CachyOS vs Debian
CachyOS draws more interest (#1 vs #4).
you play games on PC, you run AI models or LLMs on your own GPU or you want the newest software as soon as it's out.
your computer is older or low on memory, you write software or you prefer tested updates on a fixed schedule.
| CachyOS #1 · Arch | Debian #4 · Debian | |
|---|---|---|
| Popularity rank (12 months) | 1 | 4 |
| Rank last month | 1 | 6 |
| Index | 300 | 298 |
| Family | Arch | Debian |
| Based on | Arch | - |
| First released | 2021 | 1993 |
| Latest release | - | 13.7 |
| Supported until | - | Aug 2028 |
| GitHub stars | 470 | - |
| Commits, last 30 days | 10 | - |
| Telemetry (OS default) | - | Off unless you opt in |
Pros and cons
CachyOS
Good
- Performance-tuned kernels and packages
- Gaming-friendly defaults
- Graphical installer with many desktop choices
Trade-offs
- Rolling updates need regular attention
- Optimised packages need newer CPUs for the fastest builds
- Young project with a smaller team
Debian
Good
- Very stable and thoroughly tested
- Huge package archive
- Community-run with no company in control
Trade-offs
- Stable releases ship older software
- Less hand-holding at install than Ubuntu or Mint
- Non-free firmware and drivers may need extra steps on some hardware
Questions
Is CachyOS or Debian more popular?
CachyOS draws more interest over the last 12 months (#1 vs #4 in our popularity ranking). That measures interest, not installs.
Is CachyOS or Debian better for gaming?
CachyOS is set up with gaming in mind. Debian can run Steam and Proton too, but needs more setup.
How do updates differ between CachyOS and Debian?
CachyOS is a rolling release: software updates continuously, so you always have the newest versions. Debian ships tested releases on a schedule, so updates are fewer and calmer.
Which runs better on an older computer?
Debian is the lighter choice and is known for running well on older hardware.
Rankings from our composite index: English Wikipedia article views, DistroWatch page hits, GitHub stars and views on this site, built 2026-11-12. All of these measure interest, not installs. Repository activity from GitHub. Ratings come from signed-in LinuxStatistics users. "Pick if", pros and cons are LinuxStatistics editorial notes based on each project's own documentation. Release dates and support from endoflife.date (CC BY-SA 4.0).