MakeMSI vs Squirrel.Windows

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

MakeMSI is a Development solution with tags like msi, installer, packaging, deployment.

It boasts features such as Graphical user interface for creating MSI packages, Supports multiple languages and localized installers, Can bundle files, shortcuts, registry entries etc into installer, Integrates with WiX toolset for advanced MSI creation, Open source and free to use and pros including Easy to use GUI, no need to edit XML/scripts, Good for basic to intermediate MSI creation, Free and open source, Active development and 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.

MakeMSI

MakeMSI

MakeMSI is an open-source tool for creating MSI installation packages for Windows desktop applications. It provides a GUI for configuring MSI settings without needing to edit scripts or XML code.

Categories:
msi installer packaging deployment

MakeMSI Features

  1. Graphical user interface for creating MSI packages
  2. Supports multiple languages and localized installers
  3. Can bundle files, shortcuts, registry entries etc into installer
  4. Integrates with WiX toolset for advanced MSI creation
  5. Open source and free to use

Pricing

  • Open Source
  • Free

Pros

Easy to use GUI, no need to edit XML/scripts

Good for basic to intermediate MSI creation

Free and open source

Active development and community support

Cons

Limited to MSI installers only

Less flexible than WiX for complex installs

Lacks some advanced MSI features

Documentation could be improved


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