DeskBox vs DeskMakeover

DeskBox is a free Windows app for organizing desktop files in boxes, mapped folders, stacks, and groups. File boxes support drag and drop, renaming, deletion, opening, and locating items in File Explorer. Mapped folders appear on the desktop without changing the original folder location. Similar files can be stacked manually or automatically, and grouped boxes can be switched with the mouse wheel or Ctrl+Tab. A cleanup flow lets users select files individually, include the public desktop, and resume an interrupted cleanup. Built-in boxes cover files, to-dos, notes, and music controls. DeskBox says files, to-dos, notes, and cache remain on the computer and are not uploaded to the cloud by default. Its built-in boxes have no feature restrictions, ads, or subscriptions; the app is listed as GPL-3.0-only with free personal use. It supports Windows 10 version 21H2 or later and Windows 11, with some materials and animations reduced on Windows 10. Direct installers support x64 or ARM64.

DeskMakeover is a free Windows desktop customization app for changing icon appearance and arranging icons in zones drawn over wallpaper. It offers nine hand-tuned looks: Squircle, Blueprint, Pixel Era, Gleam, Glaze, Die-Cut, Porthole, Scrapbook, and Creekstone. Shape, coloring, plate, finish, and shortcut mark can be adjusted independently. For organization, users can choose Workbench or Quadrants templates or draw zones themselves, with five materials and four title styles. The studio mirrors the desktop live, supports undo and redo, and can reread icons, arrangement, and wallpaper in one click. Style combinations can be saved, exported as files, and imported as style packs. DeskMakeover snapshots the Windows desktop before changes and says each change can be undone with one click. It installs per-user and runs locally without an account, telemetry, or uploads, according to its maker. The app supports 64-bit Windows 10 version 1809 or newer and Windows 11, not macOS or Linux.