InstallAware

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Score7.0

Rank#3 of 28

PriceFree

Free planYes

Free trialYes

Runs onLinux, macOS, Windows

Summary

InstallAware 2026 is a setup builder for app and game developers working across Windows, macOS, and Linux. It supports output formats including MSI, EXE, MSIX, APPX, App-V, DEB, RPM, and PKG. Listed development targets include Apple Intel, Apple Silicon, GTK2, Qt5, and Windows x86. Setups can be deployed over the web, while a minimum setup can work without an internet connection. The Developer edition builds MSIX packages and can bridge Win32, Win64, and .NET apps to the Windows Store. It also supports switching between Native Code and Windows Installer setup engines at runtime. InstallAware can create an App-V package from a setup project and includes a viewer for inspecting package contents. A free Visual Studio extension analyzes solution dependencies and creates and builds an InstallAware setup from a solution. The freeware edition requires Visual Studio and is listed as free for commercial use. Free peer support forums are available, with optional Gold support for priority technical support. A 30-day trial is also listed.

Who it is for

It suits app and game developers who need to build installers for Windows, macOS, or Linux. Visual Studio users can also use the free extension to generate a setup from a solution.

What is good

Supports MSI, EXE, MSIX, APPX, App-V, DEB, RPM, and PKG
Can create setups that work without internet
Free extension analyzes Visual Studio solution dependencies
Includes an App-V package viewer

What to know first

Freeware edition requires Visual Studio
Download requires a 64-bit operating system for decompression
Priority technical support is optional Gold support

Verdict

InstallAware covers multiple installer formats and operating-system targets, with a separate free Visual Studio extension. Check the freeware requirements and edition-specific capabilities against the installer work you need to do.

InstallAware plans and pricing

All plans

InstallAware Free (Visual Studio freeware edition) Free Requires Visual Studio · free for commercial use installaware.com · 29 Sept 2026

Compared on software packaging tools

Free plan: Yesinstallaware.com
Target platforms: Windows, macOS, Linuxinstallaware.com
Output formats: MSI, EXE, MSIX, APPX, App-V, DEB, RPM, PKGinstallaware.com
Command-line packaging: Yesinstallaware.com
Silent installation: Yesinstallaware.com
Auto-update support: Yesinstallaware.com
Delta updates: Yesinstallaware.com
CI/CD integration: Yesinstallaware.com

Facts

Product: InstallAware 2026 is a multi-platform setup builder for app and game developers.installaware.com · 29 Sept 2026
Installer formats: InstallAware describes support for package formats including DEB, RPM, and PKG.installaware.com · 29 Sept 2026
Target systems: The product page lists Windows, macOS, and Linux as development platforms and lists Apple Intel, Apple Silicon, GTK2, Qt5, and Windows x86 targets.installaware.com · 29 Sept 2026
Deployment: InstallAware supports web-deployed setups and says minimum setup can work without an Internet connection.installaware.com · 29 Sept 2026
Visual Studio: The free Visual Studio extension analyzes solution dependencies and creates and builds an InstallAware setup from a Visual Studio solution.installaware.com · 29 Sept 2026
Windows packaging: The Developer edition supports building MSIX packages and bridging Win32, Win64, and .NET apps to the Windows Store.installaware.com · 29 Sept 2026
Installer engines: The Developer edition supports switching between Native Code and Windows Installer setup engines at runtime.installaware.com · 29 Sept 2026
App-V: InstallAware can build an App-V package from an InstallAware setup project and includes an App-V viewer for inspecting package contents.installaware.com · 29 Sept 2026
Security and signing: The multi-platform page lists code signing and Apple notarization among its standards-compliant capabilities.installaware.com · 29 Sept 2026
Support: InstallAware offers free peer support forums and optional Gold support with priority technical support.installaware.com · 29 Sept 2026
Download requirement: The freeware edition requires Visual Studio, and the product download page says its single-file download requires a 64-bit operating system for decompression.installaware.com · 29 Sept 2026
Company: InstallAware Software says it was founded in 2003 by InstallShield alumni and focuses on software installation tools.installaware.com · 29 Sept 2026