Best Bootable USB Software in 2026
Updated
In short: balenaEtcher is ranked #1 of 39 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of Buddi and UNetbootin. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Buddi. The lowest first paid tier on this page is balenaEtcher at $143.33/mo.
Making a bootable USB drive starts with matching a tool to the image and computer setup you have in mind. Compared on Windows, macOS, and Linux apps, image downloads, and partition schemes, the entries offer several practical points to check before preparing a drive. Multiboot support and persistent storage matter if you want multiple boot choices or saved data. Free plan availability and paid-from pricing help with cost comparisons. balenaEtcher, Buddi, and UNetbootin are among the options shown. Check the platform support and drive features against your intended use, including which image and partition arrangements you need.
39 bootable USB software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
39ranked
14free plans on this page
$143.33/molowest paid tier
4 Oct 2026last checked
Input list Bootable USB Software 25 channels on this page · 141 of 200 spec lines stated by the makers
Ch Tool Free planPaid fromWindows appmacOS appLinux appMultiboot supportPersistent storageImage downloads Spec sheet Score
01 balenaEtcher Free planYesPaid fromnot statedWindows appYesmacOS appYesLinux appYesMultiboot supportnot statedPersistent storageNoImage downloadsnot stated 5/8spec lines stated 7.5
02 Buddi Free planYesPaid fromnot statedWindows appNomacOS appNoLinux appYesMultiboot supportNoPersistent storageNoImage downloadslocal only 7/8spec lines stated 7.2
03 UNetbootin Free planYesPaid fromnot statedWindows appYesmacOS appYesLinux appYesMultiboot supportnot statedPersistent storageYesImage downloadsboth 6/8spec lines stated 7.1
04 YUMI Free planYesPaid fromnot statedWindows appYesmacOS appNoLinux appYesMultiboot supportYesPersistent storageYesImage downloadsboth 7/8spec lines stated 7.1
05 Easy2Boot Free planYesPaid fromnot statedWindows appYesmacOS appnot statedLinux appYesMultiboot supportYesPersistent storageYesImage downloadslocal only 6/8spec lines stated 6.9
06 TFLint Free planYesPaid fromnot statedWindows appnot statedmacOS appnot statedLinux appnot statedMultiboot supportnot statedPersistent storagenot statedImage downloadsnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 6.9
07 Universal USB Installer Free planYesPaid fromnot statedWindows appYesmacOS appNoLinux appYesMultiboot supportYesPersistent storageYesImage downloadsboth 7/8spec lines stated 6.9
08 Ventoy Free planYesPaid fromnot statedWindows appYesmacOS appNoLinux appYesMultiboot supportYesPersistent storageYesImage downloadslocal only 7/8spec lines stated 6.9
09 WinSetupFromUSB Free planYesPaid fromnot statedWindows appYesmacOS appNoLinux appNoMultiboot supportYesPersistent storageYesImage downloadslocal only 7/8spec lines stated 6.8
10 Boot-Repair Free planYesPaid fromnot statedWindows appNomacOS appnot statedLinux appYesMultiboot supportnot statedPersistent storageYesImage downloadslocal only 5/8spec lines stated 6.7
11 RMPrepUSB Free planYesPaid fromnot statedWindows appYesmacOS appNoLinux appNoMultiboot supportYesPersistent storageYesImage downloadslocal only 7/8spec lines stated 6.7
12 Rufus Free planYesPaid fromnot statedWindows appYesmacOS appNoLinux appNoMultiboot supportNoPersistent storageYesImage downloadsboth 7/8spec lines stated 6.7
13 Ultimate Boot CD Free planYesPaid fromnot statedWindows appnot statedmacOS appnot statedLinux appnot statedMultiboot supportnot statedPersistent storagenot statedImage downloadsnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 6.7
14 Unraid USB Creator Free planYesPaid fromnot statedWindows appYesmacOS appYesLinux appYesMultiboot supportnot statedPersistent storagenot statedImage downloadsboth 5/8spec lines stated 6.3
15 Fedora Media Writer Free planYesPaid fromnot statedWindows appYesmacOS appYesLinux appYesMultiboot supportnot statedPersistent storagenot statedImage downloadscatalog only 5/8spec lines stated 6.2
16 USBImager Free planYesPaid fromnot statedWindows appYesmacOS appYesLinux appYesMultiboot supportnot statedPersistent storagenot statedImage downloadslocal only 5/8spec lines stated 6.2
17 LibreELEC USB-SD Creator Free planYesPaid fromnot statedWindows appYesmacOS appYesLinux appNoMultiboot supportnot statedPersistent storageYesImage downloadsboth 6/8spec lines stated 6.1
