Side by side
balenaEtcher vs UNetbootin
Both stand on bootable usb software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan LinuxMacWindows
Etcher keeps image flashing straightforward and includes safeguards against choosing a system drive. Confirm the target carefully, and look elsewhere if you need persistent live USB storage or Windows image boot preparation.
Visit balenaEtcher Free plan Open source LinuxMacSelf-hosted+1
UNetbootin offers a free route to bootable media for supported Linux distributions and utilities. Check whether your particular ISO works, especially if it is not Linux.
Visit UNetbootinThe facts
| balenaEtcher | UNetbootin | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Yes |
| Runs on | Linux, Mac, Windows | Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | balenaCloud Prototype: $1,720 a year | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 9 | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | etcher.balena.io | unetbootin.github.io |
| On bootable usb software | #3 of 38 | #1 of 38 |
balenaEtcher: what it does well
- Free and open source
- Three-step workflow requires no command line
- Confirms when flashing is complete
- Hides system drives by default
- Runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows
What to know first
- Flashing erases all data on the target drive
- Does not configure persistent live USB storage
- Not designed for special Windows image boot preparation
UNetbootin: what it does well
- Can download supported Linux distributions or use a local ISO.
- Lists USB drive and hard disk targets.
- Free to use; donations are accepted.
- Source code is available under GNU GPL Version 2 or above.
What to know first
- Non-Linux operating system ISOs are not expected to work.
- Some Linux ISOs need extra options or modifications.
- Some ISO files cannot boot from USB as-is.
Alternatives to balenaEtcher Alternatives to UNetbootin The whole list