Squirrel.Windows vs InstallBuilder

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

Squirrel.Windows is a Development solution with tags like opensource, autoupdate, windows, desktop, github, azure-devops.

It boasts features such as 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 pros including Easy to implement auto-updates, Seamless CI/CD integration, Open-source and free, Good documentation and community support, Lightweight and fast compared to alternatives.

On the other hand, InstallBuilder is a Development product tagged with installer, authoring, multiplatform, windows, mac, linux.

Its standout features include Drag-and-drop interface for building installers, Support for Windows, Mac, Linux installers, Customizable installer UI, Installer scripting, Multiple languages support, Installer compression & encryption, Update functionality, Integration with CI/CD pipelines, and it shines with pros like Easy to use with no coding required, Good multi-platform support, Many customization options, Active community support.

Feature	Squirrel.Windows	InstallBuilder
Overall Score	N/A	N/A
Primary Category	Development	Development

Product Overview

Squirrel.Windows

Description: 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.

InstallBuilder

Description: InstallBuilder is a software installation authoring tool that allows you to quickly create professional multi-platform installers for various platforms like Windows, Mac, and Linux. It has an easy to use drag-and-drop interface to build installers with just a few clicks.

Key Features Comparison

Squirrel.Windows Features

• 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

InstallBuilder Features

• Drag-and-drop interface for building installers
• Support for Windows, Mac, Linux installers
• Customizable installer UI
• Installer scripting
• Multiple languages support
• Installer compression & encryption
• Update functionality
• Integration with CI/CD pipelines

Pros & Cons Analysis

Squirrel.Windows

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

InstallBuilder

Pros

• Easy to use with no coding required
• Good multi-platform support
• Many customization options
• Active community support

Cons

• Steep learning curve for advanced features
• Limited trial version
• Can be expensive for large teams

Pricing Comparison

Squirrel.Windows

• Open Source

InstallBuilder

• Free trial
• Subscription-based