Open Source GNU GRUB AlternativesBoot Managers and other similar apps like GNU GRUB

The best open source alternative to GNU GRUB is rEFInd - Boot Manager. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 10 alternatives to GNU GRUB and 14 is open source so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting open source alternatives to GNU GRUB are Libreboot, Limine, Grub2Win and Clover EFI bootloader.

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Alternatives list

  1. rEFInd is a fork of the rEFIt boot manager for computers based on the Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI) and Unified EFI (UEFI). Like rEFIt, rEFInd is a boot manager, meaning that it presents a menu of options to the user when the computer...

    10 rEFInd - Boot Manager alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
     
  2. Libreboot icon
     20 likes

    Libreboot is a free software project based on coreboot, aimed at replacing the proprietary BIOS firmware contained by most computers. Libreboot is a lightweight system designed to perform only the minimum number of tasks necessary to load and...

    7 Libreboot alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
     
  3. Limine icon
     6 likes

    Limine is an advanced x86/x86_64 BIOS and UEFI bootloader that supports modern PC features such as Long Mode, 5-level paging, multi-core startup, and more thanks to the stivale and stivale2 boot protocols.

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
     
  4. Grub2Win icon
     12 likes

    Safely dual boot Windows and Linux without touching the Windows MBR.

    Grub2Win installs to Windows 8, Windows 7, XP, 2000 or Vista. It boots native, open source GNU grub version 2.00 code. Everything is contained in one 7 MB directory on your Windows C: drive.

    The simple Windows.

    16 Grub2Win alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
     
  5. GRUB for DOS is the dos extension of GRUB. It enables dos users to run the configuration console directly in real mode. The project also contains an utility called WINGRUB, an GUI intends to help configuring and installing GRUB in the WINDOWS environment.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
     
  6.  5 likes

    Burg is a brand-new boot loader based on GNU GRUB. It uses a new object format which allows it to be built in a wider range of OS, including Linux/Windows/OSX/FreeBSD, etc.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
     
  7.  5 likes

    GAG (initials, in spanish, of Graphical Boot Manager) is a Boot Manager program. It's loaded when the computer is turned on and allows you to choose the operating system you want to use.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
     
  8.  4 likes

    Quibble is the custom Windows bootloader - an open-source reimplementation of the files bootmgfw.efi and winload.efi, able to boot versions of Windows from XP to Windows 10 22H2. Unlike the official bootloader, it is extensible, allowing you to boot from other filesystems than...

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  9. rEFIt icon
     7 likes

    rEFIt is a boot menu and maintenance toolkit for EFI-based machines like the Intel Macs. You can use it to boot multiple operating systems easily, including triple-boot setups with Boot Camp. It also provides an easy way to enter and explore the EFI pre-boot environment.

    21 rEFIt alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Mac
     
  10. The development of LILO as classic bootloader for GNU/Linux systems was restarted in June 2010. Because of the simpleness LILO has some advantages comparing with Grub and Grub2. But nowadays LILO is not the bootloader for all situations. But LILO is longtime proved and stable.

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
  11. Chimera icon
     2 likes

    Chimera is a Hackintosh bootloader that merges the best features from various branches of Chameleon bootloader, into a new branch based on the latest Chameleon 2.0 RC5 trunk version. It is designed for maximum compatibility across platforms.

    18 Chimera alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Mac
     
12 of 14 GNU GRUB alternatives