LibreELEC USB-SD Creator vs MediCat USB
LibreELEC USB-SD Creator
libreelec.tvMediCat USB
medicatusb.comSide by side
| Figure | LibreELEC USB-SD Creator | MediCat USB |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · Bootable USB Software | 7.9 (#9) | 7.9 (#10) |
| Download verification | The download page provides SHA-256 links for the Windows and macOS installers. | The homepage publishes MD5 and SHA1 hashes for MediCat.USB.v21.12.7z. |
| Founded | 2016 | 2014 |
| Purpose | The app selects and downloads a LibreELEC image for an HTPC device and creates bootable USB or SD card media. | MediCat compiles computer diagnostic and recovery tools into a toolkit. |
| Support | The project directs users with app problems to its USB-SD Creator Support forum. | The troubleshooting guide directs users to the Medicat Discord for community support. |
Plans
In their own words
LibreELEC USB-SD Creator
LibreELEC USB-SD Creator prepares bootable USB sticks or SD cards for an HTPC. It can select and download the latest stable LibreELEC image, show older stable releases, or use a local .img.gz file supplied by the user. Writing the image overwrites all data on the selected target device. LibreELEC describes its operating system as a lightweight Linux distribution built for Kodi on popular media-center hardware. The free, open-source Creator currently runs on 64-bit Windows 10 and 11 and macOS 14 or newer. A Linux build for Ubuntu and Debian derivatives is not currently available. The application checks for updates but does not download or install them automatically. Version 1.5 added Arabic and Korean translations. LibreELEC signs the macOS app to help avoid Gatekeeper issues and provides SHA-256 links for Windows and macOS installers. Support is directed to the USB-SD Creator Support forum. The project says its default configuration is intended for home networks, not security-sensitive networks.
MediCat USB
MediCat USB is a free, bootable toolkit for diagnosing, repairing, recovering, and maintaining computers. It combines tools for diagnostics, data recovery, partition management, system repair, password recovery, backup, cloning, and maintenance in one USB environment. The toolkit supports both UEFI and Legacy BIOS boot options, multiboot, persistent storage, and both partition schemes. Windows and Linux installers are available in batch and Bash forms. MediCat supports drives of 32 GB or larger, with USB 3.0 or above recommended. Manual installation requires Ventoy, 7-Zip, and the latest MediCat release. Downloads are offered through torrent, magnet, direct mirrors, Google Drive, and Mega, with MD5 and SHA1 hashes published for MediCat.USB.v21.12.7z. It was founded in 2014. The maker provides the software and downloads free, with optional donations. Community support is available through the Medicat Discord.