Operating Systems · head to head
Manjaro vs Fedora
Manjaro
Operating Systems
Arch-based Linux distribution with an installer and sane defaults
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Fedora
Operating Systems
Community Linux distribution with cutting-edge upstream software
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
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; Fedora shorter support lifecycle (13 months per release) compared to Ubuntu LTS (5 years) and CentOS (10 years)
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Manjaro and Fedora actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Fedora
Nothing recorded that Manjaro does not also cover.
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 Fedora
- Desktops needing current package versions with some stability buffernot Fedora
- Hardware that benefits from automatic proprietary driver handlingnot Fedora
Fedora
- Development workstations for open-source software engineersnot Manjaro
- Testing ground for new Linux kernel features and systemd capabilitiesnot Manjaro
- Container and Kubernetes development environmentsnot Manjaro
- Specialised workflows (scientific computing, audio production, security research)not Manjaro
- Education and learning Linux system administrationnot 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
Fedora
- Shorter support lifecycle (13 months per release) compared to Ubuntu LTS (5 years) and CentOS (10 years)
- Rapid release cycle prioritises new features over stability, leading to potential compatibility breakage between releases
- Not optimised for long-term enterprise deployments without reimaging at each major release
- Hardware support can lag behind for newer devices, requiring backports or external repositories
Pricing, plan by plan
Manjaro
Free- ManjaroFree
- Full functionality
- Commercial use permitted
- Community support
Fedora
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Fedora review.
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.
Questions people ask
- Is Manjaro or Fedora better?
- Neither clearly leads. Manjaro starts at Free and Fedora at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Manjaro or Fedora?
- Manjaro starts at Free and Fedora at Free.
- Does Manjaro or Fedora run on more platforms?
- Manjaro runs on Linux, Desktop. Fedora runs on Linux.
- 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 Fedora is typically brought in for.
- What can Manjaro do that Fedora cannot?
- Manjaro covers Graphical installer, Delayed updates, Hardware detection, Multiple desktops.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Manjaro: Is Manjaro free?
Yes, entirely free and open source.
Fedora: What is the release cycle for Fedora?
Fedora releases a new version approximately every six months, with each release supported for 13 months. This means overlapping support periods where two versions are actively maintained.
SourceManjaro: 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.
Fedora: Can I use Fedora in production environments?
Fedora is suitable for production use in scenarios where rapid updates and new features are priorities. For long-term stability without major version upgrades, CentOS or RHEL are more appropriate choices.
SourceManjaro: 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.
Fedora: What is the relationship between Fedora and Red Hat Enterprise Linux?
Fedora serves as the upstream testing ground for RHEL. Technologies proven in Fedora typically migrate to CentOS and RHEL, but Fedora itself is not a supported enterprise distribution.
Source