Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Garuda Linux VS Manjaro

Compare Garuda Linux VS Manjaro and see what are their differences

Garuda Linux logo Garuda Linux

Garuda Linux is an appealing Arch Linux based Distro with BTRFS (modern filesystem), Linux-zen kernel, auto snapshots, gaming edition and a lot more bleeding edge features..

Manjaro logo Manjaro

Manjaro Linux is a linux distribution which is based on arch linux. It uses the PACMAN package manager.
  • Garuda Linux Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-05
  • Manjaro Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-17

Manjaro OS for everyone manjaro has no adverts, licenses or fees, it respects user privacy and empowers them with full control over their hardware. It can be used for development, gaming, 3D, office or home, it can be installed on tablets, mobile, desktops, laptops and boards.

Garuda Linux features and specs

  • User-Friendly
    Garuda Linux offers a user-friendly experience with a focus on ease of use. Its installation process is simplified with Calamares, and the desktop environments are configured for a smooth out-of-the-box experience.
  • Performance
    Optimized for performance, Garuda Linux includes the Linux-zen kernel, which aims to provide a quicker and smoother responsiveness compared to standard kernels.
  • Customizability
    Garuda Linux offers a high degree of customizability, allowing users to tweak their system settings and appearance to their liking with various customization tools and preconfigured settings.
  • Arch-Based
    Being an Arch-based distribution, Garuda Linux benefits from the Arch User Repository (AUR) and the latest, rolling-release updates, ensuring that users have access to cutting-edge software and features.
  • Pre-Installed Tools
    Garuda Linux comes with a range of pre-installed tools and applications designed to make system management, gaming, and daily tasks easier for users.
  • BTRFS Filesystem
    The default use of the BTRFS filesystem with automatic snapshots provides enhanced reliability, data integrity, and easier recovery options.
  • Gaming
    Garuda Linux is tailored for gamers with pre-installed gaming tools, drivers, and optimizations designed to enhance gaming performance and experience.

Possible disadvantages of Garuda Linux

  • Resource Usage
    Because of its performance optimizations and pre-installed applications, Garuda Linux can be more resource-intensive compared to other distributions, which might be unsuitable for older or lower-spec hardware.
  • Stability
    As a rolling-release distribution based on Arch Linux, Garuda Linux inherits the potential stability issues that can come with continuously updated software, which may require more frequent system maintenance and troubleshooting.
  • Learning Curve
    While Garuda Linux is user-friendly, its Arch Linux heritage means there can be a steeper learning curve for users who are not familiar with the Arch ecosystem, especially when it comes to troubleshooting or advanced configurations.
  • Limited Community
    Compared to more established distributions like Ubuntu or Fedora, Garuda Linux has a smaller user base and community support, which can limit the availability of resources and help.
  • Frequent Updates
    The nature of a rolling-release model means frequent updates, which can be disruptive or cumbersome for users who prefer a more stable and long-term support (LTS) release cycle.
  • Customization Overwhelm
    The high level of customizability can be overwhelming for new users, presenting them with too many choices and options which might complicate the initial setup and configuration process.

Manjaro features and specs

  • Easy Installation
    Manjaro provides a user-friendly installer that simplifies the installation process, making it accessible for beginners.
  • Rolling Release
    As a rolling release distribution, Manjaro continually updates its software, ensuring users have access to the latest features and security updates.
  • AUR Support
    Manjaro allows access to the Arch User Repository (AUR), giving users a vast selection of community-maintained packages.
  • Excellent Hardware Support
    Manjaro is known for its strong hardware detection and compatibility, making it suitable for various systems, including newer hardware.
  • Pre-configured Desktop Environments
    Manjaro provides several pre-configured desktop environments (e.g., Xfce, KDE, GNOME), offering users an optimized and polished experience out-of-the-box.
  • User-Friendly
    With built-in utilities and an intuitive design, Manjaro is aimed at being user-friendly, especially compared to the more complex Arch Linux.
  • Active Community
    Manjaro has an active and supportive community, which contributes to a wealth of documentation, forums, and resources for troubleshooting.

