Operating Systems · head to head
Linux Mint vs Manjaro
Linux Mint
Operating Systems
Ubuntu-based Linux distribution built for familiarity
- 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: Linux Mint based on Ubuntu LTS, so packages are deliberately older than rolling distributions; Manjaro holding packages back from Arch can break AUR packages built against current Arch, which is its best-known complaint
- They diverge on capability: Linux Mint covers Cinnamon desktop, Manjaro covers Graphical installer.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Linux Mint and Manjaro actually diverge.
| Attribute | Linux Mint | 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 Linux Mint
- Cinnamon desktop
- Codecs included
- Ubuntu package base
- Update manager
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.
Linux Mint
- Moving a desktop or laptop off Windows with minimal retrainingnot Manjaro
- Reviving older hardware that struggles with current Windows releasesnot Manjaro
- Everyday desktop use where stability matters more than the newest packagesnot Manjaro
Manjaro
- Wanting Arch and the AUR without the manual installnot Linux Mint
- Desktops needing current package versions with some stability buffernot Linux Mint
- Hardware that benefits from automatic proprietary driver handlingnot Linux Mint
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Linux Mint
- Based on Ubuntu LTS, so packages are deliberately older than rolling distributions
- Cinnamon is less polished on fractional scaling and multi-monitor setups than GNOME or KDE
- Smaller team than Ubuntu or Fedora, which shows in the pace of security response for its own components
- Wayland support has lagged behind the major desktops
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
Linux Mint
Free- Linux MintFree
- Full operating system
- All updates
- Community support
Manjaro
Free- ManjaroFree
- Full functionality
- Commercial use permitted
- Community support
Which should you pick?
Choose Linux Mint if
- You need cinnamon desktop.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Linux, Desktop.
- You also want codecs included.
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 Linux Mint or Manjaro better?
- Neither clearly leads. Linux Mint 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, Linux Mint or Manjaro?
- Linux Mint starts at Free and Manjaro at Free.
- Does Linux Mint or Manjaro run on more platforms?
- Both run on Linux, Desktop, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- Can I use Linux Mint for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Linux Mint best used for?
- Linux Mint is most often used for moving a desktop or laptop off windows with minimal retraining, reviving older hardware that struggles with current windows releases, everyday desktop use where stability matters more than the newest packages. Of those, moving a desktop or laptop off windows with minimal retraining and reviving older hardware that struggles with current windows releases are not what Manjaro is typically brought in for.
- What can Linux Mint do that Manjaro cannot?
- Linux Mint covers Cinnamon desktop, Codecs included, Ubuntu package base, Update manager. Manjaro covers Graphical installer, Delayed updates, Hardware detection, Multiple desktops.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Linux Mint: Is Linux Mint free?
Yes, entirely free and open source, funded by donations and sponsors.
Manjaro: Is Manjaro free?
Yes, entirely free and open source.
Linux Mint: Is Linux Mint good for beginners?
It is one of the most commonly recommended distributions for people leaving Windows, because the desktop layout is conventional and media codecs are installed by default.
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.
Linux Mint: Can I run Ubuntu software on Linux Mint?
Yes. Mint is built on Ubuntu and uses its repositories, so nearly all Ubuntu packages and instructions apply.
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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