Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Materialize CSS VS Fences

Compare Materialize CSS VS Fences and see what are their differences

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Materialize CSS logo Materialize CSS

A modern responsive front-end framework based on Material Design

Fences logo Fences

Keep your desktop organized with Fences. This is a simple software program that allows you to sort the tabs on your desktop and create files that are easily recognizable to you.
  • Materialize CSS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-14
  • Fences Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-30

Materialize CSS features and specs

  • Responsive Design
    Materialize CSS provides a responsive grid system, making it easier to create layouts that work well on various screen sizes and devices.
  • Material Design
    Adheres to Google's Material Design principles, offering a modern and professional look that is consistent across web applications.
  • Component Variety
    Offers a wide range of pre-built components, including forms, buttons, cards, and navigation bars, which helps speed up development.
  • Customization
    Provides options to customize components using Sass, making it flexible for specific design needs.
  • Built-in JavaScript
    Includes built-in JavaScript components like modals, carousels, and tabs, which enhance functionality without requiring additional libraries.

Possible disadvantages of Materialize CSS

  • Learning Curve
    Although it follows Material Design guidelines, there is a learning curve associated with understanding and implementing its various components and classes.
  • File Size
    Including the full library can make your project heavier, affecting load times, especially for users on slower connections.
  • Customization Complexity
    While customizable, deeply customizing or overriding default styles can sometimes be complicated and time-consuming.
  • Dependency on jQuery
    Some components still rely on jQuery, adding to the library size and potentially conflicting with modern JavaScript practices.
  • Community Support
    Compared to larger frameworks like Bootstrap, Materialize CSS has a smaller community, which can result in fewer third-party resources and plugins.

