CachyOS vs Pop!_OS
CachyOS draws more interest (#1 vs #5).
you want the newest software as soon as it's out.
you're new to Linux, you write software or you prefer tested updates on a fixed schedule.
| CachyOS #1 · Arch | Pop!_OS #5 · Debian | |
|---|---|---|
| Popularity rank (12 months) | 1 | 5 |
| Rank last month | 1 | 9 |
| Index | 300 | 298 |
| Family | Arch | Debian |
| Based on | Arch | Ubuntu |
| First released | 2021 | 2017 |
| Latest release | - | 24.04 LTS |
| Supported until | - | May 2029 |
| GitHub stars | 470 | 5,290 |
| Commits, last 30 days | 10 | 0 |
| Telemetry (OS default) | - | None |
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
Pop!_OS
Good
- NVIDIA ISO with drivers ready
- COSMIC desktop with built-in tiling
- Made by a hardware vendor (System76) that tests it on laptops
Trade-offs
- Release timing follows System76, not Ubuntu's calendar
- COSMIC is newer and less mature than GNOME or KDE
- Fewer desktop choices than Ubuntu flavours
Questions
Is CachyOS or Pop!_OS more popular?
CachyOS draws more interest over the last 12 months (#1 vs #5 in our popularity ranking). That measures interest, not installs.
Which is better for beginners, CachyOS or Pop!_OS?
Pop!_OS is the easier start: it's aimed at people new to Linux. CachyOS expects some Linux experience.
How do updates differ between CachyOS and Pop!_OS?
CachyOS is a rolling release: software updates continuously, so you always have the newest versions. Pop!_OS ships tested releases on a schedule, so updates are fewer and calmer.
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).