Free InstallShield Alternatives

The best free alternative to InstallShield is Inno Setup. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 50 alternatives to InstallShield and many of them is free so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting free alternatives to InstallShield are NSIS, Advanced Installer, WiX and IzPack.

InstallShield alternatives page was last updated

InstallShield

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

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Inno Setup
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Proprietary
Software Installer
Windows
Wine
54 Inno Setup alternatives
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.
- - Inno Setup is the most popular Windows alternative to InstallShield.
- - Inno Setup is the most popular free alternative to InstallShield.
Suggest and vote on features
Inno Setup Features
Customizable
Comments about Inno Setup as a Alternative to InstallShield
Most users think Inno Setup is a great InstallShield alternative.
Guest
was able to create setup for an app in less than 2 mins
Positive comment•
2
NSIS
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Software Installer
Windows
PortableApps.com
54 NSIS alternatives
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.
- - NSIS is the most popular Open Source alternative to InstallShield.
Suggest and vote on features
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
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Freemium • Proprietary
Windows
44 Advanced Installer alternatives
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!

Opinions about Advanced Installer as a Alternative to InstallShield
Almost everyone thinks Advanced Installer is a great InstallShield alternative.
WiX
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Software Installer
Windows
40 WiX alternatives
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.
Suggest and vote on features
WiX Features
1. Command line interfaceWiX either have CLI support or is a CLI-only app.
WixPie IDE
WixEdit
Comments about WiX as a Alternative to InstallShield
pros, cons and recent comments
Guest
WiX is a website designer, not a Windows application installer.
Negative comment•
-23
IzPack
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Software Installer
Mac
Windows
Linux
Java
33 IzPack alternatives
IzPack is a one-stop solution for packaging, distributing and deploying applications.
- - IzPack is the most popular Mac & Linux alternative to InstallShield.
IzPack has no features, suggest some!
SFX Tool
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Windows
42 SFX Tool alternatives
SFX Tool is a graphical user interface and script generator for the Nullsoft Scriptable Install System. It allows the user to create simple setup files in minutes without writing a line of code. Advanced users may also edit the install script before it is compiled.
SFX Tool has no features, suggest some!
Discontinued
The project has been discontinued. Last version, 2006-01-28, can be still downloaded from SourceForge
Actual Installer
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Freemium • Proprietary
Windows
15 Actual Installer alternatives
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!
InstallForge
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Proprietary
Windows
Wine
26 InstallForge alternatives
InstallForge is a very easy-to-use and flexible tool for creating fast installation packages for Windows.
Suggest and vote on features
InstallForge Features
exe
Serial number protection
Opinions about InstallForge as a Alternative to InstallShield
Almost everyone thinks InstallForge is a great InstallShield alternative.
Debreate
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Linux
26 Debreate alternatives
Debreate is a utility to aid in creating installable Debian (.deb) packages. The goal behind the project is to make developing for Debian based Linux distributions more appealing, with an easy to use interface for packaging applications, artwork, media, themes, etc.
Suggest and vote on features
Debreate Features
Debian package
Venis GUI for NSIS
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Proprietary
Windows
24 Venis GUI for NSIS alternatives
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.
Suggest and vote on features
Venis GUI for NSIS Features
Local based GUI
Exe Compiler
CreateInstall
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Freemium • Proprietary
Software Installer
Windows
43 CreateInstall alternatives
Professional installer software is an essential component for any software developer. The ideology behind the CreateInstall installer is based on two main principles. Complete control over the installation process and unlimited scalability.
CreateInstall has no features, suggest some!
HM NIS EDIT
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Software Installer
Windows
PortableApps.com
39 HM NIS EDIT alternatives
HM NIS Edit is the best Editor/IDE for NSIS . It's useful for experts and beginners in the creation of Setup programs with the NSIS. Its Script Wizard will help you to create standard Setup programs with only few clicks, also its...
Suggest and vote on features
HM NIS EDIT Features
1. PortableHM NIS EDIT can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
Discontinued
The project is no longer developed. Last version, 2.0.3, released in March 2005, can be still downloaded from the official website.