Freedom251 › Software Packaging Tools
InstallShield
What InstallShield is
InstallShield is a Windows authoring tool for software developers building application installers. It creates MSI, EXE, APPX, and MSIX packages, converts MSI files to MSIX, and supports installation authoring inside Microsoft Visual Studio. Builds can run silently through its automation interface or Standalone command-line utility, with CI/CD support through Cloud License Server for Azure DevOps, AWS, and GCP environments. InstallShield can digitally sign installations and application files, and supports Microsoft Entra ID authentication with MFA for SQL Server connections. Premier adds multilingual and suite installations plus Azure and IIS web deployment through Microsoft Web Deploy. Professional is listed at $4,723 a year and Premier at $7,795 a year; both are three-year subscriptions. A 14-day trial is available, but there is no free plan. Authoring requires Windows, 1 GB RAM, and 1 GB free disk space. Created installers target Windows 7–11 and listed Windows Server releases.
Who it suits
InstallShield suits software developers packaging Windows applications, automating builds, signing releases, and integrating installer creation with Visual Studio or CI/CD environments.
What it does well
- Builds MSI, EXE, APPX, and MSIX installers
- Converts MSI packages to MSIX
- Supports silent command-line automation
- Integrates with Microsoft Visual Studio
- Digitally signs installations and application files
What to know first
- No free plan
- Professional starts at $4,723 a year
- Premier starts at $7,795 a year
- Authoring requires Windows
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| InstallShield Professional | $4,723 Total, 3 Years (3 Year Subscription); Node-Locked · MSI, EXE, APPX and MSIX installers · 64-bit installers · Visual Studio integration · Windows Installer patches | $4,723 a year |
| InstallShield Premier | $7,795 Total, 3 Years (3 Year Subscription); Node-Locked · Everything in InstallShield · multilingual installations · Suite installations · Azure and IIS Web Deploy | $7,795 a year |
| InstallShield Premier - Cloud License Server | Custom Pricing (3 Year Subscription); Concurrent License · Cloud environments including Azure DevOps, AWS and GCP · CLS hosted in Revenera data centers · 99 SAB licenses with each CLS license | On request |
| InstallShield Premier - Local License Server | Custom Pricing (3 Year Subscription); Concurrent License · Local license server · Instances hosted in your data centers · 99 SAB licenses with each LLS license | On request |
As revenera.com lists them, read 5 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Verdict
InstallShield covers Windows packaging from authoring through automation, signing, and deployment. Professional and Premier provide different installer and web-deployment capabilities, with a 14-day trial for evaluation.
Facts from InstallShield's own pages
- Audience
- Revenera says InstallShield is for software developers and not for people trying to install a software program on their own computers. · info.revenera.com, 5 Oct 2026
- Automation
- Build processes can be automated silently through the automation interface or Standalone command-line utility. · revenera.com, 5 Oct 2026
- Business history
- Revenera's history page says InstallShield began in 1987 and the Revenera brand was established in 2020. · revenera.com, 5 Oct 2026
- CI/CD
- Cloud License Server supports builds in Azure DevOps, AWS and GCP cloud environments. · revenera.com, 5 Oct 2026
- Digital signing
- InstallShield can digitally sign installations and application files so users can verify they have not been altered since publication. · docs.revenera.com, 5 Oct 2026
- Downloads
- The Product and License Center provides InstallShield downloads, documentation, license files and activation IDs, and requires additional permissions. · community.revenera.com, 5 Oct 2026
- Founded
- 1987 · revenera.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Headquarters
- Itasca, Illinois, United States · revenera.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Packages
- It can build MSI, EXE, APPX and MSIX installers and convert MSI files into MSIX packages. · revenera.com, 5 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- InstallShield is a software tool for building Windows installers, including MSI and MSIX packages, with Microsoft Visual Studio integration. · revenera.com, 5 Oct 2026
- Requirements
- The listed authoring system requirements include Windows, 1 GB RAM and 1 GB of free disk space. · revenera.com, 5 Oct 2026
- Security
- InstallShield supports Microsoft Entra ID authentication for SQL Server connections, providing MFA-based access. · revenera.com, 5 Oct 2026
- Support
- Revenera directs InstallShield users to its Support Hub and community resources for assistance. · revenera.com, 5 Oct 2026
- Target systems
- InstallShield-created installations can target Windows 7 through Windows 11 and Windows Server 2008 R2 through Server 2025, subject to SSE2 support. · revenera.com, 5 Oct 2026
- Visual Studio
- InstallShield supports creating installations within Microsoft Visual Studio for MSI, MSIX and EXE installers. · revenera.com, 5 Oct 2026
- Web deployment
- InstallShield Premier can install web applications to Microsoft Azure and Microsoft IIS using Microsoft Web Deploy. · revenera.com, 5 Oct 2026
Where InstallShield stands on Freedom251
- Software Packaging Tools#26 of 28