Manjaro tends to be more stable compared to Arch Linux.
Manjaro tends to be more stable compared to Arch Linux.
I've tried both for more than a year now, and I can confidently say that Arch offers much more stability overall. With some limitations, I’d suggest sticking to Arch directly rather than using anything based on AUR. Manjaro provides a lot of convenience and speed, but it often hides the risks of AUR content within its managed package setup—updates can easily break things. Arch keeps everything straightforward; problems usually resolve with backups and technical skills. Comparing AUR to Arch packages helps identify issues more clearly. Generally, Manjaro lets you push beyond its full potential, which can lead to installation failures if not handled carefully. If you choose Arch, avoid AUR entirely (or consider Fedora instead) and don’t waste time trying to simplify it.
So around two years and eight months I’ve been using this setup. I also contribute to the AUR. There have been no major issues—timeshift wasn’t needed, the system never crashed completely, and I only hit a few conflicts. Usually it’s resolved quickly by checking the Manjaro forums. Interestingly, the last problem wasn’t related to Manjaro or the AUR; it was Arch itself: https://archlinux.org/news/incoming-chan...ervention/.
Before installing anything, make sure your system is up-to-date—this applies to all Linux distributions. For Manjaro specifically, the update process should follow these steps:
- Optionally create a Timeshift snapshot
- Ensure AUR → Check for updates is enabled
- Update Manjaro
- Enable AUR again and check for updates
- Update AUR packages
- Disable AUR and check for updates
Do this beforehand. Since it’s community-driven, don’t rely solely on the source. Verify that the package is downloading correctly and understand what it does to your system. This helps avoid surprises later.
If you’re unsure, any distribution can be risky. Remember, mistakes can be costly—having a solid backup plan is wise. You might spend time fixing things, but in the end, you’ll learn more than before.
EndeavourOS and Garuda Linux were still quite new when I was talking about it. They launched around 2019 and 2020, which is pretty recent. I think they should be at least five years old in my perspective. The only exceptions would be Alma and Rocky, mainly because of IBM's issues with CentOS. I'm not saying they're bad or worse than other options... Actually, I might consider switching to EndeavourOS eventually. Regarding Arch Linux, I personally wouldn't mind using it every day, but... When I started using Manjaro as my main system, I decided to stop supporting Windows for family and friends. If anyone needed help, I'd be glad to assist—but it would have to be on Linux. Manjaro is beginner-friendly, has a user-friendly GUI, and its forum is helpful without constant reliance on me. Being on the same distro means less effort. So far, my decision seems solid. I didn’t need to reinstall Windows from scratch to recover a system. As for updates, I’m okay with being a few weeks behind Arch. Windows and macOS are fine too—just use whatever works best. But I won’t offer extensive free support for commercial products. If you have a Windows issue, try a clean reinstall.
If you steer clear of complex tasks, Linux might not suit you even if you're using a distribution like Ubuntu. Occasionally you'll need to work with the command line to set up or troubleshoot things. Every distro can match Arch in power. What sets Arch apart is its clean base that lets you install only what you truly need. Other distros, such as Ubuntu, often come bundled with unnecessary tools and bloatware—things you're unlikely to use. Gentoo and LFS represent the next steps beyond Arch. Not true if you're using Manjaro or any Arch-based system; be aware of the risks involved. The AUR packages maintained by the Manjaro team are discouraged, so it's up to the user. If you don't trust them, check the first line on the Manjaro wiki AUR page: https://wiki.manjaro.org/index.php/Arch_User_Repository. The issue often arises because new users skip reading documentation, don’t understand the repository process, and act impulsively. Manjaro can be stabilized with a backup like TimeShift and strong technical skills. Downloading from AUR requires extra caution if you're careful.