Manjaro KDE and Xfce are two popular desktop environments offered by the Manjaro project. Both provide distinct experiences tailored to different user needs. This page covers their unique features, strengths, and weaknesses to help you make an informed choice.
Polished experience
Light and fast
TL;DR: Pick Manjaro KDE for customization and features. Pick Manjaro Xfce for speed and efficiency.
How they stack up across key categories.
Manjaro KDE offers a user-friendly interface with intuitive navigation, but the vast options can be daunting for newcomers.
Manjaro Xfce provides a straightforward and minimal interface, which is easier for beginners to grasp.
KDE Plasma delivers a modern and polished look with plenty of visual effects and customization options.
Xfce offers a more traditional and utilitarian appearance, focusing on function over form.
KDE is stable but can occasionally face issues due to its complex features.
Xfce is highly stable, with a focus on providing a reliable and consistent experience.
Manjaro KDE receives regular updates, keeping features and security current.
Manjaro Xfce also benefits from frequent updates, albeit with fewer new feature introductions.
Both distros offer access to Manjaro's comprehensive repositories and the AUR, with KDE including more pre-installed software.
Xfce provides the same access but starts with a leaner set of pre-installed applications.
Both KDE and Xfce respect user privacy, with no inherent telemetry or data collection.
Privacy is equally respected in Xfce, with similar policies across the Manjaro ecosystem.
Manjaro has a robust community supporting KDE, with extensive documentation available.
The community support for Xfce is equally strong, with plenty of documentation and forums.
KDE's higher resource demand may impact gaming performance but provides great compatibility with gaming tools.
Xfce's efficiency can be beneficial for gaming, freeing up resources for game performance.
Quick recommendations for common scenarios.
Pick: Manjaro KDE
Its interface and features are more akin to Windows, easing the transition.
Pick: Either
Both distros have strong community support and documentation, suitable for learning.
Pick: Manjaro Xfce
Its lightweight nature is ideal for maximizing performance on older systems.
Pick: Either
Both provide good support for gaming, with Xfce offering slight performance benefits.
Pick: Manjaro KDE
The comprehensive suite of productivity tools makes it ideal for professional environments.
Pick: Manjaro Xfce
Its simplicity and efficiency are perfect for everyday tasks.
Quick answers to common questions.
Both are official editions of Manjaro, differing mainly in their desktop environments. KDE offers a feature-rich, customizable interface, while Xfce focuses on speed and simplicity.
Manjaro Xfce is often considered more beginner-friendly due to its straightforward interface and lower resource demands.
Manjaro Xfce typically offers better performance on older or less powerful hardware due to its lightweight nature, while KDE demands more resources for its features.
Yes, both Manjaro KDE and Xfce offer live environments that you can boot from a USB drive to try before installing.
Yes, both have access to Manjaro's repositories and the AUR, providing similar software compatibility.
Manjaro has excellent hardware support, benefiting both KDE and Xfce users, with extensive drivers included out of the box.
Manjaro follows a rolling release model, meaning both KDE and Xfce receive continuous updates rather than periodic major releases.
Yes, you can install additional desktop environments on Manjaro, allowing you to switch between KDE and Xfce with some configuration.
Generate a clean "vs" page for any two distros.
