This is a list of utilities for creating a live USB. Only those listed on Wikipedia are included.
Name | Developer | Licensing | Maintained? | Multiboot | Persistence support for Linux distributions | Runs on (OS) | Target OS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
balenaEtcher | Balena | Apache License 2.0 | Yes | Yes | Linux, macOS, Windows | Anything | |
DasBoot | SubRosaSoft | Freeware | No | No | — | macOS | macOS |
dd | Various developers | Free software (most vendors) | Yes | No | Unix-like | Anything | |
Fedora Media Writer | The Fedora Project | GNU GPL v2 | Yes | No | Linux, macOS, Windows | Fedora | |
GNOME Disks | Gnome disks contributors | GPL-2.0-or-later | Yes | No | Linux | Anything | |
LinuxLive USB Creator (LiLi) | Thibaut Lauzière | GNU GPL v3 | No | No | Windows | Linux | |
remastersys | Tony Brijeski | GNU GPL v2 | No [1] | No | Debian, Linux Mint, Ubuntu | Debian and derivatives | |
Rufus | Pete Batard | GNU GPL v3 | Yes | No | Windows | Anything | |
SliTaz TazUSB | SliTaz | GNU GPL v3 | Yes | No | SliTaz GNU/Linux | SliTaz GNU/Linux | |
Ubuntu Live USB creator | Canonical Ltd | GNU GPL v3 | Yes | No | Ubuntu, Windows | Ubuntu | |
UNetbootin | Geza Kovacs | GNU GPL v2+ [2] | Yes | No | Linux, macOS, Windows | Anything | |
Universal USB Installer (UUI) | Pendrivelinux | GNU GPL | Yes | No [3] | Windows | Linux | |
Ventoy | longpanda | GNU GPL v3+ [4] | Yes | Yes | Yes | Linux, Windows | Anything |
Windows To Go | Microsoft | Proprietary | No | No | — | Windows | Windows |
A Linux distribution is an operating system made from a software collection that includes the Linux kernel, and often a package management system. Linux users usually obtain their operating system by downloading one of the Linux distributions, which are available for a wide variety of systems ranging from embedded devices and personal computers to powerful supercomputers.
Mandriva Linux is a discontinued Linux distribution developed by Mandriva S.A.
KNOPPIX is an operating system based on Debian designed to be run directly from a CD / DVD or a USB flash drive, one of the first live operating system distributions. Knoppix was developed by, and named after, Linux consultant Klaus Knopper. When starting a program, it is loaded from the removable medium and decompressed into a RAM drive. The decompression is transparent and on-the-fly.
A live CD is a complete bootable computer installation including operating system which runs directly from a CD-ROM or similar storage device into a computer's memory, rather than loading from a hard disk drive. A live CD allows users to run an operating system for any purpose without installing it or making any changes to the computer's configuration. Live CDs can run on a computer without secondary storage, such as a hard disk drive, or with a corrupted hard disk drive or file system, allowing data recovery.
Damn Small Linux (DSL) is a discontinued computer operating system for the x86 family of personal computers. It is free and open-source software under the terms of the GNU GPL and other free and open source licenses. It was designed to run graphical user interface applications on older PC hardware, for example, machines with 486 and early Pentium microprocessors and very little random-access memory (RAM). DSL is a Live CD with a size of 50 megabytes (MB). What originally began as an experiment to see how much software could fit in 50 MB eventually became a full Linux distribution. It can be installed on storage media with small capacities, like bootable business cards, USB flash drives, various memory cards, and Zip drives.
Multi-booting is the act of installing multiple operating systems on a single computer, and being able to choose which one to boot. The term dual-booting refers to the common configuration of specifically two operating systems. Multi-booting may require a custom boot loader.
Zenwalk GNU/Linux is a desktop-focused Linux distribution founded by Jean-Philippe Guillemin. It is based on Slackware with very few modifications at system level making it 100% compatible with Slackware. It aims to be a modern, multi-purpose Linux distribution by focusing on internet applications, multimedia and programming tools. It comes with many specialized tools and is designed for beginner through advanced users, as it offers system configuration via both graphical tools and the command line.
In Linux systems, initrd
is a scheme for loading a temporary root file system into memory, to be used as part of the Linux startup process. initrd
and initramfs
refer to two different methods of achieving this. Both are commonly used to make preparations before the real root file system can be mounted.
A live USB is a portable USB-attached external data storage device containing a full operating system that can be booted from. The term is reminiscent of USB flash drives but may encompass an external hard disk drive or solid-state drive, though they may be referred to as "live HDD" and "live SSD" respectively. They are the evolutionary next step after live CDs, but with the added benefit of writable storage, allowing customizations to the booted operating system. Live USBs can be used in embedded systems for system administration, data recovery, or test driving, and can persistently save settings and install software packages on the USB device.
Dreamlinux was a Brazilian computer operating system based on Debian Linux. It can boot as a live CD, from USB flash drive, or can be installed on a hard drive. The distribution's GUI aims to have a centered animated toolbar. As of October 2012, The Dreamlinux Project has been discontinued.
Software remastering is software development that recreates system software and applications while incorporating customizations, with the intent that it is copied and run elsewhere for "off-label" usage. The term comes from remastering in media production, where it is similarly distinguished from mere copying.
Wubi is a free software Ubuntu installer, that was the official Windows-based software, from 2008 until 2013, to install Ubuntu from within Windows, to a single file within an existing Windows partition.
UNetbootin is a cross-platform utility that can create live USB systems and can load a variety of system utilities or install various Linux distributions and other operating systems without a CD.
Calculate Linux is a Linux distribution optimized for fast deployment in an organization environment. It is based on the Gentoo Linux project and includes many preconfigured functions.
Porteus is a portable operating system based on Slackware. It does not require installation and can be run from fixed and removable media, such as a USB flash drive or compact disc.
Universal USB Installer (UUI) is an open-source live Linux USB flash drive creation software. It allows users to create a bootable live USB flash drive using an ISO image from a supported Linux distribution, antivirus utility, system tool, or Microsoft Windows installer. The USB boot software can also be used to make Windows 8, 10, or 11 run entirely from USB.
LinuxConsole is a Linux-based operating system independently developed by Yann Le Doaré. The distro is built from scratch by developers from France, and has support for multiple languages. It is not based on any other Linux distribution and primarily focuses on being lightweight and easily accessible. LinuxConsole can function as a live CD or live USB. It can also be installed as a complete operating system. LinuxConsole should be written as one word. The "console" part of the word isn't related to Linux system console mode, but instead represents the ease of using a game console.
Ventoy is a free and open-source utility used for writing image files such as .iso, .wim, .img, .vhd(x), and .efi files onto storage media to create bootable USB flash drives. Once Ventoy is installed onto a USB drive, there is no need to reformat the disk to update it with new installation files; it is enough to copy the .iso, .wim, .img, .img(x), or .efi file(s) to the USB drive and boot from them directly. Ventoy will present the user with a boot menu to select one of these files.
CachyOS is a Linux distribution based on the Arch Linux operating system, with the end goal of simpler installing and customizing, and improved performance while remaining compatible.
If you are looking to add multiple Live Linux distributions, System Diagnostic Tools, Antivirus Utilities, and Windows Installers, you should use YUMI Multiboot Software, instead.