Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups
Register | Login
cF

cx_Freeze VS Inno Setup

Compare cx_Freeze VS Inno Setup and see what are their differences

Limey
Limey: Connect smarter with QR codes, links, sites, and digital business cards in one place. featured
Contents:
  1. » Base Details
  2. » Videos
  3. » Reviews
  4. » Alternatives

cx_Freeze logo cx_Freeze

cx_Freeze is a set of scripts and modules for freezing Python scripts into executables in much the...

Inno Setup logo Inno Setup

Inno Setup is a free installer for Windows programs.
  • cx_Freeze Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-12
  • Inno Setup Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-07-31

cx_Freeze features and specs

  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    cx_Freeze can generate executables for different operating systems like Windows, macOS, and Linux, making it versatile for multi-platform application development.
  • Support for Python 3
    It supports Python 3, which is essential for modern Python applications as Python 2 has reached the end of its life.
  • Minimal Configuration
    Requires minimal setup, making it user-friendly for developers who may not want to deal with complex configurations.
  • Flexibility
    Allows custom scripts and hooks, providing flexibility in how the application is packaged and behaves.
  • Open Source
    Being an open-source project, it encourages contributions from a community of developers and is available for free.

Possible disadvantages of cx_Freeze

  • Limited Documentation
    The documentation for cx_Freeze is not as comprehensive as some other similar tools, which can make it harder for new users to get started or troubleshoot issues.
  • Dependency Management
    Manages dependencies less elegantly compared to some other tools, potentially leading to larger executable sizes or missing modules.
  • GUI Application Complexity
    Creating executables for GUI applications can be more complex, sometimes requiring additional configuration and manual adjustments.
  • Slower Updates
    Updates and new features may be released at a slower pace compared to some other widely-used tools, potentially impacting users needing the latest advancements.
  • Initial Learning Curve
    Despite being user-friendly, there is still a learning curve for those unfamiliar with packaging Python applications, particularly in understanding how to resolve dependency issues.

Inno Setup features and specs

  • Free and Open Source
    Inno Setup is available for free, and its source code is open for developers to modify and customize to suit their needs.
  • Extensive Customization
    It offers extensive customization options, such as custom wizard pages, scripting capabilities via Pascal Script, and the ability to create custom installations.
  • Rich Feature Set
    Inno Setup supports a wide range of features including disk spanning, password protection, uninstall capabilities, and silent installs.
  • Robust Documentation
    The software comes with comprehensive documentation and a detailed help file, making it easier for users to understand and utilize its features.
  • Active Community
    Inno Setup has a large and active community that provides support, contributes to forums, and develops add-ons, enhancing the software's utility.
  • Small Footprint
    The setup packages created with Inno Setup are generally small and lightweight, which is advantageous for faster downloads and installations.

Possible disadvantages of Inno Setup

  • Learning Curve for Scripting
    Although powerful, the scripting language (Pascal Script) can be challenging for beginners to learn and implement effectively.
  • Limited GUI Development Tools
    Compared to some other installer builders, Inno Setup has fewer graphical tools for designing installation interfaces, which may require more manual coding.
  • Windows Only
    Inno Setup is designed specifically for Windows applications, making it less useful for developers needing cross-platform support.
  • Manual Updates and Maintenance
    Keeping the setup script up-to-date and maintaining it over time can require manual effort, which might be burdensome for some projects.
  • Initial Setup Complexity
    Setting up a new installation project may initially be complex and time-consuming due to various configuration options and scripting needs.

Analysis of Inno Setup

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Inno Setup is considered a good choice for creating reliable and efficient Windows installers, especially for those seeking a free, powerful, and customizable setup solution.

Why this product is good

  • Inno Setup is highly regarded due to its robustness, ease of use, and feature-rich capabilities for creating Windows installers. It supports a variety of installation tasks, such as creating shortcuts, managing files, and registry entries, and is known for its flexible scripting options that allow for tailored customizations. Additionally, it's free and open source, which is appealing to both individual developers and companies.

Recommended for

  • Independent developers or small teams looking for a cost-effective installer solution.
  • Software projects where customization and flexibility in the installer process are needed.
  • Developers who prefer or require open-source software.
  • Projects focused on Windows application deployment.

cx_Freeze videos

+ Add

cx_freeze python 3.6

Inno Setup videos

+ Add

Using the Inno Setup Wizard

More videos:

  • Review - Setup Nasıl Hazırlanır ? | Inno Setup Detaylı Kullanım

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to cx_Freeze and Inno Setup)

cx_Freeze

Inno Setup

Website Builder
14 14%
Website Builder
86% 86
Website Design
13 13%
Website Design
87% 87
CMS
39 39%
CMS
61% 61
Package Builder
0 0%
Package Builder
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using cx_Freeze and Inno Setup. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Inno Setup seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 46 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

cx_Freeze mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of cx_Freeze yet. Tracking of cx_Freeze recommendations started around Mar 2021.

Inno Setup mentions (46)

  • [Rant] Your Software Isn't the Only One Our Company Uses FFS
    I’ve had to do this before and it some what sucks but if you do have a look at Inno Setup. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Tauri v1.3 — NSIS installer, security audit & External API Access
    Use Inno Setup. It's comparably sized, VSCode uses it and GOG.com uses customized builds of it (it's open-source but written in Delphi), and it has a much more declarative (though still extensible) approach that does do stuff like uninstall tracking by default. Source: about 2 years ago
  • In the year 2023, what is the best way to deploy/distribute a WPF Application?
    We eventually settled on a combination of InnoSetup with InnoSetuo Dependency Installer and NetSparkle which offered a much cleaner experience and use of AzureAD Authentication for Azure Storage Blobs (for updates) as well as InTune Deployments with proper version detection. Source: about 2 years ago
  • is there like an application etiquette or something?
    You don't typically make these things yourself from scratch, you use a tool that does it for you. E.g. InnoSetup: https://jrsoftware.org/isinfo.php. Source: about 2 years ago
  • [Windows] Looking for open source program made to install other archived programs and create uninstaller for them
    The two most popular such installers are Inno Setup and NSIS. Inno is much easier to use (and will handle most tasks automatically), while NSIS creates somewhat smaller installers (but requires you to basically micromanage everything). Source: about 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing cx_Freeze and Inno Setup, you can also consider the following products

PyInstaller - PyInstaller is a program that freezes (packages) Python programs into stand-alone executables...

Advanced Installer - Advanced Installer is a Windows installer authoring tool for installing, updating, and configuring your products safely, securely, and reliably.

bbfreeze - create stand-alone executables from python scripts

InstallForge - A very simplistic and streamlined program for creating installation files.

nuitka - Nuitka is a Python compiler.

NSIS - NSIS (Nullsoft Scriptable Install System) is a professional open source system to create Windows...

Loading...