Package managers handle software installation on Linux, but APT, DNF, and Pacman all work differently depending on your distribution. Here's what sets them apart and how to use each one.
Publish date: 12/18/2025
If you've spent any time working with Linux, you've probably noticed that installing software doesn't work the same way across different distributions. There's no universal app store or setup wizard that works everywhere.
Instead, each major Linux family uses its own package manager: APT for Debian and Ubuntu, DNF for Fedora and RHEL-based systems, and Pacman for Arch Linux. These tools handle everything from installing and updating software to managing dependencies and cleaning up old packages.
Understanding how these package managers work will save you time and help you avoid common pitfalls when managing servers or workstations. Let's break down what makes each one different and how to use them.
A package manager is software that automates the process of installing, updating, configuring, and removing programs on your system. Instead of manually downloading files, checking dependencies, and copying executables to the right directories, you run a single command and the package manager handles the rest.
Every major Linux distribution relies on a package manager because it solves several problems at once. It tracks which software is installed, maintains a database of available packages, verifies that downloads haven't been tampered with, and automatically resolves dependencies so you don't have to hunt down libraries manually.
Different distributions use different package formats and management tools. Debian-based systems use .deb packages managed by APT, Red Hat-based systems use .rpm packages managed by DNF (or its predecessor YUM), and Arch Linux uses .pkg.tar.zst packages managed by Pacman.
APT (Advanced Package Tool) is the package manager used by Debian, Ubuntu, Linux Mint, and their derivatives. It's been around since 1998 and has become one of the most widely used package management systems in the Linux world.
APT works with .deb packages and pulls software from configured repositories. When you install a package, APT automatically downloads and installs any dependencies it needs. The tool maintains a local cache of package information that gets updated when you run apt update.
The command-line interface is straightforward. You'll mainly use apt for most tasks, though older systems might still reference apt-get and apt-cache separately.
Installing a package is simple:
sudo apt install package-name
Before installing anything, you should update the package list to get the latest versions:
sudo apt update
To upgrade all installed packages to their newest versions:
sudo apt upgrade
If you want to upgrade the system and allow APT to remove packages if needed to satisfy dependencies:
sudo apt full-upgrade
Removing a package:
sudo apt remove package-name
Removing a package and its configuration files:
sudo apt purge package-name
Cleaning up unused packages that were installed as dependencies:
sudo apt autoremove
Searching for a package:
apt search keyword
Getting detailed information about a package:
apt show package-name
Listing all installed packages can be done with:
apt list --installed
APT pulls packages from repositories defined in /etc/apt/sources.list and files in /etc/apt/sources.list.d/. Each repository entry includes the distribution name (like bookworm for Debian 12) and components (like main, contrib, non-free).
You can add third-party repositories to access software that isn't in the official repos. This usually involves adding a new .list file and importing the repository's GPG key to verify package signatures.
APT works best when you're running Debian-based distributions and want stable, well-tested packages. The official repositories prioritize stability over having the absolute latest versions, which makes APT a good choice for servers and production environments.
If you need newer software versions, you can add PPAs (Personal Package Archives) on Ubuntu, though this comes with some risk since third-party repositories aren't always maintained or secure.
DNF (Dandified YUM) replaced YUM as the default package manager for Fedora, Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), AlmaLinux, Rocky Linux, and similar distributions. It was introduced in Fedora 18 and became the default in Fedora 22.
DNF handles .rpm packages and improves on YUM with better dependency resolution, faster performance, and cleaner Python code. The command syntax is nearly identical to YUM, so the transition has been relatively smooth for administrators.
Like APT, DNF uses repositories to distribute software. The main repositories are BaseOS and AppStream for RHEL-based systems, plus the Fedora repository for Fedora users. You can also add EPEL (Extra Packages for Enterprise Linux) for additional software on RHEL clones.
Installing a package:
sudo dnf install package-name
Updating the package cache:
sudo dnf check-update
Upgrading all packages:
sudo dnf upgrade
Removing a package:
sudo dnf remove package-name
Searching for a package:
dnf search keyword
Getting package information:
dnf info package-name
Listing installed packages:
dnf list installed
Cleaning cached package data:
sudo dnf clean all
Finding which package provides a specific file:
dnf provides /path/to/file
DNF repositories are configured in /etc/yum.repos.d/. Each .repo file defines one or more repositories with URLs, GPG keys, and other metadata.
You can enable or disable repositories on the fly with the --enablerepo and --disablerepo flags, which is useful when you want to install something from EPEL without permanently enabling it.
DNF is your default choice on RHEL-based distributions. It's well-suited for enterprise environments where you need Red Hat's commercial support or want to stick with distributions that maintain binary compatibility with RHEL.
The Red Hat ecosystem tends to favor stability and long-term support over cutting-edge packages, similar to Debian. If you need newer software, Fedora moves faster than RHEL but still uses DNF.
