InstallShield Alternatives

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 an app in the os & utilities category. There are more than 50 alternatives to InstallShield for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Linux, Mac, Wine and PortableApps.com. The best alternative is Inno Setup, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like InstallShield are NSIS, Advanced Installer, WiX and IzPack.

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InstallShield

Paid • Proprietary
Windows

InstallShield is designed to enable development teams to be more agile, collaborative and flexible when building reliable...

Learn more about InstallShield

Inno Setup
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No
Free • Open Source
Software Installer
Windows
Wine
54 alternatives to Inno Setup
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.
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Inno Setup Features
Customizable
Inno Setup vs InstallShield opinions
Most users think Inno Setup is a great alternative to InstallShield.
Guest
was able to create setup for an app in less than 2 mins
Positive comment•
2
NSIS
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Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Software Installer
Windows
PortableApps.com
54 alternatives to NSIS
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.
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NSIS Features
1. Support for scriptingNSIS supports scripts and macros to automate or customize tasks.
2. PortableNSIS can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
Advanced Installer
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Yes
No
Freemium • Proprietary
Windows
44 alternatives to Advanced Installer
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.

Advanced Installer has no features, suggest some!

Advanced Installer vs InstallShield opinions
WiX
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Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Software Installer
Windows
40 alternatives to WiX
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.
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WiX Features
1. Command line interfaceWiX either have CLI support or is a CLI-only app.
WixPie IDE
WixEdit
WiX vs InstallShield opinions
pros, cons and recent comments
Guest
WiX is a website designer, not a Windows application installer.
Negative comment•
-23
IzPack
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Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Software Installer
Mac
Windows
Linux
Java
33 alternatives to IzPack
IzPack is a one-stop solution for packaging, distributing and deploying applications.

IzPack has no features, suggest some!
InstallForge
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Yes
No
Free • Proprietary
Windows
Wine
26 alternatives to InstallForge
InstallForge is a very easy-to-use and flexible tool for creating fast installation packages for Windows.
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InstallForge Features
exe
Serial number protection
InstallForge vs InstallShield opinions
PACE Suite
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
Windows
18 alternatives to PACE Suite
PACE Suite is an advanced software packaging tool with intuitive user interface and set of features providing (re)packaging in Windows installer and various virtualization formats. As an alternative to Wise Package Studio, PACE is out-of-the-box solution that doesn't need...
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PACE Suite Features
1. PortablePACE Suite can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
Software Deployment
Actual Installer
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Yes
No
Freemium • Proprietary
Windows
15 alternatives to Actual Installer
Easy-to-use software installer program for 32 & 64-bit Windows applications. Actual Installer Free & Professional Editions. Supports all installation features - Install, Update, Uninstall.

Actual Installer has no features, suggest some!
install4j
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
Software Installer
Mac
Windows
Linux
18 alternatives to install4j
install4j is a powerful multi-platform Java installer builder that generates native installers and application launchers for Java applications.

install4j has no features, suggest some!
Venis GUI for NSIS
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Yes
No
Free • Proprietary
Windows
24 alternatives to Venis GUI for NSIS
Venis is a, NOW 100% FREE, Visual Environment for Nullsoft Install System (NSIS). The Venis IX environment makes creating and maintaining NSIS install scripts quick and easy.
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Venis GUI for NSIS Features
Local based GUI
Exe Compiler