Wise once set the standard for ease-of-use when building software setups, but lost their competitive edge after failing to develop true MSI Scripting capabilities following the release of Windows Installer. With InstallAware, users can get the same ease-of-use and two-way interface that Wise was once famous for, but with the unique capability to build an MSI file from an installation script.
InstallAware's advanced setup development language leaves Windows Installer sequence restrictions behind and gives you complete control over your Windows Installer. Using a unique combination of scripting and visual development, all actions made in the Visual Designer are instantly converted to MSIcode, and all changes made in the Code view are immediately shown in the Visual Designer. Although Wise for Windows Installer's "MSI Script" and visual interface may look similar, "MSI Script" is not really a script at all, but a simplified view of the Windows Installer database sequence tables used for inserting custom actions.
To counteract the Discontinuance of Wise for Windows Installer, InstallAware developed a solution to protect and preserve your investment in your WiseScript library. InstallAware now offers a built-in converter for all your WiseScript files - making your low-cost upgrade to InstallAware seamless and productive.
Download Your 14 Day Free Trial and discover how InstallAware makes setup development for the Microsoft Installer (.MSI) format easier and faster than Wise for Windows Installer. Even better, take advantage of our competitive upgrade discount and receive 33% off when you order InstallAware! All you need is a valid Wise product ID.
Enter This Discount Code: GOOGLEDISCOUNT
InstallAware |
Wise (MSI) |
Wise (non-MSI) |
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Current Version | X17 | 7
Enterprise |
9 Professional |
Design Features | InstallAware (MSI) |
Wise (MSI) |
Wise (non
MSI) |
macOS Builds with Apple Notarization | ![]() |
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Linux Builds with GTK2, Qt5 | ![]() |
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Torrent/Magnet Downloads, P2P Setup Hosting | ![]() |
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Ethereum Cryptocurrency Payments, Blockchain Records | ![]() |
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MSIX Next Generation Package Format | ![]() |
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ARM64 Platform (Qualcomm Snapdragon Cellular PC) Support | ![]() |
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APPX Universal Windows Platform (Desktop Bridge) | ![]() |
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100% Accurate, Visual, Windows Features Configuration | ![]() |
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100% Accurate, Visual, Server Roles Configuration | ![]() |
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InstallTailor MST Creator | ![]() |
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Open Source Desktop Bridge | ![]() |
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Advanced Service Configuration | ![]() |
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Configure Service Failure Actions | ![]() |
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Twitter and Facebook Integration | ![]() |
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Stand Alone IDE | ![]() |
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Visual Wizards | ![]() |
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Setup Capture | ![]() |
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Windows 8.0 Start Screen Force Unpin/Pin | ![]() |
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Windows 8.1 Start Screen Force Pin | ![]() |
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Windows 10/11 Start Menu Live Tiles Force Unpin/Pin | ![]() |
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Visual Studio Integration | ![]() |
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Windows 7/8.x/10/11 Taskbar Application Pinning | ![]() |
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ISO/IEC 19770-2:2009 SWID Tags | ![]() |
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Force Shortcut to Run as Administrator | ![]() |
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Automatic Windows Certification Compliancy | ![]() |
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Automatic Logo Compliancy | ![]() |
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Dynamic File Linking | ![]() |
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Dynamic Features | ![]() |
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Scripting | ![]() |
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Two-Way Integrated Editing (Visual/Code) | ![]() |
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One-Click Patching | ![]() |
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Debugger | ![]() |
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Service Support | ![]() |
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Database Support | ![]() |
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Compiler Directives | ![]() |
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Manual ICE Validation | ![]() |
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Automation Interface | ![]() |
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Web Applications | ![]() |
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Unlimited Web Updates | ![]() |
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Update Client Source Code | ![]() |
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Import MSI/MSM Windows Installer Database | ![]() |
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Inline Updates | ![]() |
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Direct Driverless Setup Capture | ![]() |
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Software Bundles and Automatic Web Updates | ![]() |
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Team Foundation Server (2018/17/15/13/12/10)/VSTS/Azure DevOps Services | ![]() |
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Automated Virtual Machine Testing | ![]() |
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Build Events | ![]() |
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Application Runtime Wizard | ![]() |
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Technology Support | InstallAware (MSI) |
Wise (MSI) |
Wise (non
MSI) |
64-bit Compression | ![]() |
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Parallel Build Engine | ![]() |
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1.5/2/3/4 GB Compression Dictionaries | ![]() |
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30% Faster Single Core Compression Acceleration | ![]() |
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Assign Build Affinities | ![]() |
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InstantInstall Acceleration | ![]() |
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Restart Manager | ![]() |
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Command Line Variable Locking | ![]() |
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Extra-Long File Paths | ![]() |
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Direct Deploy | ![]() |
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Hybrid 32 bit/64 bit Single File Installer | ![]() |
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System Tray Minimizable Wizards | ![]() |
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Virtual Machine Detection | ![]() |
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Native Code Setup Engine | ![]() |
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Hybrid Installation Technology | ![]() |
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App-V Package Builder | ![]() |
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App-V Package Viewer | ![]() |
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32 bit & 64 bit Hybrid App-V | ![]() |
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App-V MSI Deployment | ![]() |
