Are you sick of feeling like you’re being watched and want more privacy? Maybe you’re tired of Windows enabling settings and preferences without your consent. Or maybe you’re on a version of Windows where your device is no longer supported and no longer receives security updates, leaving your computer vulnerable. Whether you want to dual-boot or completely replace your operating system... I’ve got the perfect solution for you!

Why CachyOS?

You may ask, why CachyOS? Out of all the available versions of Linux, why is this the one I’m recommending to you? CachyOS is a perfect choice because it offers a middle ground between familiarity and power. It’s built on the foundations of Arch Linux, which offers ongoing support and crucial security updates for ALL computers and laptops.

But the real star of the entire reasoning is the desktop environment: KDE Plasma. It looks and feels very familiar to Windows due to the fact that the taskbar and start menu look almost identical, yet at the same time, there is a lot of customisation available to make it look more aesthetically appealing.

Performance and Gaming

CachyOS is optimised for many different workloads but excels in gaming performance; it is often advertised as the fastest Linux distribution/flavour. From testing and using it as my daily driver for many months now, I can confirm CachyOS’s claim that it is indeed “Blazingly Fast”.

Debunking the Linux Myth

I know that you may be thinking, "I have heard that Linux has a steep learning curve and everything is terminal." But I can confirm that not everything needs the terminal, as CachyOS has implemented an “App Store” of sorts. They have an application that first pops up after installing CachyOS called CachyOS Hello.

This app is your gateway to the system—it lets you perform system updates/tweaks, reinstall packages, install all gaming packages (Steam, GOG, Epic Games & many more), and much more. Inside the menu, there is an "Install Apps" button which provides many different applications that you can download at the click of a button and a simple "Y" in a pop-up terminal to confirm the download.

Furthermore, due to the latest 2026 updates, Cachy has replaced the older software (Octopi) with a new tool called Shelly. It is a brand-new and modern software centre that replaces the older tools, giving you a smoother and more visually appealing experience for managing your entire library of applications.

The Ultimate Safety Net: Snapshots

If I still haven’t convinced you because you’re scared of messing up your system, there is another feature that will put your mind at ease. This is called “snapshots”.

CachyOS uses a file system known as BTRFS by default, which allows the system to basically take a “picture” of your entire OS after performing certain tasks. For example, when you finish your first installation, CachyOS creates a permanent baseline snapshot. If you’re “ricing” your desktop—or in other words, tweaking system files, functionality, and appearance—and something goes wrong, you don’t need to panic as you have a snapshot.

All you need to do is boot into the system's Grub or Limine menu (the screen you see when you first turn the computer on), select the "Snapshots" entry, and pick the one from before the error occurred. In seconds, your machine is restored to exactly how it was—it’s the ultimate "undo" button for your entire OS.