Suggestions appear as you type. Use the up and down arrows to choose one and Enter to open it.

This page's audience our own tag's counts — open to see them
–Visits
–Page views
–Clicks to vendors
–Time on page
–Reading now
Clicks to vendors, by tool
  • –
Top countries
  • –
Devices
  • –

– · visits, page views and clicks counted by our own tag, which counts more than our checked analytics; every figure rounded down · how we count

Head-to-head · Boot Manager Software

Clover Bootloader vs rEFInd

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 7 checks side by side
Higher score Clover Bootloader #2 in Boot Manager Software 8.8/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 5 of 6 features Visit Clover
rEFInd #8 in Boot Manager Software 7.9/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 6 of 6 features Visit rEFInd

Clover Bootloader leads on 0 checks, rEFInd on 0, and 7 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 7 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreClover Bootloader · 8.8/10
  • Free planboth
  • Most featuresrEFInd · 6 of 6

Clover Bootloader scores higher on our rubric for boot manager software: 8.8 against 7.9 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #8.

Clover Bootloader is the better fit for free customizable Windows, macOS, and Linux booting. rEFInd is the better fit for free graphical multiboot across major desktop systems.

  • Clover Bootloader fits best

    Free customizable Windows, macOS, and Linux booting

  • rEFInd fits best

    Free graphical multiboot across major desktop systems

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Clover Bootloader 8.8/10 Visit ↗ rEFInd 7.9/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.8 7.9
Ranking #2 in Boot Manager Software #8 in Boot Manager Software
Best for Free customizable Windows, macOS, and Linux booting Free graphical multiboot across major desktop systems
Pricing model Free Free
Starting price Free plan Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Desktop Self-hosted
Platforms Windows, macOS, Linux Windows, macOS, Linux
Support Community, Docs Email, Docs
Features Clover Bootloader 5/6 · rEFInd 6/6
UEFI support ✓ ✓
BIOS support ✓ ✓
Multiboot support ✓ ✓
Boot-entry editing ✓ ✓
Boot repair Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Boot-menu customization ✓ ✓
Specs
Operating systems Multiplatform Multiplatform
Our review
Pros
  • Supports macOS, Windows, and Linux across UEFI and legacy BIOS systems
  • Offers custom entries, default loaders, hidden entries, and NVRAM management
  • Adds themes, visual assets, mouse support, and EFI shell launching
  • Automatically scans EFI, BIOS/CSM, and firmware boot options
  • Supports Linux kernel booting, legacy BIOS systems, and Secure Boot
  • Offers editable entries, kernel options, themes, and filesystem drivers
Cons
  • Its extensive configuration is aimed at users comfortable with boot settings
  • Legacy BIOS and UEFI installations follow different configuration paths
  • Its scope is boot management rather than broader operating-system administration
  • The project describes the software as beta-quality
  • Advanced boot configuration can require manual entries and option editing
  • Its primary design is for EFI-based computers
Our verdict

Clover Bootloader is a free, open-source boot manager for systems running macOS, Windows, and Linux. It supports both UEFI firmware and legacy BIOS mode, giving multiboot users a graphical picker for selecting operating systems and…

Read the review →

rEFInd is an open-source graphical boot manager for EFI-based computers. It is designed for people who need to select among multiple operating systems, boot loaders, kernels, or firmware utilities from one menu. Packages and installation…

Read the review →
  1. Clover BootloaderBoot Manager Software 8.8Free plan
  2. rEFIndBoot Manager Software 7.9Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Clover Bootloader — where it wins

    • Supports macOS, Windows, and Linux across UEFI and legacy BIOS systems
    • Offers custom entries, default loaders, hidden entries, and NVRAM management
    • Adds themes, visual assets, mouse support, and EFI shell launching

    Where it doesn't

    • Its extensive configuration is aimed at users comfortable with boot settings
    • Legacy BIOS and UEFI installations follow different configuration paths
    • Its scope is boot management rather than broader operating-system administration

  • rEFInd — where it wins

    • Automatically scans EFI, BIOS/CSM, and firmware boot options
    • Supports Linux kernel booting, legacy BIOS systems, and Secure Boot
    • Offers editable entries, kernel options, themes, and filesystem drivers

    Where it doesn't

    • The project describes the software as beta-quality
    • Advanced boot configuration can require manual entries and option editing
    • Its primary design is for EFI-based computers

More comparisons

All boot manager software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update