When you hear “Arch Linux,” you might think of doing everything by hand — but not everyone wants to spend a whole weekend in a terminal just to get to a working desktop. That’s exactly where Manjaro and EndeavourOS come in — two brilliant ways to enjoy the power and freshness of Arch, minus the deep dive into command-line gymnastics.

Manjaro smooths the road with polished tools, stable tweaks, and beginner-friendly helpers — it’s like having a well-cushioned ride on Arch’s fast-moving track. On the flip side, EndeavourOS keeps you closer to Arch’s pure spirit — giving you a head start with an easy installer and just enough hand-holding to get you rolling, while still letting you steer every detail your way.

Both distros open the Arch door — it just depends on whether you prefer a guided tour or a backpacking adventure.

What is Manjaro?

Manjaro is a Linux distribution based on Arch Linux, designed to make Arch’s speed and cutting-edge software easy for everyone to use. It comes with a polished desktop, pre-installed drivers, an easy installer, and handy graphical tools to handle kernels, updates, and hardware — perfect if you like the idea of Arch but don’t want to build everything by hand.

Pros of Manjaro

1. User-Friendly: Easy to install, good out-of-the-box experience — ready to use in minutes.
2. Stable Rolling Release: Uses Arch packages but tests them first, so you get new software with fewer surprises.
3. Hardware Detection: Automatic driver installers — especially great for NVIDIA and hybrid laptops.
4. GUI Tools: Kernel manager, update notifier, settings manager — makes advanced tasks easy.
5. Active Community: Large forums and plenty of guides tailored to Manjaro’s unique setup.

Cons of Manjaro

1. Delayed Updates: Updates come later than Arch, which is safer but not as bleeding-edge as pure Arch.
2. Custom Layer: Adds its own tweaks and tools — great for simplicity but can make troubleshooting more specific to Manjaro.
3. Occasional Breakage: Like any rolling release, updates can still cause issues if not handled carefully.
4. Not Pure Arch: For Arch purists, the extra layer feels like extra baggage.

What is EndeavourOS?

EndeavourOS is an Arch-based Linux distribution that aims to keep things as close to pure Arch as possible, but without the tricky manual installation. It gives you an easy offline/online installer, a friendly welcome app, and just a few helpful tools — so you can get up and running fast while still doing things the Arch way once you’re in.

Pros of EndeavourOS

1. Near-Pure Arch: You get Arch’s rolling release and packages with no extra delays — true upstream experience.
2. Easy Install: Calamares installer makes setup quick, supports multiple desktops out of the box.
3. Lightweight Extras: Small tweaks and helpers (Welcome app, mirrors updater) that don’t get in your way.
4. Strong Community: Helpful forums, friendly vibe — beginner questions welcome!
5. Uses Arch Wiki Directly: You don’t need separate documentation — Arch’s massive knowledge base works perfectly.

Cons of EndeavourOS

1. Less Hand-Holding: No fancy GUI tools for kernel or driver management — you’ll use the terminal more.
2. No Delayed Updates: You get Arch’s updates immediately — more cutting-edge but slightly riskier.
3. Hardware Setup: Basic detection, but driver setup is manual if you need proprietary drivers.
4. Minimal Defaults: If you want extras out-of-the-box (themes, software bundles), you’ll set that up yourself.

#1 key similarities between Manjaro and EndeavourOS 

✔ Arch-Based DNA
Both distros are built on Arch Linux, so they share Arch’s rolling release model, package ecosystem, and cutting-edge software.

✔ Pacman & AUR Access
Both use the Pacman package manager and make it easy to use the Arch User Repository (AUR) for thousands of community-built packages.

✔ Rolling Release
Both give you a continuously updated system (Manjaro adds an extra layer of testing and staging) — no big version upgrades, you just keep your packages up to date.

✔ Calamares Installer
Both use the Calamares installer to simplify setup — graphical, beginner-friendly, and supports multiple desktop environments.

✔ Multiple Desktop Environments
Both let you choose your preferred DE during install — KDE Plasma, XFCE, GNOME, Cinnamon, and more.

✔ Active Communities
Both have engaged communities, helpful forums, and supportive users — great for solving issues and sharing tips.

✔ Arch Wiki Friendly
Both rely on the Arch Wiki as the go-to source for troubleshooting and configuration — since under the hood, they’re Arch systems.

#2 Key Differences between Manjaro and EndeavourOS

2.1 Target Audience

Manjaro is great if you want Arch Linux but don’t want to worry about setup and tricky commands — it does more for you, so you can just install and go. It has built-in tools, drivers, and looks polished from the start.

EndeavourOS is better if you like the idea of real Arch Linux but want an easier start — it helps you install Arch quickly but leaves the rest for you to customize how you want.

Go with Manjaro for a smooth ride, pick EndeavourOS if you want to learn and build things your way.

