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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 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.

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 stable software and frequent updates.

CachyOS defaults to the KDE Plasma desktop environment, and the developers do a pretty good job of sticking with most of the defaults. The basic theme is fairly similar to that of stock KDE Plasma, down to the floating panel and dark theme.

One of the most impressive things about CachyOS is its speed. This distribution is one of the fastest I’ve ever used. No matter what I throw at CachyOS, it handles it without so much as a blink or blip. 

As far as preinstalled apps, CachyOS doesn’t ship with much. You get Firefox, the KDE Apps, a system snapshot app (to create restore points), a multimedia player, and a few utilities. If you want anything else, you’ll have to open one of the app stores.

Who is CachyOS for?

CachyOS is for those who want a rolling release Linux distribution that is faster than anything else they’ve used. The ideal CachyOS user also likes the idea that their operating system is based on Arch Linux. If you’ve ever wanted to give Arch Linux a try, CachyOS could serve as the ideal starting point. 

Also: How much RAM does your Linux PC actually need in 2026? An expert’s sweet spot

The best CachyOS user is also one who likes the look and feel of KDE Plasma.

If that sounds like you, give CachyOS a try.

MX Linux

What CachyOS is to Arch Linux, MX Linux is to Debian.

As soon as you log into MX Linux for the first time, you’ll understand that, right on the desktop, are icons for an FAQ, the MX User Manual, and Quick System Info. You also get a nice Conky configuration that displays the time, date, and memory/CPU usage percentage.

I decided to compare apples to apples by downloading the KDE Plasma version of MX Linux. OK, maybe it’s more of a Granny Smith apples to Fuji apples comparison.

Either way, MX Linux offers a very nice KDE Plasma look and feel. It’s somewhat close to vanilla Plasma, but it’s clearly themed and banded for MX Linux.

MX Linux doesn’t offer the speed of CachyOS, but it makes up for that with user-friendliness, which is kind of the point of this distribution.

Also: Goodbye, VirtualBox – I found a better, more reliable VM manager for Linux

Outside of the Arch/Debian bases, one of the biggest differences between the two is the preinstalled applications. With MX Linux, you get everything you need… and more. There’s Firefox, LibreOffice, Thunderbird, QT Torrent, K3b, Strawberry, VLC media player, GIMP, all of the MX tools, and tons of utilities. You could install MX Linux and never have to install another piece of software again.

As I said, MX Linux is all about user-friendliness, so you get the KDE Discover app store, but it does not have Flathub support enabled by default. If you go to Discover > Settings, you’ll find integrations for both Flatpak and Snap available. Enable them both, and you’ll have a vast array of software to install.

Another difference between CachyOS and MX Linux is that, because MX Linux is based on Debian, the latter gives you more stability. That’s not to say CachyOS is unstable (it’s not), but Debian is one of the most stable OSes on the market, and MX Linux inherits it.

And then there’s the MX Tools, which offer a wide array of options, such as the MX Samba Config tool, which makes it easy to share folders across your network.

Who is CMX Linux for?

MX Linux is for those who want stability and a ton of pre-installed applications, all wrapped up with a nice bow of user-friendliness. Although MX Linux doesn’t hold your hand along the way, it gives you all the tools you need to feel comfortable using the Linux OS. 

So, if you’re new (or new-ish) to Linux, MX Linux is a great option.

Which is right for you?

This is simple: If you want one of the fastest operating systems that you’ve ever experienced, and you’re good with Arch Linux and installing the apps you need, CachyOS is the way to go. If you want user-friendliness and stability (with tons of pre-installed apps), MX Linux is what you want.