InstallAware 2026 is a setup builder for app and game developers working across Windows, macOS, and Linux. Listed output formats include MSI, EXE, MSIX, APPX, App-V, DEB, RPM, and PKG, with targets including Apple Intel, Apple Silicon, GTK2, Qt5, and Windows x86. Setups can be deployed over the web, and 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 engines at runtime. InstallAware can build an App-V package from a setup project and includes a viewer for inspecting package contents. A free Visual Studio extension analyzes dependencies in a solution and creates and builds a setup from it. The freeware edition requires Visual Studio and is listed as free for commercial use. Free peer support forums are available, as is optional Gold support for priority technical support. A 30-day trial is listed.
Who it is for
It suits app and game developers preparing installers for Windows, macOS, or Linux. The Visual Studio freeware edition may suit developers who already meet its Visual Studio requirement.
What is good
- Supports MSI, EXE, MSIX, and cross-platform package formats.
- Can create App-V packages and inspect their contents.
- Minimum setup can work without internet.
- Freeware edition is listed as free for commercial use.
What to know first
- The freeware edition requires Visual Studio.
- Download decompression requires a 64-bit operating system.
- Gold priority technical support is optional.
Verdict
InstallAware covers multiple operating systems and installer formats, with additional packaging capabilities in the Developer edition. Note the Visual Studio requirement for the freeware edition and the separate optional Gold support.
InstallAware plans and pricing
All plansCompared on software packaging tools
- Free plan
- Yes
- Target platforms
- Windows, macOS, Linux
- Output formats
- MSI, EXE, MSIX, APPX, App-V, DEB, RPM, PKG
- Command-line packaging
- Yes
- Silent installation
- Yes
- Auto-update support
- Yes
- Delta updates
- Yes
- CI/CD integration
- Yes