Possible disadvantages of Manjaro

  • Possible Stability Issues
    As a rolling release, new updates may introduce bugs or instability. Users might occasionally face issues that could disrupt their workflow.
  • Less Control Compared to Arch
    While Manjaro simplifies many aspects of setup and use, this might decrease the level of control some users have compared to a vanilla Arch Linux installation.
  • AUR Safety
    While the AUR provides access to many packages, it also carries some risks as these packages are user-contributed and might not be as thoroughly vetted.
  • Large Package Sizes
    Manjaro pre-configures many packages and tools, which can lead to larger downloads and installations compared to other distributions.
  • Learning Curve
    Even though Manjaro aims to be user-friendly, it still requires a learning curve, particularly for users new to Linux or coming from other operating systems.
  • Not as Established as Other Distros
    While growing in popularity, Manjaro does not have the long-standing reputation of other major distributions like Ubuntu or Fedora, which can be a consideration for some users.

Garuda Linux videos

A First Look At Garuda Linux KDE "Dr4Gonized"

More videos:

  • Review - Garuda Linux Review: You'll be Blown Away by its Looks [New Distro based on Arch]
  • Review - Garuda Linux - The BREATH TAKING Linux DISTRO of 2021

Manjaro videos

Manjaro 21.0 Ornara | KDE Plasma

More videos:

  • Review - Manjaro 21.0 Ornara | XFCE
  • Review - Manjaro 20.2 Nibia | GNOME At Its Finest
  • Review - Ubuntu 22.04 LTS VS Manjaro – What are the differences ! Which One is Better in 2022 ?
  • Review - Manjaro Makes Desktop Linux Look GOOD!
  • Review - MANJARO has a BIG PROBLEM

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Garuda Linux and Manjaro)
Linux
24 24%
76% 76
Operating Systems
20 20%
80% 80
Laptops
100 100%
0% 0
Linux Distribution
13 13%
87% 87

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Garuda Linux and Manjaro

Garuda Linux Reviews

  1. bartwalgraeve@gmail.com
    An all-round positive experience

    Garuda linux boots superfast on my laptop, is very userfriendly both in daily work and maintenance. You can find and install a vast amount of software and apps. It is stable and aesthetically pleasing.

    👍 Pros:    Super fast|Boot ime is amazing and all apps open quickly.|Very userfriendly

12 Best Linux Distros You Should Use
The centerpiece of Garuda Linux is its UI. It gets lots of modern elements with gradient coloring splashed across the OS. Garuda Linux is based on Arch and follows the same rolling release pattern. It’s offered in multiple flavors; some of the most popular ones are GNOME, Cinnamon, Xfce, and MATE.
Source: beebom.com
The best Linux distributions (operating systems)
Garuda Linux provides many different desktop environments and is updated regularly as a rolling release. In addition to graphical wizards for simplified setup, Garuda Linux provides a tool for configuration and livestreams with Garuda Gamer.
Source: www.ionos.com
13 Best Linux distros for gaming in 2022
Garuda Linux is rather less known distribution but could be a good fit for general purpose desktop computing and gaming.
Best Linux Distro for Gaming
Garuda Linux is a distro based on Arch Linux. So it’s a rolling release distro, meaning you’ll get the latest software and drivers. They also have a GUI for managing drivers which might come in handy for gaming. They have a Gaming Edition which uses KDE Plasma and comes with a GUI called Garuda Gamer for installing various gaming software and emulators.
Source: linuxstans.com
9 Best Linux Gaming Distributions in 2021
Garuda Linux is rather less known distribution but could be a good fit for general purpose desktop computing and gaming.
Source: itsfoss.com

Manjaro Reviews

10 Most Popular Linux Distros of the Year 2023
If I have to choose between Manjaro and EndeavourOS, then I would like to go for Manjaro because of its user-friendly approach and intuitive package management through multiple sources using GUI. Otherwise, just like EndevousOS, it is also available in multiple with multiple desktop environments such as Xfce, LXDE, KDE Plasma, GNOME, Awesome, i3, and more… Its GUI “Software...
12 Best Linux Distros You Should Use
Like Fedora Spins, Manjaro has lots of community versions like Budgie, Cinnamon, and MATE too. Hence, you are not devoid of choices in this case. That said, Manjaro isn’t a pure Arch-based system because it isn’t as cutting-edge as the next option on our list. Manjaro has its own repository where all updates from Arch are merged and pushed later. Stability is of great...
Source: beebom.com
The best Linux distributions (operating systems)
Manjaro Linux is based on the sophisticated Arch Linux, combining a free and individual approach with numerous graphical tools. The result is an operating system that is relatively slim (depending on the version) and makes it easier for newcomers to get started. Manjaro Linux offers several desktop interfaces, the Calamares installation tool and a package management with its...
Source: www.ionos.com
Best Top 20 Ubuntu Linux Alternatives (Pros and Cons)
Manjaro is an Arch Linux-based free and open-source Linux alternative distribution. Manjaro is designed to work straight out of the box with its selection of pre-installed apps. In addition, it employs Pacman as a package manager.
13 Best Linux distros for gaming in 2022
If you like to have the latest and greatest driver support along with a kernel upgrade, a rolling release distribution like Manjaro Linux would be a good pick.

