Fedora Media Writer vs WinToUSB

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.

WinToUSB creates portable Windows workspaces on external hard drives, USB flash drives, and Thunderbolt drives. It can build one from ISO, WIM, ESD, SWM, VHD, VHDX, DBI, or CD/DVD sources, or copy a currently running Windows installation to a drive. The software also creates Windows installation USBs, can download official Windows ISO files from Microsoft, and makes bootable WinPE USB drives for recovery, backup, and troubleshooting. Delta Clone updates an existing Windows To Go workspace, and WinToUSB can use system backup images made with Hasleo Backup Suite. Professional and Enterprise editions add BitLocker encryption; the free edition is limited to home use and excludes cloning, BitLocker, and partition resizing or moving. The product page lists Windows 7 or later, including x64, x86, and ARM64, plus Windows Server 2008 or later. Hasleo states GPT/UEFI and Windows UEFI CA 2023 compatibility, but cautions that Windows 7 is not fully portable and lacks native USB 3.0 support. The free plan is free. Professional is $44.95, paid once, and Enterprise is $299.95, paid once; prices exclude VAT.