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Kali Linux vs Ubuntu Linux comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Aug 7, 2024

Review summaries and opinions

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

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 (5th)
Ubuntu Linux
Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business
2nd
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
7.7
Number of Reviews
139
Ranking in other categories
OpenStack (1st)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of March 2025, in the Operating Systems (OS) for Business category, the mindshare of Kali Linux is 1.9%, up from 0.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Ubuntu Linux is 14.5%, down from 23.0% 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.
Kevin Haury - PeerSpot reviewer
Linux's advanced terminal empowers versatile usage and ongoing secure development
Initially, there was nothing complicated. It's easy since I have many years of experience with it. However, if I were a beginner with Linux, it could be completely disruptive compared to Windows. So, I would have to spend some time practicing with Linux to understand how it works and how I can accomplish the same tasks compared to Windows. Maybe one month, at least.

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"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."
"I'm mostly using for the web security web application, so end map and the troubleshoot will it's my price, and it's available in ColliNX."
"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."
"The interface is good and straightforward to use."
"We use the product for open-source intelligence and identifying vulnerabilities."
"The tools available in Kali Linux are incredibly effective for conducting security assessments."
"The most valuable feature of Kali Linux is the attack it performs using a CVE script that's already on the internet."
"The most effective features of Kali Linux include its stability as a Linux operating system, its flexibility in configuring resources such as partitions, its powerful and stable file system, and its multi-user capability, which allows for setting user privileges and rights. Additionally, Kali Linux provides access to a wide range of free and open-source applications for testing and development purposes."
"The feature that I most like in Ubuntu is that it is really easy to use. Ubuntu is very easy to use and comes with many available packages. I think that Ubuntu is a good solution for the small business or a small lab."
"It has improved our ability to carry out maintenance without downtime as migrating services between server environments is largely seamless."
"The solution is free to use."
"The most valuable features of Ubuntu Linux is the reliability, the ease of package management, and the ease of upgrading from one version to the next."
"It is stable and modern."
"It is scalable. I can customize it based on what I want to do."
"Stable and scalable Linux operating system that can test and run virtual machines."
"The solution is scalable."
 

Cons

"From an improvement perspective, it should be made possible for users to learn about the product easily."
"The product should improve its security features."
"The installation process of Kali Linux can be slow, particularly when installing and upgrading packages within virtualized environments."
"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."
"The product should integrate AI and GPT capabilities."
"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."
"There can be some lagging issues because the product gets stuck at times, making it an area of concern where improvements are required."
"Any new user or someone without deep expertise won't be able to understand how to scale or manage it"
"People with a Windows background may not find the solution's user interface user-friendly."
"Ease of use and ease of deployment could still be improved in this system."
"The product must provide integrated security solutions."
"The solution could improve by being more user-friendly, you need to know how to use the command-line interface which you might not understand."
"One thing I've noticed is network connectivity issues where packets are sometimes lost."
"It can have more security."
"The solution could improve by allowing more integration."
"Similar to Windows 10, I would like the ability to manage it on Azure or integrate it with Azure."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Kali Linux is open source."
"There is no need to make any payments towards the licensing costs since it is a solution that is available for free."
"The licensing fee is expensive compared to other products."
"The price is good because Kali Linux already provides a good bundle of tools."
"I use it free of charge."
"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."
"Kali Linux is a free product, and you don't have to pay for a license."
"The tool is open-source."
"We don't pay any fees."
"There is not a license needed for the solution. You only have to pay for technical support."
"If the customer wants to start, there is no license required. It is all free, but they must purchase the production license."
"I am using the free version. There is no subscription."
"Ubuntu is essentially free to download and use, making it accessible to anyone without the need for licensing costs."
"Ubuntu Linux is free, but you can pay for a supported version that is better."
"We do not incur a licensing fee for the solution, as we make use of the free version."
"Ubuntu Linux has a free version, especially if you don't require support."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
15%
Comms Service Provider
15%
University
12%
Educational Organization
10%
Computer Software Company
14%
University
11%
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.
 

Comparisons

 

Also Known As

No data available
Ubuntu
 

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: March 2025.
842,296 professionals have used our research since 2012.