Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

EMCO MSI Package Builder VS Inno Setup

Compare EMCO MSI Package Builder VS Inno Setup and see what are their differences

EMCO MSI Package Builder logo EMCO MSI Package Builder

EMCO MSI Package Builder allows you to create MSI packages using an easy approach. Convert EXE to MSI and build packages for unattended installation.

Inno Setup logo Inno Setup

Inno Setup is a free installer for Windows programs.
  • EMCO MSI Package Builder Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-19
  • Inno Setup Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-07-31

EMCO MSI Package Builder features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    EMCO MSI Package Builder offers a user-friendly interface that simplifies the process of creating MSI packages. Users can easily navigate through its features without requiring extensive technical knowledge.
  • Repackaging Functionality
    The software's repackaging capabilities allow users to convert existing installations into MSI packages, making it easier to deploy applications across multiple systems.
  • Customization Options
    It provides extensive customization options, enabling users to configure installations according to their specific requirements, such as adding custom actions or setting installation conditions.
  • Snapshot Technology
    EMCO MSI Package Builder uses snapshot technology to capture system changes during installation, which helps in accurately creating MSI packages that reflect all required modifications.
  • Automation Features
    The software supports automation through its command-line interface and other scripting features, which streamline the process of package creation and deployment.

Possible disadvantages of EMCO MSI Package Builder

  • Cost
    EMCO MSI Package Builder can be relatively expensive, especially for small businesses or individual users who may find more basic tools sufficient for their needs.
  • Learning Curve for Advanced Features
    While the basic functionality is easy to use, mastering advanced features such as extensive customization and automation may require time and experience.
  • Limited Support for Non-Windows Platforms
    The software is primarily designed for Windows systems, which may limit its usefulness for organizations that need to create installation packages for other operating systems.
  • System Resource Usage
    Some users may find that running EMCO MSI Package Builder requires substantial system resources, which could be a consideration for older or less powerful machines.
  • Complexity for Non-Standard Applications
    Creating MSI packages for non-standard or complex applications may require additional effort and expertise to ensure all functionalities work correctly.

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.

EMCO MSI Package Builder videos

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Inno Setup videos

Using the Inno Setup Wizard

More videos:

  • Review - Setup Nasฤฑl Hazฤฑrlanฤฑr ? | Inno Setup Detaylฤฑ Kullanฤฑm

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to EMCO MSI Package Builder and Inno Setup)
Website Builder
11 11%
89% 89
Package Builder
10 10%
90% 90
Website Design
0 0%
100% 100
Package Distribution
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Inno Setup seems to be a lot more popular than EMCO MSI Package Builder. While we know about 46 links to Inno Setup, we've tracked only 3 mentions of EMCO MSI Package Builder. 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.

EMCO MSI Package Builder mentions (3)

  • Silent install of GhostScript
    Sounds like your only option is to use a repackager, something like this: https://emcosoftware.com/msi-package-builder. You take a snapshot of a "clean" system, then install the program, run another snapshot and the result is a diff of the two snapshots. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • Is there a package or method of tracking what changes installers make to a system?
    Maybe something like https://emcosoftware.com/msi-package-builder. Source: about 3 years ago
  • EXE to MSI converter
    I used this for many years. You can package anything with it quickly and easily Https://emcosoftware.com/msi-package-builder. Source: over 3 years ago

Inno Setup mentions (46)

  • [Rant] Your Software Isn't the Only One Our Company Uses FFS
    Iโ€™ve had to do this before and it some what sucks but if you do have a look at Inno Setup. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Tauri v1.3 โ€” 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: over 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: over 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: over 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: over 2 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing EMCO MSI Package Builder and Inno Setup, you can also consider the following products

Packin - Packin is a graphical Linux package creator wizard which compiles packages in the popular debian...

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

Setup Factory - Setup Factory Software Installer Builder for Windows.

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

RayPack Studio - Von Softwarepaketierung รผber Softwareverteilung bis zu Software Asset Management bedienen wir das gesamte Application Lifecycle Management.

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