Fences features and specs

  • Organizational Efficiency
    Fences allows users to organize desktop icons into customizable groups, called 'fences', enhancing productivity and reducing clutter.
  • Quick Access
    With Fences, users can create folders directly on the desktop, making it easy to access commonly used files and applications quickly without navigating through multiple directories.
  • Aesthetically Pleasing
    Fences provides a cleaner and more visually appealing desktop environment by allowing users to hide and reveal groups of icons as needed.
  • Customization
    The software offers a variety of customization options for fences, including resizing, color-coding, and transparency settings, to match users' preferences.
  • Snapshot and Restore
    Fences includes a 'Snapshot' feature that allows users to save and restore different desktop layouts, making it easy to recover from accidental changes or reset desktops to a preferred state.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The software provides a user-friendly interface that simplifies the process of changing and creating custom cursors, making it accessible for users of various tech skill levels.
  • Variety of Effects
    Users can choose from a wide array of special effects, such as particle trails and animations, enhancing the visual appeal of the cursor.
  • Community Creations
    CursorFX supports a community where users can share their cursor creations, allowing access to a vast library of user-generated cursors.
  • Windows 10 Look
    Users can choose to replicate the Windows 10 version of the Start menu, providing a familiar look and feel for those upgrading from older systems.
  • Feature Flexibility
    The software supports various features such as different Start menu styles and configurations, adapting to diverse user needs.
  • Ongoing Updates
    Stardock provides regular updates to Start11, ensuring compatibility with new Windows updates and introducing new features.
  • Animated Effects
    ObjectDock includes animated effects that enhance the visual experience, such as zooming icons and smooth transitions.
  • Multiple Docks
    Users can create and manage multiple docks, each tailored for different tasks or categories, offering better organization.
  • Compatibility
    Compatible with multiple versions of Windows, ensuring a wide range of users can benefit from its features.
  • User Interface Customization
    TweakVista allows users to modify and enhance the default Windows Vista interface to better suit their personal preferences and improve usability.
  • Performance Optimization
    The software includes various tools to optimize system performance, such as RAM management and startup programs control, aiming to enhance system speed and efficiency.
  • Security Features
    TweakVista provides additional security settings and options, enabling users to better protect their system from potential threats.
  • System Monitoring
    The application offers system monitoring tools that help users keep track of system health, performance metrics, and resource usage.
  • Enhanced Organization
    Groupy allows users to group multiple applications in a single window with tabbed interfaces, providing a cleaner and more organized workspace.
  • Increased Productivity
    By enabling quick switching between grouped applications, users can manage multiple tasks more efficiently, leading to a potential increase in productivity.
  • Intuitive Interface
    The software offers an intuitive and user-friendly interface that integrates seamlessly with Windows, making it easy for users to adapt to its functionalities.
  • Customizability
    Users can customize the appearance of tabs and set rules for specific applications, tailoring the experience to individual preferences and workflows.
  • Ease of Use
    The software features a user-friendly interface that makes it simple for users to apply new skins and switch between different themes without needing advanced technical skills.
  • Variety of Themes
    WindowBlinds offers a wide variety of downloadable themes from its online database, allowing users to regularly change their desktop look to match their personal style.
  • Performance
    The software is optimized to use minimal system resources, ensuring that it does not significantly impact the performance of the computer.
  • Regular Updates
    Stardock actively supports WindowBlinds with regular updates and new features, keeping it compatible with the latest Windows OS versions.
  • Familiar Interface
    Start8 offers a Windows 7-style Start menu, which provides users accustomed to earlier Windows versions with a familiar interface, easing the transition to newer operating systems.
  • Customization Options
    The software provides various customization features, allowing users to tweak the Start menu's appearance and functionality according to their preferences.
  • Improved Productivity
    By bringing back the traditional Start menu, Start8 can help improve productivity for users who find the new interface of Windows 8 or newer versions disruptive.
  • Seamless Integration
    Start8 integrates well with Windows, maintaining system stability while providing additional features and enhancements.
  • Visual Enhancement
    DeskScapes allows users to customize their desktop with animated wallpapers and unique backgrounds, enhancing the visual appeal and personalization of the user's desktop environment.
  • Wide Range of Options
    The software offers a large gallery of built-in animated and static wallpapers as well as the ability to integrate with external community content, giving users extensive customization options.
  • Easy to Use Interface
    DeskScapes features a user-friendly interface that simplifies the process of selecting, applying, and personalizing wallpapers, making it accessible for users of all technical skill levels.
  • Video File Support
    Users can utilize their own video files as animated wallpapers, offering further personalization and creativity in desktop customization.
  • Performance Settings
    Includes performance settings that allow users to optimize the software's impact on system resources, balancing visual effects with system performance.
  • Simple Setup
    Acoustic Bridge offers an easy and straightforward installation process, making it accessible for users without extensive technical expertise.
  • Cross-Device Audio Streaming
    It allows audio streaming from one computer to another, enabling users to manage and listen to audio across multiple devices seamlessly.
  • Low Latency
    The software is designed to minimize latency, ensuring that audio played on one device is heard in near real-time on another device.
  • Cost-effective Solution
    Compared to purchasing specialized hardware for audio streaming, Acoustic Bridge offers a more affordable software-based alternative.
  • Visual Enhancements
    WindowFX offers a variety of visual effects such as window animations, fade effects, and shadows, enhancing the overall user interface experience on Windows.
  • Productivity Features
    Includes features such as window snapping, window management shortcuts, and other tools that can improve productivity by streamlining window management.
  • Seamless Control
    Multiplicity allows users to control multiple PCs with a single keyboard and mouse, providing a seamless experience for managing several computers simultaneously.
  • Easy File Transferring
    The software enables effortless file transfer between connected computers, making it quick and convenient to move data without needing external storage devices.
  • Efficient Workflow
    By eliminating the need to physically switch between computers, Multiplicity enhances productivity and streamlines work processes for users working with multiple setups.
  • Secure Connection
    Multiplicity provides encryption for data transmission, ensuring that information transferred between computers remains secure from unauthorized access.
  • Customizable Hotkeys
    Users can configure hotkeys for switching between systems, which allows for quick access and efficient management of multiple PCs.
  • Large Icon Database
    IconPackager has access to a vast array of icon packs, enabling users to choose from a diverse selection to suit their personal tastes.
  • Global Application
    Changes made with IconPackager are applied globally across the system, ensuring a consistent look without needing to adjust icons individually.
  • Visualization
    SpaceMonger provides a detailed and intuitive treemap visualization of disk space usage, making it easy to identify large files and folders quickly.
  • Efficiency
    The tool can scan and map your drive rapidly, offering significant efficiency in managing disk space by helping users to reclaim space efficiently.
  • User Interface
    SpaceMonger has a user-friendly interface, which is easy to navigate even for those who may not be very tech-savvy.
  • Cloud Support
    It supports scanning cloud storage services such as OneDrive and Google Drive, allowing users to manage both local and cloud storage effectively.
  • File Management
    Beyond analysis, SpaceMonger allows users to directly manage files and folders, such as deleting or moving them, without exiting the application.

