Operating Systems · head to head
Manjaro vs Ubuntu
Manjaro
Operating Systems
Arch-based Linux distribution with an installer and sane defaults
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Ubuntu
Operating Systems
Enterprise Linux distribution with 15-year support options.
- 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; Ubuntu free version supported only by community; no official Canonical support without Pro subscription
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Manjaro and Ubuntu 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 Ubuntu
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 Ubuntu
- Desktops needing current package versions with some stability buffernot Ubuntu
- Hardware that benefits from automatic proprietary driver handlingnot Ubuntu
Ubuntu
- Individual developers and small teams using free Ubuntu for laptops and serversnot Manjaro
- Cloud and data centre deployments requiring certified, supported Linux operating systemnot Manjaro
- Organisations needing FIPS-certified or DISA-STIG-hardened Linux for government and regulated environmentsnot Manjaro
- AI and machine learning teams using Ubuntu Desktop with pre-optimised toolchainsnot Manjaro
- IoT and edge computing deployments using Ubuntu Corenot 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
Ubuntu
- Free version supported only by community; no official Canonical support without Pro subscription
- Ubuntu Pro required for enterprise compliance certifications (FIPS, DISA-STIG); free version does not include these
- Ubuntu Pro pricing is proprietary and varies based on cloud deployment (AWS, Azure, GCP); no published per-machine or per-user pricing
- Ubuntu Pro + Support adds 24/7 support costs on top of base subscription; total cost for enterprise-grade support not transparent
- Personal/free tier limited to 5 machines; any larger deployment requires paid enterprise subscription
Pricing, plan by plan
Manjaro
Free- ManjaroFree
- Full functionality
- Commercial use permitted
- Community support
Ubuntu
Free- Ubuntu (Free)Free
- Desktop, Server, Core and Cloud editions
- Community support
- Standard security updates (5 years LTS)
- Ubuntu Pro (Personal)Free
- Extended Security Maintenance (10 years)
- Kernel Livepatch
- Landscape management
- Ubuntu Pro (Enterprise)$undefined/variable
- 10 years Extended Security Maintenance
- FIPS 140, DISA-STIG, CIS compliance
- Kernel Livepatch
- Ubuntu Pro + Support$undefined/variable
- All Ubuntu Pro features
- 24/7 break-fix and bug-fix support
- Expert assistance for infrastructure and applications
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 Ubuntu if
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Desktop, Server, Cloud, IoT, Edge, WSL.
Questions people ask
- Is Manjaro or Ubuntu better?
- Neither clearly leads. Manjaro starts at Free and Ubuntu at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Manjaro or Ubuntu?
- Manjaro starts at Free and Ubuntu at Free.
- Does Manjaro or Ubuntu run on more platforms?
- Manjaro runs on Linux, Desktop. Ubuntu runs on Desktop, Server, Cloud, IoT, Edge, WSL.
- 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 Ubuntu is typically brought in for.
- What can Manjaro do that Ubuntu 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.
Ubuntu: Is Ubuntu free?
Yes. Ubuntu is free to download and use in all editions. Community support is also available at no cost. Ubuntu Pro subscriptions are optional and provide extended support and compliance tools.
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.
Ubuntu: How long is Ubuntu LTS support?
Standard Ubuntu LTS releases receive 5 years of security maintenance. Ubuntu Pro extends this to 10 years, expandable to 15 years with the Legacy add-on.
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.
Ubuntu: What compliance certifications does Ubuntu Pro provide?
Ubuntu Pro provides compliance tools for FIPS 140, DISA-STIG, CIS, FedRAMP and PCI-DSS standards.
Source