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What is the best software for creating Live USB (from ISO files)?

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The Best 1 of 3 OptionsWhy?

3 Options ConsideredPriceLast Updated
Excellent
Etcher
Apr 21, 2018
Rufus
Apr 21, 2018
UNetbootin
Dec 11, 2017
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Excellent

Etcher

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Paolo
EvilJim
Top Pro

Cross platform

•••
Supports Linux, Windows and Mac.
EvilJim
Top Pro

Polished GUI

•••
The gui looks great and is easy to use.
Paolo
EvilJim
Top Pro

Open source

•••
Free to use and modify. Apache license. Repository link: https://github.com/resin-io/etcher
Kristaps
IndependentInshushinak
Top Pro

Relatively fast

•••
Flashes/burns images relatively fast.
ComposedRinnal
Top Con

Messes with partitions

•••
Partitioned my USB into 3 drives and wrote no data that I could see. Back to Rufus.
EfficientNemain
Top Con

Large file size

•••
Much larger file size in comparison to something like rufus.
Alex
DelightfulAmaArhus
Top Con

Runs hot

•••
Heats up USB to levels nearing shut down with USB 3.0.
See 1 more ProSee 5 more Pros & Cons
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2 Other Options Considered

Rufus

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Alex
Top Pro

Very fast

•••
Rufus is one of the fastest utilities in the category to complete create a bootable USB. Twice as fast as UNetbootin, Universal USB Installer and Windows 7 USB download tool.
Alex
Top Pro

Automatic USB detection

•••
Rufus finds your USB drive automatically. This minimizes the risk that you will accidentally format your hard drive.
Chloe Montanez
TolerantBanaitja
Top Pro

Simple but advanced

•••
Has many options.
Ray
HonestManyu
Top Pro

Safe

•••
Zero ways to screw up.
Alex
Sojan Janso
Top Con

Only runs on Windows

•••
Although it can install all flavors of imaginable distros on a key, the software itself only has one official Windows version, effectively excluding Mac and Linux users.
See 3 more ProsSee 3 more Pros

UNetbootin

Add Video or Image
Alex
Sojan Janso
Top Pro

Cross-platform

•••
The fact that UNetbootin is cross platform means it can be used on any computer one has lying around, to create a bootable USB stick from a proper ISO file. It also makes it more viable as a tool since it can be recommended to anyone without having to worry about what operating system they are run...
Alex
Sojan Janso
Top Pro

Automatically detects USB flash drives

•••
UNetbootin automatically detects all the USB drives in the computer, this helps the interface be much more fluid, and protects inexperienced users from accidentally corrupting their hard drive.
Alex
Sojan Janso
Top Pro

Supports most common distros for download

•••
Although you can override this setting by selecting any ISO file of your choice, UNetbootin offers a simple interface in which you can choose to automatically download almost any mainstream operating system. This can save users the hassle of browsing through web pages in search of a download.
Alex
TactfulKaskuh
Top Con

There's a chance it will destroy your USB

•••
Not only is the performance of the software subpar, there is a high likelihood that it will corrupt your USB in the process.
WhiteLilac
Zvonimir Rudinski
Top Con

Might not work sometimes

•••
For example UNetbootin has some troubles with the Hiren's Boot CD ISO file.
See 3 more Pros & ConsSee 3 more Pros & Cons

53 Community Recommendations

Zvonimir Rudinski
Tuncay Çam
Nathaniel Blackburn
Lluvia4D
Roman Horokhovatskyy
Chad Taljaardt
Vadim Smirnov
Tommy Schultz
EvilJim
Omega9
Chloe Montanez
+35
Request recommendations from the community
DeterminedBieggagallis
DeterminedBieggagallis
Contributor for a month
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Etcher
Recommended a month ago
It looks beautiful, first of all. It will automatically detect your usb and burn an ISO image lightning quick onto it. Available on Mac, Windows, and Linux, so this beats Rufus on platform availability.
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