Operating Systems · head to head
Arch Linux vs Manjaro
Arch Linux
Operating Systems
Rolling-release Linux distribution you assemble yourself
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Manjaro
Operating Systems
Arch-based Linux distribution with an installer and sane defaults
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Arch Linux installation and maintenance assume real Linux knowledge; there is no hand-holding by design; Manjaro holding packages back from Arch can break AUR packages built against current Arch, which is its best-known complaint
- They diverge on capability: Arch Linux covers Rolling release, Manjaro covers Graphical installer.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Arch Linux and Manjaro actually diverge.
| Attribute | Arch Linux | Manjaro |
|---|
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (Open source, no licence fee), free tier (Yes), platforms (Linux, Desktop), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Operating Systems).
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 Arch Linux
- Rolling release
- Minimal base
- Pacman and the AUR
- The Arch Wiki
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.
Arch Linux
- Developers who want current toolchain versions without backportingnot Manjaro
- Systems where every installed package should be a deliberate choicenot Manjaro
- Learning how a Linux system actually fits togethernot Manjaro
Manjaro
- Wanting Arch and the AUR without the manual installnot Arch Linux
- Desktops needing current package versions with some stability buffernot Arch Linux
- Hardware that benefits from automatic proprietary driver handlingnot Arch Linux
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Arch Linux
- Installation and maintenance assume real Linux knowledge; there is no hand-holding by design
- Rolling releases break: an update can require manual intervention, and reading the news before updating is genuinely expected
- Unsuitable for machines that must simply keep working without attention
- AUR packages are user-submitted and carry no security review
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
Arch Linux
Free- Arch LinuxFree
- Full operating system
- All updates
- Community support
Manjaro
Free- ManjaroFree
- Full functionality
- Commercial use permitted
- Community support
Which should you pick?
Choose Arch Linux if
- You need rolling release.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Linux, Desktop.
- You also want minimal base.
Choose Manjaro if
- You need graphical installer.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Linux, Desktop.
- You also want delayed updates.
Questions people ask
- Is Arch Linux or Manjaro better?
- Neither clearly leads. Arch Linux 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, Arch Linux or Manjaro?
- Arch Linux starts at Free and Manjaro at Free.
- Does Arch Linux or Manjaro run on more platforms?
- Both run on Linux, Desktop, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- Can I use Arch Linux for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Arch Linux best used for?
- Arch Linux is most often used for developers who want current toolchain versions without backporting, systems where every installed package should be a deliberate choice, learning how a linux system actually fits together. Of those, developers who want current toolchain versions without backporting and systems where every installed package should be a deliberate choice are not what Manjaro is typically brought in for.
- What can Arch Linux do that Manjaro cannot?
- Arch Linux covers Rolling release, Minimal base, Pacman and the AUR, The Arch Wiki. Manjaro covers Graphical installer, Delayed updates, Hardware detection, Multiple desktops.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Arch Linux: Is Arch Linux free?
Yes, entirely free and open source.
Manjaro: Is Manjaro free?
Yes, entirely free and open source.
Arch Linux: Is Arch good for beginners?
Not as a first Linux system. It assumes you will read documentation and maintain the system yourself, which is the trade it makes deliberately.
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.
Arch Linux: What is the AUR?
The Arch User Repository, a very large collection of user-submitted build scripts. It is why almost anything is installable on Arch, and it carries no security review.
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.
Related pages
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