Rufus formats USB drives and creates bootable USB sticks from ISO images, with BIOS/UEFI options and MS-DOS/FreeDOS support. Users appreciate its straightforward approach, though some seek alternatives that handle multiple ISOs or offer cross-platform compatibility.
Ventoy leads as the top-ranked alternative, allowing users to boot multiple ISO files from one USB without repeatedly reformatting - just copy new ISOs onto the drive. balenaEtcher appeals to users wanting a simple interface with verification steps, though some report struggles with Windows ISO boot disks. UNetbootin ranks highly as an open-source option with Windows, Mac, and Linux versions.
For specialized workflows, Popsicle can write one ISO image to multiple USB devices simultaneously with a simple click-driven workflow. These Rufus alternatives range from multiboot managers to straightforward image flashers, giving users flexibility in their bootable media creation approach.
Open source options dominate the bootable USB space, with YUMI exFAT, WinDiskWriter, and WoeUSB all offering transparent, community-built tools. Linux users have native support through YUMI exFAT and WinDiskWriter, while WoeUSB focuses specifically on creating Windows installer USBs from Linux systems.
For portable workflows, YUMI exFAT, WinDiskWriter, and dd can run from USB without installation - perfect for technicians who need tools on the go. Users seeking ad-free experiences will find clean interfaces in YUMI exFAT, WoeUSB, and dd without promotional distractions. The command-line tool dd provides the most minimal approach for advanced users who prefer direct ISO writing without graphical interfaces.
It's an all-in-one ISO Burner tool that lets you burn ,extract, crate and edit ISO image file straightforwardly! It also was called as a best Windows bootable USB tool since it could escape the complexity of selecting multiple options and settings.
Mac Linux USB Loader is an application that allows you to create bootable USB drives containing a Linux distribution that can boot natively on Apple's Macintosh computers using their EFI system, regardless of whether or not the selected distribution has UEFI support.
Most users think Mac Linux USB Loader is a great Rufus alternative.
USB Image Tool can create images of USB flash drives and MP3 players, that are mounted as USB drives. It allows you switch between images with different music styles on your MP3 Player or to make an exact backup image of your USB Stick.
Utility QemuBootTester, at the base QEMU, from Ameda Buddha, with support for x86 / x64 UEFI mode. All possibilities, in general, are visible on the screen.
This utility creates a bootable FAT filesystem and populates it with files and boot tools. It is mainly designed to create bootable USB and Fixed disk for the AdvanceCD project.
An application to write .raw .iso or .img files to USB disks. Easy to use. No install is needed. Raspberry Pi sd cards or Hackintosh USBs can be made with this.
Automatically make a live bootable usb with ease with AutoBootDisk, a open-source program
Install Disk Creator simplifies creating a bootable OS X installer.
Uses Windows Server setup to automate Windows 11 (24H2) installation on unsupported hardware, bypassing TPM, Secure Boot, and CPU checks, with built-in POPCNT compatibility checker, ISO automation, and support for older PCs to minimize hardware waste.
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This only makes USB drives bootable on mac.