Inno Setup vs Squirrel.Windows

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

Inno Setup is a Development solution with tags like installer, setup, authoring, windows.

It boasts features such as Create installers for Windows programs, Multi-language support, Customizable installer UI, Conditional logic, Registry and file manipulation, Scripting using Pascal Script and pros including Free and open source, Easy to use graphical interface, Powerful scripting capabilities, Wide range of functionality, Active community support.

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.

Inno Setup

Inno Setup

Inno Setup is an open-source installation and setup authoring tool for Windows programs and software packages. It allows developers to easily create installers with basic to advanced functionality, including multi-language support, custom dialogs and screens, conditional logic, and much more.

Categories:
installer setup authoring windows

Inno Setup Features

  1. Create installers for Windows programs
  2. Multi-language support
  3. Customizable installer UI
  4. Conditional logic
  5. Registry and file manipulation
  6. Scripting using Pascal Script

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Free and open source

Easy to use graphical interface

Powerful scripting capabilities

Wide range of functionality

Active community support

Cons

Windows only

Steep learning curve for advanced features

Not as feature rich as some paid tools

Scripting requires Pascal knowledge


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