Manjaro
The comfortable choice
- User-friendly installation
- Great hardware support
- Large community
- Frequent updates
- Rolling release can be unstable
- Heavier footprint
Best for
Desktop simplicity
Manjaro vs Void Linux
Manjaro and Void Linux are both powerful operating systems with unique strengths. This page explores their differences in ease of use, stability, and more to help you choose the right one.
Void Linux
Power and simplicity
- Lightweight and fast
- Runit init system
- Rolling release
- Independent and unique
- Smaller community
- Less beginner-friendly
Best for
Minimalist enthusiasts
TL;DR: Pick Manjaro for user-friendly setup and hardware support. Choose Void Linux for lightweight performance and a minimalist approach.
Side-by-side comparison
How they stack up across key categories.
Ease of use
Manjaro
Manjaro offers a user-friendly experience with its intuitive installer and pre-configured desktop environments.
Linux
Void Linux demands more technical knowledge, as it requires manual configuration and understanding of its unique system components.
Desktop feel
Manjaro
Manjaro provides a polished and cohesive desktop experience with various flavors like KDE, GNOME, and XFCE.
Linux
Void offers a more minimal approach, leaving desktop environment choices to the user, thus offering flexibility but requiring more setup.
Stability
Manjaro
While generally stable, Manjaro's rolling nature can sometimes introduce issues after updates.
Linux
Void's stability is solid due to its careful package management, but it lacks the extensive testing community found in larger distros.
Updates
Manjaro
Manjaro follows a curated rolling release model, balancing new features with stability.
Linux
Void Linux employs a true rolling release, providing updates as they are ready, without a fixed schedule.
Software access
Manjaro
Manjaro users benefit from the AUR, offering access to a vast array of software packages.
Linux
Void uses its own repositories and the xbps package manager, which may have fewer packages but ensures quality control.
Privacy
Manjaro
Manjaro respects user privacy, though it relies on third-party software for some functionalities.
Linux
Void's minimalist design enhances privacy, with a focus on open-source and user control.
Community & docs
Manjaro
Manjaro's active community provides extensive forums, wikis, and support channels.
Linux
Void's community is smaller, but documentation is gradually improving, offering a niche but dedicated support base.
Gaming
Manjaro
Manjaro is well-suited for gaming with strong hardware support and easy installation of gaming tools.
Linux
Void can be configured for gaming, but requires more manual setup and might not have the same out-of-the-box support.
Pros & cons summary
Manjaro
Pros
- Manjaro's Calamares installer is intuitive, allowing easy setup for new users.
- It provides excellent hardware support, especially for laptops, with automatic driver detection.
- Manjaro benefits from a large and active community, providing extensive support and documentation.
- The distribution offers frequent updates, keeping the system current with the latest software improvements.
- Access to the Arch User Repository (AUR) expands software availability significantly.
Cons
- Being a rolling release, Manjaro may sometimes introduce instability after updates, requiring careful system management.
- Compared to minimalist distros, Manjaro has a heavier system footprint, which could impact performance on older hardware.
- Occasionally, the update process can lead to package conflicts, demanding user intervention.
Void Linux
Pros
- Void Linux is known for its lightweight and fast performance, making it ideal for older hardware.
- It uses the runit init system, which is simple and efficient compared to more complex systems like systemd.
- As a rolling release, Void provides continuous updates, similar to Arch Linux, keeping the system cutting-edge.
- Void is independently developed, offering a unique approach to package management with its xbps package manager.
- The minimal setup allows users to build a custom system tailored to their specific needs.
Cons
- Void Linux has a smaller community, which might limit the availability of user-generated tutorials and support.
- The distribution's minimalistic nature makes it less suitable for beginners who may prefer a more guided experience.
- While the documentation is improving, it may not be as comprehensive as more popular distributions.
Which should you pick?
Quick recommendations for common scenarios.
Switching from Windows
Pick: Manjaro
Manjaro's user-friendly interface and installer make it ideal for former Windows users.
Following Linux tutorials
Pick: Either
Both distros can be used to follow Linux tutorials, though Manjaro may have more community support.
Running on older hardware
Pick: Void Linux
Void's lightweight nature makes it suitable for older or less capable hardware.
Gaming
Pick: Manjaro
Manjaro provides better support for gaming with easier access to necessary drivers and software.
Professional work
Pick: Manjaro
Manjaro's stability and software availability make it a strong choice for professional environments.
Simple daily desktop
Pick: Manjaro
Manjaro offers a more complete out-of-the-box experience for daily tasks.
FAQ
Quick answers to common questions.
Are Manjaro and Void Linux related?
No, Manjaro is based on Arch Linux, while Void Linux is an independent distribution.
Which is more beginner-friendly, Manjaro or Void Linux?
Manjaro is more beginner-friendly with its graphical installer and pre-configured setups, whereas Void requires more manual configuration.
Which performs faster, Manjaro or Void Linux?
Void Linux generally performs faster due to its lightweight nature and minimal system overhead.
Can I try these distros before installing?
Both distros offer live session environments, allowing you to try them without installing on your hard drive.
Is software compatibility an issue?
Manjaro offers broad software compatibility through the AUR, while Void has a unique package system but may require more effort for certain applications.
How is hardware support for each distro?
Manjaro has excellent hardware support, especially for laptops, while Void may require additional configuration.
What are the release cycles like?
Both are rolling release distributions, meaning they provide continuous updates rather than periodic version releases.
Is it easy to switch between Manjaro and Void Linux?
Switching involves reinstalling the operating system, as they are fundamentally different in their architectures and package management.
Compare another pair?
Generate a clean "vs" page for any two distros.