18 MediCat USB Free planYesPaid fromnot statedWindows appYesmacOS appnot statedLinux appYesMultiboot supportYesPersistent storageYesImage downloadsnot stated 5/8spec lines stated 6.1
19 SARDU MultiBoot Creator Free planYesPaid fromnot statedWindows appYesmacOS appNoLinux appYesMultiboot supportYesPersistent storagenot statedImage downloadsboth 6/8spec lines stated 6.1
20 WindoWriter Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedWindows appYesmacOS appYesLinux appYesMultiboot supportnot statedPersistent storagenot statedImage downloadslocal only 4/8spec lines stated 6.1
21 Boot-Repair-Disk Free planYesPaid fromnot statedWindows appNomacOS appNoLinux appYesMultiboot supportNoPersistent storageNoImage downloadslocal only 7/8spec lines stated 6.0
22 Deepin Boot Maker Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedWindows appYesmacOS appYesLinux appYesMultiboot supportnot statedPersistent storagenot statedImage downloadslocal only 4/8spec lines stated 6.0
23 TINU Free planYesPaid fromnot statedWindows appNomacOS appYesLinux appNoMultiboot supportNoPersistent storageNoImage downloadsboth 7/8spec lines stated 6.0
24 WinToUSB Free planYesPaid from29.95 one-timeWindows appYesmacOS appNoLinux appNoMultiboot supportYesPersistent storageYesImage downloadsboth 8/8spec lines stated 6.0
25 WonderISO Free planNoPaid from39.95 one-timeWindows appYesmacOS appYesLinux appNoMultiboot supportnot statedPersistent storagenot statedImage downloadsboth 6/8spec lines stated 6.0
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | Tool | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Windows app | macOS app |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | balenaEtcher | 7.5 | Free plan | $143.33/mo | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 2 | Buddi | 7.2 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | No | No |
| 3 | UNetbootin | 7.1 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 4 | YUMI | 7.1 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | No |
| 5 | Easy2Boot | 6.9 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | — |
| 6 | TFLint | 6.9 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 7 | Universal USB Installer | 6.9 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | No |
| 8 | Ventoy | 6.9 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | No |
| 9 | WinSetupFromUSB | 6.8 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | No |
| 10 | Boot-Repair | 6.7 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | No | — |
| 11 | RMPrepUSB | 6.7 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | No |
| 12 | Rufus | 6.7 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | No |
| 13 | Ultimate Boot CD | 6.7 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 14 | Unraid USB Creator | 6.3 | No | — | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 15 | Fedora Media Writer | 6.2 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 16 | USBImager | 6.2 | No | — | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 17 | LibreELEC USB-SD Creator | 6.1 | No | — | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 18 | MediCat USB | 6.1 | No | — | Yes | — | Yes | — |
| 19 | SARDU MultiBoot Creator | 6.1 | No | — | Yes | — | Yes | No |
| 20 | WindoWriter | 6.1 | No | — | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| 21 | Boot-Repair-Disk | 6.0 | No | — | Yes | — | No | No |
| 22 | Deepin Boot Maker | 6.0 | No | — | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| 23 | TINU | 6.0 | No | — | Yes | — | No | Yes |
| 24 | WinToUSB | 6.0 | No | — | Yes | 29.95 one-time | Yes | No |
| 25 | WonderISO | 6.0 | No | — | No | 39.95 one-time | Yes | Yes |
Is your tool on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored, and a sponsored row is labelled as paid.
Questions about this list
Which bootable USB software is ranked first on Specifiction?
balenaEtcher is ranked #1 of 39 with a score of 7.5. Buddi is second and UNetbootin third.
How many of these have a free plan?
14 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 on what each maker publishes, the fullest spec sheet first: how deeply the product is documented, the platforms it runs on, a free tier or trial to test it, and its standing.
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