CreateInstall vs Squirrel.Windows

Struggling to choose between CreateInstall and Squirrel.Windows? Both products offer unique advantages, making it a tough decision.

CreateInstall is a Development solution with tags like opensource, windows, installer, software-distribution.

It boasts features such as Visual interface to customize installation flow, Build installers for distributing Windows software, Open-source, Support for multiple languages, Customizable UI themes, Silent install option, Installer compression and pros including Easy to use, Free and open source, Good documentation, Active community support, Customizable and extensible, Good for basic to intermediate installers.

On the other hand, Squirrel.Windows is a Development product tagged with opensource, autoupdate, windows, desktop, github, azure-devops.

Its standout features include Allows developers to publish desktop apps with auto-updates, Integrates with GitHub and Azure DevOps for continuous deployment, Open-source framework for installing and updating Windows desktop apps, Supports delta updates to reduce bandwidth usage, Can be used with .NET and non-.NET apps, and it shines with pros like Easy to implement auto-updates, Seamless CI/CD integration, Open-source and free, Good documentation and community support, Lightweight and fast compared to alternatives.

To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison of these two products, delving into their features, pros, cons, pricing, and more. Get ready to explore the nuances that set them apart and determine which one is the perfect fit for your requirements.

CreateInstall

CreateInstall

CreateInstall is an open-source software installer creator for Windows. It allows you to easily build professional-looking installers for distributing your Windows software, with an intuitive visual interface to customize the installation flow.

Categories:
opensource windows installer software-distribution

CreateInstall Features

  1. Visual interface to customize installation flow
  2. Build installers for distributing Windows software
  3. Open-source
  4. Support for multiple languages
  5. Customizable UI themes
  6. Silent install option
  7. Installer compression

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Easy to use

Free and open source

Good documentation

Active community support

Customizable and extensible

Good for basic to intermediate installers

Cons

Limited to Windows platform

Not ideal for very complex installers

Less flexible compared to commercial installer tools

Lacks some advanced installer features


Squirrel.Windows

Squirrel.Windows

Squirrel.Windows is an open-source installation and update framework for Windows desktop apps, allowing developers to publish their apps with auto updates out of the box. It integrates seamlessly with GitHub and Azure DevOps for continuous deployment.

Categories:
opensource autoupdate windows desktop github azure-devops

Squirrel.Windows Features

  1. Allows developers to publish desktop apps with auto-updates
  2. Integrates with GitHub and Azure DevOps for continuous deployment
  3. Open-source framework for installing and updating Windows desktop apps
  4. Supports delta updates to reduce bandwidth usage
  5. Can be used with .NET and non-.NET apps

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Easy to implement auto-updates

Seamless CI/CD integration

Open-source and free

Good documentation and community support

Lightweight and fast compared to alternatives

Cons

Limited to Windows desktop apps

Less flexible than building own update system

Requires hosting your own update server or using 3rd party service

Not as full-featured as commercial solutions