CachyOS vs EndeavourOS (October 2025)

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CachyOS vs EndeavourOS

If Arch Linux is a toolkit, CachyOS is the tuned race car built from its parts, and EndeavourOS is the friendly pit crew that gets you on the track fast—then gets out of your way. Both are Arch-based, rolling-release distributions; both ship pacman, access to the AUR, and a fairly clean “upstream-ish” philosophy. Yet they feel wildly different in daily use. Here’s a no-nonsense, US-focused comparison to help you choose.

TL;DR Verdict

  • Pick CachyOS if you want dialed-in performance (CPU-optimized builds, advanced schedulers, kernel choices) and you don’t mind a slightly more technical vibe to manage those power features.

  • Pick EndeavourOS if you want Arch with training wheels you’ll actually keep—smooth installer, sane defaults, lots of desktop options, and a famously helpful community.

What Each Distro Tries to Be

CachyOS: Arch with a Turbocharger

CachyOS exists to squeeze more from the same silicon—compiler optimizations (PGO/LTO/BOLT), CPU-targeted packages, and multiple kernels (including BORE/EEVDF/sched-ext variants) that tilt toward low-latency interactivity and gaming responsiveness. In 2025, it’s doubled down on stability too, adding quality-of-life tools (e.g., a package dashboard) and shipping an LTS-based ISO while still making the “hot” kernels trivial to install. In short: performance first, without abandoning reliability.

EndeavourOS: Arch with a Doorman and a Map

EndeavourOS keeps Arch’s soul but makes day-one painless. Calamares installer? Check. An offline “just works” Plasma option or an online pick-your-DE buffet? Also check. A welcoming community plus a lightweight post-install “Welcome” app to nudge you through the first tweaks? That’s where EndeavourOS shines. It’s minimal, practical, and friendly—an honest Arch hand-off rather than a theme park.

Installation & First Boot

  • CachyOS: Modern Calamares installer with sensible defaults and optional advanced partitions. First boot lands you in a fast, clean desktop with its own tools for kernels, drivers, and micro-optimizations. It feels tech-savvy out of the box.

  • EndeavourOS: Calamares as well, but the vibe is gentler. Choose Offline for a quick Plasma setup or Online to pick from the popular desktops and window managers. The “Welcome” app does real work—update mirrors, install drivers, flip common switches—then you can hide it and move on.

Bottom line: Both are easy. EndeavourOS is easier if you’re newer to Arch; CachyOS is easier if you’re chasing specific performance knobs.

Performance Philosophy (and Why It Matters)

  • CachyOS treats the kernel like a toolkit: BORE/EEVDF/sched-ext options, kernels compiled with modern x86-64-v3/v4/Zen4 targets, and toolchain flags aimed at low-latency responsiveness. Gamers, streamers, and devs who spike CPU/IO will notice snappier task switching, steadier frame pacing, and slightly quicker builds.

  • EndeavourOS keeps closer to mainstream Arch behavior. You can still install alternative kernels and schedulers, but it’s not the distro’s identity. The win here is predictability and fewer rabbit holes.

In practice: CachyOS often “feels” quicker on busy desktops, heavier IDEs, or gaming. EndeavourOS stays fast by being lean—and not over-customizing.

Desktop Environments & Defaults

  • CachyOS: Ships modern Plasma as a favored first impression, with polished defaults, Wayland-first posture, and nice touches like updated Mesa options.

  • EndeavourOS: Offers an online menu of desktops (Plasma, GNOME, Xfce, Cinnamon, MATE, Budgie, LXQt, LXDE, i3, and more). If you’re picky—or trying multiple UIs—this buffet is gold.

Who wins? Variety lovers go EndeavourOS; single-minded performance fans are at home in CachyOS’s Plasma-centric polish.

Package Management & Repos

Both use pacman and tap the AUR. The difference is how much the distro curates:

  • CachyOS: Adds optimized repositories for common packages (think multimedia/GPU stack, browsers, compilers) built with PGO/LTO/BOLT and CPU-tuned configs. You get upstream freshness with a measurable edge.

