Best Bootable USB Software in 2026
Updated
In short: balenaEtcher is ranked #1 of 39 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of Buddi and Easy2Boot. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Buddi. The lowest first paid tier on this page is balenaEtcher at $143.33/mo.
Preparing a bootable USB drive means comparing both the software platform and the options for configuring the drive. Check for a Windows, macOS, or Linux app, then consider image downloads and partition schemes for your intended setup. Multiboot support and persistent storage are useful criteria when you want to compare how tools handle boot choices and saved data. Free-plan availability and the paid-from price help with cost comparisons. balenaEtcher, Buddi, and Easy2Boot are among the software entries to consider. Use the listed platform and drive features to judge which options align with the images, computer, and USB configuration you plan to use.
39 bootable USB software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
Recognised 40% · Phone app 26% · Documented 20% · Free plan 14% of the score
- 1 balenaEtcher No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.4$143.33/mo Windows app: YesmacOS app: YesLinux app: Yes
- 2 Buddi No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.3Free Windows app: NomacOS app: NoLinux app: Yes
- 3 Easy2Boot No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.3Free Windows app: YesLinux app: Yes
- 4 RMPrepUSB No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.3Free Windows app: YesmacOS app: NoLinux app: No
- 5 Rufus No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.3Free Windows app: YesmacOS app: NoLinux app: No
- 6 UNetbootin No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.3Free Windows app: YesmacOS app: YesLinux app: Yes
- 7 Universal USB Installer No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.3Free Windows app: YesmacOS app: NoLinux app: Yes
- 8 Ventoy No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.3Free Windows app: YesmacOS app: NoLinux app: Yes
- 9 WinSetupFromUSB No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.3Free Windows app: YesmacOS app: NoLinux app: No
- 10 YUMI No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.3Free Windows app: YesmacOS app: NoLinux app: Yes
- 11 Boot-Repair No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.2Free Windows app: NoLinux app: Yes
- 12 TFLint No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.1Free
- 13 Ultimate Boot CD No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.1Free
- 14 Boot-Repair-Disk No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.4 Windows app: NomacOS app: NoLinux app: Yes
- 15 FlashBoot No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.4 Windows app: YesmacOS app: NoLinux app: No
- 16 LibreELEC USB-SD Creator No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.4 Windows app: YesmacOS app: YesLinux app: No
- 17 MediCat USB No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.4 Windows app: YesLinux app: Yes
- 18 Raspberry Pi Imager No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.4 Windows app: YesmacOS app: YesLinux app: Yes
- 19 SARDU MultiBoot Creator No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.4 Windows app: YesmacOS app: NoLinux app: Yes
- 20 TINU No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.4 Windows app: NomacOS app: YesLinux app: No
- 21 Unraid USB Creator No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.4 Windows app: YesmacOS app: YesLinux app: Yes
- 22 WinToUSB No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.4 Windows app: YesmacOS app: NoLinux app: No
- 23 Fedora Media Writer No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.3 Windows app: YesmacOS app: YesLinux app: Yes
- 24 macUSB No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.3 Windows app: NomacOS app: YesLinux app: No
- 25 Popsicle No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.3 Windows app: NomacOS app: NoLinux app: Yes
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which bootable USB software is ranked first on Samsung Mobile US Press?
balenaEtcher is ranked #1 of 39 with a score of 6.4. Buddi is second and Easy2Boot third.
How many of these have a free plan?
13 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, balenaEtcher has the lowest first paid tier we found: $143.33/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked mobile-first: a phone app alongside the web or desktop product, a free tier and the depth of its documentation. Paid placements never change a rank.