In general, ClickOnce deployment greatly simplifies the process of installing and updating an application, but you do not get the power of Windows Installer deployment, which provides you with greater flexibility.

ClickOnce deployed applications are self-updating and are the best choice for applications that require frequent changes. Although ClickOnce applications can be initially installed by means of a CD-ROM, users must have network connectivity to take advantage of the update capabilities.

Finally, there may be security considerations that could affect your choice of strategy. In some cases, ClickOnce deployment may require the user to make a security decision that might not be appropriate for less sophisticated users. For more information, see Securing ClickOnce Applications.

With Windows Installer, you add a Setup project to your solution to create a setup file that is distributed to users; the user runs the setup file and steps through a wizard to install the application. With ClickOnce, you use the Publish Wizard to package your application and publish it to a Web site or network file share; the user installs and launches the application directly from that location in a single step.

With Windows Installer, you create an installer package that is distributed to users; the user runs the setup file and steps through a wizard to install the application. With ClickOnce, you create application and deployment manifests and publish them along with the application files to a Web site or network file share; the user installs and launches the application directly from that location in a single step.

For a summary table comparing the ClickOnce and Windows Installer technologies, see the ClickOnce and Windows Installer Comparison Table in ClickOnce Deployment Overview.

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