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Operating Systems · head to head

Manjaro vs Arch Linux

Manjaro logo

Manjaro

Operating Systems

Arch-based Linux distribution with an installer and sane defaults

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Arch Linux logo

Arch Linux

Operating Systems

Rolling-release Linux distribution you assemble yourself

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Manjaro holding packages back from Arch can break AUR packages built against current Arch, which is its best-known complaint; Arch Linux installation and maintenance assume real Linux knowledge; there is no hand-holding by design
  • They diverge on capability: Manjaro covers Graphical installer, Arch Linux covers Rolling release.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Manjaro and Arch Linux actually diverge.

Attributes where Manjaro and Arch Linux differ
AttributeManjaroArch Linux

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 Manjaro

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

Only in Arch Linux

  • Rolling release
  • Minimal base
  • Pacman and the AUR
  • The Arch Wiki

What people use each for

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

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

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

Where each one falls short

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

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

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

Pricing, plan by plan

Manjaro

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

Arch Linux

Free
  • Arch LinuxFree
    • Full operating system
    • All updates
    • Community support

Which should you pick?

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

Choose Arch Linux if

  • You need rolling release.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Desktop.
  • You also want minimal base.
Arch Linux review

Questions people ask

Is Manjaro or Arch Linux better?
Neither clearly leads. Manjaro starts at Free and Arch Linux at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Manjaro or Arch Linux?
Manjaro starts at Free and Arch Linux at Free.
Does Manjaro or Arch Linux run on more platforms?
Both run on Linux, Desktop, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Manjaro for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Manjaro best used for?
Manjaro is most often used for wanting arch and the aur without the manual install, desktops needing current package versions with some stability buffer, hardware that benefits from automatic proprietary driver handling. Of those, wanting arch and the aur without the manual install and desktops needing current package versions with some stability buffer are not what Arch Linux is typically brought in for.
What can Manjaro do that Arch Linux cannot?
Manjaro covers Graphical installer, Delayed updates, Hardware detection, Multiple desktops. Arch Linux covers Rolling release, Minimal base, Pacman and the AUR, The Arch Wiki.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Manjaro: Is Manjaro free?

Yes, entirely free and open source.

Arch Linux: Is Arch Linux free?

Yes, entirely free and open 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.

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: 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.

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.

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