# Alternative to Etcher to write images: USBImager **URL:** \ **Category:** Getting Started\ **Created:** [31 October 2020 16:04 UTC](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/t/alternative-to-etcher-to-write-images-usbimager/15862 "2020-10-31T16:04:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![borpin](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/user_avatar/community.openenergymonitor.org/borpin/32/193_2.png) [@borpin](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/u/borpin)\ **Post date:** [31 October 2020 16:04 UTC](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/t/alternative-to-etcher-to-write-images-usbimager/15862/1 "2020-10-31T16:04:50Z")
I have just come across this tool [USBImager](https://gitlab.com/bztsrc/usbimager/) as an alternative to Balena Etcher. Works on more platforms, is a standalone exe on Windows and allows for the reading (and compressing) of images from a USB (SDCard). Might be useful and give a smaller image to download @TrystanLea. Here’s a link to the binaries: > **[Files · binaries · bzt / usbimager](https://gitlab.com/bztsrc/usbimager/tree/binaries)** > > A very minimal GUI app that can write compressed disk images to USB drives ---
**Author:** ![Bill.Thomson](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/user_avatar/community.openenergymonitor.org/bill.thomson/32/1834_2.png) [@Bill.Thomson](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/u/Bill.Thomson)\ **Post date:** [31 October 2020 17:47 UTC](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/t/alternative-to-etcher-to-write-images-usbimager/15862/2 "2020-10-31T17:47:25Z")
Looks good. NO dependencies, multi-platform, small file size and no spyware/adware. ![thumbsup](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/uploads/default/original/2X/3/3c587556c0cc11389317c03a60788d77ceebd307.gif) ![thumbs_up](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/uploads/default/original/3X/d/8/d8e66d6e7a955d91f407bd18c1689f01f267ea72.gif) ---
**Author:** ![Robert.Wall](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/user_avatar/community.openenergymonitor.org/robert.wall/32/38246_2.png) [@Robert.Wall](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/u/Robert.Wall)\ **Post date:** [31 October 2020 20:04 UTC](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/t/alternative-to-etcher-to-write-images-usbimager/15862/3 "2020-10-31T20:04:40Z")
It appears to have trouble finding the destination device if it isn’t plugged in \*\*\*before \*\*\* USBImager is started. And despite the name, it also recognises SD Cards. ---
**Author:** ![borpin](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/user_avatar/community.openenergymonitor.org/borpin/32/193_2.png) [@borpin](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/u/borpin)\ **Post date:** [31 October 2020 20:22 UTC](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/t/alternative-to-etcher-to-write-images-usbimager/15862/4 "2020-10-31T20:22:23Z")
> [@Robert.Wall](#): > > it also recognises SD Cards. Strictly speaking I think they are on the USB bus. ---
**Author:** ![Robert.Wall](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/user_avatar/community.openenergymonitor.org/robert.wall/32/38246_2.png) [@Robert.Wall](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/u/Robert.Wall)\ **Post date:** [31 October 2020 20:32 UTC](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/t/alternative-to-etcher-to-write-images-usbimager/15862/5 "2020-10-31T20:32:35Z")
I suspect most people not conversant with that would be led to believe that it’s for USB devices only - i.e. USB Flash Memory or USB Card Readers. I wanted to make it clear that built-in card readers are also catered for. ---
**Author:** ![borpin](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/user_avatar/community.openenergymonitor.org/borpin/32/193_2.png) [@borpin](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/u/borpin)\ **Post date:** [31 October 2020 20:37 UTC](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/t/alternative-to-etcher-to-write-images-usbimager/15862/6 "2020-10-31T20:37:54Z")
> [@Robert.Wall](#): > > I wanted to make it clear that built-in card readers are also catered for. I did include a reference to SD Card in my original post. As most folk plug the SD Card, into a device that then plugs into a USB slot, I don’t think there is much confusion to be had… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Robert.Wall](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/user_avatar/community.openenergymonitor.org/robert.wall/32/38246_2.png) [@Robert.Wall](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/u/Robert.Wall)\ **Post date:** [31 October 2020 20:46 UTC](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/t/alternative-to-etcher-to-write-images-usbimager/15862/7 "2020-10-31T20:46:27Z")
> [@borpin](#): > > As most folk plug the SD Card, into a device that then plugs into a USB slot, Really? Numbers? ---
**Author:** ![Bill.Thomson](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/user_avatar/community.openenergymonitor.org/bill.thomson/32/1834_2.png) [@Bill.Thomson](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/u/Bill.Thomson)\ **Post date:** [1 November 2020 01:08 UTC](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/t/alternative-to-etcher-to-write-images-usbimager/15862/8 "2020-11-01T01:08:08Z")
> [@borpin](#): > > Strictly speaking I think they are on the USB bus. Although they usually _are_ connected via an internal USB path, in some cases they are PCI or PCIe devices. >