Social recommendations and mentions

Manjaro might be a bit more popular than Garuda Linux. We know about 123 links to it since March 2021 and only 94 links to Garuda Linux. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Garuda Linux mentions (94)

  • Linux hit over 3% desktop user share according to Statcounter
    I'd suggest trying Nobara and/or Garuda - both are absolutely easymode to install from a USB stick, and are specifically configured for gaming, but have a pretty different look and feel. Nobara is a very plain, kind of old fashioned, plain feeling UI (it rather reminds me of Windows 2000 in some ways, although it's much more advanced of course) while Garuda showcases just how fancy your desktop can look. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Reviving an old machine for gaming
    Garuda (Arch based, use a Desktop environment with small memory prints like XFCE or lxqt). Source: over 1 year ago
  • Please Help me for my search
    Personally, I feel like rolling release distros 'should' include a properly configured (GRUB-)Btrfs+Timeshit/Snapper by default. This will enable the user to rollback to a working system whenever a breakage occurs; even from the GRUB-menu. As the 'unadulterated' Arch is a blank slate upon which you 'should' tinker to your heart's content, it doesn't do this by default. However, you're highly encouraged to set it... Source: over 1 year ago
  • Is artix a good alternative to manjaro
    Personal recommendation would be Garuda Linux. Like Manjaro it is 'opinionated'; sets up (GRUB-)Btrfs+Timeshift/Snapper, comes with a bunch of very useful GUI-tools etc. Source: over 1 year ago
  • If you have a plan to use the galaxybook with linux, you don't have to buy Galaxybook.
    Yes... Most Linux Distro's the sound doesn't work... Garuda Linux is the only one I found that everything works. Source: over 1 year ago
View more

Manjaro mentions (123)

  • Yozora: Linux Configurator
    At some point all of us wanted to have a fully customized and flexible Linux configuration, not having a pre-configured system like Manjaro for example. There must be people out there, who are not a big fans of DE (Desktop Environments). Sure I also got into the arch world with Plasma's KDE, but after a while, it become dull, so that's when I started getting into configuring my setup, but when I had to do it every... - Source: dev.to / 10 months ago
  • what machines have you used for development, and what do you prefer?
    I use MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid-2014) with Manjaro as OS using i3 as a window manager. It isn't perfect, but I'm thrilled with it. I have been a Mac OS user for the last 15 years and wouldn't change what I have now for a Mac OS because I don't need more than what I'm using for development. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Can I rigg a Chromebook to install Linux on it? Not the virtual Linux they have an option for, I want to replace Chrome OS entirely with Linux.
    At any rate, you can try Breath, Crouton, Manjaro... Those are three of the distros people have found success with. It all boils down to the specific hardware involved... Which we know nothing about since you kept that to yourself. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Windows updated 8 hours into a print. I’m gonna cry.
    Start your new life at https://manjaro.org/. Source: over 1 year ago
  • [root@archlinux ~]# after login
    But if you were expecting to be able to complete the install and have a GUI available, you might be better off starting with something like Manjaro: Https://manjaro.org. Source: over 1 year ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Garuda Linux and Manjaro, you can also consider the following products

EndeavourOS - An Arch-based distro with a dynamic and friendly community in its core

Linux Mint - Linux Mint is one of the most popular desktop Linux distributions and used by millions of people.

Pop!_OS - A developer-focused minimalist Linux distro from System 76

Ubuntu - Ubuntu is a Debian Linux-based open source operating system for desktop computers.

Fedora - Fedora creates an innovative, free, and open source platform for hardware, clouds, and containers that enables software developers and community members to build tailored solutions for their users.

Arch Linux - You've reached the website for Arch Linux, a lightweight and flexible Linux® distribution that tries to Keep It Simple. Currently we have official packages optimized for the x86-64 architecture.