If you need to install Windows on a Mac or reinstall macOS, a bootable USB flash drive can come in handy, especially when you need to do a fresh install or troubleshoot your current macOS or earlier versions of macOS. Or you want to create a USB installer from the Windows.ISO on your Mac, to use for installing Windows on other computers or dual Windows and macOS.
Rufus is a program that helps format and create bootable USB flash drives from ISO files. It can be used to create a bootable USB drive to install Windows 7, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, Windows 11 or Linux. Rufus is a small, portable program that doesn’t need to be installed and can be run from any location.
For Mac, Rufus doesn’t have an official release, however, there are some alternatives to Rufus that can be used to create a bootable USB drive from an ISO file.
Best Rufus Alternatives for Mac
Some of the best Rufus alternatives for Mac include:
Etcher
Etcher is a free, open-source software for Windows, macOS and Linux that allows you to burn images to your storage drive. It is developed by Balena and features an image validation feature that makes sure your images are correctly burned.
SD card and USB flash drive support is included, and it works on the latest versions of macOS. Etcher is very fast and easy to use, making it a great option for burning images. One of the best features of Etcher is its user-interfaces which is extremely simple and easy to understand how to use. Just three steps and you’re done!
- Easy to use
- Free and open source
- Fast and reliable
- Supports SD cards and USB flash drives
- Works on the latest versions of macOS
- Lacks GBT and MBR partition options.
How to use:
1. Download and install Etcher from their website.
2. Connect your storage drive to your computer .
3. Select the image you want to burn, select your storage drive and click “Flash”.
4. Wait for the process to finish.
5. Done! You can now boot from your storage drive.
Unetbootin
Unetbootin is an easy-to-use, yet powerful software that allows you to create bootable USB drives from ISO files. It’s mainly designed for Linux distributions, but can also be used to create bootable drives for Windows and macOS. However, it does not have SD card support or UEFI mode, and also is not compatible with macOS Big Sur and later.
- Easy to use
- Can create bootable drives from ISO files
- Mainly designed for Linux distributions
- No SD card support
- No UEFI mode
- Not compatible with macOS Big Sur and later
UUbyte ISO Editor
UUbyte ISO Editor is a software that helps users to create, edit and manage ISO images. It offers a modern user interface with many features that make the process of creating and editing ISO images much easier. The software supports UEFI boot, which means that it can be used to create installation disks for computers that use this type of booting system.
There are many user tutorials available for those who need help using the software. UUbyte ISO Editor is compatible with macOS 10.12 and above (Intel and M1 Mac). However, UUbyte ISO Editor is a paid software. There is a free trial version available for users to try before they purchase the software. The fee for the software is $29.95.
- Modern UI makes the software easy to use
- Supports UEFI Boot
- Copy Disc Content
- Many user tutorials are available
- The software is not free
FAQs
What is Rufus?
Rufus is a program that helps format and create bootable USB flash drives. It can be used to create a bootable USB drive to install Windows or Linux. To use Rufus, connect your USB flash drive to your computer and launch the program.
Select the ISO file you want to use to create your bootable USB drive and click “Start”. Wait for the process to finish and then you can boot from your USB drive.
What are some alternatives to Rufus for Mac?
Some alternatives to Rufus for Mac include Etcher, Unetbootin, UUbyte ISO Editor. There are Deepin Boot Maker, and ROSA Image Writer; however, these last two options are not updated as frequently and may not be compatible with the latest versions of macOS.
Which is the best alternative to Rufus for Mac?
The best alternative to Rufus for Mac would be Etcher. It’s free and open source, easy to use and fast. Plus, it supports SD cards and USB flash drives. Another great feature is that it works on the latest versions of macOS.
Is it possible to run Rufus on a Mac?
No, it is not possible to run Rufus on a Mac. The only way to run Rufus on a Mac is to use Boot Camp or Parallels Desktop.
Conclusion
Rufus is a great program to use to create bootable USB drives. It’s easy to use and fast. However, it is not possible to run Rufus on a Mac. If you need to create a bootable USB drive on a Mac, you can use an alternative such as Etcher, Unetbootin, or UUbyte ISO Editor.
We hope this article helped you learn more about Rufus and its alternatives for Mac. If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to leave us a comment below.
