Easy2Boot vs EasyBCD

Easy2Boot creates a multiboot USB drive for starting operating system installers, live systems and utilities. It runs on Linux and Windows, and the download includes three menu systems based on grub4dos, grubfm and Ventoy. Users add payloads by copying ISO, IMG and VHD files to the USB drive; listed payloads include Windows and Linux images, DOS programs and floppy images. For supported UEFI payloads, .imgPTN partition images can be used for Secure Boot. Easy2Boot can automate Windows installations with drivers, software, configuration, scripts and updates. Linux setup calls for an MBR partition layout and requires partition 4 to remain unused. The download guidance recommends a USB drive between 8GB and 2TB; larger drives may use 4K sectors or lack legacy boot support. Direct Secure UEFI32 booting to the agFM menu is not supported. The menu system uses open-source components and plain-text scripts, but the download also includes closed-source Windows utilities. Easy2Boot is free to use, but not for resale. Support options include a forum, live developer help, eBooks and online chat.

EasyBCD is a Windows bootloader editor for setting up multiboot systems and changing boot menus. It can configure systems involving Windows, Linux, macOS, and BSD, and boot from USB drives, ISO images, and virtual disks. Users can add, rename, remove, configure, and reorder boot entries, including entries for recovery utilities or safe mode. The tool can back up and repair a bootloader, and its NeoGrub scripting can hide partitions, change active flags, and support complex boot setups. EasyBCD supports BIOS and UEFI. Personal, non-commercial use is free; the Commercial plan costs $39.99 as a one-time purchase. NeoSmart advises care when modifying boot settings and says EasyBCD cannot fix a PC that will not boot, directing users to EasyRE for that situation. The latest release listed in the changelog is version 2.4.0.237, dated November 28, 2018.