Artix Linux has its own package repositories but, as a pacman-based distribution, can use packages from Arch Linux repositories or any other derivative distribution, even packages explicitly depending on systemd. The Arch User Repository (AUR) can also be used. Arch OpenRC began in 2012 and Manjaro OpenRC was subsequently developed alongside it. In 2017 these projects merged to create Artix Linux.

Artix initially offered two installation environments, a base command-line ISO image and the graphical Calamares installer based on LXQt desktop with an i3 version following later. Those early versions featured the OpenRC init system. The latest installation media are available in a variety of desktop environments like LXDE, XFCE, MATE, Cinnamon and KDE Plasma 5. Additionally, two unofficial community editions featuring GTK and Qt desktops and a larger software base are offered, aiming at too-busy-to-customise or less experienced users. All current installation media come in OpenRC, runit and s6 versions.