Fedora Media Writer vs macUSB
Fedora Media Writer
fedoraproject.orgmacUSB
github.comSide by side
| Figure | Fedora Media Writer | macUSB |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · Bootable USB Software | 8.0 (#7) | 7.7 (#15) |
| Image verification | The Fedora QA test describes checking that the image was written correctly, including by comparing the USB device with the downloaded ISO or booting and running the media check. | It calculates SHA-256 checksums for supported disk images and verifies raw image writes against their source. |
| License | The project repository identifies Fedora Media Writer as GPL-2.0 licensed. | The repository states that macUSB is licensed under the MIT License. |
| Purpose | Fedora Media Writer writes Fedora images to USB flash drives. | macUSB is a guided macOS app for creating bootable USB media on Apple Silicon and Intel Macs. |
| Support | The project asks users experiencing crashes or writing errors to open an issue on GitHub. | The README directs users with problems or questions to open a GitHub issue. |
Plans
In their own words
Fedora Media Writer
Fedora Media Writer creates bootable USB drives by writing Fedora images to them. It runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows, and can download the image before writing. A Live Fedora drive can be booted to try Fedora without making permanent changes to the computer. Getting started requires a 4GB USB flash drive.
Writing uses direct access to the device and replaces its existing contents and partition layout. Fedora Media Writer includes a Restore feature to put the drive back into a standard single-partition layout. Image checks can include comparing the USB device with the downloaded ISO or booting it and running a media check. Fedora also advises verifying downloaded images with a checksum file signed by a Fedora Project OpenPGP certificate. Installation options include Fedora's RPM package, Flathub on Linux, Windows releases, and a macOS DMG. The project identifies the software as GPL-2.0 licensed and directs users with crashes or writing errors to open a GitHub issue. It is free: free.