Rufus AlternativesOnly apps categorised as Linux Distros

The best Linux Distro alternative to Rufus is Universal USB Installer, which is both free and Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 50 alternatives to Rufus and four of them are Linux Distros so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Linux Distro alternatives to Rufus are LinuxLive USB Creator, Mac Linux USB Loader and Caligula.

filter to find the best alternatives

Rufus alternatives are mainly Bootable USB Creators, but if you're looking for Linux Distros or Disk Imaging Tools you can filter on that. Other popular filters include Windows + Free and Windows + Free + Create bootable USB and Mac + Create bootable USB. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to Rufus.
Rufus iconRufus
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  • ...

Formats USB drives to various file systems and creates bootable USBs from ISOs. Supports MS-DOS/FreeDOS bootable sticks and offers BIOS or UEFI options.

More about Rufus
More about Rufus
Rufus alternatives page was last updated Jun 25, 2025
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  1. Universal USB Installer icon

    Universal USB Installer

     179 likes
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    Universal USB Installer is a Live Linux USB Creator that allows you to choose from a selection of Linux Distributions to put on your USB Flash Drive. The Universal USB Installer is easy to use. Simply choose a Live Linux Distribution, the ISO file, your Flash Drive and, Click...

    45 Universal USB Installer alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Universal USB Installer screenshot 1

    Universal USB Installer Features

    1.  Works Offline
    2.  Portable
    3.  No need to format
    4.  Persistent Linux
    5.  Multiple languages
    6.  Portable Linux

    Universal USB Installer VS Rufus

     
    Comments about Universal USB Installer as an Alternative to Rufus
    checholin
    Positive Feb 10, 2017
    0

    Very simple and easy to use. Supports Persistent Linux.

    Guest
    Positive May 20, 2017
    0

    It is complete, with all you need, to put an OS in yur USB

    Rufus Icon
    Universal USB Installer icon

    • Most users think Universal USB Installer is a great Rufus alternative.

    • Universal USB Installer is Free and Open SourceRufus is also Free and Open Source
  2. LinuxLive USB Creator icon

    LinuxLive USB Creator

     125 likes
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    LiLi USB Creator is a free software for Windows that allows you to create a bootable Live USB key with a Linux on it.

    44 LinuxLive USB Creator alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • FR flagFrance
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Windows
    The GUI of the program
    Discontinued

    Site says app is no longer maintained.

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Create UEFI bootable drive
    2.  Portable Linux
    3.  Dark Mode
    4.  Portable
    5.  Ad-free
    6.  No registration required
    7.  No Tracking
    8.  Works Offline
    9.  USB to FAT

    LinuxLive USB Creator VS Rufus

     
  4. Mac Linux USB Loader icon

    Mac Linux USB Loader

     10 likes
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    Mac Linux USB Loader is an application that allows you to create bootable USB drives containing a Linux distribution that can boot natively on Apple's Macintosh computers using their EFI system, regardless of whether or not the selected distribution has UEFI support.

    License model

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • IN flagIndia

    Platforms

    • Mac
    Mac Linux USB Loader screenshot 1

    Mac Linux USB Loader Features

    1.  Bluetooth Support
    2.  Persistent Storage

    Mac Linux USB Loader VS Rufus

     
    Comments about Mac Linux USB Loader as an Alternative to Rufus
    camck
    Negative Nov 25, 2017
    -2

    This only makes USB drives bootable on mac.

    Rufus Icon
    Mac Linux USB Loader icon

    • Most users think Mac Linux USB Loader is a great Rufus alternative.

    • Mac Linux USB Loader is Paid and ProprietaryRufus is Free and Open Source
  5. Caligula icon

    Caligula

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    A user-friendly, lightweight TUI wrapper for the dd command written in Rust that performs easy disk imaging and ISO burning with only a single command with graphs and rich confirmation dialogs.

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • International

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Linux
    • Arch Linux
    • Nix Package Manager
    • Homebrew
    Screenshot of the Caligula TUI verifying a disk

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused
    3.  User friendly
    4.  Intuitive Interface

    Features

    1.  Ad-free
    2.  Command line interface
    3.  Works Offline
    4.  Portable
    5.  No Tracking
    6.  No registration required
    7.  Lightweight wrapper
    8.  Tui
    9.  Rust
    10.  Offline
    11.  Create bootable CD
    12.  Terminal-based

    Caligula VS Rufus

     
4 of 4 Rufus alternatives