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Kali Linux vs Ubuntu Linux comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Aug 7, 2024
 

Categories and Ranking

Kali Linux
Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business
11th
Average Rating
8.8
Reviews Sentiment
7.7
Number of Reviews
13
Ranking in other categories
AWS Marketplace (2nd)
Ubuntu Linux
Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business
2nd
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
8.0
Number of Reviews
138
Ranking in other categories
OpenStack (1st)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of December 2024, in the Operating Systems (OS) for Business category, the mindshare of Kali Linux is 1.4%, up from 0.0% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Ubuntu Linux is 17.2%, down from 23.6% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Operating Systems (OS) for Business
 

Featured Reviews

GurpreetSingh4 - PeerSpot reviewer
Has small footprint and low maintenance cycles
Pre-installed tools can provide basic training and security measures, which is helpful. However, these tools may not be sufficient to secure your workload fully. That's why it's important to complement them with other specialized security tools to enhance your overall security. Before using Kali Linux, make sure you know its pros and cons. It's a good system to learn because it's the best choice for some situations. It has default firewall settings that block everything by default. It's up to the user to decide how much they want to open up. Learning Kali Linux takes time because it relies on command-line tasks instead of graphical interfaces. Practice is key to becoming comfortable with it.
Bahattin Yetismis - PeerSpot reviewer
The product is easy to use and has excellent performance and availability
The setup is really straightforward. It is not complex. We develop DevOps scripts to deploy it. It takes only one or two hours. If the hardware is available, then it will take only one hour. We prepare the hardware environment and deploy the solution. After that, we deploy the Docker container environment. Then, we run the whole software. The product is deployed on-premises because we are still in the testing phase. We have a small number of customers. In the future, we will try to migrate to the cloud.

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Pros

"We use the product for open-source intelligence and identifying vulnerabilities."
"Additionally, it now includes comprehensive migration analytics and reporting capabilities."
"Kali Linux is much better than other OS because it gives you a good set of tools. It is preferred for vulnerability assessments and cybersecurity."
"The interface is good and straightforward to use."
"The most valuable feature of Kali Linux is the attack it performs using a CVE script that's already on the internet."
"The solution's stability is very good."
"I use the tool with Nmap to perform network audits. We use it to find vulnerabilities in our network through attacks. It's for those who want to launch or create viruses or perform attacks on systems. With Kali Linux, you can conduct penetration testing for networks, web applications, and Android mobile apps."
"In general, Kali Linux is used for hosting applications, developing new applications, and operating systems. It's also used in containers and nodes. The tool offers a smaller footprint than Windows because it lacks the functionality of graphical user interfaces. One advantage of Kali Linux is its lower maintenance requirements than Windows, with slower update cycles and easier maintenance procedures."
"Ubuntu has a good interface, it is easier to use than other distribution such as CentOS or Red Hat. It's suitable for beginners who want to start learning Linux. It has a simple interface and it's easy to use."
"It is open-source, secure, and easy to use."
"The most valuable feature is that it's developer-friendly and easily accessible. Like any other Linux operating system, you have access to open sources, all the necessary tooling, and anything that helps developers do their work. I'm no Linux guru, but Ubuntu offers packages that I find easy to use. There are other options for people who are very skilled with Linux, but this solution has the perfect balance of having enough technical requirements to meet your needs while still being usable. It doesn't require you to be so technically proficient that you need to recompile kernels or anything like that. It's a Linux operating system for normal people."
"The product’s stability is valuable."
"It is a widely used and stable solution. Community members can offer support and technical guidance."
"The solution has high fantastic performance."
"The trifecta comprising the solution's most valuable features consists of its stability, security and performance."
"I think Ubuntu's main strength, as opposed to using the other Linuxes, has been its ability to encourage user feedback."
 

Cons

"The installation process of Kali Linux can be slow, particularly when installing and upgrading packages within virtualized environments."
"From an improvement perspective, Kali Linux could include more ML to help with academic literature, as it is one of the areas where there are shortcomings in the solution."
"I would like to have automation in Kali Linux instead of manually configuring or setting up something in case of an upgrade."
"There can be some lagging issues because the product gets stuck at times, making it an area of concern where improvements are required."
"The tool is already stable and well-developed, so there's minimal feedback for enhancement or change. However, it should improve security, which is crucial, especially with the increasing use of Kali Linux in cloud environments."
"Any new user or someone without deep expertise won't be able to understand how to scale or manage it"
"The product should improve its security features."
"The tool is slightly difficult to learn."
"Could be better support for graphic drivers and support from the hardware lenders."
"Could be even more light weight than it currently is."
"Better integration between the interface of the software and the operating system itself would be a benefit in the future."
"More security features are needed to protect the current file system to prevent attacks."
"For a broken Ubuntu system, you must do a new installation. There is no existing repair option."
"When installing software, an online interface has to be used and commands written to run the installation. The solution could be improved if it was possible to click twice in an icon for the installation process to begin."
"We use and have previously used Windows 10 which is a lot better."
"The product could be easier to manage."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"It is an open-source tool."
"The price is good because Kali Linux already provides a good bundle of tools."
"Kali Linux is open source."
"Kali Linux offers a perpetual license, meaning you pay for it once and can use it. While free versions of Linux are available, Kali Linux, being an enterprise edition, usually comes with a perpetual license. I rate its pricing a five out of ten."
"There is no need to make any payments towards the licensing costs since it is a solution that is available for free."
"I have used the free version."
"I use it free of charge."
"The tool is open-source."
"​Old equipment works for at least two or three years more, which means a significant savings.​"
"The main advantage of Unix is that it's free."
"If the customer wants to start, there is no license required. It is all free, but they must purchase the production license."
"We don't pay any fees."
"The solution is open source and we do not need to pay for a license."
"Ubuntu Linux is open-source and available to use free of charge."
"It comes as free software, where there is an option for you to buy support licenses."
"The product is cheap compared to Windows."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
13%
Comms Service Provider
12%
University
12%
Educational Organization
12%
Computer Software Company
14%
University
10%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Educational Organization
8%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Kali Linux?
I use the tool with Nmap to perform network audits. We use it to find vulnerabilities in our network through attacks. It's for those who want to launch or create viruses or perform attacks on syste...
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Kali Linux?
Kali Linux offers a perpetual license, meaning you pay for it once and can use it. While free versions of Linux are available, Kali Linux, being an enterprise edition, usually comes with a perpetua...
What needs improvement with Kali Linux?
The tool is already stable and well-developed, so there's minimal feedback for enhancement or change. However, it should improve security, which is crucial, especially with the increasing use of Ka...
Which would you choose - Ubuntu Linux or Oracle Linux?
Ubunto Linux is a complete Linux operating system that is freely available with both community and professional support. This solution is suitable for both desktop and server use. It has a very app...
What do you like most about Ubuntu Linux?
It has a good support system for loading databases.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Ubuntu Linux?
Ubuntu Linux is open-source and free to use, which makes it cost-effective.
 

Comparisons

 

Also Known As

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Ubuntu
 

Learn More

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Overview

 

Sample Customers

Information Not Available
Samsung, eBay, AT&T, Walmart, Cisco, Time Warner Cable, Bloomberg, Best Buy, Dell, Intel, Microsoft, Ericsson, Orange, Wells Fargo
Find out what your peers are saying about Kali Linux vs. Ubuntu Linux and other solutions. Updated: December 2024.
824,053 professionals have used our research since 2012.