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Kali Linux vs Windows 10 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
No ranking in other categories
Windows 10
Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business
8th
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
4.5
Number of Reviews
281
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of August 2025, in the Operating Systems (OS) for Business category, the mindshare of Kali Linux is 2.5%, up from 0.5% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Windows 10 is 2.7%, down from 4.2% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Operating Systems (OS) for Business
 

Featured Reviews

Rohit Srivastava - PeerSpot reviewer
SQLmap for web application testing and good for web application penetration testing, network testing, vulnerability assessment of any devices or domains
Sometimes, I do face challenges. There's an issue where sometimes during the initial installation, it doesn't install properly. It gives multiple errors like packages not installing, so we have to install those tools separately. For instance, if we want to install a network or other tools, we have to install those complete toolkits manually. So, the challenge is with the initial setup, where I sometimes get errors. Regarding wireless attacks, OS attacks, and social engineering... the tools should be easier to learn because I know everything very well, but some people in my team struggle to understand. If there were GUI interfaces for the tools, it would help me guide my team in using them step-by-step. Command lines are very difficult for other team members who know the tool's purpose but not the Linux commands. GUI interfaces need more improvement. So, the UI interface needs improvement to make it more visible and easier for users. Expert users can do everything without any issues, but new users will struggle.
Deboprio Dutta - PeerSpot reviewer
Improved security features with gaming enhancements while supporting various features
I understand that Windows 11 supports quite a bit of additional features for people who are, for example, into high-end gaming and the features that support that kind of utility. It's not personally much of a thing for me, however, I've heard about differences between the two operating system versions. To the best of my knowledge, I think Windows 11 brings some AI features for Microsoft Copilot, which probably weren't as integrated into the previous version. There are the occasional bugs and issues that pop up, yet none are significant enough for me to consider a major update. Overall, it's a smooth experience.

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"The solution's stability is very good."
"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."
"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."
"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."
"Additionally, it now includes comprehensive migration analytics and reporting capabilities."
"We use the product for open-source intelligence and identifying vulnerabilities."
"The most valuable feature of Kali Linux is the attack it performs using a CVE script that's already on the internet."
"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."
"The scalability of the solution is good."
"We are satisfied with this operating system."
"It is user friendly and very easy."
"Windows 10's most valuable feature is that it is quite intuitive and really easy to use compared to other operating systems."
"Windows 10 is easy to use with a good user interface."
"It helps me with being able to multitask and run various applications in tandem."
"The solution has good performance. However, I personally prefer Mac."
"The product is powerful and fast."
 

Cons

"Any new user or someone without deep expertise won't be able to understand how to scale or manage it"
"The product should integrate AI and GPT capabilities."
"I would like for them to offer more features for the free version in order for users to test them in their internal environment before purchasing."
"The product should improve its security features."
"There can be some lagging issues because the product gets stuck at times, making it an area of concern where improvements are required."
"Unfortunately, my current tool runs on Windows 10, and its use is restricted to enterprise versions. Integrating this tool or similar functionalities into Kali Linux for non-enterprise users would be incredibly valuable."
"The installation process of Kali Linux can be slow, particularly when installing and upgrading packages within virtualized environments."
"From an improvement perspective, it should be made possible for users to learn about the product easily."
"It would be nice to have more integration with other platforms, something which is always welcome."
"If someone is coming from a previous Windows experience, it could be complex."
"Like all Windows products or like all the Microsoft products, like Office, it's priced a bit on the higher side."
"In terms of what could be improved, I would say that the most critical thing is security, including the ransomware."
"The solution could be more stable."
"The interface must be made faster."
"Sometimes, the tool gives a blue screen without any reason, and then I have to restart the system."
"of the problems with Windows 10 is that it hangs when you open multiple programs."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The licensing fee is expensive compared to other products."
"There is no need to make any payments towards the licensing costs since it is a solution that is available for free."
"The price is good because Kali Linux already provides a good bundle of tools."
"Kali Linux is open source."
"I have used the free version."
"It is an open-source tool."
"The tool 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."
"The pricing is on the higher end, especially in Nigeria where the exchange rate is considerably high, making it challenging to afford such products."
"The initial version came with the PCs and the upgrade we were able to get cost approximately $12 per computer. It was really cheap."
"We pay a licensing fee."
"The price is fine."
"There is a license required for this solution and it could be less expensive."
"The price goes down by the number of licenses."
"There is a license required for this solution."
"The basic operating system of any hardware should be free. Therefore, it should be free. They should charge only for the enterprise level or enabling the hypervisor. They should charge for Professional Windows 10, but the basic OS should be free."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Comms Service Provider
14%
Computer Software Company
13%
University
12%
Educational Organization
11%
Computer Software Company
11%
Manufacturing Company
10%
University
8%
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...
What needs improvement with Windows 10?
There is an issue with using Outlook, as you have to acquire a license. The basic version offered by Windows 10 does not allow direct preview of emails, requiring downloads instead. If they could a...
What is your primary use case for Windows 10?
I am working with Aras PLM. We are using Aras PLM, Windows 10 and Jira. Teams has very good features. We are using soft phones.
 

Comparisons

 

Overview

Find out what your peers are saying about Kali Linux vs. Windows 10 and other solutions. Updated: July 2025.
864,313 professionals have used our research since 2012.