Pacman is the package manager for Arch Linux and its derivatives like Manjaro and EndeavourOS. It's known for being fast, straightforward, and closely tied to Arch's rolling release model.
Unlike APT and DNF, which focus on stable package versions, Pacman delivers the latest software as soon as it's available. This rolling release approach means you're always running current versions without waiting for a new distribution release.
Pacman uses .pkg.tar.zst packages from the official Arch repositories. Users can also access the AUR (Arch User Repository), a community-maintained collection of build scripts, though you'll need a helper tool like yay or paru to install AUR packages easily.
Pacman's syntax is different from APT and DNF. Instead of separate commands for different operations, Pacman uses single-letter flags.
Installing a package:
sudo pacman -S package-name
Updating the package database and upgrading all packages:
sudo pacman -Syu
This is the command you'll run most often on Arch systems. The -S flag synchronizes with repositories, -y refreshes the package database, and -u upgrades installed packages.
Removing a package:
sudo pacman -R package-name
Removing a package and its dependencies that aren't needed by other packages:
sudo pacman -Rs package-name
Searching for a package:
pacman -Ss keyword
Getting package information:
pacman -Si package-name
Listing installed packages:
pacman -Q
Removing cached package files:
sudo pacman -Sc
Finding which package owns a file:
pacman -Qo /path/to/file
Pacman repositories are defined in /etc/pacman.conf. The main repositories are core, extra, and multilib (for 32-bit software on 64-bit systems).
Arch's philosophy emphasizes simplicity and user control, so you won't find as many pre-configured repositories as you might on Debian or RHEL-based systems. Instead, Arch users rely on the AUR for software that isn't in the official repos.
Pacman is your only real option on Arch Linux and its derivatives. The rolling release model means you'll always have the newest software, but it also means updates can occasionally break things if you're not careful.
This makes Pacman popular with developers and enthusiasts who want cutting-edge packages and don't mind occasionally troubleshooting issues. It's less common in production server environments where stability is the top priority.
The main difference is which distribution family they belong to. APT works on Debian-based systems, DNF on Red Hat-based systems, and Pacman on Arch Linux. You can't mix and match, so your choice of distribution determines your package manager.
Beyond that, the philosophy differs. APT and DNF prioritize stability and testing, which means packages go through extensive validation before reaching users. Pacman prioritizes currency and ships the latest versions as soon as they're available.
Performance varies too. Pacman is generally the fastest, followed by DNF, with APT being slightly slower in some operations. That said, all three are fast enough that you won't notice a major difference in day-to-day use.
Dependency resolution works similarly across all three, though DNF has a reputation for being particularly thorough about detecting and preventing conflicts.
Repository ecosystems differ significantly. Debian and Ubuntu have massive official repositories plus PPAs. RHEL-based systems have smaller official repos but can be extended with EPEL. Arch has a leaner official repository but supplements it with the AUR, which contains thousands of community-maintained packages.
Your distribution makes this decision for you. If you're running Ubuntu Server, you'll use APT. If you're on Rocky Linux, you'll use DNF. If you chose Arch, you'll use Pacman.
The better question is which distribution philosophy fits your needs. If you're managing production servers, Debian or RHEL-based distributions with APT or DNF make sense because they prioritize stability and predictable updates. If you're developing software and want the latest tools, Arch with Pacman might be a better fit.
For learning purposes, it's worth getting comfortable with at least APT and DNF since they dominate the server world. You can spin up virtual machines or containers to practice without committing to a particular distribution on your main system.
No, package managers are tied to their distribution families. APT only works with .deb packages on Debian-based systems, DNF works with .rpm packages on Red Hat-based systems, and Pacman works with Arch packages. You'd need to switch distributions to change package managers.
Nothing, because the other package managers won't be installed. If you try to run apt on Fedora or dnf on Ubuntu, you'll get a "command not found" error. Each system only includes its own package manager.
Pacman is generally the fastest, especially for updates and installations. DNF improved significantly over YUM and is now competitive with APT. In practice, all three are fast enough that performance isn't usually the deciding factor.
Each package manager handles this differently. On APT systems, you add a .list file to /etc/apt/sources.list.d/ and import the GPG key. On DNF systems, you add a .repo file to /etc/yum.repos.d/. On Arch, you either edit /etc/pacman.conf or use an AUR helper for community packages.
Yes, you can compile from source or download pre-built binaries, but you'll lose automatic updates, dependency management, and security patches. Package managers exist specifically to avoid these problems.
apt is a newer command-line interface that combines functionality from apt-get, apt-cache, and other tools into a more user-friendly package. On modern systems, you can use apt for everything. apt-get still exists for backward compatibility and scripts.
Understanding APT, DNF, and Pacman means you can confidently manage software on any major Linux distribution. Each tool has its strengths, but they all solve the same fundamental problem of making software installation and maintenance straightforward and reliable.
Whether you're setting up a new server, maintaining existing infrastructure, or just exploring different Linux distributions, knowing how to work with these package managers will make your life considerably easier.
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