Mageia vs Solus
Mageia: A community fork of Mandriva with its own control center. Solus: An independent desktop with a curated rolling model. Here is how they differ, and which one suits you.
Quick verdict
- BeginnersTieBoth are a similar fit here.
- GamingSolusSolus ships gaming-oriented defaults or current drivers.
- Older hardwareTieBoth are a similar fit here.
- Latest softwareSolusSolus uses a rolling model; Mageia is stable.
- Long-term stabilityMageiaMageia changes less between upgrades.
Specs compared
| Feature | Mageia | Solus |
|---|---|---|
| Popularity rank (30d) | #46 | #43 |
| Latest version | — | — |
| Based on | Independent (Mandriva fork) | Independent |
| Release model | Stable | Rolling |
| Desktop | KDE Plasma, GNOME, Xfce | Budgie, KDE Plasma, GNOME, Xfce |
| Package management | urpmi · DNF | eopkg · Flatpak |
| Init system | systemd | systemd |
| Experience level | Beginner | Beginner |
| Suggested RAM | 4 GB+ | 4 GB+ |
| Architectures | x86_64 | x86_64 |
| First released | 2011 | 2015 |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Good for | Everyday use | Everyday use, Gaming |
Key differences
- Mageia is based on Independent (Mandriva fork), while Solus is based on Independent.
- Mageia follows a stable release model; Solus is rolling.
- Mageia ships KDE Plasma, GNOME, Xfce; Solus ships Budgie, KDE Plasma, GNOME, Xfce.
- Software comes from urpmi · DNF on Mageia and eopkg · Flatpak on Solus.
Choose Mageia if…
- central graphical control center
- community governance
- fixed, predictable releases
Release gaps can be long
Full Mageia profileChoose Solus if…
- weekly, curated rolling updates
- desktop-focused package selection
- independent base with its own tooling
Smaller repository than major distributions
Full Solus profileMageia vs Solus: FAQ
Is Mageia better than Solus?
Neither is better for everyone. Mageia is the stronger pick for long-term stability; Solus for gaming, latest software.
Which uses less RAM, Mageia or Solus?
Both need about 4 GB of RAM for a comfortable desktop. The desktop environment affects memory use more than the distribution.
Is Mageia based on Solus?
No. Mageia is based on Independent (Mandriva fork); Solus is based on Independent.
Can I switch from Mageia to Solus without losing files?
Back up your home folder first. If /home is on a separate partition you can reinstall without formatting it, but a clean install with restored backups is safest.