  • EndeavourOS: Stays closer to vanilla Arch repos by design. Less curation, more predictability, and fewer moving parts if you DIY.

Kernels, Schedulers, and Tuning Tools

  • CachyOS: A star feature is the Kernel Manager—a GUI/CLI to install, swap, and even build tailored kernels (and schedulers) without arcane how-tos. If you want to test BORE today and hardened tomorrow, it’s a few clicks.

  • EndeavourOS: You can absolutely install alternative kernels (mainline, LTS, hardened, Zen) from Arch repos, but you’ll assemble the stack yourself.

Translation: CachyOS bakes the power tools in. EndeavourOS expects you to pick them up.

Stability & Updates (Rolling Doesn’t Have to Mean Risky)

  • CachyOS in 2025 has leaned into transparent, stability-oriented releases: an LTS kernel on the ISO for safer installs, targeted bootloader fixes, and a dashboard to surface what changed. You can still pivot to cutting-edge kernels post-install.

  • EndeavourOS keeps releases steady with hotfixable ISOs and a conservative layer around Arch updates. It’s not “slow”—it’s deliberate.

If you update weekly and prefer a gentle slope, EndeavourOS is soothing. If you like to live closer to the metal but want guardrails, CachyOS now provides them.

Hardware Support & Gaming

  • CachyOS: Great for new AMD GPUs, Wayland + Plasma, and gaming stacks that benefit from a tuned kernel or bleeding-edge Mesa. BORE/sched-ext can smooth out input latency and frame pacing on busy systems.

  • EndeavourOS: Very good across the board with minimal fuss—especially if you install via the Plasma offline route and layer your drivers afterward.

Gamers & creators who notice micro-stutter or compile times often prefer CachyOS. Everyone else will be perfectly happy on EndeavourOS.

Community & Documentation

  • CachyOS: Smaller but energetic, with solid docs focused on its kernel, repos, and performance tooling.

  • EndeavourOS: One of the most helpful communities in Arch-land—forums, guides, and countless videos mean answers are easy to find.

If you learn best via community threads and how-tos, EndeavourOS is a warm bath.

Resource Use & Battery

Both are lean compared to mainstream distros. Plasma 6 on Wayland is impressively light these days. CachyOS’s tuned builds can shave a few cycles; EndeavourOS’s minimal layer means you only pay for what you add. On laptops, battery life differences tend to be configuration-dependent (kernel, governor, background services) more than distro-dependent—though CachyOS’s kernels sometimes let you dial behavior tighter.

Which One Should You Install?

Choose CachyOS if you:

  • Care about low-latency input, fast builds, or smoother frame pacing.

  • Want a built-in kernel/scheduler playground without manual juggling.

  • Like Plasma/Wayland and modern AMD/NVIDIA stacks tuned to go.

Choose EndeavourOS if you:

  • Want a friendly Arch that respects your time and choices.

  • Intend to audition multiple desktops cleanly.

  • Prefer mainstream defaults and a big, accessible community.

Quick Comparison Table

Area CachyOS EndeavourOS
Goal Performance-tuned Arch Clean, approachable Arch
Installer Calamares (advanced-friendly) Calamares; Offline Plasma or Online multi-DE
Kernel Options GUI/CLI kernel manager, BORE/EEVDF/sched-ext, LTS/mainline variants Arch kernels available; manual selection
Repos Optimized packages (PGO/LTO/BOLT, CPU-targeted) Vanilla Arch repos + AUR
Defaults Plasma, Wayland-forward Your pick (Plasma/GNOME/Xfce/etc.)
Learning Curve Moderate if you tweak Gentle on-ramp
Best For Gamers, builders, tinkerers “I want Arch without drama” users

Final Word

Think of CachyOS as Arch’s performance trim with factory-installed tuning and smart stability guardrails. Think of EndeavourOS as Arch’s best concierge—fast check-in, minimal baggage, and a map to everything. You can’t go wrong. But if you know you’ll tweak kernels and chase snappiness, CachyOS is a thrill. If you just want clean Arch you’ll actually keep, EndeavourOS is the keeper.

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