Question

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

Answer 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