Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

InstallForge VS Inno Setup

Compare InstallForge VS Inno Setup and see what are their differences

InstallForge logo InstallForge

A very simplistic and streamlined program for creating installation files.

Inno Setup logo Inno Setup

Inno Setup is a free installer for Windows programs.
  • InstallForge Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-28
  • Inno Setup Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-07-31

InstallForge features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    InstallForge offers an intuitive and straightforward user interface, making it easy for users to create installation packages without extensive technical knowledge.
  • Script-Free Configuration
    Unlike some other installers that require scripting for customization, InstallForge allows users to configure their installer through a GUI, reducing the complexity involved.
  • Cost
    InstallForge is available for free, making it an attractive choice for small businesses, startups, and individual developers working with limited budgets.
  • Customization Options
    The software provides several options for customizing the installer, including custom graphics, EULA, and license agreements, which help in branding.
  • Regular Updates
    InstallForge is frequently updated, ensuring new features and security improvements are available to users on an ongoing basis.

Possible disadvantages of InstallForge

  • Limited Advanced Features
    While InstallForge is easy to use, it lacks some advanced features and flexibility compared to more sophisticated paid tools like InstallShield or WiX.
  • Windows Only
    InstallForge is limited to creating installers for Windows applications only, which may not be suitable for developers looking to support multiple platforms.
  • Customer Support
    As a free tool, InstallForge may not offer comprehensive customer support compared to commercial alternatives, which can be a drawback for users needing immediate assistance.
  • Potential Stability Issues
    Some users have reported occasional stability issues and bugs, which could affect the reliability of the software.

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.

InstallForge videos

InstallForge Setup and Publish an Application

More videos:

  • Tutorial - [TUT] How to use InstallForge to create Installer

Inno Setup videos

Using the Inno Setup Wizard

More videos:

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

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to InstallForge and Inno Setup)
Website Builder
31 31%
69% 69
Package Builder
33 33%
67% 67
Website Design
26 26%
74% 74
Package Distribution
42 42%
58% 58

User comments

Share your experience with using InstallForge 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.

InstallForge mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of InstallForge yet. Tracking of InstallForge 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: almost 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 InstallForge and Inno Setup, you can also consider the following products

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

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

InstallAware - Windows Installer InstallAware provides free installation (MSI) authoring, MSI compression, and MSI repackaging solutions. Tools include: InstallAware for Windows Installer, Setup Squeezer for MSI, and Setup Squeezer for InstallShield.

InstallShield - If your software targets Windows, InstallShield is your solution.

IzPack - IzPack is a one-stop solution for packaging, distributing and deploying applications.

Setup Factory - Setup Factory Software Installer Builder for Windows.