balenaEtcher
6.8#3 in bootable usb softwareFrom $1,720 a yearFree planLinuxmacOSWindows
VisitbalenaEtcher vs WinDiskWriter
WinDiskWriter
5.4#34 in bootable usb softwaremacOS
VisitWhat both publish
| Fact | balenaEtcher | WinDiskWriter |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Etcher flashes OS images to SD cards and USB drives. | WinDiskWriter creates bootable Windows installer USB drives from macOS. |
| Support | The documentation directs users with problems to raise an issue on GitHub, where the balena.io team can help. | The author invites financial support through cryptocurrency donations listed in the README. |
balenaEtcher plans
- balenaCloud FreeFree
- balenaEtcherFree
- balenaCloud Prototype$159 a month
- balenaCloud Pilot$329 a month
- balenaCloud Production$1,439 a month
- balenaCloud Prototype$1,720 a year
WinDiskWriter plans
No prices published.
Pick balenaEtcher if…
Etcher suits people creating installation media or writing an OS image to an SD card or USB drive on Linux, macOS, or Windows. Users who need persistent storage on a live USB should look elsewhere.
Pick WinDiskWriter if…
You want what its maker publishes above — check its page for the details.