Tech riderRev. 30 Sept 2026
- 1Runs onLinux, Mac, Windows
- 2CostsFree plan
- 3Operating systemsmultiplatform
- 4UEFI supportYes
- 5BIOS supportYes
- 6Multiboot supportYes
- 7Boot-entry editingYes
- 8Boot repairYes
8 lines stated Written from the maker's own pages: rodsbooks.com
Overview
rEFInd is ranked #5 of 26 in boot manager software on Specifiction. It runs on Linux, macOS, Windows. There is a free plan.
rEFInd plans and pricing
All plansrEFInd Free Free; GPL version 3 EFI-based computers only · binaries for x86, x86-64, and ARM64 rodsbooks.com · 30 Sept 2026
Compared on boot manager software
- Free plan
- Yesrodsbooks.com
- Operating systems
- multiplatformrodsbooks.com
- UEFI support
- Yesrodsbooks.com
- BIOS support
- Yesrodsbooks.com
- Multiboot support
- Yesrodsbooks.com
- Boot-entry editing
- Yesrodsbooks.com
- Boot repair
- Yesrodsbooks.com
- Boot-menu customization
- Yesrodsbooks.com
Facts
- Purpose
- rEFInd is a boot manager forked from rEFIt that scans for boot loaders and helps users choose an operating system or utility at startup.rodsbooks.com · 30 Sept 2026
- EFI requirement
- rEFInd is useful only on EFI-based computers, not older BIOS-based computers.rodsbooks.com · 30 Sept 2026
- Supported firmware
- It works with EFI 1.1 and UEFI 2.x.rodsbooks.com · 30 Sept 2026
- Architectures
- Binaries are available for x86, x86-64, and ARM64; the author says x86-64 is best tested and ARM64 is least tested.rodsbooks.com · 30 Sept 2026
- Boot detection
- It scans for EFI loaders, BIOS/CSM/legacy loaders, and EFI boot options stored in firmware NVRAM.rodsbooks.com · 30 Sept 2026
- Linux support
- It can detect Linux kernels with EFI stub support, find initrd files, and read kernel options from a refind_linux.conf file.rodsbooks.com · 30 Sept 2026
- Graphics
- It supports text and graphical operation, configurable screen resolution, and user-configurable backgrounds, icons, and fonts.rodsbooks.com · 30 Sept 2026
- Secure Boot
- rEFInd can communicate with Shim to authenticate boot loaders using valid UEFI Secure Boot keys, Shim keys, or Machine Owner Keys.rodsbooks.com · 30 Sept 2026
- Filesystem drivers
- The package includes EFI filesystem drivers for ext2/3, ext4, Btrfs, ReiserFS, HFS+, and ISO-9660; its NTFS driver is not compiled by default because it has been troublesome.rodsbooks.com · 30 Sept 2026
- Downloads
- The maker lists binary ZIP, RPM, Debian, CD-R image, and USB flash drive image packages, among other forms.rodsbooks.com · 30 Sept 2026
- Installation
- The refind-install script automates installation under Linux and OS X, and manual installation procedures for Linux, macOS, and Windows are also available.rodsbooks.com · 30 Sept 2026
- Limitations
- The maker describes rEFInd as beta-quality software and says its binaries are not equally tested across supported architectures.rodsbooks.com · 30 Sept 2026
- Support
- The maker invites users with problems or comments to email [email protected].rodsbooks.com · 30 Sept 2026
Best rEFInd alternatives
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Where it ranks on Specifiction
Is rEFInd yours?
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Sources
- rodsbooks.com/refind/features.html· checked 30 Sept 2026
- rodsbooks.com/refind/bootmode.html· checked 30 Sept 2026
- rodsbooks.com/refind/secureboot.html· checked 30 Sept 2026
- rodsbooks.com/refind/getting.html· checked 30 Sept 2026
- rodsbooks.com/refind/· checked 30 Sept 2026