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Developer Tools · head to head

Ansible vs Manjaro

Ansible logo

Ansible

Developer Tools

Simple, agentless IT automation

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Manjaro logo

Manjaro

Operating Systems

Arch-based Linux distribution with an installer and sane defaults

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Ansible the open source project gives the engine and the language; the automation controller, automation mesh, automation hub, analytics and governance all belong to the paid Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform; Manjaro holding packages back from Arch can break AUR packages built against current Arch, which is its best-known complaint
  • They diverge on capability: Ansible covers Playbooks, Manjaro covers Graphical installer.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Ansible and Manjaro actually diverge.

Attributes where Ansible and Manjaro differ
AttributeAnsibleManjaro
Pricing modelopen-sourceOpen source, no licence fee
PlatformsLinux, Windows, Mac, ApiLinux, Desktop
CategoryDeveloper ToolsOperating Systems
Founded2012Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Ansible

  • Playbooks
  • Inventory management
  • Module library
  • Variables and templating
  • Handlers
  • Roles
  • Async tasks
  • Plugins

Only in Manjaro

  • Graphical installer
  • Delayed updates
  • Hardware detection
  • Multiple desktops

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Ansible

  • Configuration managementnot Manjaro
  • Server provisioningnot Manjaro
  • Application deploymentnot Manjaro
  • Multi-node managementnot Manjaro
  • Orchestrationnot Manjaro

Manjaro

  • Wanting Arch and the AUR without the manual installnot Ansible
  • Desktops needing current package versions with some stability buffernot Ansible
  • Hardware that benefits from automatic proprietary driver handlingnot Ansible

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Ansible

  • The open source project gives the engine and the language; the automation controller, automation mesh, automation hub, analytics and governance all belong to the paid Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform
  • Event-Driven Ansible and the AI coding assistant are platform features rather than open source ones
  • Red Hat does not publish platform pricing
  • Running open source Ansible at scale means building the control plane the platform otherwise provides

Manjaro

  • Holding packages back from Arch can break AUR packages built against current Arch, which is its best-known complaint
  • Still a rolling release, so updates can require intervention and are not fit-and-forget
  • The project has had public incidents around expired certificates and governance that dented confidence
  • Not as current as Arch nor as stable as a fixed-release distribution, which is the cost of sitting between them

Pricing, plan by plan

Ansible

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • Community edition
    • Unlimited nodes
    • Full functionality
  • Ansible Automation Platform$5000/year
    • Enterprise support
    • Ansible Tower
    • Advanced features

Manjaro

Free
  • ManjaroFree
    • Full functionality
    • Commercial use permitted
    • Community support

Which should you pick?

Choose Ansible if

  • You need playbooks.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Windows, Mac, Api.
  • You also want inventory management.
Ansible review

Choose Manjaro if

  • You need graphical installer.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Desktop.
  • You also want delayed updates.
Manjaro review

Questions people ask

Is Ansible or Manjaro better?
Neither clearly leads. Ansible starts at Free and Manjaro at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Ansible or Manjaro?
Ansible starts at Free and Manjaro at Free.
Does Ansible or Manjaro run on more platforms?
Ansible runs on Linux, Windows, Mac, Api. Manjaro runs on Linux, Desktop.
Can I use Ansible for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Ansible best used for?
Ansible is most often used for configuration management, server provisioning, application deployment, multi-node management. Of those, configuration management and server provisioning are not what Manjaro is typically brought in for.
What can Ansible do that Manjaro cannot?
Ansible covers Playbooks, Inventory management, Module library, Variables and templating. Manjaro covers Graphical installer, Delayed updates, Hardware detection, Multiple desktops.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Ansible: Is Ansible free for commercial use?

Ansible Collaborative is open source. The page describes it as 'an open source IT automation engine' and does not impose restrictions on commercial use for the open source version.

Source
Manjaro: Is Manjaro free?

Yes, entirely free and open source.

Ansible: What is the difference between open source Ansible and the commercial alternative?

The page references Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform as an enterprise alternative to Ansible Collaborative, but does not disclose specific differences, pricing, or feature comparisons between the two offerings.

Source
Manjaro: Is Manjaro the same as Arch?

It is based on Arch and uses pacman and the AUR, but holds packages back for testing and ships a graphical installer, so it is not identical.

Ansible: Is there paid support available for Ansible?

The page does not disclose whether paid support contracts are available for open source Ansible or whether Red Hat offers support plans for their enterprise Ansible Automation Platform.

Source
Manjaro: Why can AUR packages break on Manjaro?

AUR packages are built against current Arch. Manjaro delays packages, so an AUR build can expect a library version Manjaro has not shipped yet.

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