Photon OS vs Raspberry Pi Imager
| Photon OS | Raspberry Pi Imager | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | No | No |
| Free trial | No | No |
| Paid from | — | — |
| Open source | No | No |
| Platforms | Linux | Linux |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Device types | Bare-metal systems, virtual machines, Raspberry Pi, cloud instances | Raspberry Pi computers; PC and Mac (Raspberry Pi Desktop) |
| CPU architectures | x86_64, ARM64/aarch64 | 32-bit and 64-bit |
| Support lifecycle | Security updates as needed; non-security package updates described in legacy FAQ as quarterly; no fixed duration verified | Regular free updates, including security patches; no fixed support duration stated |
| Built-in management | tdnf package manager; Photon Management Daemon; RPM OSTree; Network Configuration Manager | APT software and firmware updates; graphical Add / Remove Software; raspi-config / Control Centre |
| App compatibility | Docker and other container formats; Kubernetes; RPM packages via tdnf; RPM OSTree | APT package manager; desktop Add / Remove Software; 64-bit edition can run 32-bit software |
| Deployment models | Bare metal; VMware hypervisors; ISO installation; OVA appliance; AWS AMI; Google GCE image; Azure VHD; Raspberry Pi image | Installable disk image on Raspberry Pi boot media; PC and Mac image via Raspberry Pi Desktop |
Both are listed in Best Operating Systems. On The Geeks Club, Raspberry Pi Imager scores higher on our published basis.