Possible disadvantages of Fences

  • Resource Usage
    Fences can consume a significant amount of system resources, potentially affecting performance, especially on lower-end computers.
  • Cost
    Unlike some similar tools that are free, Fences requires a purchase, which may not be justifiable for all users given its functionality.
  • Potential for Confusion
    For users who are not technically savvy, the additional features and customization settings might be confusing and overwhelming.
  • Compatibility Issues
    Fences may not be fully compatible with all versions of Windows or with certain third-party applications, leading to potential software conflicts or bugs.
  • Learning Curve
    While Fences is user-friendly, there is still a learning curve associated with mastering all its features and functionalities, which might take some time for new users.
  • System Performance
    The additional animations and effects can use more system resources, potentially slowing down older or less powerful computers.
  • Limited Free Version
    The free version of CursorFX offers limited features, which might not be sufficient for users seeking more advanced customization without purchasing the full product.
  • Potential Overwhelm
    With numerous customization options available, some users may feel overwhelmed when trying to select the best effects and settings for their cursors.
  • System Resources
    Running additional software like Start11 can consume more system resources, potentially affecting system performance on lower-end machines.
  • Performance Impact
    Running ObjectDock can consume system resources, potentially leading to slower performance on less powerful machines.
  • Limited Support
    Support options are somewhat limited, and users might need to rely on community forums for troubleshooting.
  • Occasional Bugs
    Some users report occasional bugs and stability issues, which can interrupt the user experience.
  • Complexity for Novices
    The wide range of customization options may overwhelm less experienced users, making it challenging to effectively utilize the software without technical knowledge.
  • Risk of System Alteration
    Improper use of the tweaking and customization features could result in unwanted system changes, causing problems that might require technical intervention to resolve.
  • Limited Cross-Platform Support
    Groupy is primarily designed for Windows, which limits its usability for those who need similar functionality on other operating systems.
  • Potential Compatibility Issues
    Some users may encounter compatibility issues with niche or older applications, as not all software may support Groupy's tabbed interface seamlessly.
  • Price
    As a paid software, Groupy may not be justifiable for all users, especially given that some similar functionality might be achievable with free alternatives or through native OS features.
  • Dependence on Updates
    Since it relies on ongoing support, any discontinuation or delay in updates can lead to compatibility problems with newer Windows versions.
  • Potential Stability Issues
    Like any software that modifies system elements, WindowBlinds could potentially lead to system instability or crashes if not used correctly.
  • Limited Compatibility
    Primarily designed for Windows 8 and newer, it may not provide benefits for users on older or significantly newer Windows versions.
  • Dependency
    Users may become reliant on Start8 for the traditional Start menu experience, making future updates to Windows, which might not need such software, more challenging.
  • Alternatives Available
    There are several alternative programs available that offer similar functionality, some of which might be free or offer features that better suit certain users' needs.
  • System Resource Usage
    Animated wallpapers can consume more system resources than static ones, potentially affecting system performance, especially on older or lower-spec machines.
  • Limited to Windows
    The software is only available for Windows operating systems, limiting its use for those on macOS or Linux platforms.
  • Occasional Stability Issues
    Some users report occasional stability issues or bugs, particularly with certain video files or under specific system configurations.
  • Feature Overlap
    Some features provided by DeskScapes might overlap with functionalities of newer versions of Windows, which already support basic wallpaper customization options, potentially diminishing its perceived added value.
  • Windows-only Software
    Acoustic Bridge is only available for Windows, limiting its usage for users who have macOS or Linux operating systems.
  • Limited Features
    While it effectively streams audio, the software lacks additional features found in more comprehensive audio management solutions.
  • Network Dependency
    The quality and reliability of audio streaming heavily depend on the stability and speed of the local network connection.
  • No Mobile App
    There is no dedicated mobile application, which can be a drawback for users who want to stream audio to or from mobile devices.
  • Niche Application
    The features offered might not appeal to all users, especially those satisfied with the default Windows interface or those who do not prioritize desktop aesthetics.
  • Limited Support for Mac OS
    Multiplicity is primarily designed for Windows environments, which may limit its usefulness for users who need to integrate Mac OS systems.
  • Cost Consideration
    Multiplicity is a paid software, which might be a deterrent for users looking for free alternatives for controlling multiple computers.
  • Initial Setup Complexity
    Setting up Multiplicity for the first time can be somewhat complex, especially for users who aren't familiar with configuring network settings.
  • Performance Overhead
    Some users might experience a slight decrease in system performance when using IconPackager, especially on older hardware.
  • Platform Limitations
    SpaceMonger is primarily designed for Windows, which means users of other operating systems may not be able to use it natively.
  • Complexity for Basic Users
    Despite its user-friendly design, the abundance of features might be overwhelming for users who only require basic disk space management.
  • Support and Updates
    Some users have reported infrequent updates and slow customer support, which could be an issue if they encounter problems or bugs.

