InstallShield AlternativesSoftware Installers and other similar apps like InstallShield

InstallShield is described as 'Is designed to enable development teams to be more agile, collaborative and flexible when building reliable InstallScript and Windows Installer (MSI) installations for PCs, servers, Web and virtual applications' and is a software installer in the os & utilities category. There are more than 25 alternatives to InstallShield for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Linux, Mac, Wine and BSD apps. The best InstallShield alternative is Inno Setup, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like InstallShield are NSIS, WiX, DCP Setup Maker and Py2MSIX.

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Alternatives list

  1. Inno Setup icon

    Inno Setup

     115 likes
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    Inno Setup is a free installer for Windows programs. First introduced in 1997, Inno Setup today rivals and even surpasses many commercial installers in feature set and stability.

    50 Inno Setup alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Wine
    Compiler
     
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    11
    Comments about Inno Setup as an Alternative to InstallShield
    Guest
    Negative
    0

    It is quite different and doesn't open the files created by InstallShield

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Positive
    2

    was able to create setup for an app in less than 2 mins

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    InstallShield Icon
    Inno Setup icon

    • Most users think Inno Setup is a great InstallShield alternative.

    • Inno Setup is the most popular Windows alternative to InstallShield.

    • Inno Setup is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to InstallShield.

    • Inno Setup is Free and Open SourceInstallShield is Paid and Proprietary
    • Inno Setup is CustomizableInstallShield is not according to our users
  2. NSIS icon

    NSIS

     69 likes
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    NSIS (Nullsoft Scriptable Install System) is a professional open source system to create Windows installers. It is designed to be as small and flexible as possible and is therefore very suitable for internet distribution.

    50 NSIS alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • PortableApps.com
    Installer example: Winamp
     
  4. WiX icon

    WiX

     21 likes
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    The Windows Installer XML (WiX) is a toolset that builds Windows installation packages from XML source code. The toolset supports a command line environment that developers may integrate into their build processes to build MSI and MSM setup packages.

    38 WiX alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    WiX screenshot 1
     
  5. DCP Setup Maker icon

    DCP Setup Maker

     7 likes
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    Powerful simple-to-use application to generate stable and multi-platform installers. Its intuitive user interface and exceptional ease of use makes it very easy to build complex desktop or web installers with large amounts of files.

    15 DCP Setup Maker alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Wine
    Scan
     

    • DCP Setup Maker is the most popular Mac & Linux alternative to InstallShield.

    • DCP Setup Maker is Free and Open SourceInstallShield is Paid and Proprietary
  6. Py2MSIX icon

    Py2MSIX

     Like
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    If you have a Python script or executable, you are 90% of the way to the Microsoft Store. Py2MSIX bridges that final 10% gap. It wraps your code into a compliant MSIX package, handles the manifest creation, and even signs it for you—all from a simple dashboard.

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Summary
     

    • Py2MSIX is the most popular commercial alternative to InstallShield.

    • Py2MSIX is Paid and ProprietaryInstallShield is also Paid and Proprietary
  7. Advanced Installer icon

    Advanced Installer

     16 likes
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    Advanced Installer is a powerful and easy to use setup authoring tool which offers full Windows Installer support and more. You can configure every aspect of your installer through a simple graphical user interface or through its command line.

    41 Advanced Installer alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Pay once)
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Advanced Installer screenshot 1
     
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  9. Setup Factory icon

    Setup Factory

     7 likes
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    Setup Factory Software Installer Builder for Windows. Advanced installer builder makes software installation programs for Windows. Award winning. Easy to Use.

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Setup Factory screenshot 1
     
  10. Wix# icon

    Wix#

     6 likes
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    WixSharp enables creating MSI files or WiX source code by using C# source code. Upon execution, the C# code is transformed into a MSI file or WiX source code. Thanks to C# features such as inheritance, it becomes easy to create installers.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  11. DeployMaster icon

    DeployMaster

     4 likes
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    DeployMaster is the no-nonsense software installer builder from Just Great Software. Deliver your applications to customers and prospects with a good first impression. Easy to use for both the developer and the end user.

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  12. Centurion Setup icon

    Centurion Setup

     3 likes
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    After putting a lot of effort into your software, it's time to distribute it. Don't spend weeks wrestling with a complicated installation builder when you are so close to being done. Centurion Setup is extremely easy to use, and you can have a professional installation...

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Centurion Setup screenshot 1
     
  13. IzPack icon

    IzPack

     10 likes
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    IzPack is a one-stop solution for packaging, distributing and deploying applications.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Java
    IzPack screenshot 1
     
  14. Visual & Installer icon

    Visual & Installer

     3 likes
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    Visual Studio extension for creating NSIS and Inno Setup installers. It integrates NSIS (Nullsoft Scriptable Install System) and Inno Setup with Microsoft Visual Studio IDE and allows you to create and build NSIS and Inno Setup projects right within Visual Studio getting all...

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Visual & Installer screenshot 1
     
12 of 49 InstallShield alternatives