Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Setup Factory VS WiX (Windows Installer XML)

Compare Setup Factory VS WiX (Windows Installer XML) and see what are their differences

Setup Factory logo Setup Factory

Setup Factory Software Installer Builder for Windows.

WiX (Windows Installer XML) logo WiX (Windows Installer XML)

WiX (Windows Installer XML) is a toolset that allows developers to build Windows installation packages through source codes.
  • Setup Factory Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-01-26
  • WiX (Windows Installer XML) Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-14

Setup Factory features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    Setup Factory offers a user-friendly interface that makes it easy for developers to create installation packages without extensive training or experience.
  • Customizable
    It provides a high degree of customization, allowing developers to tailor the installation process to meet specific needs and requirements.
  • Advanced Scripting
    Supports Lua scripting, giving developers the flexibility to automate tasks and create more complex installation routines.
  • Small Footprint
    Generated installers have a small size due to efficient compression, which optimizes download and installation times.
  • Wide Compatibility
    Compatible with multiple Windows versions, ensuring that the installers work on a broad range of systems.

Possible disadvantages of Setup Factory

  • Windows Only
    Setup Factory is designed specifically for creating Windows installers, limiting its use for developers targeting other operating systems.
  • Cost
    The software comes with a licensing fee, which might be a drawback for smaller teams or individual developers with limited budgets.
  • Learning Curve for Scripting
    While Lua scripting is powerful, it may present a learning curve for developers unfamiliar with scripting languages.
  • Limited Modern Features
    Might lack some of the more modern or advanced features found in newer installation-building software, such as cloud deployment options.
  • Support
    Users may find the level of available support and community resources limited compared to more widely used installer tools.

WiX (Windows Installer XML) features and specs

  • Flexibility and Control
    WiX provides extensive control over the installation process, allowing developers to define custom installation logic, manage files, registries, shortcuts, and more through XML configuration.
  • Integration with Visual Studio
    WiX integrates seamlessly with Microsoft Visual Studio, facilitating a smoother development process by allowing developers to create and maintain installer projects within the same environment.
  • Open Source
    As an open-source toolset, WiX is free to use and modify, providing transparency and community support which can be beneficial for troubleshooting and extending its capabilities.
  • Robustness and Reliability
    WiX is highly reliable and robust, capable of creating complex installers that adhere to Windows Installer standards, making it suitable for enterprise-level applications.
  • Comprehensive Documentation
    WiX offers extensive documentation and community resources, which help developers to understand and utilize the full capabilities of the toolset effectively.

Possible disadvantages of WiX (Windows Installer XML)

  • Steep Learning Curve
    WiX has a steep learning curve, particularly for newcomers, due to its reliance on XML scripting and the intricacy involved in setting up various installer components.
  • Lack of GUI
    WiX primarily relies on XML for defining installers, lacking a graphical user interface (GUI), which can make it difficult for users who prefer visual development environments.
  • Complexity for Simple Installations
    For simple or basic installations, using WiX might be overkill as it can be more complex and time-consuming compared to other simpler installation tools or methods.
  • Sparse High-Level Support
    While WiX has a strong community, there is limited high-level professional support available, which may be challenging for enterprise customers who require direct assistance and quicker resolutions.
  • Potential for Errors
    Due to its XML-based configuration, there is a higher chance for human errors such as typos or misconfigurations, which may lead to significant issues if not thoroughly reviewed and tested.

Setup Factory videos

Setup Factory 9.5 - Software Installer Builder for Windows

WiX (Windows Installer XML) videos

No WiX (Windows Installer XML) videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Setup Factory and WiX (Windows Installer XML))
Website Builder
54 54%
46% 46
Tool
100 100%
0% 0
Website Design
0 0%
100% 100
Package Builder
58 58%
42% 42

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, WiX (Windows Installer XML) seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 35 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.

Setup Factory mentions (0)

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

WiX (Windows Installer XML) mentions (35)

  • Twenty years maintaining the WiX Toolset
    For those like me (I never used Windows) who do not know WiX; https://wixtoolset.org/. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • Win32 App Isolation
    I actually like WiX[1] — it has a bit of a learning curve, but, so long as I'm building on Windows and don't stray far from the default UI flows, I haven't found an easier tool for creating Windows installers as part of a product build process, especially those that require Windows-specific bits like COM component registration, Windows service management, setting restrictive ACLs on installed components, etc. And... - Source: Hacker News / about 2 years ago
  • packaging games
    For Windows, in the past, I’ve used the WiX toolset to create installers (https://wixtoolset.org/). Source: about 2 years ago
  • Can I publish and release a .NET Service with an installation executable on GitHub?
    Https://wixtoolset.org/ should be able to help you out there. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Production C++ software guide
    For windows - store: https://developer.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-store/register/ - requirements: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/apps/publish/publish-your-app/app-package-requirements?pivots=store-installer-msix - alternatively you can make MSIs and distribute them through your own website or another service. https://wixtoolset.org/ - publishing with chocolatey isn't a terrible option to help users... Source: over 2 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Setup Factory and WiX (Windows Installer XML), you can also consider the following products

Inno Setup - Inno Setup is a free installer for Windows programs.

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

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.

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

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

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