Arch Linux
Depends
Confidence: High
Choose Arch if you're a developer or hobbyist who wants full control and will maintain the OS yourself.
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Comparison
Arch Linux and EndeavourOS both land on Depends.
Choose Arch if you're a developer or hobbyist who wants full control and will maintain the OS yourself.
A free, well-liked Arch-based distro for enthusiasts who want near-Arch power with friendlier onboarding and community support.
| Compare | ||
|---|---|---|
| Verdict | Depends | Depends |
| Best for | Developers and tinkerers | Linux hobbyists and tinkerers |
| Who it's not for | Anyone wanting a PC that works out of the box | Complete Linux beginners |
| Privacy | Known CVEs plus a 2026 AUR supply-chain attack hitting 400+ packages; hardening is largely manual.⁶ | One high-severity vulnerability (CVE-2026-31431, 'Copy Fail') actively discussed on the official forum; no dedicated security page found on the site.16 |
| Support quality | Community wiki and forums only, no vendor | Active, friendly community forum |
| Public sentiment | Users love the control and AUR but consistently warn the DIY install and ongoing maintenance are real work.¹ | Reception is broadly positive . users praise the friendly community and near-Arch experience, with occasional complaints about updates breaking the system.13 |
| Biggest gotcha | June 2026 'Atomic Arch' attack: 400+ AUR packages pushed rootkits and infostealers. Vet every AUR install.⁶ | High-severity vulnerability CVE-2026-31431 was discussed on the official forum; patch promptly16 |