Best Free Rufus Alternative for Windows 11/10/8/7

What is Rufus?

Rufus, short for "The Reliable USB Formatting Utility, with Source," is a versatile software tool primarily used for formatting and creating bootable USB drives or Live USBs on Microsoft Windows operating systems. It is free, open-source, and portable, making it a popular choice for users needing to install operating systems or run diagnostic tools from a USB drive.

This software can also help you create multiboot USB, which allows you to install multiple Windows OSs on the same device. Although it was mainly introduced for Windows installations, it is also used for Linux installations.

Why Need Rufus Alternative?

While Rufus is a fantastic tool, there are situations where you might want to explore Rufus alternatives on Windows 10, 11, or other systems, such as:

Rufus bootable USB not working

Rufus non-bootable

Rufus can't find device

Rufus copying ISO files stuck

Rufus not running/opening/working on Windows 11/10

...

Or, perhaps you're looking for a solution with additional features, better compatibility, or a more user-friendly interface. Whatever the reason, having Rufus alternative for Windows ensures you can choose the best tool for your specific needs.

Note: With the update to version 4.0 of Rufus, it increased its minimum version requirement to require Windows 8 or higher.

Best Free Rufus Alternative for Windows 11/10/8/7

When it comes to an free alternative to Rufus for Windows 10, AOMEI Backupper Standard stands out as a reliable and feature-rich option. Here are some key features that make it a top choice:

⌛ Creating bootable media - It is capable of creating bootable USB, DVD/CD, and enables you to export ISO files to a removable device.
⌛ Various backup options - It can create system backup, disk backup, partition backup, and file backup to external disk, network drive, NAS, cloud storage, and other locations.
⌛ High versatility - You can use it to create bootable media for both Windows PE-based and Linux kernel-based.
⌛ Wide support - It works perfectly on all Windows systems, including Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7/Vista/XP. For server users, please try AOMEI Backupper Server.

How to Create Bootable USB with Rufus Free Alternative

To run this Rufus alternative for Windows 7/8/10/11 for bootable USB creation, you can follow the simple and straightforward below:

Step 1. Under the Tools tab, choose Create Bootable Media from the menu.

Step 2. Select the needed bootable disc type, e.g. Windows PE, and click Next.

• Linux - Create bootable disc based on Linux kernel: A functionally restricted rescue media, and you can only use it to perform restore and clone operations.
• Windows PE - Create bootable disc based on Windows PE: A more flexible, customizable (add custom drivers) rescue media, which allows you to start backup/restore/clone within it.

Step 3. Choose USB Boot Device, and hit Next. And follow the on-screen to begin the process.

★Tips:

To ensure that you can use the bootable USB to restore your system when necessary, it is recommended to create your system backup image regularly. You can use its Schedule Backup feature to run the backup daily, weekly, monthly, event triggers, or USB plug in.

If you don’t have a USB or CD/DVD, you can enable AOMEI recovery environment, which allows you to perform system backup restore when the system crashes. (Available in Pro version)

Other 3 Bootable USB Creators

If you are exploring other Rufus alternatives for Windows 10, there are 3 more options for you.

Option 1. Windows Media Creation Tool

The Windows Media Creation Tool is a utility provided by Microsoft to facilitate tasks such as creating installation media, upgrading your system, or reinstalling Windows. Here's what it offers:

• Creating Installation Media: You can use the tool to create a bootable USB drive or DVD for installing Windows.
• Upgrading Windows: It enables upgrading your current system to a newer version of Windows, such as upgrading to Windows 11 from Windows 10.
• Reinstalling Windows: You can use it to reinstall Windows on your system if something malfunctions or if you want a fresh installation.

Option 2. Ventoy

Ventoy is an open-source tool designed to create bootable USB drives for ISO, WIM, IMG, VHD, and EFI files. It serves as a bootloader for USB drives, allowing users to store and boot multiple ISO files from a single USB device. Here's an overview of Ventoy:

• Ease of Use: It simplifies the process of creating bootable USB drives, eliminating the need to format the disk repeatedly. Users only need to copy their desired ISO files onto the USB drive without any additional formatting steps.
• Multi-function: Ventoy supports various file formats, including ISO, WIM, IMG, VHD, and EFI, providing flexibility for different operating systems and utilities.

Option 3. Etcher

Etcher, also known as balenaEtcher, is a free and open-source utility designed for writing image files like .iso, .img, and zipped folders onto storage media such as SD cards and USB flash drives. It simplifies the process of creating bootable USB drives or SD cards by providing a user-friendly interface for flashing operating system images.

• Cross-platform Compatibility: It is compatible with multiple operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux, making it accessible to a wide range of users.
• Ease of Use: It ensures safe and easy flashing of OS images onto storage media, offering a straightforward workflow without the need for complex configurations

Final Words

When it comes to how to create bootable USB drives without Rufus, having a reliable Rufus alternative for Windows 10 is essential. Whether you prefer feature-rich utilities like AOMEI Backupper or other streamlined tools like Ventoy and Etcher, there's a Rufus alternative out there to suit your needs.

With the all-in-one backup and recovery software, you can create bootable media, and enjoy other powerful features, such as Backup, Restore, Clone, Sync, etc.

Additionally, if you prefer onekey system backup and perform quick restore without USB or any other media, AOMEI OneKey Recovery is also worth a try.