAM and starts fewer processes than the default shell.

Fences

• Single$9.99

  per year (US dollar price in the page's metadata)

  A 1 Year Subscription for one device, kept on the latest version. Read from India, the page showed ₹1,025.22 with ₹1,206.00 crossed out.

• Multi-Device₹2,411.00

  per year, as shown to a visitor in India

  A 1 Year Subscription with one key and 5 simultaneous activations. The US dollar price could not be read.

• Fences 6 on Steam$29.99

  one-time purchase (US Steam store)

  A permanent license for Fences 6 with a 1 PC activation limit. It gets 6.x updates but not later major versions. A Multi-Device Upgrade add-on is $19.99.

• Object Desktop₹4,820.82

  per year, as shown to a visitor in India

  Stardock's suite of more than a dozen apps including Fences, with up to 5 active installs. Shown with ₹6,026.00 crossed out.

• Fences 6 for BusinessCustom

  Priced in an order builder by number of licenses, with volume discounts, single or per-machine keys and a year of maintenance and premium support.

StartAllBack

• Personal$4.99

  one-time, personal use

  License key stated to work with any StartIsBack version, including StartAllBack. Personal use only; the site also mentions a family pack.

• Business, 10 PCs$50.00

  one-time for 10 PCs

  Required for business use. Adds group policies, priority email support and future optional updates; 100 PCs is $450 and 1,000 PCs is $3,000.

Fences

• Other savings

  Upgrade pricing for owners of earlier versions

  Owners of Fences 3, 4 or 5 can check their eligibility on the product page for a discounted upgrade to Fences 6. The amount is shown after the check.

StartAllBack

No public discounts listed.