Try our new research platform with insights from 80,000+ expert users

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
AWS Marketplace (3rd)
Windows 10
Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business
8th
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
5.2
Number of Reviews
274
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of April 2025, in the Operating Systems (OS) for Business category, the mindshare of Kali Linux is 2.0%, up from 0.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Windows 10 is 3.0%, down from 4.5% 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.
Akos Szirmai - PeerSpot reviewer
Easy installation and the initial setup time is reasonable
Stability can be an issue. I have to restart it every two days. And the boot time is quite long. My laptop's old, has no SSD, and is just a traditional Winchester. Had desktops with Windows 11 and SSDs, much better performance. But hardware limitations on my current laptop lead to stability and response issues. It's more like the whole reinstall every two years thing. It makes cleaning a pain. Performance improves significantly after a fresh install, then slowly deteriorates as I add more programs. But my biggest concern with Windows 10 is actually bigger than my situation. I'm replacing my laptop anyway, but I read that Windows 10 support ends in a year or so. And with hardware limitations, many other computers won't run Windows 11. So it's not just me. A lot of people with decent, still-working Windows 10 machines will lose support and be unable to switch to 11. This will be a significant problem for individuals and institutions. Large companies with thousands of computers don't replace them every three years, and they might face issues with many computers unable to run Windows 11 and lacking support for 10.

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"The interface is good and straightforward to use."
"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."
"Additionally, it now includes comprehensive migration analytics and reporting capabilities."
"We use the product for open-source intelligence and identifying vulnerabilities."
"The solution's stability is very good."
"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."
"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 solution's most valuable feature is that it is very easy to use."
"We are satisfied with this operating system."
"Windows 10 has a convenient user interface."
"Windows 10 is stable and scalable."
"The most valuable feature is that it's a good enough operating system for anyone who isn't technically proficient."
"It is easy to use."
"Windows 10 makes it easy to access the taskbar section and browser tabs. Additionally, I can easily access and use applications. I find the task manager valuable, as I can quickly access it and turn off applications I don't want to use. Having a default Windows security feature makes it easy to engage."
"In terms of most valuable feature, it has all the features. We have to use the workforce application like Microsoft Office 365. We are dependent on the operating system."
"We like the productivity."
 

Cons

"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 product should improve its security features."
"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."
"From an improvement perspective, it should be made possible for users to learn about the product easily."
"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 slightly difficult to learn."
"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 installation process of Kali Linux can be slow, particularly when installing and upgrading packages within virtualized environments."
"Windows 7 and Windows 10 are identical. However, Windows 10 is the slowest of all the variants. You need to use a solid-state drive if you are going to run Windows. Otherwise, once you install it, and give it some time it is going to slow your whole system down. Especially if you are using the internet, it is going to slow your system down fast. Additionally, it could be more secure as Windows 10 is more vulnerable to viruses."
"Sometimes, the tool gives a blue screen without any reason, and then I have to restart the system."
"It would be nice if the next version of Windows had more integration."
"The interface could be more user-friendly."
"It's an expensive solution."
"I would like to see an easier licensing system."
"The system's pricing needs improving."
"AI tools like ChatGPT should be integrated into the solution."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The licensing fee is expensive compared to other products."
"I have used the free version."
"The tool 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 price is good because Kali Linux already provides a good bundle of tools."
"Kali Linux is a free product, and you don't have to pay for a license."
"I use it free of charge."
"Kali Linux is open source."
"The price of the solution is reasonable, it normally comes included with a purchase of a laptop or other device."
"The product has a yearly licensing fee."
"We pay a licensing fee."
"The solution is not expensive and there is a license required."
"We pay Microsoft a yearly license fee."
"My organization gets Windows 10 for free with our computers."
"It is not expensive."
"It's a one-time payment when you purchase the system."
report
Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Operating Systems (OS) for Business solutions are best for your needs.
849,190 professionals have used our research since 2012.
 

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Comms Service Provider
15%
Computer Software Company
14%
University
13%
Educational Organization
10%
Computer Software Company
12%
Financial Services Firm
10%
Manufacturing Company
9%
University
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?
I do not have notes for improvement.
What is your primary use case for Windows 10?
In my case, I would mostly say it's because of security reasons. At least for the typical use cases that I generally rely on Windows for, there didn't seem to be a noticeable performance difference...
 

Comparisons

 

Overview

Find out what your peers are saying about Kali Linux vs. Windows 10 and other solutions. Updated: April 2025.
849,190 professionals have used our research since 2012.