You're Actually Making Two Decisions Here
Most fence material comparisons focus on the visible panel: cedar versus composite versus steel. A fence is a system, though. The panel material and the post/support system are separate decisions that both affect how the fence performs and how it is maintained.
Cedar
Cedar provides a natural wood appearance and can be stained or allowed to weather naturally. Maintaining a particular finished color can require periodic cleaning or refinishing depending on exposure and the selected finish. Wood near grade also deserves attention because moisture conditions at the post base can affect deterioration over time.
Steel
Steel components do not face biological decay in the same way wood does. Coating condition, corrosion, welds, scratches, and connections become more relevant inspection points, and product-specific coating and repair guidance matters when a finish is damaged.
Composite
Composite fencing can reduce refinishing-type maintenance compared with finished wood, but composite systems are product-specific. Installation requirements, movement, appearance, cleaning, and component details vary by manufacturer, so one product's guidance should not be treated as universal to the category.
Privacy vs. Openness
Panel configuration changes what a fence does as much as material does. A solid privacy configuration blocks more sightline and airflow than an open configuration. Wind exposure also belongs in this conversation because a more solid fence presents more surface area to the wind, while the actual post and support requirements depend on the system and site.
Why the Post System Matters as Much as the Panel
Panel selection cannot compensate for an inadequate support system. Post spacing, footing and embedment appropriate to the system and site, connections, and post material all influence how the fence behaves over time. That is why the visible panel should not be the only basis for choosing a fence system.
Gates Are Their Own Decision
A gate carries repeated movement and concentrates load at its support and hardware. Hinge posts, hardware, gate weight, clearances, and alignment should therefore be planned as part of the system rather than treated as an ordinary fixed panel.
A Cedar Fence Is Only as Good as Its Posts
No fence material is the automatic right answer for every yard. It’s a mix of the look you want, how much privacy you need, your exposure, and how much upkeep you’re up for. Whatever material you land on, the post system underneath still has to be right, or the nicest panel in the world won’t hold up.