Operating Systems · head to head
Manjaro vs Linux Mint
Manjaro
Operating Systems
Arch-based Linux distribution with an installer and sane defaults
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Linux Mint
Operating Systems
Ubuntu-based Linux distribution built for familiarity
- 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; Linux Mint based on Ubuntu LTS, so packages are deliberately older than rolling distributions
- They diverge on capability: Manjaro covers Graphical installer, Linux Mint covers Cinnamon desktop.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Manjaro and Linux Mint actually diverge.
| Attribute | Manjaro | Linux Mint |
|---|
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 Linux Mint
- Cinnamon desktop
- Codecs included
- Ubuntu package base
- Update manager
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 Linux Mint
- Desktops needing current package versions with some stability buffernot Linux Mint
- Hardware that benefits from automatic proprietary driver handlingnot Linux Mint
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
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
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
Pricing, plan by plan
Manjaro
Free- ManjaroFree
- Full functionality
- Commercial use permitted
- Community support
Linux Mint
Free- Linux MintFree
- 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.
Choose Linux Mint if
- You need cinnamon desktop.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Linux, Desktop.
- You also want codecs included.
Questions people ask
- Is Manjaro or Linux Mint better?
- Neither clearly leads. Manjaro starts at Free and Linux Mint at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Manjaro or Linux Mint?
- Manjaro starts at Free and Linux Mint at Free.
- Does Manjaro or Linux Mint 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 Linux Mint is typically brought in for.
- What can Manjaro do that Linux Mint cannot?
- Manjaro covers Graphical installer, Delayed updates, Hardware detection, Multiple desktops. Linux Mint covers Cinnamon desktop, Codecs included, Ubuntu package base, Update manager.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Manjaro: Is Manjaro free?
Yes, entirely free and open source.
Linux Mint: Is Linux Mint free?
Yes, entirely free and open source, funded by donations and sponsors.
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: 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: 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.
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.
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