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Try-And-Die DRM for Win32, Win64, .NET | ![]() |
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Windows 11 Support | ![]() |
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LZMA/BCJ2 Compression | ![]() |
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Multi-Core Compression | ![]() |
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Compression | LZMA/BCJ2 |
CAB |
ZIP |
256 bit AES Encryption | ![]() |
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Windows Installer | ![]() |
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Merge Modules | ![]() |
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Web Media Blocks (Partial Web Deployment/WebAware Installation) | ![]() |
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Interactive Flash Billboards | ![]() |
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Interactive HTML Billboards | ![]() |
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Maintenance/Repair Installation | ![]() |
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Scriptable Uninstallation | ![]() |
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Windows 10/8.x Support | ![]() |
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One-Click 64-bit Support | ![]() |
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DIFx 2.1 Support | ![]() |
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Genuine Scripting for Windows Installer (MSIcode Scripting) | ![]() |
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Hybrid 32 bit/64 bit Single File Installer | ![]() |
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System Tray Minimizable Wizards | ![]() |
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Virtual Machine Detection | ![]() |
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Extensibility | InstallAware (MSI) |
Wise (MSI) |
Wise (non
MSI) |
EXE | ![]() |
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Plug-Ins | ![]() |
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Call Any DLL Function | ![]() |
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Unified Scripting (Install/Maintain/Uninstall) | ![]() |
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International Support | InstallAware (MSI) |
Wise (MSI) |
Wise (non
MSI) |
Supported Languages | 35 | 5 | 5 |
Languages Included in Base Package | 35 | 5 | 5 |
Edit Languages | ![]() |
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Redistributable Translation Environment | ![]() |
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Runtime Dialogs | InstallAware (MSI) |
Wise (MSI) |
Wise (non
MSI) |
Pre-built Setup Themes | 18 | 4 | 1 |
Pre-built Runtime Dialogs | 313 | 9 | 9 |
Dialog Editor | ![]() |
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Create New Setup Themes | ![]() |
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Available Dialog Controls | 44 | 22 | 12 |
Automatic Variable Passing to/from Script | ![]() |
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Alpha Blending and Transparency | ![]() |
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Acrylic Material, Aero Glass | ![]() |
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Fade/Slide Wizard Transition FX | ![]() |
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Build and Distribution Media | InstallAware (MSI) |
Wise (MSI) |
Wise (non
MSI) |
CD-ROM Optical Media | ![]() |
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Self-Extracting EXE | ![]() |
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Light Mode Setups (no setup runtime) | ![]() |
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Differential Binary Patching | ![]() |
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Internet Deployment with Web Media Blocks (WebAware Installation) | ![]() |
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Custom Icons in Setup Executables | ![]() |
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Release Management (multiple builds) | ![]() |
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Command Line Build Tools | ![]() |
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Azure Trusted Signing | ![]() |
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Future-Proof Code Signing Hooks | ![]() |
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SHA 256 Authenticode Code Signing | ![]() |
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Redistributable Build Interface | ![]() |
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Web Based Automation Interface | ![]() |
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Target Platforms | InstallAware (MSI) |
Wise (MSI) |
Wise (non
MSI) |
XP/2003/Vista/2008/7/2008 R2/8/2012/8.1/2012 R2/10/2016/2019/2022/11/2025 | ![]() |
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.NET Framework | ![]() |
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Internet Information Services | ![]() |
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Microsoft SQL Server | ![]() |
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My SQL | ![]() |
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Oracle, Oracle Net | ![]() |
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Pre-install MSI runtime including x64 Edition | ![]() |
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Pre-install .NET Framework x64 Editions | ![]() |
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Pre-install of .NET Framework 1.1 with Service Pack 1 | ![]() |
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Pre-install of .NET Framework 2.0 with Service Pack 2 | ![]() |
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Pre-install of .NET Framework 3.0 with Service Pack 2 | ![]() |
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Pre-install of .NET Framework 3.5 with Service Pack 1 | ![]() |
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Pre-install of .NET Framework 4.0, 4.5.2, 4.6.2, 4.7.2, 4.8.1 | ![]() |
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Pre-install of .NET Framework 5.0.17, 6.0.36, 7.0.20, 8.0.11, 9.0.0 | ![]() |
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Pre-install Internet Explorer 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 | ![]() |
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Pre-install Java Virtual Machine | ![]() |
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Pre-install Microsoft SQL Server Express 2022 | ![]() |
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Pricing | InstallAware (MSI) |
Wise (MSI) |
Wise (non
MSI) |
Discounted price (US Dollars) | Discontinued |
Discontinued |
Using InstallAware’s MSIcode, we have drastically reduced the need for creating custom plug-ins. Our InstallAware setup dynamically defines the features and files to be installed. Instead of building, maintaining, and shipping separate installers for all the languages, IDEs, and product editions that we offer, we are now able to build and deliver a single install image. This has dramatically reduced our integration workload along with reducing our costs. Allen Bauer, Chief Scientist at CodeGear
I know absolutely nothing about creating Windows Installer installations but with InstallAware I don't need to. It's so easy to get quickly up and running with InstallAware. David Clegg, eBetOnline
InstallAware is a one-of-a-kind product. I searched high and low for a solution to provide the ability to download and install runtimes from the Internet only if they are needed. InstallAware was the only program I could find that offered this for all the runtimes needed. Chris Hoffman, Mystik Media
InstallAware is the best MSI based installer available at this time. As software developers we really like the ability to drop down to the InstallAware scripting level which is still quite easy to use yet flexible enough for our complex tasks. Most MSI based installers that we looked at were difficult to use because of a lack of ability to drop down to a scripting style model and were expensive to boot. Jim Gunkel, Nevrona Systems