Softwr

Operating Systems · head to head

Manjaro vs Qubes OS

Manjaro logo

Manjaro

Operating Systems

Arch-based Linux distribution with an installer and sane defaults

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Qubes OS logo

Qubes OS

Operating Systems

Security-focused operating system that runs each activity in its own virtual machine

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; Qubes OS hardware compatibility is the first and usual failure: an IOMMU is mandatory, and most business laptops fail on wifi passthrough, firmware quirks or suspend even when the CPU supports virtualisation.
  • They diverge on capability: Manjaro covers Graphical installer, Qubes OS covers Compartmentalisation by VM.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Manjaro and Qubes OS actually diverge.

Attributes where Manjaro and Qubes OS differ
AttributeManjaroQubes OS
PlatformsLinux, Desktopx86-64 laptops and desktops with VT-d or AMD-Vi

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (Open source, no licence fee), 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 Qubes OS

  • Compartmentalisation by VM
  • Disposable qubes
  • Template model
  • Isolated device drivers
  • Whonix integration
  • Anti-evil-maid

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 Qubes OS
  • Desktops needing current package versions with some stability buffernot Qubes OS
  • Hardware that benefits from automatic proprietary driver handlingnot Qubes OS

Qubes OS

  • Journalists opening attachments and documents from sources who cannot be verifiednot Manjaro
  • Security researchers detonating samples on the same machine they use for ordinary worknot Manjaro
  • Consultants and lawyers who must keep several clients cryptographically separate on one laptopnot Manjaro
  • People whose threat model includes targeted attacks rather than commodity malwarenot 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

Qubes OS

  • Hardware compatibility is the first and usual failure: an IOMMU is mandatory, and most business laptops fail on wifi passthrough, firmware quirks or suspend even when the CPU supports virtualisation.
  • There is no GPU acceleration inside qubes, so video conferencing, media playback, 3D work and games are poor to unusable, and this rules the system out for most general-purpose users.
  • Memory is consumed per qube, so 16GB is the working floor and a normal day with a browser, email, work and a disposable qube open will exhaust an 8GB machine.
  • Battery life is substantially shorter than the same laptop running a conventional Linux install, because several VMs and their drivers are running continuously.
  • Backups are whole-VM images rather than files, so restores are slow, storage requirements are large, and pulling a single document out of a backup is more work than it should be.

Pricing, plan by plan

Manjaro

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

Qubes OS

Free
  • Qubes OSFree
    • No licence fee
    • All templates and features included
    • Community support via forum and mailing lists

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 Qubes OS if

  • You need compartmentalisation by vm.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on x86-64 laptops and desktops with VT-d or AMD-Vi.
  • You also want disposable qubes.
Qubes OS review

Questions people ask

Is Manjaro or Qubes OS better?
Neither clearly leads. Manjaro starts at Free and Qubes OS at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Manjaro or Qubes OS?
Manjaro starts at Free and Qubes OS at Free.
Does Manjaro or Qubes OS run on more platforms?
Manjaro runs on Linux, Desktop. Qubes OS runs on x86-64 laptops and desktops with VT-d or AMD-Vi.
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 Qubes OS is typically brought in for.
What can Manjaro do that Qubes OS cannot?
Manjaro covers Graphical installer, Delayed updates, Hardware detection, Multiple desktops. Qubes OS covers Compartmentalisation by VM, Disposable qubes, Template model, Isolated device drivers.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Manjaro: Is Manjaro free?

Yes, entirely free and open source.

Qubes OS: Will it run on my laptop?

Check the hardware compatibility list first, and prefer a certified model. VT-x or AMD-V alone is not enough; you need VT-d or AMD-Vi as well, and many consumer machines either omit it or implement it badly.

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.

Qubes OS: Can I run Windows in a qube?

Yes, with Qubes Windows Tools, but the integration is less complete than the Linux templates and has historically broken across Windows updates. Treat it as a workaround, not a supported desktop.

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.

Qubes OS: How much RAM do I actually need?

16GB to work comfortably, 32GB if you keep many qubes running. The published minimum will boot the system but not support a normal working day.

Qubes OS: Is it usable as an only computer?

For text, email, browsing and code, yes. For video calls, media production or anything needing a GPU, no, and most users keep a second machine for those tasks.

Share

Related pages

More on Manjaro

More on Qubes OS

Keep looking

Other head to heads