EVERYTHING XIAOMI
Get listed

USBImager

USBImager is a free desktop utility for writing disk images to USB drives and creating backups.

Place
#2 of 38
Score
7.1
USBImager's website

What USBImager is

USBImager is a free desktop utility for writing disk images to USB drives and creating backups. It reads raw disk images, compressed files such as .gz, .bz2, .xz and .zst, and archives including .zip, .tar, .cpio and .pax. After writing, users can compare drive contents with the image to verify the result. Backups can be saved in raw or ZStandard compressed format, and images can be sent to microcontrollers over a serial line.

The app has a minimalist native interface, is available in 18 languages, and is intended for people who may be uncomfortable with command-line tools. Builds are listed for Windows, macOS and Linux, including Ubuntu LTS, Raspberry Pi OS, Arch/Manjaro and Linux PC. The maker says USBImager tries to avoid overwriting the system disk and uses synchronized writes, so data is on disk when progress reaches 100%. The archive includes desktop integration files such as icons, though the executable can also be used alone. USBImager is open source under the MIT license and costs nothing. Its README notes that xz dictionaries larger than 1 gigabyte are unsupported.

Good

  • Reads raw, compressed and archived disk images.
  • Can verify writes by comparing disk contents with an image.
  • Creates raw or ZStandard-compressed backups.
  • Available for Windows, macOS and Linux.
  • Open source under the MIT license.

Watch out

  • Does not support xz dictionaries larger than 1 gigabyte.
  • The maker says it only tries to avoid overwriting the system disk.

Who it suits

USBImager suits people who need to write disk images or make backups without relying on command-line tools. It also supports users working with compressed images, archives or microcontrollers over a serial line.

Verdict

USBImager covers image writing, verification, backups and serial transfers in a free desktop app. Its stated xz dictionary limit is worth noting when working with large compressed images.

Plans and prices

From USBImager's own pricing page, checked 15 Oct 2026.

All about pricing
PlanPriceWhat it gives you
FreeFreeOpen-source desktop utility · no paid tiers stated · free

The facts

Each one read from USBImager's own pages, with the date it was checked.

What it does

Archive input
Archive input includes ZIP and ZIP64, ZZZip, TAR, CPIO, and PAX, with the first archive file used when multiple files exist.checked 15 Oct 2026
Audience
The maker says the app is intended for non-expert users who may be uncomfortable with the command line.checked 7 Oct 2026
Backup creation
It can read a removable device into a raw DD image or a zstd-compressed backup.checked 15 Oct 2026
Backups
It can create backups in raw or ZStandard compressed format.checked 7 Oct 2026
Build process
Developers can compile on Windows with MinGW, on macOS with Apple command-line tools, and on Linux with libc, libX11, and the GNU toolchain.checked 15 Oct 2026
Compressed input
Compressed images can be read on the fly from gzip, bzip2, xz, and zstd files.checked 15 Oct 2026
Compression limitation
XZ dictionaries larger than 1 GB are unsupported, while the default supported dictionary size is 64 MB.checked 15 Oct 2026
Desktop integration
The archive's additional files provide desktop integration such as icons; the executable can also be used by itself.checked 7 Oct 2026
Developer identity
The associated GitHub account identifies the developer as Zoltan Baldaszti under the username bztsrc.checked 15 Oct 2026
Distribution through Homebrew
Homebrew lists USBImager cask version 1.0.10 for Intel and Apple Silicon macOS, although the cask is marked disabled.checked 15 Oct 2026
Documentation
The repository supplies a manual PDF, README installation and usage instructions, command-line flag reference, compilation guidance, and an issue tracker.checked 15 Oct 2026
Downloads
The maker's repository lists builds for Windows, macOS, Ubuntu LTS, Raspberry Pi OS, Arch/Manjaro and Linux PC.checked 7 Oct 2026
Extensibility
The source is separated into stream, disk, user-interface, and language layers, and supports debug builds and test-device compilation switches.checked 15 Oct 2026
Image formats
The program reads raw image formats including IMG, BIN, RAW, ISO, and DD.checked 15 Oct 2026
Interface and languages
It provides a minimalist native interface and is available in 18 languages.checked 7 Oct 2026
Languages
The application includes dictionaries for 18 languages and detects the operating system language automatically.checked 15 Oct 2026
Licence
The project is open source under the MIT license, whose text permits use, modification, distribution, sublicensing, and sale with the notice retained.checked 15 Oct 2026
Limit
The README says xz compression dictionaries larger than 1 gigabyte are not supported.checked 7 Oct 2026
Limit: missing advanced boot features
An AlternativeTo reviewer says Rufus and Ventoy are preferable when multi-boot creation or more options are needed.checked 15 Oct 2026
Limit: permissions and fonts
The documentation requires elevated permissions or device-group configuration on some systems, and X11 builds may need Unifont or fontconfig fixes.checked 15 Oct 2026
Limit: Raspberry Pi launch problem
A GitLab issue reports that a user could not run the AArch64 archive on Raspberry Pi OS Bullseye and requested Flatpak or AppImage packaging.checked 15 Oct 2026

Where it runs

Device safety
The interface filters out the system disk by default and provides separate flags to list all devices or force writing.checked 15 Oct 2026
Linux support
Linux distributions are supported through X11, GTK+, Ubuntu Debian packages, Arch AUR packages, and Raspberry Pi builds.checked 15 Oct 2026

The company

Founded
2020checked 28 Sep 2026

Alternatives to USBImager

All alternatives
  1. 1

    UNetbootin

    Free planOpen sourceLinuxmacOSSelf-hostedWindows
    7.1Free plan
    Visit
  2. 2balenaEtcher logo

    balenaEtcher

    Free planLinuxmacOSWindows
    6.8From $1,720 a year
    Visit
  3. 3

    FlashBoot

    Free planWindows
    6.5$29.95 one-time
    Visit
  4. 4

    WinToUSB

    Free planWindows
    6.5$44.95 one-time
    Visit
  5. 5

    Unraid USB Creator

    LinuxmacOSWindows
    6.4$49 one-time
    Visit
  6. 6Deepin Boot Maker logo

    Deepin Boot Maker

    Free planLinuxmacOSWindows
    6.3Free plan
    Visit