When comparing Artix Linux vs Waterfox, the Slant community recommends Waterfox for most people. In the question“What are the best web browsers for UNIX-like systems?” Waterfox is ranked 19th while Artix Linux is ranked 21st. The most important reason people chose Waterfox is:
Even faster than firefox.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro No systemd
Pro Runit
Artix actively supports the runit init system known from Void Linux. (Equally besides the OpenRC init system known from Gentoo).
Pro Close to bare Arch Linux
No learning curve if you're coming from Arch or any of its derivatives.
Pro Lightweight
Only the software you would need like Terminal emulator, file manager, media player and a browser.
Pro Compatible with Arch Repositories
It is fully compatible with almost all packages from community, extra, multilib and AUR.
Pro Rolling distro
Pro Flexibility
You can have a functional system in less than 10 mins using GUI installer OR you can do it "the Arch way".
Pro Fast
Even faster than firefox.
Pro Offers excellent privacy
Does not phone home.
Pro Never ever freezes
Highly reliable.
Pro Works with Firefox addons
Firefox 56 add-ons compatibility, including unsigned XUL extensions and complete themes.
Pro Less bloated than Firefox
Pocket, telemetry, data collection, startup profiling is removed.
Pro Extremely customizable
It has almost every setting imaginable.
Pro Multiple add-on support
Pro Works with major streaming services
Includes widevine plugin and suitable user agent for viewing major streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Video.
Cons
Con No systemd
Some packages flat out won't work because systemd is non existent, sadly pipewire needs systemd to run. Hopefully Pipewire becomes usable soon. Edit: Pipewire does work but you will have to make a startup script.
Con Few Arch packages might not be available yet
Developers are working migrating all packages into their own repositories while ensuring there's no systemd malware.
Con No tiling WM (i3/sway) out of the box
Con Lag, lag, lag, freeze, freeze, freeze
Need to do something about it.
Con Owned by an advertising company
The same company that bought Startpage/ Ixquick, System 1. This is a company that gathers information about what you look at and do, analyzes and profiles you, and then sells it off to third parties.
Con Goodish, but still bad
Removes crap from FF, but doesn't offer anything you can't already do in FF. Also, doesn't help they are owned by an ad tech, System1.
