Free install wizard software

Question

Is there something like InstallShield that I can use for free?

Solution 1

WiX

• Very powerful and flexible.
• Can produce MSI packages (Microsoft deployment format of choice)
• Almost no documentation
• Very steep learning curve.
• XML-based.
• Recommended for very complex installators.

Inno Setup

• Cannot produce MSI packages.
• Its scripting part looks like INI files structure.
• Uses Pascal Script based language for extra flexibility.

NSIS

• Cannot produce MSI packages.
• Fully scripted, very powerful but at cost of high learning curve.
• Recommened if WiX is too much and Inno Setup not enough.

AdvancedInstaller

• Basic version is free.
• Can produce MSI packages.
• Very good user-interface, almost no learning curve to get things done.
• XML-based (but schema is not very user-friendly, doesn't really matter as you would use GUI editor anyway)
• The best option if you have only basic installer requirements and don't have time to learn something new.

IzPack

• Cross-platform
• Maven integration
• Customizable actions
• Well documented
• Opensource

Solution 2

I have been using Inno Setup for several years now. It's mature enough that it has a lot of plug-ins. I've found that the forums/newsgroups are very good at answering all the questions I've had so far.

Solution 3

NullSoft NSIS http://nsis.sourceforge.net/Main_Page

Solution 4

WiX (Windows Installer XML) is free.

Solution 5

Inno Setup has worked very well as the Zeus installer for many years.

View more solutions

Comments

[Scott Bennett-McLeish]

wow ... seven other people added NSIS in the time it took me to add my post!

[Smilediver]

It's not too steep if you want just a basic installer, it's when you want to add customisations that you start getting to grips with how it works.

[Steven A. Lowe]

expect to read the doc first, there's no quick-start or explanation of the model, but once you see how it works it is pretty good

[raju]

WiX works well for us. We like it because it's XML driven and can be easily integrated into our build environment.

[jabbink]

For a better GUI support over Inno Setup, try istool.org

[Ferruccio]

I've dumped InstallShield in favor of WiX just because it became such a hassle to modify installs through a GUI. It is so much easier to open a text file (even though it's in XML) and just make the changes I need.

[Rob]

I must take a look at WiX; I've used Inno Setup quite a bit, but lamented its lack of MSI support. Then again, I haven't done much development-for-client-side-deployment in a while.

[UnkwnTech]

I added a link to their site.

[Riri]

HM NIS EDIT hmne.sourceforge.net/index.php. A Free NSIS Editor/IDE

[Eldar]

for WIX it is a very easy to read book by Nick Ramirez amazon.com/WiX-3-6-Developers-Windows-Installer/dp/178216042‌​6

[v.oddou]

there is an intrusive licence requirement for inno : jrsoftware.org/files/is/license.txt I dont know for the rest but this matters lots to corporations.

[Rikalous]

Active development of InstallJammer has been discontinued. <-quote from the website

[Jonathan]

I see nothing intrustive about that license. That is applying to the code of inno setup, not your own code. +1 for inno setup -- no books, 5 mins later I had an installer working

[Slappy]

I am adding up to date information to this answer: There is Visual Studio extension for writing Inno Setup (and also NSIS) installers directly in IDE. Using the scripting language is even easier (with syntax highlighting, IntelliSense and more): marketplace.visualstudio.com/…

[Stein Åsmul]

A similar question and answer here: stackoverflow.com/a/1546941/129130

[john ktejik]

You forgot the most important feature of WIX: Free