Manjaro and Rocky Linux are two popular Linux distributions that cater to different audiences. Manjaro offers a user-friendly desktop experience with rolling releases, while Rocky Linux focuses on enterprise-grade stability and long-term support. This page covers their key differences to help you decide which is right for you.
The comfortable choice
Enterprise-ready stability
TL;DR: Pick Manjaro for a user-friendly desktop experience with frequent updates. Pick Rocky Linux for enterprise-grade stability and long-term support.
How they stack up across key categories.
Manjaro is designed to provide an easy-to-use interface, with out-of-the-box hardware support and a choice of pre-configured desktop environments.
Rocky Linux, while stable, is more geared towards users with experience in Linux or those needing an enterprise-focused distribution.
Manjaro offers polished desktop environments like KDE, GNOME, and XFCE, ensuring a smooth and customizable user experience.
Rocky Linux provides a more traditional GNOME experience, focused on stability rather than cutting-edge features.
Manjaro's rolling release model means users receive the latest updates, but this can sometimes affect system stability.
Rocky Linux emphasizes stability with its slower update cycle and thorough testing, ideal for critical systems.
Updates in Manjaro are frequent, with new features and software coming through rolling releases.
Rocky Linux provides slower, more deliberate updates, prioritizing reliability over the latest features.
Manjaro has access to the Arch User Repository (AUR), offering a wide range of software options beyond standard repositories.
Rocky Linux offers software through EPEL and other enterprise-focused repos, ensuring compatibility with RHEL systems.
Manjaro respects user privacy with minimal telemetry and a focus on community-driven development.
Rocky Linux, like its RHEL counterpart, maintains a focus on security and privacy, essential for enterprise environments.
Manjaro has a robust community with active forums and detailed documentation, making it easy to find help.
Rocky Linux is community-driven, with a growing set of documentation and strong support forums for enterprise users.
Manjaro is well-suited for gaming, thanks to its frequent updates and excellent support for drivers and gaming platforms.
Rocky Linux is not primarily designed for gaming but can be configured to support games, although it may require more setup.
Quick recommendations for common scenarios.
Pick: Manjaro
Manjaro offers a more familiar desktop experience for users transitioning from Windows, with user-friendly interfaces and good hardware support.
Pick: Manjaro
Manjaro's extensive documentation and active community make it easier for users to find support and follow tutorials.
Pick: Either
Both distros can run well on older hardware, but Manjaro's variety of lightweight desktops provides additional options for resource-constrained systems.
Pick: Manjaro
Manjaro's access to the latest drivers and gaming tools makes it a superior choice for gamers.
Pick: Rocky Linux
Rocky Linux's focus on enterprise stability and RHEL compatibility is ideal for professional environments.
Pick: Manjaro
Manjaro provides a user-friendly and visually appealing desktop experience suitable for everyday use.
Quick answers to common questions.
Manjaro and Rocky Linux serve different purposes; Manjaro is designed for desktop users with a rolling release model, while Rocky Linux aims to provide enterprise-level stability compatible with RHEL.
Manjaro is considered more beginner-friendly due to its user-friendly installer, pre-configured desktops, and active community support.
Manjaro typically offers more up-to-date software and drivers, possibly leading to better performance, while Rocky Linux prioritizes stability, which can result in more consistent, reliable performance.
Yes, both Manjaro and Rocky Linux offer live ISO versions that allow users to test the system before committing to a full installation.
Manjaro has access to the AUR and a wide range of software, whereas Rocky Linux focuses on providing software compatible with enterprise environments and RHEL.
Manjaro is known for excellent hardware support out of the box, while Rocky Linux is designed to support enterprise-grade hardware commonly found in server environments.
Manjaro follows a rolling release model with frequent updates, while Rocky Linux follows a stable release cycle with long-term support, typically spanning 10 years.
Switching between these distros involves reinstalling the system, as they are based on different package managers and system architectures (Pacman vs. RPM).
Generate a clean "vs" page for any two distros.
