Manjaro is a practical starting point if you want a ready-to-use desktop with graphical setup and management tools; EndeavourOS is a better fit if you want to learn a more terminal-centric, Arch-style workflow. Neither makes an Arch-based system maintenance-free: both follow a rolling-release model, so you will need to keep up with updates and use distribution-specific guidance.
Which Arch-based distribution should a beginner choose?
| Choose | Best fit | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Manjaro | You want a guided installation and a desktop that is ready for everyday use. | Manjaro documents preinstalled desktop environments, graphical software managers, automatic hardware detection, and its own repositories. It is a rolling-release distribution. |
| EndeavourOS | You want a comparatively lean system and are willing to learn terminal-based administration. | The project describes it as terminal-centric. Its documentation covers installation, packages, updates, troubleshooting, and recovery. |
| Garuda Linux or CachyOS | You are willing to investigate another Arch derivative before choosing. | They are listed as Arch-based distributions, but the available project material does not establish enough beginner-focused details to compare them reliably here. |
| Arch Linux | You specifically want to configure a minimal base system yourself. | Arch says most configuration is performed from the shell. It is not the simplest starting point if your priority is a preconfigured desktop. |
These are recommendations based on project-documented features, not a controlled test of installation difficulty, stability, or performance.
Manjaro: a more guided desktop experience
Manjaro says it targets both beginners and experienced users. Its overview describes a simplified installer, preinstalled desktop environments, graphical software managers, codecs, automatic hardware detection, and driver installation. Those features make it a reasonable first choice if you prefer graphical administration over configuring a system from the command line. See Manjaro’s official overview.
Repositories and updates
Manjaro maintains its own repositories and describes its packages as tested. It also offers access to the Arch User Repository (AUR). This means “Arch-based” does not mean Manjaro is identical to Arch package-for-package: do not assume every Arch instruction or package maps directly to Manjaro. Consult Manjaro-specific documentation when managing or troubleshooting the system.
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Published hardware guidance
Manjaro’s overview lists recommended specifications of 4 GB of memory, 30 GB of disk space, a dual-core processor, HD graphics and monitor, and broadband internet. The page was last edited in 2023; check current release guidance before installing, and treat these figures as the project’s published recommendations rather than a current independently verified minimum.
EndeavourOS: an Arch-style system for learning
EndeavourOS calls itself a lightweight, terminal-centric Arch-based system. Its homepage lists Pacman, Yay for AUR access, a firewall, and hardware-management components. That positioning makes it worth considering if learning package management and routine system administration is part of your goal—not if you want to avoid the terminal altogether. The project’s homepage and Discovery documentation describe the system and cover installation, hardware, packages, updates, troubleshooting, and recovery.
Published hardware guidance
EndeavourOS lists 15 GB of free disk space, 4 GB of RAM, and a 64-bit dual-core Intel or AMD processor. It says modern EFI/UEFI systems without legacy CSM work best. These are the project’s stated requirements and compatibility guidance, not independently tested recommendations.
What “Arch-based” means when you install and maintain a system
Derivatives share an association with Arch, but they can differ in repositories, defaults, support, and installation choices. Arch itself describes its system as a minimal base that users configure; most system configuration is performed from the shell, and Arch follows a rolling-release model. Its page also describes the AUR as containing more than 49,000 build scripts for compiling packages from source with makepkg—not as a count of ready-made official packages. Read the Arch Linux overview for the project’s description.
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Manjaro’s separate repositories and EndeavourOS’s terminal-centric approach are practical examples of why you should follow the documentation for the distribution you actually install. With a rolling release, updates arrive as part of the ongoing system model rather than as a sequence of fixed major-version upgrades; plan to apply updates and consult project guidance when something needs attention.
How to choose before installing
- Decide how much graphical administration you want. If you want a desktop and graphical software tools provided up front, start by evaluating Manjaro. If you are comfortable learning terminal tools, consider EndeavourOS.
- Check hardware against the project’s own guidance. Compare your machine with the distribution’s listed processor, memory, storage, graphics, and firmware requirements. The figures above come from different projects and are not directly equivalent minimums.
- Read the installation and recovery documentation. EndeavourOS’s Discovery site includes installation-media, update, troubleshooting, and recovery material. Make sure you understand where to find equivalent guidance for your selected distribution.
- Prepare installation media if needed. EndeavourOS documents creating install media on a USB key. A suitable USB flash drive is optional if you do not already have installation media; the project material cited here does not specify a particular capacity or model.
Other options: Garuda Linux and CachyOS
Arch’s directory of Arch-based distributions lists Garuda Linux and CachyOS alongside Manjaro and EndeavourOS. Garuda’s official wiki includes installation and system-requirement material, but the available information does not support a detailed comparison of its beginner defaults, support, or maintenance model. The available material likewise establishes CachyOS as an Arch derivative, not how suitable it is for a beginner. Treat both as candidates to investigate, rather than assuming they offer a particular beginner experience.
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Is plain Arch Linux a good first choice?
Plain Arch can be a suitable first system for someone who wants to build and configure a minimal installation and is prepared to work in the shell. Arch’s own description makes clear that users configure the base system and perform most system configuration from the shell. If you mainly want a preconfigured desktop, Manjaro or EndeavourOS offers a more approachable starting point for different reasons: graphical setup and management in Manjaro’s case, and project-supported installation and learning resources alongside a terminal-centric system in EndeavourOS’s.
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