macUSB

Free plan Mac

What macUSB is

macUSB is a free, guided macOS app for creating bootable USB media on Apple Silicon and Intel Macs. It can download macOS installers from Apple servers, including available Public Beta releases, or use local installer files. It also supports bootable media creation from supported Linux and Windows ISO images, with optional Windows setup automation. For supported disk images, macUSB calculates SHA-256 checksums and verifies raw image writes against their source. The host must be an Apple Silicon or Intel Mac running macOS Sonoma 14.6 or later. macOS installers require a USB drive of at least 16 GB, or 32 GB for macOS Sequoia 15 and later; Windows and Linux images require at least 1 GB, depending on image size. Creating bootable media erases the selected USB drive, and external HDD and SSD support is disabled by default at launch. If a Windows image has an install.wim file that needs splitting, wimlib must be installed separately. The latest listed release is v2.5, which describes raw image writing and exporting downloaded macOS installers as DMG files. Installation is available through GitHub Releases or Homebrew; the project directs support questions to GitHub issues and uses the MIT License.

Who it suits

macUSB is for Mac users who need to create bootable media from macOS installers or supported Windows and Linux images. The host requirement makes it unsuitable for computers that are not Macs running macOS Sonoma 14.6 or later.

What it does well

Downloads macOS installers from Apple servers
Supports supported Linux and Windows ISO images
Verifies raw image writes against their source
Available through GitHub Releases and Homebrew

What to know first

Requires macOS Sonoma 14.6 or later
Creating media erases the selected USB drive
wimlib must be installed separately for some Windows images
External HDD and SSD support is disabled by default

Plans

Plan	Billed and limits	Price
Free	All updates and features available to everyone	Free

As github.com lists them, read 11 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.

Verdict

macUSB covers macOS installers as well as supported Windows and Linux images, with image verification included. Check the host and USB capacity requirements, and expect the selected drive to be erased.

Facts from macUSB's own pages

Image verification: It calculates SHA-256 checksums for supported disk images and verifies raw image writes against their source. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
Install options: The project lists GitHub Releases and Homebrew as installation methods. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
Latest listed release: The releases page lists macUSB v2.5 as the latest release and describes raw image writing and exporting downloaded macOS installers as DMG files. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
License: The repository states that macUSB is licensed under the MIT License. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
macOS installers: It can download macOS installers from Apple servers, including available Public Beta releases, or use local installer files. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
Other boot media: It supports creating bootable USB media from supported Linux and Windows ISO images, with optional Windows setup automation. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
Purpose: macUSB is a guided macOS app for creating bootable USB media on Apple Silicon and Intel Macs. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
Safety: Creating bootable media erases data on the selected USB drive; external HDD and SSD support is disabled by default at launch. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
Security: The v2.3.1 release says the app and background helper mutually verify trusted code signatures before privileged operations. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
Support: The README directs users with problems or questions to open a GitHub issue. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
Supported host: The host computer must be an Apple Silicon or Intel Mac running macOS Sonoma 14.6 or later. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
USB capacity: macOS installers require at least 16 GB, or 32 GB for macOS Sequoia 15 and later; Windows and Linux images require at least 1 GB, depending on image size. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
Windows dependency: wimlib is not bundled and must be installed separately when a Windows image contains an install.wim file that needs splitting. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026

Where macUSB stands on Freedom251

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