I've tried out every Linux package manager out there, and this is the best one

I’ve tried most major Linux distros at this point, and I usually talk about the obvious differences, like what they’re based on, or which desktop environment they ship with. But lately, I’ve realized there’s something else that matters just as much, if not more: the package manager.

Most distros stick to the usual options. Debian-based systems use apt, Fedora relies on dnf, and Arch-based distros come with pacman. After spending time with all of them, I think pacman has a clear edge, and it’s become my favorite by a pretty wide margin.

Your package manager is one of the most important things in your distro

I don't want a .msi file

You might've used something like Winget on Windows before. It's definitely handy, but it's never been a requirement. You can comfortably keep using Windows without it. At its core, Winget is mostly about apps and utilities, and it doesn't go much further than that.

On Linux, a package manager plays a much, much bigger role. It isn't there to just grab applications. It is also responsible for core system libraries, drivers, security updates, and even major software updates. Your entire OS is also managed by the same tool that you use to install a text editor.

Now, different distributions usually come with different package managers. If you're new to Linux, you're probably using a Debian-based distro, which means you're using apt as your main package manager, and similarly, Fedora uses dnf.

While there isn't much of a difference between these in terms of software availability, especially with major packages, the real differences show up elsewhere. Things like performance, architecture, or how much it stays out of your way all vary much more than you might expect.

I've recently switched to CachyOS, which means I've been living with pacman, the default package manager on most Arch-based distros. After trying out so many different options, I think this is the best one.

Pacman gets almost everything right

Quick and easy

I've slowly found myself leaning more and more towards rolling-release distros. In true Linux fashion, there are always a few quirks to deal with, and having the latest packages can either fix a problem instantly or make things worse. In my experience, though, it’s usually been the former.

I've had very specific issues, like a game won't launch, and the simplest way to solve the problem has been to grab the absolute latest version of a package available through pacman. While you can get the same thing via other package managers too, apt and dnf are usually associated with fixed releases and built to be used like that. I've just had an easier time with pacman overall since it's actually meant for this use-case.

Moving on to the syntax, it's just easier to deal with. On something like Ubuntu, updating usually looks like this:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

On pacman, it's just:

sudo pacman -Syu

It's a small nitpick for sure, but this extends to other basic commands like installing and removing stuff too. It does save you time in the end. Speaking of that, I've noticed that pacman is just quicker, especially for larger or major updates. Just to put it into numbers, I tried installing Firefox between the 3 major options under the exact same conditions by installing Ubuntu, Fedora, and Arch via distrobox.

Pacman did come out ahead. The difference isn't that big with just one package, but as I mentioned earlier, it's definitely noticeable with bigger updates. That said, this does come with a few tradeoffs. Apt and dnf are slower because they tend to be a bit more cautious and run more checks.

Nothing beats the AUR

Sometimes you do need proprietary software

The AUR (Arch User Repository) is a huge community-maintained collection of packages that sit outside of Arch's official repositories. It doesn't plug into pacman on its own, but once you pair it with an AUR helper like yay, it's an absolute game-changer on Arch-based systems.

It's really useful for apps that are either proprietary, fast-moving, or just a bit niche. For example, I recently installed Google's new Antigravity IDE through the AUR since it's not available in the official repos. Sure, I could've grabbed the tarball from its website, but I just want to get things done the right way, which is via an actual package manager.

This was a specific example, but other things like Google Chrome, Proton-GE, and other very popular tools are simply available via the AUR. That's why having an AUR helper along with pacman is probably all that you'll ever need.

Alternatives like PPAs do exist for apt, but they don't come anywhere close in my opinion. Over time, you get flooded with third-party repositories, each with its own maintainer, and some repos get abandoned, some just break, it's all just a hassle. The AUR has a great system in place where everything is transparent, and even if a maintainer disappears, someone else can pick it up.

You might want to switch to an Arch-based distro to try out Pacman

One thing you might want to know is that it's not wise to just go ahead and install pacman willy-nilly on something like Fedora. It's not impossible to do so, but it's generally a bad idea.

Most distros are usually built around one package manager. Having multiple package managers at the same time will put you in dependency hell, and you'll probably end up breaking something horribly. Unfortunately, the cleanest way to try it out would be to switch to an Arch-based distro.