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.

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.

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


InstallBuilder

InstallBuilder

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.

Categories:
installer authoring multiplatform windows mac linux

InstallBuilder Features

  1. Drag-and-drop interface for building installers
  2. Support for Windows, Mac, Linux installers
  3. Customizable installer UI
  4. Installer scripting
  5. Multiple languages support
  6. Installer compression & encryption
  7. Update functionality
  8. Integration with CI/CD pipelines

Pricing

  • Free trial
  • Subscription-based

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