CachyOS vs. MX Linux: Are you seeking speed or stability in your distro?
CachyOS vs. MX Linux: Are you seeking speed or stability in your distro?
https://www.zdnet.com/article/cachyos-vs-mx-linux-which-is-right-for-you/
Publish Date: 2026-05-13 10:18:00
Source Domain: www.zdnet.com
CachyOS and MX Linux
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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- CachyOS and MX Linux are two distinctly different OSes.
- Both have options for KDE Plasma, and each has a different base.
- Both of these operating systems can be installed and used for free.
CachyOS and MX Linux are very popular at the moment. Even though they are both enjoying a surge in popularity, it’s important to know that they are different Linux distributions, even when you’re using the same desktop environment (which is exactly what I did).
The big question then becomes: Which one of these is the best option for you?
CachyOS
CachyOS offers a clean KDE Plasma look.
Jack Wallen/ZDNET
CachyOS is an Arch-based distribution.
That alone should tell you something about this open-source OS. But, don’t be scared away by its Arch-ness. Unlike Arch Linux, CachyOS does include two GUI app stores. Although one of the app stores might not be as modern as you might like, it’s still better than having to open the terminal app and run a command like:
sudo pacman -Sy libreoffice-fresh
Then there’s Shelly, which is a sort of anime-themed app store that allows you to add AUR, Flatpak, and AppImage support. Shelly also allows you to handle updates without having to leave the GUI. Even though Shelly is more modern than the other included app stores, it’s not quite on the level of KDE Discover or GNOME Software.
Also: I customized an Arch-based distro my way in under 5 minutes – and it’s glorious
Even the updates outside of Shelly are easier than running them through the terminal app (although they are actually done through the terminal). When you see the CachyOS update icon in the panel, click it, and a terminal app opens to run the updates for you. All you have to do is type “y” to proceed.
Updating CachyOS the terminal way.
Jack Wallen/ZDNET
CachyOS is a rolling-release distribution (as is Arch), which means it’s more cutting-edge, so you’ll always enjoy the most recently released…
