Hi, just a background from where I'm coming from here; I'm a sub 25 ZZ solver, but i've learnt and experimented with Roux, CFOP (my former method) and Petrus, hope my opinion helps!
Which one is easier to learn?
Well, ZZ is a method with a very difficult learning curve, in a sense of things, neither of them are very difficult to learn, but ZZ is definitely harder to grasp and to get fast at, mainly during the beginning stages of learning it. However, both of which can be easily learnt with all the great tutorials out there! Waffle has great tutorial on Roux and Asmallkitten has a great tutorial on ZZ, I suggest maybe reading about the concepts of each method as seeing which one appeals to you most
Which one uses less algorithms?
In a general view of things, Roux has less algorithms, there are people out there who can easily get sub 20 with roux with simply basic 9 algorithms (2 PLLs, 7 OLL to orient corners), you can however, also learn CMLL/COLL for roux in order to turn 2 steps into 1 (if that makes sense) with the expense of course of learning more algorithms. ZZ, at its most basic form has OCLL then PLL last layer, meaning it has 7 + 21, which makes 28 algorithms in and of itself, of course you have the choice of using 2 look PLL which cuts it down to only 2 PLLs and 4 EPLLs making it 7+6, making 13 algorithms. In addition to that, ZZ can have many add-ons that Roux can't have, due to the different approach in the last layer. In ZZ you can learn phasing, and then ZZLL (149 algs) for 1 look last layer, and many more. So basically, Roux has less algorithms, however, it has lass flexibility in HOW the cuber would like to approach their method (if thats fair to say)
How would you describe how Roux/ZZ works?
Roux: For Roux, it saves on move counts by building two 1x2x3 blocks on the lower left and right hand side, thus after orienting and permuting the top layer corners, the entire solve is 2-gen, meaning solvable with only turning 2 sides, the M slice and U moves. This last step however, is intuition and can really only be trained (from what I know) by practice, though I'm sure its not very difficult for one to get accustomed to this with enough effort
Its a very simple, efficient and personally its one of the most, if not the most fun methods to use out there
ZZ: For ZZ, the beginning of collecting bad edges and fixing them while forming the line (ZZ's version of a cross) is what makes it very difficult to grasp and creating a major learning curve. But once the EOLine (name of the previously mentioned step) has been solved, the ENTIRE F2L can be solved with L, U and R moves thus depleting the need for rotations. Due to the fact that the edges have been oriented, the last layer for ZZ would already give you the cross, hence cutting you down to only 7 OLLs. Then the last layer can be completed just like Petrus and CFOP/Fridrich.
Note that both these methods have block building aspects to them that many may find challenging to do fast when first learning them.
which one looks cooler?
Honestly, Roux looks cooler, because it has TONS, and i mean TONNNNNSSS of M-slice moves, and to dare I say, M-slice moves are the sexiest moves in cubing
Hope all this helps, and your "newbie ness" doesn't bother me at all, just maybe do some research cause there are plenty of resources and threads regarding both methods that you can learn from. Wish you all the best in which ever method you choose!
