MSI vs. EXE installers: Which is better? A quick guideline is that .EXE files are highly customizable and great for single installations, while .MSI files are heavily standardized, making them great for office environments and deployments.
But just like everything else in IT, the better option for your scenario really depends on the situation at hand. Let’s talk about what .EXE and .MSI files are — and how to choose the right installer for your use case.
What is a .EXE file?
EXE files are Windows executable files that can run programs, install software, and act as self-extracting archive files. EXE is also the standard file extension for Microsoft Windows programs. In fact, whenever you launch Windows applications from your desktop, taskbar, or start menu, you're just launching a shortcut to the executable file.
To see this for yourself, right-click on a shortcut on your desktop and click Properties.
When the Properties window opens, click on the Shortcut tab. Here you'll see a Target field that tells you what file is actually launched when you double-click the desktop shortcut.
If you click the Open File Location button at the bottom of the Shortcut window, it takes you directly to the executable file in File Explorer.
Now, if we double-click on chrome.exe, the browser launches just as if we had launched it from the desktop. It's important to understand that not all .EXE files serve the same function. You might install an application with a .EXE file and then launch the application with a different .EXE file.
EXE files are probably one of the most recognizable file types in computing. Users generally know that when they double-click a .EXE file, stuff's about to go down. Maybe something cool — like launching a little obscure game called The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Or maybe something not so cool — like installing ransomware on your work PC because you opened a file called Mariah Carey - All I Want for Christmas Is You-mp3.exe. Either way, you're in for a treat.
EXE files are also highly customizable. Developers can build out intricate installation GUIs or leave things minimalistic. Dependencies can be built in. This flexibility helps developers build out exactly what they need and control almost every aspect of the installation process. However, when you have a high degree of customizability, you tend to lose out on standardization, which we'll cover more in a moment.
If you are interested in seeing the contents of a .EXE installation package, common archiving tools, such as 7-Zip, allow you to do so. If the contents don't extract properly, you can try something more purpose-built, such as Universal Extractor 2. Here are the contents of the Dropbox.exe installation package.
As you can see, this package includes both .EXE and .MSI files, as well as several .DLL files. These are pretty common files to find in an installer package. Other common files include images, icons, .INI files, .XML files, sound files, registry data, languages packs, fonts, and more.
What is a .MSI file?
Microsoft Software Installer (.MSI) files are installation files and nothing more. Installing, updating, and uninstalling is all these files are designed to do.
The .MSI extension is in reference to the Microsoft Installer service, which was renamed the Windows Installer Service because renaming stuff is what Microsoft does to keep things fresh and people on their toes. The Windows Installer is a component of Windows that handles the installation, maintenance, and removal of software.
MSI files are Windows Installer database files and interact exclusively with the Windows Installer, unlike the more robust .EXE files. EXE files can use custom installation scripting or can be used as a wrapper to contain .MSI files, which then use the Windows Installer.
Clear as mud? Welcome to the Microsoft ecosystem, my system administrator friend.
You can view the contents of .MSI files using many of the same utilities that you use to extract or view the contents of .EXE files. Here are some of the files extracted from the Zoom.msi installer.
As you can see, we have many common files here, including .EXE and .DLL files. You'll also find many of the same files found in .EXE install packages. However, you won't find any .MSI files contained within a .MSI file because only one instance of Windows Installer can be running at any given time. If you've ever tried to install a .MSI while another .MSI is already installing, then you've probably seen this error message.
MSI vs. EXE: Which one is better?
MSI files are better suited than .EXE files for certain situations — and the opposite is also true. Here are some characteristics of both .EXE and .MSI files to help you decide which one best matches you needs.
MSI files
Always installer packages
Standardized and must meet certain requirements
Universally known and available switches
Verbose logging options
Defined uninstall parameters
Simplified network deployments with always-available silent switches
EXE files
Can be more than just installer packages
Highly customizable, offering flexibility to developers
EXE installers can contain other .EXE and .MSI files
Can contain and install dependencies
Can be compiled in many different ways using various scripting languages
Don't require the Windows Installer
So ... which one is better? Well, the boring answer is that it depends. Both .EXE and .MSI files have their place and use cases. And that's a good thing. Having options is almost always better than being limited to a single choice.
When to choose a .MSI file or a .EXE file
If an application developer provides both a .EXE and .MSI installer for its software, which should you use? While it often won't matter which you choose, there are certain situations where you would want to choose one over the other.
Occasionally, developers nudge users towards a particular version. This suggestion is great for inexperienced users, as we all know that the best choice is no choice for typical end users.
The customizable choice: .EXE
If the developer doesn't offer a recommendation, then home users may find it better to use a .EXE installer, which may include dependencies that .MSI installers might not include. EXE files are also likely to include more customization options during the installation process.
The standardized choice: .MSI
If you need to deploy applications to several computers remotely, then .MSI files will be your new best friends. While there are many reasons why IT professionals may prefer .MSI files over .EXE files, including logging and uninstall strings, the main reason is because of the silent switch.
Silent installations are great for a couple of reasons. First, a silent installation means that you won't need to physically or remotely work through the installation prompts to get the application installed, which is almost always necessary if you're deploying to multiple computers. Second, if you're deploying an application during business hours, imagine the chaos that would ensue if several of your users suddenly received random installation prompts on their computers. Many of them would probably think a virus is installing. And I don’t know about you, but I’d rather avoid the influx of phone calls and tickets that would produce.
Now, before I get yelled at, yes, you can silently deploy many, if not most, .EXE files. However, as we've said, many aspects of .MSI files are standardized, including their switches, meaning you don't have to figure out what the silent switch is for .MSI files because it's the same for all .MSI files. In fact, you can view all the Windows Installer switches by typing the following command into your Windows search bar or the Command Prompt.
msiexec /?
This image shows some of the options and switches available when using Windows Installer (msiexec.exe). The primary silent switch is /qn, which means no UI. The /quiet switch often provides the same functionality, though technically, it just means it doesn't require user interaction, so some UI elements may still show.
Deploying .EXE files silently can be a much more frustrating experience. While there are some common silent switches used by .EXE files, it's really up to the developer to decide what to use. Worst of all, they might not even include a silent switch, making deployments much more difficult.
It bears repeating: When it comes down to it, the primary difference you'll want to remember is that .EXE files are highly customizable and great for single installations, and .MSI files are heavily standardized, making them great for office environments and deployments.
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