Inno Setup
Inno Setup is a free, open-source Windows tool for building EXE installers.
What Inno Setup is
Inno Setup is a free, open-source Windows tool for building EXE installers. It can create a single installer for online distribution or span installation media across disks. Packaging supports command-line use, silent installation, auto-update support, and CI/CD integration. Installer functions include file compression, version comparisons, replacement of in-use files, DLL and type-library registration, downloading and verification, and archive extraction. A preprocessor enables compile-time customization, while an optional Pascal scripting engine changes installation and uninstallation behavior at runtime. Installers can be password-protected, encrypted, and digitally signed, including signed uninstallers. Inno Setup supports x64 and Arm64 applications on 64-bit Windows editions and covers listed Windows releases from 2006 onward, including Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server editions. The download page offers 32-bit and 64-bit editions, both able to build 32-bit or 64-bit installers. It works offline and sends no data for updates, license checks, or statistics.
Good
- Free and open source
- Creates EXE installers for Windows
- Supports command-line and silent installation
- Offers encryption and digital signing
- Works offline without sending usage data
Watch out
- Targets Windows only
- Output format is EXE installer
- Commercial users are asked to purchase a license
- Primary support is through the forum
Who it suits
It suits Windows developers and build teams that need customizable EXE packaging, silent installs, command-line builds, or CI/CD workflows. Commercial users can choose perpetual licenses assigned to specified users.
Verdict
Inno Setup provides a broad Windows installer-building toolkit with scripting, signing, automation, and offline operation. It is a focused option for Windows packaging, with free use and separate perpetual commercial licensing.
Plans and prices
From Inno Setup's own pricing page, checked 9 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Enterprise | — | Unlimited users · Single payment; perpetual license with two years of updates; extended update periods available |
| Single User | — | 1 user · Single payment; perpetual license with two years of updates |
| Team | — | 2–5 users · Single payment; perpetual license with two years of updates |
The facts
Each one read from Inno Setup's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Architectures
- It supports x64 and Arm64 applications on 64-bit Windows editions.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Commercial licensing
- The maker requests that commercial users purchase a license; the commercial licenses are perpetual and require one payment.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Customization
- It includes a preprocessor for compile-time customization and an optional Pascal scripting engine for runtime installation and uninstallation customization.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Distribution
- The download page provides Inno Setup 7 in 32-bit and 64-bit editions, and says both editions can build 32-bit or 64-bit installers.checked 9 Oct 2026
- History
- Inno Setup was introduced in 1997 and is by Jordan Russell and Martijn Laan.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Installer creation
- It can create a single EXE installer for online distribution and also supports disk spanning.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Install features
- It supports file compression, version comparisons, replacing in-use files, registering DLLs and type libraries, downloading and verifying files, and extracting archives.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- The site says Inno Setup is used by Microsoft Visual Studio Code, Git for Windows, and Embarcadero Delphi.checked 9 Oct 2026
- License limits
- A commercial license is assigned to a specified number of users, and each assigned user may use the software on multiple computers where they are the primary user.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Privacy
- The licensing page says Inno Setup works fully offline and sends no data for updates, license checks, statistics, or other purposes.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Product
- Inno Setup is an open-source installation builder for Windows applications.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Security
- It supports password-protected and encrypted installs as well as digitally signed installs and uninstalls.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Support
- The Inno Setup forum is identified as the primary source of product support, and commercial licenses add no software support beyond the free forum support.checked 9 Oct 2026
The company
- Founded
- 1997checked 28 Sep 2026
Where it runs
- Windows support
- The product supports Windows releases since 2006, including Windows 11, Windows 10, and Windows Server editions listed on its site.checked 9 Oct 2026
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