EndeavourOS
Arch-based Linux distribution with a graphical installer and a terminal-first approach.
Updated · AppBreakup editorial · Linux
Is EndeavourOS free?
Yes, free and open source
- License:
- Free and open source
Checked on EndeavourOS's site Nov 8, 2026
Switch from EndeavourOS to
All 5- Verified facts
- 5 of 5
- Alternatives ranked
- 5
- Approved reviews
- 0
- Visits sent from here
- 0
About EndeavourOS
EndeavourOS is a free, open-source Linux distribution built on Arch Linux. It gives you close to a plain Arch system, with the same pacman package manager and rolling updates, but skips the manual install: a graphical installer lets you pick a desktop environment and a bootloader (systemd-boot by default, or GRUB for older BIOS machines). Out of the box it adds a few helpers, including the yay tool for the Arch User Repository, a hardware tool for GPU and virtual machine drivers, PipeWire audio and a firewall. Unlike Manjaro, it uses Arch's own repositories rather than holding packages back, so you get new software quickly but also have to handle the occasional breaking update yourself, often from the terminal. The project is community-run and funded by donations, with an active forum for help. It targets 64-bit PCs, and a separate ARM edition exists.
Best for: Linux users who want Arch's rolling releases and AUR without installing Arch by hand.
Pros and cons
What works
- Graphical installer for an almost stock Arch Linux system
- Uses Arch repositories directly, so packages arrive quickly
- AUR helper (yay) and driver tool included
- Friendly, active community forum
Why people leave
- Expects comfort with the terminal for upkeep and fixes
- Rolling updates can occasionally break things
- Few graphical settings tools compared with Mint or Zorin
EndeavourOS vs Pop!_OS, Manjaro and CachyOS
From each app's listing and the prices verified on its own site. A dash means we haven't verified it yet.
Top EndeavourOS alternatives
See all 5- 1
Pop!_OS72.5Ubuntu-based with built-in tiling and good NVIDIA support out of the box, from System76.
- 2
Manjaro68.8Arch-based but holds packages back for testing and adds graphical tools, for fewer surprises after updates.
- 3
CachyOS64.8Also Arch-based with a friendly installer, adding performance-tuned kernels and optimized packages.
- 4
Fedora Linux61.8Fast-moving, up-to-date packages with a fixed release cycle instead of a rolling one.
- 5
Linux Mint59.4Stable Ubuntu-based desktop that needs less hands-on maintenance than an Arch system.
Why people left EndeavourOS
In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.
No switching stories yet. If you moved away from EndeavourOS, review the app you switched to and tell us why.
Reviews
No approved reviews yet. How we verify reviewers
Write a review of EndeavourOS
EndeavourOS: common questions
What is EndeavourOS?
EndeavourOS: Arch-based Linux distribution with a graphical installer and a terminal-first approach. Best for linux users who want Arch's rolling releases and AUR without installing Arch by hand. Available for Linux.
Is EndeavourOS free?
Yes. EndeavourOS is free, open-source software.
Is EndeavourOS open source?
Yes.
What platforms does EndeavourOS run on?
EndeavourOS is available for Linux.
What are the best alternatives to EndeavourOS?
The highest-ranked EndeavourOS alternatives right now are Pop!_OS, Manjaro and CachyOS. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.
EndeavourOS vs Pop!_OS: what's the difference?
Both EndeavourOS and Pop!_OS are free and open source. Both run on Linux.