This chart compares InstallAware with other commercial installation authoring environments. To compare InstallAware editions among themselves, please click here.
| InstallAware | InstallShield | Wise (MSI) | Wise (non-MSI) | |
| Current Version | 2005 Studio SE | 10.5 Premier | 6 Enterprise | 9 Professional |
| Design Features | InstallAware | InstallShield | Wise (MSI) | Wise (non MSI) |
| Stand Alone IDE | + | + | + | + |
| Visual Wizards | + | + | + | + |
| Setup Capture | + | - | - | + |
| Automatic Logo Compliancy | + | + | + | - |
| Dynamic File Linking | + | + | + | + |
| Dynamic Features | + | - | - | - |
| Scripting | + | + | + | + |
| Two-Way Integrated Editing (Visual/Code) | + | - | - | + |
| One-Click Patching | + | - | - | - |
| Debugger | + | + | + | + |
| Service Support | + | + | + | + |
| Database Support | + | + | + | + |
| Compiler Directives | + | + | - | + |
| Manual ICE Validation | + | + | + | - |
| Automation Interface | + | + | + | - |
| Web Applications | + | + | + | - |
| Technology Support | InstallAware | InstallShield | Wise (MSI) | Wise (non MSI) |
| Compression | LZMA/BCJ2 | CAB | CAB | ZIP |
| 256 bit AES Encryption | + | - | - | - |
| Windows Installer | + | + | + | - |
| Merge Modules | + | + | + | - |
| Web Media Blocks | + | - | - | - |
| Interactive Flash Billboards | + | - | - | - |
| Interactive HTML Billboards | + | - | - | - |
| Maintenance/Repair Installation | + | + | + | - |
| Scriptable Uninstallation | + | + | - | - |
| Genuine Scripting for Windows Installer | + | - | - | - |
| Extensibility | InstallAware | InstallShield | Wise (MSI) | Wise (non MSI) |
| EXE | + | + | + | + |
| Plug-Ins | + | - | - | - |
| Call Any DLL Function | + | + | + | + |
| Unified Scripting (Install/Maintain/Uninstall) | + | - | - | - |
| International Support | InstallAware | InstallShield | Wise (MSI) | Wise (non MSI) |
| Supported Languages | 34 | 33 | 5 | 5 |
| Languages Included in Base Package | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Edit Languages | + | + | + | + |
| Runtime Dialogs | InstallAware | InstallShield | Wise (MSI) | Wise (non MSI) |
| Pre-built Setup Themes | 12 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
| Pre-built Runtime Dialogs | 215 | 66 | 9 | 9 |
| Dialog Editor | + | + | + | + |
| Create New Setup Themes | + | - | + | - |
| Available Dialog Controls | 32 | 23 | 22 | 12 |
| Automatic Variable Passing to/from Script | + | - | + | + |
| Alpha Blending and Transparency | + | - | - | - |
| Build and Distribution Media | InstallAware | InstallShield | Wise (MSI) | Wise (non MSI) |
| CD-ROM | + | + | + | + |
| Self-Extracting EXE | + | + | + | + |
| Light Mode Setups (no setup runtime) | + | - | - | - |
| Differential Binary Patching | + | + | + | + |
| Internet Deployment with Web Media Blocks | + | - | - | - |
| Custom Icons in Setup Executables | + | - | - | + |
| Release Management (multiple builds) | + | + | + | - |
| Command Line Build Tools | + | + | + | + |
| Authenticode Code Signing | + | + | + | + |
| Redistributable Build Interface | + | + | - | - |
| Web Based Automation Interface | + | + | + | - |
| Target Platforms | InstallAware | InstallShield | Wise (MSI) | Wise (non MSI) |
| Windows 95/98/Me/NT4/2000/XP/2003 | + | + | + | + |
| .NET Framework | + | + | + | - |
| Internet Information Services | + | + | + | - |
| Microsoft SQL Server | + | + | + | - |
| My SQL | + | + | - | - |
| Oracle, Oracle Net | +/+ | -/- | -/- | -/- |
| Pre-install MSI runtime | + | + | + | - |
| Pre-install .NET Framework | + | + | + | - |
| Pre-install Internet Explorer | + | + | - | - |
| Pre-install Java Virtual Machine | + | + | - | - |
| Pricing | InstallAware | InstallShield | Wise (MSI) | Wise (non MSI) |
| List price base product (US Dollars) | $899 | $2499 | $1999 | $999 |
Errors and omissions excepted. Be sure to check manufacturer websites for most up-to-date information.