Analysis of Materialize CSS

Overall verdict

  • Materialize CSS is a good choice if you're looking for a framework that emphasizes Material Design and comes with a sleek, modern interface. It's particularly useful for developers who want to quickly integrate Google's design philosophy without delving into custom styling or layout creation.

Why this product is good

  • Materialize CSS is a front-end framework based on Material Design principles developed by Google. It provides a comprehensive set of UI components that help developers create visually appealing and responsive web applications quickly. The framework includes a variety of pre-styled components like buttons, forms, cards, and much more, which adhere to the Material Design guidelines. This consistency in design components helps ensure a cohesive and professional look across web applications. Additionally, it simplifies responsive design with a grid system that's easy to implement, and it comes with excellent documentation and a supportive community.

Recommended for

    Materialize CSS is recommended for teams and developers who prefer Google's Material Design aesthetic, are building applications with a focus on rapid UI development, and value consistency and ease of use. It's also great for projects where a pre-existing UI library speeds up the development process, such as prototypes, admin dashboards, or smaller web applications. However, for highly customized UI components or non-Material Design projects, other frameworks might be more suitable.

Analysis of Fences

Overall verdict

  • Overall, Fences is praised for its utility, user-friendliness, and the enhanced organization it brings to desktop management. Although it is a paid application, many users find the features worth the price, particularly for those who deal with a large number of desktop icons regularly.

Why this product is good

  • Fences by Stardock is generally well-regarded for its ability to help users organize desktop icons and reduce clutter. It provides features such as creating shaded areas on the desktop called 'Fences' to group icons together, which results in a cleaner and more organized desktop. Users appreciate the ease of customizing fences, the option to hide icons when not in use, and the additional functionality of folder portals, which allow browsing of folder contents directly from the desktop.

Recommended for

    Fences is highly recommended for users who want to maintain an organized and tidy desktop, particularly those who tend to have many icons or shortcuts. It's especially useful for professionals, designers, or anyone who manages multiple projects and requires quick access to various files and applications directly from the desktop.

Materialize CSS videos

Build A Travel Agency Theme With Materialize CSS 1.0.0

Fences videos

Fences - Movie Review

More videos:

  • Review - TweakVista 1.01
  • Review - Software Review:CursorFX
  • Demo - Start11 - Bringing Back The Old Start Menu to Windows 11! (Overview & Demo)
  • Review - ObjectDock Review (Windows 8/7)
  • Review - Introducing Object Desktop 2018
  • Review - Groupy: Browser- Like Tabs for Windows Apps
  • Demo - WindowBlinds - A Complete Customization Tool for Windows! (Overview & Demo)

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Materialize CSS and Fences)
Design Tools
100 100%
0% 0
OS & Utilities
0 0%
100% 100
Developer Tools
100 100%
0% 0
Note Taking
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Materialize CSS and Fences

