Ventoy review
A free, open-source multiboot USB utility with broad image and boot-mode support.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Ventoy is an open-source utility for creating bootable USB drives on Windows and Linux. It is designed for users who need one drive to hold multiple ISO, WIM, IMG, VHD(x), or EFI files. After Ventoy is installed, users can copy image files to the drive without repeatedly formatting or extracting them, then select an image from a boot menu. Its audience includes multiboot users, Linux users who need persistence, and people preparing Windows or Linux installation media.
The main strength is breadth within bootable USB creation. Ventoy supports MBR and GPT partition styles, IA32 and x86_64 UEFI Secure Boot, and Linux persistence through persistence data files. It can also support Windows and Linux automatic installation, browse and boot supported image files from local disks, and store multiple images across folders. These capabilities make it suitable when a single USB drive must serve several installation, recovery, or live-system purposes.
Ventoy is free and open source, with Windows GUI and CLI installation methods and Linux GUI and CLI installation methods. It does not provide a macOS application, and its image workflow is local-only, so users need to supply the image files they want to boot. Choose Ventoy when multiboot support, image-format coverage, persistence, and partition flexibility matter more than a macOS workflow or built-in image downloads. Users seeking a simpler single-image tool may prefer a narrower utility.
Ventoy pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Boots ISO, WIM, IMG, VHD(x), and EFI files directly
- Supports multiboot, Linux persistence, MBR/GPT, and Secure Boot
- Offers Windows and Linux GUI and CLI installation methods
- Where it doesn't
- Does not provide a macOS application
- Image downloads are local-only
- Compatibility depends on the image files and boot hardware
Ventoy fact sheet, pricing and score →
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