Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

mkusb VS Win32 Disk Imager

Compare mkusb VS Win32 Disk Imager and see what are their differences

mkusb logo mkusb

(Straight up rufus for Linux users ) The mkusb tool was developed to make it simpler and safer to create boot drives with the method to flash or clone an iso image or a compressed image file. It is using dd under the hood.

Win32 Disk Imager logo Win32 Disk Imager

Create and restore image backups of disk drives.
  • mkusb Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-20
  • Win32 Disk Imager Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-28

mkusb features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    mkusb provides an easy-to-understand graphical user interface, making it accessible for users who may not be comfortable with command-line tools.
  • Versatility
    The tool supports a wide range of Linux distributions, offering users the ability to create bootable USB drives for various purposes, such as installing an OS or creating a live boot environment.
  • Persistence Feature
    mkusb allows users to set up persistent storage on the USB drive, which means that changes and files can be saved across reboots.
  • Safety Mechanisms
    The tool implements safety checks to prevent accidental data loss by ensuring users have the opportunity to confirm their actions before any changes to the drive are made.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    mkusb is compatible with various operating systems including Windows, macOS, and Linux, which makes it a versatile tool for users regardless of their primary OS.

Possible disadvantages of mkusb

  • Limited Advanced Features
    While mkusb offers all the necessary features for average users, it may lack some advanced features that more experienced users might require.
  • Performance
    The speed of creating bootable USB drives with mkusb may not be as fast as some other dedicated command-line tools, potentially making it a less efficient choice for users who need to create multiple drives quickly.
  • Dependency on External Libraries
    mkusb relies on certain external libraries and tools, which may cause compatibility issues or require additional installations on some systems.
  • Resource Intensive
    The graphical nature of mkusb can make it slightly more resource-intensive compared to command-line only alternatives, which might be a consideration for users with older hardware.
  • Less Frequent Updates
    The tool might not receive updates as frequently as some other more community-active projects, potentially leading to slower integration of new features or bug fixes.

Win32 Disk Imager features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    The application features a simple and intuitive interface, making it accessible even for beginners.
  • Portability
    Win32 Disk Imager is a lightweight application and doesn't require installation. It can be run from a portable storage device.
  • Free and Open Source
    The software is available for free and its source code is open to the public, allowing for community contributions and transparency.
  • Reliable Image Writing
    It provides reliable and accurate writing of raw disk image files to removable storage devices.
  • Wide Format Support
    Supports writing and reading to and from various image file formats including .img and .iso.

Possible disadvantages of Win32 Disk Imager

  • Limited Features
    Win32 Disk Imager lacks advanced features found in other disk imaging tools, such as compression and encryption.
  • Platform Limitation
    The software is only available for Windows, excluding users on other operating systems like macOS or Linux.
  • No Native File Extraction
    The application doesn't support extracting files from images; you can only read and write entire images.
  • Potential Data Loss
    As with any disk writing software, there's a risk of data loss if the process is interrupted or if the wrong drive is selected.
  • Outdated Interface
    The user interface looks dated compared to more modern software, which might not appeal to some users.

mkusb videos

Make a persistent Linux usb drive with mkusb

More videos:

  • Tutorial - mkusb, a tutorial on how to burn isos to usbs in less than 5
  • Tutorial - How to install mkusb on Linux Mint 20.2

Win32 Disk Imager videos

How To | Create An SD Card Backup Image | Win32 Disk Imager Review | Microsoft Windows

More videos:

  • Review - Burning IMG files to SD Cards with Win32 Disk Imager

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to mkusb and Win32 Disk Imager)
Bootable USB
100 100%
0% 0
Cyber Security
0 0%
100% 100
Utilities
38 38%
62% 62
Backup & Restore
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare mkusb and Win32 Disk Imager

mkusb Reviews

We have no reviews of mkusb yet.
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Win32 Disk Imager Reviews

14 Rufus alternatives for Linux, Mac, and windows
Win32 Disk Imager is a popular tool targeted at the Windows platform. Version 0.9 of the tool can also flash older legacy systems such as Windows XP and Vista.
10 Best Rufus Alternatives for Windows, Linux, and macOS - Beebom
Win32 Disk Imager is one of the oldest programs for flashing low-level utilities like Raspbian and ARM-based operating systems on SD cards and USB sticks. In true sense, Win32 Disk Imager is a Rufus alternative because the performance is exceptionally great and the flashing speed is in its own league. And that is not all, the user interface is as simple as it can get. You...

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, mkusb seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 1 time since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

mkusb mentions (1)

  • Ubuntu's version of mksub on Arch?
    Hello everyone, I have previously used mkusb and mkusb-dus on Ubuntu to make live USB sticks for various distros. However, I can't find that version available for Arch. I've found the githubversion on the AUR, but the github version clearly states that it is NOT related to Ubuntu's version. Does anyone know if I can somehow get Ubuntu's version "do USB stuff" on Arch? Source: about 4 years ago

Win32 Disk Imager mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Win32 Disk Imager yet. Tracking of Win32 Disk Imager recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing mkusb and Win32 Disk Imager, you can also consider the following products

Mac Linux USB Loader - A linux live USB maker for Mac OS X

Clonezilla - Clonezilla is a suite of software that's designed to allow you to back-up and image new hard drives with your data.

Rufus - Rufus is a piece of software that allows you to transform a portable drive, like a flash drive or other USB drives, into a bootable drive that can be used for a variety of purposes. Read more about Rufus.

KDE ISO Image Writer - KDE ISO Image Writer is a tool to write a .iso file to a USB disk.

Macrium Reflect - Macrium Software - the creators of Macrium Reflect backup, imaging and cloning software.

Tuxboot - Tuxboot helps you to create a bootable Live USB drive for Clonezilla live, DRBL live, GParted live...