{
 "schemaVersion": 1,
 "generated": "2026-10-30",
 "dataLicense": "CC BY-SA 4.0",
 "license": "CC BY-SA 4.0",
 "notice": "Data from Open Source Everything (https://opensourceeverything.org), licensed CC BY-SA 4.0: use it freely, credit the site, link to the page, and share changes under the same license. Listings were drafted with AI assistance and are managed by the r/TrueOpenSource moderators; check a project's own page before relying on a fact.",
 "id": "os-installers",
 "name": "Install sticks and system images",
 "page": "https://opensourceeverything.org/g/os-installers/",
 "category": "os",
 "categoryName": "Computer systems & Linux",
 "job": "Making a USB stick or network setup that installs an operating system",
 "closedApps": [
  "Microsoft Media Creation Tool"
 ],
 "coverage": null,
 "alternatives": [
  {
   "id": "rufus",
   "name": "Rufus",
   "page": "https://opensourceeverything.org/p/rufus/",
   "summary": "Rufus is a free Windows program that puts operating systems and other bootable files onto USB sticks, so a computer can start from them. It is for anyone who needs to make a bootable USB drive, from everyday users to IT staff.",
   "kind": "app",
   "setup": "easy",
   "setupWhy": "Install it like a normal app, or use it in your browser.",
   "platforms": [
    "windows"
   ],
   "license": "GPL-3.0",
   "licenseClass": "open",
   "licenseNeedsCheck": false,
   "stars": 38137,
   "forks": null,
   "status": "active",
   "verified": false,
   "latestRelease": null,
   "code": "https://github.com/pbatard/rufus",
   "website": "https://rufus.ie",
   "download": null,
   "release": null,
   "family": null,
   "familyChildren": [],
   "howToHelp": null,
   "project": "rufus",
   "rank": 1,
   "fit": "full",
   "note": null,
   "why": "Does the whole job · Easy setup",
   "score": 70.7
  },
  {
   "id": "ventoy",
   "name": "Ventoy",
   "page": "https://opensourceeverything.org/p/ventoy/",
   "summary": "Ventoy is a free tool that turns a USB stick into a bootable drive that can hold many operating system image files at once, showing a menu to pick one at startup. It is for everyday people and IT staff who want to install or run operating systems from a USB stick without reformatting it each time.",
   "kind": "developer_tool",
   "setup": "advanced",
   "setupWhy": "Made for developers: you use it from code or the command line.",
   "platforms": [
    "windows",
    "linux"
   ],
   "license": "GPL-3.0",
   "licenseClass": "open",
   "licenseNeedsCheck": false,
   "stars": 80399,
   "forks": null,
   "status": "active",
   "verified": false,
   "latestRelease": null,
   "code": "https://github.com/ventoy/Ventoy",
   "website": "https://www.ventoy.net",
   "download": null,
   "release": null,
   "family": null,
   "familyChildren": [],
   "howToHelp": null,
   "project": "ventoy",
   "rank": 2,
   "fit": "full",
   "note": null,
   "why": "Does the whole job · Advanced setup",
   "score": 66.7
  },
  {
   "id": "netboot-xyz",
   "name": "netboot.xyz",
   "page": "https://opensourceeverything.org/p/netboot-xyz/",
   "summary": "netboot.xyz is a menu you can load from a USB stick or network boot to pick and install many operating systems and repair tools without downloading each one first. It is aimed at people who set up or maintain computers and servers.",
   "kind": "self_hosted",
   "setup": "advanced",
   "setupWhy": "You run it on your own server (a computer you set up and keep running), or from the command line.",
   "platforms": [
    "linux",
    "server"
   ],
   "license": "Apache-2.0",
   "licenseClass": "open",
   "licenseNeedsCheck": false,
   "stars": 12572,
   "forks": null,
   "status": "active",
   "verified": false,
   "latestRelease": null,
   "code": "https://github.com/netbootxyz/netboot.xyz",
   "website": "https://netboot.xyz",
   "download": null,
   "release": null,
   "family": null,
   "familyChildren": [],
   "howToHelp": null,
   "project": "netboot-xyz",
   "rank": 3,
   "fit": "full",
   "note": null,
   "why": "Does the whole job · Advanced setup",
   "score": 58.3
  },
  {
   "id": "balenaetcher",
   "name": "balenaEtcher",
   "page": "https://opensourceeverything.org/p/balenaetcher/",
   "summary": "Etcher is a free program that writes operating system image files onto SD cards and USB drives so they can be used to start or install a computer. It is for everyday users who want a safe, simple way to make a bootable drive, and it works on Linux, Windows and macOS.",
   "kind": "app",
   "setup": "easy",
   "setupWhy": "Install it like a normal app, or use it in your browser.",
   "platforms": [
    "windows",
    "mac",
    "linux"
   ],
   "license": "Apache-2.0",
   "licenseClass": "open",
   "licenseNeedsCheck": false,
   "stars": 34605,
   "forks": null,
   "status": "active",
   "verified": false,
   "latestRelease": null,
   "code": "https://github.com/balena-io/etcher",
   "website": "https://etcher.balena.io",
   "download": null,
   "release": null,
   "family": null,
   "familyChildren": [],
   "howToHelp": null,
   "project": "balenaetcher",
   "rank": 4,
   "fit": "partial",
   "note": "Makes bootable USB sticks and SD cards, but not network install setups.",
   "why": "Does part of the job · Easy setup",
   "score": 42.6
  }
 ],
 "source": "https://opensourceeverything.org/g/os-installers/",
 "group": "Install sticks and system images",
 "replaces": [
  "Microsoft Media Creation Tool"
 ]
}