2.2 Package Flow

Manjaro has its own safety net — it takes Arch’s latest packages, tests them in a special stable branch, then releases them to you. This extra step helps catch bugs before they reach your system.

EndeavourOS skips the wait — it grabs updates straight from Arch right away, so you always get the freshest software as soon as Arch publishes it.

Manjaro delays updates a bit for more peace of mind; EndeavourOS keeps you right on Arch’s cutting edge.

2.3 Pre-Installed Tools

Manjaro gives you handy graphical tools — you can manage kernels, switch drivers, and tweak settings with a few clicks, no deep terminal work needed.

EndeavourOS keeps it simple — just a friendly Welcome app and a few small helpers, so you do most things the Arch way using the terminal.

Manjaro makes system tasks easier with built-in tools; EndeavourOS stays lightweight and leaves control in your hands.

2.4 Driver Management

Manjaro takes care of your hardware — it checks what you have and can auto-install drivers, even tricky ones like NVIDIA, with just a few clicks.

EndeavourOS keeps things closer to Arch — you’ll set up drivers yourself using the terminal and guides, giving you more control but also more steps.

Manjaro makes drivers hassle-free; EndeavourOS leaves driver setup fully in your hands.

2.5 Default Configuration

Manjaro looks neat right away — it comes with nice themes, desktop tweaks, and some extra software ready to use, so your system feels polished from the first boot.

EndeavourOS keeps it clean and simple — you get a fresh Arch-like setup with hardly any changes, so you can style and set it up just how you like.

Manjaro gives you a ready-made polished feel; EndeavourOS lets you build your look from scratch.

#3 Advanced Differences between Manjaro and EndeavourOS

3.1 Kernel Options

Manjaro makes kernels easy — its kernel manager tool lets you add, remove, or switch between different kernels (like LTS, real-time, or the latest) with just a few clicks.

EndeavourOS keeps it Arch-style — you’ll handle kernel changes yourself in the terminal, which gives you full control but needs a bit more know-how.

Manjaro handles kernel switching the easy way; EndeavourOS leaves it to you to manage manually.

3.2 Custom Repositories

Manjaro runs its own repositories with packages that aren’t part of Arch — these include extra tools, custom kernels, and tweaks made just for Manjaro. This adds stability and features you won’t find in plain Arch.

EndeavourOS keeps it true to Arch — it sticks to Arch’s official repos and the AUR, adding almost nothing extra on top.

Manjaro includes unique packages not in Arch; EndeavourOS stays pure with Arch’s original sources.

3.3 Security & Testing Philosophy

Manjaro adds a safety net — its extra testing layer catches bugs and issues in Arch updates before they reach you, which helps avoid surprise breakages.

EndeavourOS doesn’t hold anything back — it pulls updates straight from Arch as they come, so any problem upstream can hit your system right away if you’re not careful.

Manjaro gives you extra protection with tested updates; EndeavourOS runs purely at Arch’s raw rolling pace.

3.4 Community Documentation

Manjaro offers its own wiki, guides, and community support focused on its unique tools, custom workflows, and how-tos — helpful if you want step-by-step help for Manjaro-specific stuff.

EndeavourOS keeps it simple — it mainly points you to the Arch Wiki, so you use Arch’s huge library of guides and fixes, staying true to how pure Arch works.

Manjaro’s docs cover its special tools; EndeavourOS relies on Arch’s massive knowledge base.

3.5 Offline Installer

Manjaro gives you a fully pre-configured offline ISO — you can install the whole system with all its tools and a polished desktop without needing an internet connection.

EndeavourOS’s offline installer sets up XFCE by default — if you want KDE, GNOME, or other desktops, you’ll switch to the online installer during setup.

Manjaro’s offline ISO comes ready with everything; EndeavourOS’s offline install is XFCE-only — for more choices, you’ll go online.

3.6 System Requirements & Performance

Both Manjaro and EndeavourOS run light compared to heavier distros — they’re great for breathing life into older hardware or keeping things snappy on modern machines.

EndeavourOS is slightly leaner because it sticks to just the basics — no extra tools or GUIs in the background, so advanced users enjoy a system with minimal bloat.

Manjaro adds helpful tools and GUI managers, which can use a bit more RAM and CPU, but on any modern computer this extra footprint is tiny and hardly noticeable.

EndeavourOS stays ultra-slim by design; Manjaro uses a bit more for its friendly extras but stays lightweight overall.

#4 Use Case Summary — Which One to Choose?

Choose Manjaro if you want Arch’s power but prefer a smooth, ready-to-go system with helpful tools, built-in driver support, and safer tested updates — perfect if you want it to just work with minimal hassle.

Choose EndeavourOS if you want to stay true to Arch, love the idea of learning and customizing things your way, and don’t mind using the terminal to keep full control over your system.

Summary: Manjaro is a comfortable ride. EndeavourOS is your shortcut to an authentic Arch adventure.