balenaEtcher

Overview

balenaEtcher (formerly known as Etcher) is a free, open-source, cross-platform tool for burning operating system images (such as .iso, .img, and .zip files) to SD cards or USB flash drives, creating bootable storage media. Developed by Balena, it's based on the Electron framework and supports Windows, macOS, and Linux . Designed for ease of use, security, and speed, balenaEtcher is suitable for both beginners and experts. Its intuitive graphical user interface (GUI) simplifies the burning process and eliminates complex configuration. It also supports a command-line interface (CLI) for automated tasks (reference). balenaEtcher is licensed under the Apache License 2.0 and is widely used to create bootable media for Linux, Windows, and macOS, particularly popular within the Raspberry Pi community.

History and Development

• Origin:
  • 2013: Developed by Resin.io (now Balena), the original intention was to provide a simple image burning tool for Raspberry Pi users, addressing SD card quality and compatibility issues.
  • 2016: Etcher 1.0 was released, based on the Electron framework, supporting Windows, macOS, and Linux, and providing both a GUI and a CLI.
  • October 2018: Resin.io was renamed Balena, and Etcher was renamed balenaEtcher.
• Development History:
  • 2019: Verification functionality was added to ensure media integrity after burning.
  • 2021: Support for burning images directly from URLs was added, and USB boot support for the Raspberry Pi was enhanced.
  • 2023: Optimized the interface, reduced resource usage, and support for ZSTD compressed images.
  • July 2025: balenaEtcher 2.1.4 released, supporting arm64 and x64 architectures, fixing Windows signing issues, and providing .deb, .rpm, and AppImage formats.
• Community and Support:
  • Maintained by the Balena team and the open source community, the GitHub repository (github.com/balena-io/etcher) has 28,000 stars.
  • Support channels: Balena forums (forums.balena.io), GitHub Issues, and official documentation (etcher.balena.io).
  • User feedback: "balenaEtcher has a simple interface, fast flashing speed, and is suitable for beginners."
• Open Source License:
  • Apache License 2.0.

Key Features

balenaEtcher is designed with simplicity, security, and cross-platform functionality in mind, making it suitable for burning Linux and other system images. Here are its key features:

1. Intuitive Graphical Interface
   • Single-window interface with a three-step process: select the image (.iso, .img, .zip, etc.), select the drive, and click "Flash."
   • Hide the local hard drive to prevent accidental erasures.
2. Cross-Platform Support
   • Supports Windows, macOS, and Linux (.deb, .rpm, AppImage).
   • Supports ARM64 and x64 architectures, making it suitable for Raspberry Pi.
3. Verification and Security
   • Automatically verifies image integrity after burning to prevent corruption.
   • Supported formats: ISO, IMG, ZIP, DMG, DSK, RAW, XZ, BZ2, HDDIMG, GZ, and ETCH.
4. Command Line Interface (CLI)
   • A CLI is provided, making it suitable for automated scripts.
5. Raspberry Pi and IoT Support
   • Directly supports USB booting for Raspberry Pi and is compatible with balenaCloud device management.
6. Privacy and Security
   • No ads by default, data collection issues will be fixed in 2025.

Advantages and Limitations

Advantages

• Ease of Use:
  • Three-step operation (select image, drive, and flash), suitable for beginners, better than the complex configuration of Rufus.
  • Post X says "balenaEtcher creates a bootable USB in three easy steps."
• Cross-Platform:
  • Supports Windows, macOS, and Linux.
• Verification:
  • Automatically verifies the integrity of the burned file, reducing the risk of corruption.
• Open Source and Free:
  • Apache License 2.0, no ads, no paid features.
• Community Support:
  • Active support is available on GitHub and the Balena forum.

Limitations

• Privacy Controversy:
  • A previous version (1.4.4) sparked controversy over data collection (e.g., image name, USB model), leading to Tails Linux no longer recommending it.
  • Resolution: Privacy issues will be fixed in version 2.1.4, 2025.
• Resource Usage:
  • The Electron framework results in a large file size (150-190 MB), consuming 1-2 GB of RAM.
  • Resolution: Use the CLI or a lightweight alternative like Ventoy.
• Limited Configuration Options:
  • No support for partition selection or advanced formatting, less flexible than Rufus.
• Windows ISO Issues:
  • Some users have reported Windows ISO burning failures.
  • Solution: Use Rufus or Windows Media Creation Tool.

Summary

balenaEtcher is a free, open-source, cross-platform image burning tool based on the Electron framework. It supports Windows, macOS, and Linux. Designed for simplicity, security, and speed, it's ideal for creating bootable SD cards or USB drives. The latest version, 2.1.4 (July 2025), supports multiple formats (ISO, IMG, ZIP, etc.), offers both a GUI and CLI, automatically verifies burn integrity, and is compatible with Raspberry Pi and IoT devices. Compared to Ventoy (which boots multiple ISOs), Rufus (Windows-only), and Fedora Media Writer (which is lightweight), balenaEtcher's simplicity and cross-platform support make it more suitable for beginners.