CachyOS
Arch family, based on Arch · first released 2021
- Popularity rank
- #1
- Index
- 300
- GitHub stars
- 470
- Commits / mo
- 10
- Released
- 2021
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.
Pros and cons
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
How CachyOS fits what you do
Everyday use: Good fit
Good
- Made for day-to-day desktop use
Trade-offs
- Rolling updates change things more often
Gaming: Good fit
Good
- Built with gaming in mind
- NVIDIA drivers set up for you
- New kernels and graphics drivers arrive quickly
Trade-offs
None we know of.
Older computers: Not the best fit
Good
Nothing that stands out for this.
Trade-offs
- Needs about 4 GB of RAM to feel smooth
- No 32-bit images
Programming: Can work
Good
- Newest compilers, languages and tools
Trade-offs
- Fewer developer guides than the big distros
AI & Local LLMs: Good fit
Good
- A common choice for running models locally
- CUDA available from NVIDIA's or the distro's own packages
- AMD ROCm supported or packaged
- NVIDIA driver set up for you
Trade-offs
None we know of.
Servers & home labs: Not the best fit
Good
Nothing that stands out for this.
Trade-offs
- Rolling updates mean more upkeep on a server
- Mainly a desktop system
Privacy & security: Can work
Good
Nothing that stands out for this.
Trade-offs
- Usage data not checked by us yet
- Privacy tools like Tor or sandboxing are up to you
Music, video & graphics: Can work
Good
- New versions of creative apps arrive quickly
Trade-offs
- Creative apps and low-latency audio setup are up to you
From our hand-written profile of CachyOS. Take the quiz to compare it with other distros for your setup.
Rank over time
| Window | Rank | Index | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last month | #1 | 300 | |
| 12 months | #1 | 300 |
Shorter windows react faster. A better rank there than over 12 months means interest is growing.
Telemetry
Not checked yet. We only list what we've confirmed in the project's own documentation.
Rate CachyOS
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Ranking 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.