InstallShield: Top Reasons to Choose

Why Software Developers Trust InstallShield

InstallShield is the world’s most popular software installation solution for Windows. The InstallShield name has become synonymous with Windows Installer (MSI) installations, and its technology is deployed by over 71,000 customers on more than 500 million desktops worldwide.

Why do so many software developers trust InstallShield? Here are a few of the reasons:

Over 20 Years of Installation Experience

InstallShield has been a pioneer in Windows installations for over 20 years. When you choose InstallShield, you know you’re getting a proven tool that has stood – and will continue to stand – the test of time.

Partnerships with the World’s Software Producers

Flexera Software, the maker of InstallShield, is a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner and Visual Studio Industry Partner and works closely with Microsoft during product forecasting and beta programs, which provides us access to their latest technologies. We also have partnerships with over a dozen other software producers, including HP, IBM, Novell, Sun, and VMware.

The Most Award-Winning Installation Solution

Year after year, InstallShield continues to be recognized by software and setup authors, resellers, and other experts in the space as the world’s best software installation solution. Some awards include Best .NET Build Tool/Installer by .NET Developer’s Journal, Visual Studio Magazine's Readers Choice Award, Code Project Members Choice Award, and Java Pro Magazine's Readers Choice Award for Best Installation Tool.

Because First Impressions Matter

The software installation is the first impression customers will have of an application. InstallShield makes it easy to create professional Windows software installations that match a product’s branding and install reliably every time, giving that software a superior first impression.

Microsoft’s Recommended Installation Solution for Visual Studio 2010

If you develop applications with Visual Studio, InstallShield is your solution for building installations. It’s no surprise that Microsoft recommends their Visual Studio customers standardize on InstallShield. InstallShield has unparalleled support for Visual Studio 2010 and .NET Framework 4, as well as new integration with Microsoft Team Foundation Server.

Superior Windows 7 Support

InstallShield has all the tools developers need to build reliable installations for Windows 7, including support for MSI 5 and 64-bit applications. If you need to create Windows 7 Logo Certified installations, InstallShield makes it easy.

Support for the Latest Microsoft Technologies and Mobile Devices

As a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, we are better equipped to support the latest versions of IIS, SQL Server, Windows Server, and more. And if you target mobile devices such as PDAs and smartphones, InstallShield supports the latest versions of Windows Mobile and PalmOS.

Time-Saving Tools Make Developers Lives Much Easier

With InstallShield, what once took developers days to do now takes only a few minutes. With the extensive installation development options, developers can leverage time-saving capabilities such as the powerful IDE, automated wizards, and templates to help meet tight deadlines.

The Preferred Choice for Targeting Enterprise Customers

If you market your Windows applications to large enterprise customers, InstallShield is the tool for you. InstallShield supports the latest version of Windows Installer (MSI), the format preferred by many enterprises. InstallShield makes it easy to build installations for 64-bit applications, which more and more enterprises are running. Plus InstallShield makes it easy to edit MSIs, MSPs, and MSTs through an intuitive interface, and patches and updates are simple to create. And InstallShield is also the only MSI installation solution to support Microsoft App-V if you have enterprise clients moving their environments to application virtualization.

Multilingual Support for a Global Market

Software is a global business, and InstallShield’s language support makes it easy for developers to target customers around the world. First, the InstallShield IDE is localized into English and Japanese, so setup authors can interact with InstallShield in their native language. Second, InstallShield lets them build one installation that can present standard dialog text in up to 35 languages – no manual translation needed.

Editions and Licensing Options to Fit Your Needs

InstallShield is available in three editions: Premier, Professional, and Express in both English and Japanese. It also is available for purchase as either a node-locked or concurrent license.