8 Rufus alternatives for Mac: Tried and tested

As a former Windows user, Rufus was my favorite tool for creating bootable drives. I wasn’t familiar with the value of these drives until I started using them to recover data and switch between operating systems for gaming purposes. And these functions are just as important on Mac, which is why so many people search for a Rufus equivalent for Mac.

The beauty of macOS is that you can install a variety of third-party apps that match the clean, easy-to-use interface and are equally functional. I’m going to go over some alternatives to Rufus on Mac.

What is a Rufus?

In a nutshell, Rufus is an open-source tool that lets anyone create bootable USB drives. It’s quick and easy to use, with a variety of features like partition schemes and advanced formats. The program is popular among tech enthusiasts, gamers, developers, and general Windows users for its versatility and ability to help with a range of functions.

Is there a Rufus for Mac?

Rufus is designed especially for the Windows operating system, which means it's entirely incompatible with macOS. Mac has its own tools for creating bootable drives through Terminal and Disk Utility, which are handy enough, but if you’re searching for a more user-friendly alternative, I’ve put together this list below, along with a table for a quick overview:

Rufus alternative	Why users love it
Disk Drill	Full data recovery tool to create bootable byte-to-byte disk images.
balenaEtcher	Open-source program to write image files and zipped folders.
WinDiskWriter	Lightweight Rufus alternative that supports a variety of ISO files.
Raspberry Pi Imager	Creates bootable SD cards or USB drives specifically for Raspberry Pi projects.
DiskMaker X	Stripped-down tool for creating bootable drives for recovery or for reinstalling macOS.
Ventoy	Copy ISO files right to the USB drive without having to format the drive every time.
UNetbootin	Supports both persistent and non-persistent storage.
Install Disk Creator	Straightforward tool to create bootable USB drives to install or reinstall macOS.

Best Rufus alternatives for Mac

Without further ado, let’s go over the eight top alternatives to Rufus for macOS. Not all of them are exact replicas of the app, but they come with unique functions you’ll probably find incredibly useful.

1. Disk Drill: Powerful recovery tool with byte-to-byte backup

We’ve all been through the nightmare of trying to find a file that we swear was on our computer, only to realize it’s long gone. Disk Drill is a top-rated data recovery app that lets you detect lost files and restore them. Users can make bootable byte-to-byte disk images by simply using the Byte-to-byte Backup function under the Extra Tools section. The tool creates an exact copy of your hard drive or a partition, so if your Mac’s hard drive ever fails, you’ll be ay-okay.

What I like:

✅ Compatible with all popular devices like iPhone, iPad, Android, and USB and SD cards.

✅ Use Finder to find recovered data.

What’s missing:

❌ Lacks advanced bootable drive creation options as a data recovery tool.

2. balenaEtcher: Live USB drives and SD cards

Formerly just known as “Etcher,” balenaEtcher is an open-source utility like Rufus that lets users write image files and zipped folders to create live USB drives and SD cards. That means it can put operating systems or recovery tools onto these drives for easy installation or troubleshooting. An extra bonus is that balenaEtcher verifies that written data so you can avoid corruption, and it has plenty of versatility whether you want to set up a Raspberry Pi project or run a live environment.

What I like:

✅ Open-source, actively maintained by the community.

✅ Supports multiple file formats, including ISO, IMG, and ZIP.

What’s missing:

❌ Only supports disk image files and can’t be used for non-image-based tasks.

3. WinDiskWriter: Easy bootable USB creation

WinDiskWriter is a super user-friendly “Rufus for Mac” because it doesn’t require a ton of setup and lets you create bootable USB drives in no time. While it’s designed for Windows, it can run on macOS, too, as it’s written in Objective-C for high compatibility with older versions of macOS.

Source: github.com

What I like:

✅ Lightweight and straightforward, easy for beginners to use.

✅ Supports a variety of ISO files.

What’s missing:

❌ Limited advanced options as it’s designed with ease of use in mind.

4. Raspberry Pi Imager: Bootable media for Pi projects and beyond

As the name suggests, the Raspberry Pi Imager is made to create bootable SD cards or USB drives specifically for Raspberry Pi projects. Despite its primary use, though, you can also use it to install other operating systems, which is particularly useful if you want to access certain programs that are only compatible with certain systems.

What I like:

✅ Choose from a range of pre-configured operating systems.

✅ Set preferences before writing the operating system image.

What’s missing:

❌ Not as versatile for non-Raspberry Pi systems.

5. DiskMaker X

DiskMaker X pairs perfectly with macOS installer apps (ones downloaded from the App Store) to create bootable drives for recovery or for reinstalling macOS. Naturally, it won’t be packed with features like Rufus or its Mac alternatives, but it’s efficient and simple if you’re looking for a program that caters to these specific needs.

What I like:

✅ Specifically designed for macOS.

✅ Quick and easy process, ideal for beginners.

What’s missing:

❌ Basic functionality with no support for custom ISOs.

6. Ventoy: Multi-ISO booting for ultimate flexibility

Ventoy has a leg up over Rufus in that it can copy ISO files right to the USB drive without having to format the drive every time. Can you imagine storing multiple ISO files on one drive and being able to choose which one to boost up when starting your computer? It’s certainly a handy feature that suits you if you like having multiple options in reach at all times.

What I like:

✅ Drag and drop new ISO files without reformatting.

✅ Cross-platform support for a variety of operating systems like Linux and Windows.

What’s missing:

❌ No graphical interface for customization.

7. UNetbootin: Cross-platform bootable USB made easy

UNetbootin is compatible with macOS, Linux, and Windows, making it a go-to if you value cross-platform compatibility. It’s a stripped-down tool that doesn’t require you to be overly tech-savvy, with a three-step process that lets you choose the ISO file, target the USB drive, and click OK. It supports both persistent storage (save files on the bootable drive) and non-persistent storage (temporary boot).

What I like:

✅ Supports persistent storage.

✅ Lightweight and intuitive.

What’s missing:

❌ Less intuitive as it favors Linux-based OSes over macOS.

8. Install Disk Creator

Install Disk Creator is another program specific to macOS, as it centers around creating bootable USB drives to install or reinstall macOS. Supporting macOS installations from several versions, it has a no-fluff approach that does exactly what it says out of the box.

What I like:

✅ No-frills solution.

✅ Mac-native.

What’s missing:

❌ Fairly basic and lacks advanced options.

How to choose the best Rufus equivalent?

Like with any choice, picking your Rufus equivalent all depends on your preferences and needs. Suffering from decision paralysis? Let me help you figure things out:

• What features does it have? Are you interested in having loads of features available, or are you more interested in getting the basics done well? Check to see that it supports the file formats you want and whether it can help with a range of functions or just one.
• Is it easy to use? Will you need a lot of technical knowledge to use the tool, or is it built for beginners?
• Is the alternative specifically made for Mac? Is it tailored to macOS users, or does it primarily support other operating systems, such as Linux?
• Is there a free trial or demo? Testing a program is the best way to see whether it lines up with what it says it does and what you believe it does.

Ready to choose your Rufus macOS alternative?

As you can see, there’s no shortage of programs to help create bootable drives on macOS. Rufus might be a great tool on Windows, but moving over to macOS doesn’t mean abandoning all those useful features altogether. Whether you prioritize customizability, variety, or simplicity, one of these apps on my list is sure to do the trick.

If you want an app that can give you peace of mind with retrieving lost files and creating byte-to-byte disk images, why not try out Disk Drill on Setapp — a subscription app that gives you access to 250+ iOS and macOS apps? Start your 7-day free trial today!