Stain vs paint

[GreatGooglyMoogly]

Why do most people use stain on their sheds/ fences instead of painting them? Does stain last longer or is the wood not paintable?

I think stain is just more natural. You can get coloured ones.

Having said that I painted an entire closeboard fence and shed green because previous homeowner had painted them a zingy yellow. Two tins of Farrow & Ball outdoor eggshell - not cheap!

on a shed - stain. it protects the wood, and goes on well (shed laths often very rough)

presumably oil based paints would protect the wood as well as thats what we do with clapboard/weatherboard houses?