Operating Systems · head to head
Manjaro vs Pop!_OS
Manjaro
Operating Systems
Arch-based Linux distribution with an installer and sane defaults
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Pop!_OS
Operating Systems
Ubuntu-based Linux distribution tuned for developers and GPU work
- 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; Pop!_OS built primarily around System76 hardware, so other machines get less attention
- They diverge on capability: Manjaro covers Graphical installer, Pop!_OS covers NVIDIA ISO.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Manjaro and Pop!_OS actually diverge.
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 Pop!_OS
- NVIDIA ISO
- Auto-tiling
- Pop!_Shop
- Ubuntu base
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 Pop!_OS
- Desktops needing current package versions with some stability buffernot Pop!_OS
- Hardware that benefits from automatic proprietary driver handlingnot Pop!_OS
Pop!_OS
- Machine learning and graphics work needing NVIDIA drivers that work on first bootnot Manjaro
- Developers who want tiling without configuring a window managernot Manjaro
- System76 hardware, which it is built aroundnot 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
Pop!_OS
- Built primarily around System76 hardware, so other machines get less attention
- Based on Ubuntu LTS, so packages lag current upstream
- A smaller team than Ubuntu or Fedora, and releases have sometimes slipped well behind the Ubuntu base
- The COSMIC desktop rewrite has been a long transition with the older GNOME-based version in maintenance
Pricing, plan by plan
Manjaro
Free- ManjaroFree
- Full functionality
- Commercial use permitted
- Community support
Pop!_OS
Free- Pop!_OSFree
- Full functionality
- Commercial use permitted
- 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 Pop!_OS if
- You need nvidia iso.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Linux, Desktop.
- You also want auto-tiling.
Questions people ask
- Is Manjaro or Pop!_OS better?
- Neither clearly leads. Manjaro starts at Free and Pop!_OS at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Manjaro or Pop!_OS?
- Manjaro starts at Free and Pop!_OS at Free.
- Does Manjaro or Pop!_OS 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 Pop!_OS is typically brought in for.
- What can Manjaro do that Pop!_OS cannot?
- Manjaro covers Graphical installer, Delayed updates, Hardware detection, Multiple desktops. Pop!_OS covers NVIDIA ISO, Auto-tiling, Pop!_Shop, Ubuntu base.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Manjaro: Is Manjaro free?
Yes, entirely free and open source.
Pop!_OS: Is Pop!_OS free?
Yes, free and open source. System76 funds it through hardware sales.
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.
Pop!_OS: Why is there a separate NVIDIA download?
It ships with the proprietary GPU drivers already installed and working, which removes the most common first-day failure on Linux for GPU work.
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.
Pop!_OS: Is it just Ubuntu?
It is based on Ubuntu LTS and uses its repositories, with a different desktop, tiling, an NVIDIA image and System76 tuning on top.