This is a list of utilities for creating a live USB. Only those listed on Wikipedia are included.

Overview

  • "Multiboot" means that the tool allows multiple systems on the USB stick, as well as a bootloader on the USB flash drive to choose which system to load at boot time. Multiboot is environmental technology since it requires only a single storage device to boot multiple files.[citation needed]
  • "Persistence" is the ability, for a Linux Live distribution, to save the changes (to e.g. software, documents, parameters, etc) in the live USB across reboots.
NameDeveloperLicensingMaintained?MultibootPersistence support for Linux distributionsRuns on (OS)Target OS
balenaEtcherBalenaApache License 2.0YesNoLinux, macOS, WindowsAnything
DasBootSubRosaSoftFreewareNoNo—N/amacOSmacOS
ddVarious developersFree software (most vendors)YesNoUnix-likeAnything
Fedora Media WriterThe Fedora ProjectGNU GPL v2YesNoLinux, macOS, WindowsFedora
GNOME DisksGnome disks contributorsGPL-2.0-or-laterYesNoLinuxAnything
LinuxLive USB Creator (LiLi)Thibaut LauzièreGNU GPL v3NoNoWindowsLinux
remastersysTony BrijeskiGNU GPL v2NoNoDebian, Linux Mint, UbuntuDebian and derivatives
RufusPete BatardGNU GPL v3YesNoWindowsAnything
SliTaz TazUSBSliTazGNU GPL v3YesNoSliTaz GNU/LinuxSliTaz GNU/Linux
Ubuntu Live USB creatorCanonical LtdGNU GPL v3YesNoUbuntu, WindowsUbuntu
UNetbootinGeza KovacsGNU GPL v2+YesNoLinux, macOS, WindowsAnything
Universal USB Installer (UUI)PendrivelinuxGNU GPLYesYesYesWindowsLinux
VentoylongpandaGNU GPL v3+YesYesYesLinux, WindowsAnything
Windows To GoMicrosoftProprietaryNoNo—N/aWindowsWindows
YUMI (Your Universal Multiboot Integrator)PendrivelinuxGNU GPLYesYesYesWindowsLinux

See also