electron-packager vs InstallBuilder
electron-packager
github.comInstallBuilder
installbuilder.comSide by side
| Figure | electron-packager | InstallBuilder |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | — |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 10 |
| Spec score · Software Packaging Tools | 7.9 (#8) | 7.9 (#10) |
| Purpose | Electron Packager bundles Electron app source code with a renamed Electron executable and supporting files into folders ready for distribution. | InstallBuilder provides tools and services for packaging, deploying and updating software. |
| Security | GitHub reports that the project has not set up a SECURITY.md security policy. | InstallBuilder can sign Windows and OS X installers using PKCS#12 or PFX signing certificates and supports encrypted installer payloads requiring a password. |
| Support | The project directs usage questions to its FAQ and troubleshooting questions to its contributing documentation. | Every license includes email support and access to new releases for one year; typical response times are 24 hours for standard support and 48 hours for basic support on weekdays. |
Plans
InstallBuilder
- InstallBuilder for Linux$995, paid once
- InstallBuilder for Mac OS X$995, paid once
- InstallBuilder for Qt for Linux$995, paid once
- InstallBuilder for Qt for Windows$995, paid once
- InstallBuilder for Windows$995, paid once
- InstallBuilder for Qt Professional$1,995, paid once
- InstallBuilder Professional$1,995, paid once
- InstallBuilder Enterprise$2,995, paid once
- InstallBuilder Professional Site$6,995, paid once
- InstallBuilder Enterprise Site$9,995, paid once
In their own words
electron-packager
electron-packager bundles Electron app source code with a renamed Electron executable and supporting files into folders ready for distribution. It works as a command-line tool or a Node.js library called through JavaScript. Packager can find or download a matching Electron release and build for a selected platform and architecture, all valid combinations, or the host combination. Output targets include Windows, macOS—including Mac App Store targets—and Linux; these are also the listed host platforms. Documented target architectures include x86, x86_64, arm64, universal macOS, Linux armv7l, and Linux mips64el, though some depend on Electron versions. CLI options include a regular-expression ignore filter for files and folders. Electron Forge uses Packager internally, and installer tools can use its output folders to create distributables. The free, open-source Node.js tool requires Node.js 22.12.0 or higher, and local installation is recommended. Signing a macOS or Mac App Store bundle requires building on a macOS host. The project also notes that even a minimal zipped app is approximately the size of the matching zipped Electron binary.
InstallBuilder
InstallBuilder provides tools for packaging, deploying, and updating software. From one project file and build environment, it creates native cross-platform installers, RPM and Debian packages, and CD or DVD media. Output options also include self-contained executables, DMG, and ZIP. Installers can present a graphical interface, run in text mode, or install silently. Teams can use an XML project format with source control integration and external scripts, and automate builds through the command-line interface. Installers are single-file executables with built-in LZMA compression and no external dependencies; optional downloadable components are fetched only when selected during installation. The product supports automatic updates, Windows and OS X installer signing with PKCS#12 or PFX certificates, and password-protected encrypted payloads. Platform-specific licenses, Professional and Enterprise editions, and site licenses are listed. Prices start at $995, paid once, with one year of support and updates included. A fully functional evaluation copy is available through the download form.