Softwr

Operating Systems · head to head

Manjaro vs OpenWrt

Manjaro logo

Manjaro

Operating Systems

Arch-based Linux distribution with an installer and sane defaults

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
OpenWrt logo

OpenWrt

Operating Systems

Linux firmware replacement for routers and embedded network devices, with a package manager and writable filesystem

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; OpenWrt support is per device and per hardware revision, so a model number that worked last year may point at a different chipset this year and be unsupported.
  • They diverge on capability: Manjaro covers Graphical installer, OpenWrt covers Package manager.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Manjaro and OpenWrt actually diverge.

Attributes where Manjaro and OpenWrt differ
AttributeManjaroOpenWrt
PlatformsLinux, DesktopRouters, Access points, x86-64, ARM, MIPS, Embedded gateways

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 OpenWrt

  • Package manager
  • LuCI web interface
  • Traffic shaping
  • VPN and DNS
  • VLAN and multi-network
  • OpenWrt One

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

OpenWrt

  • Extending the useful life of an ISP-supplied router that has stopped receiving security updatesnot Manjaro
  • Separating guest, IoT and work devices onto VLANs on hardware that does not offer it nativelynot Manjaro
  • Running WireGuard, ad blocking or DNS over TLS at the edge rather than configuring every clientnot Manjaro
  • Building small industrial or retail gateways where a full Linux distribution is too heavynot 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

OpenWrt

  • Support is per device and per hardware revision, so a model number that worked last year may point at a different chipset this year and be unsupported.
  • Flashing can brick a device permanently, and on hardware without a serial console or a recovery bootloader there is no way back.
  • Devices with 4MB or 8MB of flash have been dropped from recent releases, so a lot of older hardware is stuck on unsupported versions with known vulnerabilities.
  • Hardware acceleration for NAT and routing depends on vendor drivers, and enabling traffic shaping frequently cuts a gigabit connection to a fraction of its rated throughput.
  • A sysupgrade keeps your configuration but not your installed packages, so every release upgrade is followed by reinstalling and reconfiguring add-ons by hand.

Pricing, plan by plan

Manjaro

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

OpenWrt

Free
  • OpenWrtFree
    • No licence fee for any device count
    • All packages from the official feeds
    • Community support via forum and wiki

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 OpenWrt if

  • You need package manager.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Routers, Access points, x86-64, ARM, MIPS, Embedded gateways.
  • You also want luci web interface.
OpenWrt review

Questions people ask

Is Manjaro or OpenWrt better?
Neither clearly leads. Manjaro starts at Free and OpenWrt at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Manjaro or OpenWrt?
Manjaro starts at Free and OpenWrt at Free.
Does Manjaro or OpenWrt run on more platforms?
Manjaro runs on Linux, Desktop. OpenWrt runs on Routers, Access points, x86-64, ARM, MIPS, Embedded gateways.
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 OpenWrt is typically brought in for.
What can Manjaro do that OpenWrt cannot?
Manjaro covers Graphical installer, Delayed updates, Hardware detection, Multiple desktops. OpenWrt covers Package manager, LuCI web interface, Traffic shaping, VPN and DNS.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Manjaro: Is Manjaro free?

Yes, entirely free and open source.

OpenWrt: How do I know my router is supported?

Check the Table of Hardware for your exact model and revision before buying or flashing. Do not assume that a supported model number means a supported unit; manufacturers change chipsets within a model.

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.

OpenWrt: Is the OpenWrt One worth buying over a used router?

If you are evaluating OpenWrt rather than rescuing hardware you own, yes. It is supported by definition, has an unbrickable boot arrangement, and part of the price funds the project.

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.

OpenWrt: Will flashing void my warranty?

Almost always, and it may also break the ISP remote management your provider relies on for support. Keep the stock firmware image before you start.

OpenWrt: Is opkg still the package manager?

It is in the current stable releases, but development has moved towards apk, so expect package tooling and command syntax to change at the next major release.

Share

Related pages

More on Manjaro

More on OpenWrt

Keep looking

Other head to heads