Side by side

Chromebook Recovery Utility vs Raspberry Pi Imager

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.

Chromebook Recovery Utility

Free plan ExtensionMacWindows

Chromebook Recovery Utility provides Google’s recommended browser-based route for making ChromeOS Flex installation media. Check the USB requirement and certified-device limits before proceeding.

Visit Chromebook Recovery Utility

Raspberry Pi Imager combines operating system selection, device setup, and write verification in a free utility. Take care to select the right storage device, and disable telemetry in App Options if you prefer.

Visit Raspberry Pi Imager

The facts

	Chromebook Recovery Utility	Raspberry Pi Imager
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Open source	Not published	Not published
Runs on	Extension, Mac, Windows	Linux, Mac, Windows
Lowest paid plan	Not published	Free or on request
Plans published	None	1
Maker	Not published	Not published
Website	support.google.com	raspberrypi.com
On bootable usb software	#8 of 38	#12 of 38

Chromebook Recovery Utility: what it does well

Free Chrome extension
Creates ChromeOS Flex USB media
Works on ChromeOS, Windows, and Mac
Can erase media for reuse
No personal-data processing stated

What to know first

Creating media erases USB contents
Requires an 8 GB-or-larger USB drive
Some Sandisk drives might not work
Non-certified device performance is not guaranteed

Raspberry Pi Imager: what it does well

Offers popular OS images and local or custom image sources
Can preconfigure credentials and remote connectivity
Supports SSH password or public key authentication
Verifies written images
Free on Windows, macOS, and Linux

What to know first

Writing an image overwrites all data on the selected device
Anonymous usage telemetry is enabled by default

Alternatives to Chromebook Recovery Utility Alternatives to Raspberry Pi Imager The whole list