balenaEtcher
6.8#3 in bootable usb softwareFrom $1,720 a yearFree planLinuxmacOSWindows
VisitbalenaEtcher vs WinSetupFromUSB
WinSetupFromUSB
5.9#26 in bootable usb softwareFree planFree planWindows
VisitWhat both publish
| Fact | balenaEtcher | WinSetupFromUSB |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2011 | 2006 |
| Purpose | Etcher flashes OS images to SD cards and USB drives. | WinSetupFromUSB is a Windows program that prepares multiboot USB flash or fixed disks for Windows installation and for booting Linux, BSD, and other utilities. |
| Support | The documentation directs users with problems to raise an issue on GitHub, where the balena.io team can help. | The maker’s Help page says users can get support, report bugs, or make feature requests by leaving a comment. |
| Windows support | The documentation lists Windows 10 and later for Intel 64-bit systems. | The maker lists Windows versions from 2000/XP onward and says version 1.10 added Windows 11 support. |
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
WinSetupFromUSB plans
- WinSetupFromUSBFree
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 WinSetupFromUSB if…
It suits Windows users who want one USB disk to hold Windows installation media alongside Linux, BSD, or utility boot sources. Users should be comfortable selecting and preparing disks carefully.