Materialize CSS Reviews

15 Top Bootstrap Alternatives For Frontend Developers in 2024
Material Design is a design language that combines classic principles of successful design with innovation and technology. One of the downsides of Materialize is that it does not support older versions of web browsers, and sometimes it does not handle certain nestings of components properly, resulting in an odd appearance.
Source: coursesity.com
9 Best Bootstrap Alternatives | Best Frontend Frameworks [2024]
Materialize is a modern responsive front-end framework based on the Material Design principles of Google. Material design is a design language created by Google, which combines traditional design methods with innovations and technology.
Source: hackr.io
Top 10 Best CSS Frameworks for Front-End Developers in 2022
Created by Google in 2014, Materialize is a responsive UI framework for websites and Android apps. It provides many ready-to-use components, classes, and starter templates. It is compatible with Sass and has a responsive layout based on Bootstrap’s 12-column grid format. The best part? Its extensive color palettes. So, if you want to work with Material Design (Google’s...
Source: hackr.io
15 Best CSS Frameworks: Professional Bootstrap and Foundation Alternatives
It’s specifically designed to help you develop faster using a standard template and customizable components. As the name suggests, Materialize is based on the basic principles of Material Design.
10 of the Best Bootstrap Alternatives
Materialize is a Design-inspired front-end framework that offers everything you need to create beautiful websites and apps. It includes a responsive grid system, CSS components, and animation libraries. Materialize is also easy to use and customizable, making it the perfect choice for any project. Furthermore, a single basic responsive framework across all phases minimizes...

Fences Reviews

5 Best Alternatives to Wallpaper Engine in 2022
Deskscapes offers up to 40 different special effects to add to a wallpaper. It is easy to use and lets you customize and animate wallpapers easily as per your demand.
8 Best SpaceDesk Alternatives for Duet Display (2022)
Multiplicity was developed with a vision to connect several monitor screens with a single system wirelessly. You can easily drag and drop files from one monitor to another using a unified keyboard and mouse. After years of development, the software is still working fine and serving its users seamlessly.
Source: techdator.net
9 Best Wallpaper Engine Alternatives
However, users must know when they edit a picture or an existing wallpaper, it will change the original quality. Therefore, if they don’t want to ruin the original one, make sure to make a copy. Other than that, compared to other products, DeskScapes is a bit more complicated. But once you get the hang of it, the app will be easier to use.
Top spacedesk Alternatives & Similar Software (2020)
Multiplicity too enables you to move files between computers smoothly without a hitch with just one keyboard and mouse. It can work with a virtual KVM and removes the need for a traditional one thereby removing the wires and cables and increasing work-space. You can copy/paste or drag/drop files between the PCs you’re using.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Materialize CSS seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 26 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Materialize CSS mentions (26)

  • Top 5 Best CSS Frameworks for Responsive Web Design in 2024
    Materialize is a modern CSS framework based on Google’s Material Design. It was created and designed by Google to provide a unified and consistent user interface across all its products. Materialize is focused on user experience as it integrates animations and components to provide feedback to users. - Source: dev.to / 9 months ago
  • Front-end Framework: Comparing Bootstrap, Foundation and Materialize
    Materialize was created by a team of developers at Google, inspired by the principles of Material Design. Material Design is a design language developed by Google that emphasizes tactile surfaces, realistic lighting, and bold, graphic interfaces. Materialize aims to bring these principles to web development by providing a framework with ready-to-use components and styles based on Material Design. - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
  • Took a web development job without much experience, am I doomed?
    If you wanna make it look nice use materialize css works great with Django templates. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Best 3 Bootstrap Alternatives
    You can also visit the Materialize website and GitHub repository which currently has garnered over 38k likes and has been forked over 4k times by developers. - Source: dev.to / about 2 years ago
  • All About Hacktober Fest 2022 You Need To Know
    This repository consists of files required to deploy a Web App or PWA created with Materialize Css. - Source: dev.to / over 2 years ago
View more

Fences mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Fences yet. Tracking of Fences recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Materialize CSS and Fences, you can also consider the following products

Bootstrap - Simple and flexible HTML, CSS, and JS for popular UI components and interactions

RocketDock - RocketDock is a Mac OS X dock clone.

Tailwind CSS - A utility-first CSS framework for rapidly building custom user interfaces.

Classic Shell - Classic Shell was developed for Windows 8 since that was the first version of the popular operating system to forgo the iconic Start menu.

Foundation - The most advanced responsive front-end framework in the world

WinDirStat - WinDirStat is a disk usage statistics viewer and cleanup tool, inspired by KDirStat.