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Kali Linux vs Windows 11 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 (9th)
Windows 11
Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business
10th
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
7.4
Number of Reviews
44
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of February 2025, in the Operating Systems (OS) for Business category, the mindshare of Kali Linux is 1.7%, up from 0.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Windows 11 is 4.7%, up from 0.3% 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.
Anish Bheekoo - PeerSpot reviewer
Stable performance, straightforward setup process, and it is easy to join a domain
In terms of improvement, I have noticed some latency issues when loading large Excel or Word files. I'm not sure if it's a network or software issue, but it would be great if they could address that. Additionally, in terms of security, implementing easier remote access to laptops and providing more mature patching options would be beneficial. Overall, there is room for improvement in these areas. It should also give complete support for already tested versions.

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"Additionally, it now includes comprehensive migration analytics and reporting capabilities."
"The solution's most valuable feature is that it is very easy to use."
"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."
"We use the product for open-source intelligence and identifying vulnerabilities."
"The interface is good and straightforward to use."
"The solution's stability is very good."
"The most valuable feature of Kali Linux is the attack it performs using a CVE script that's already on the internet."
"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."
"We use Windows 11 for our workstation’s daily operations."
"The artificial intelligence capabilities of the product have supported my organization."
"We plan to increase the usage as it is easy to deploy, and most users are familiar with Windows."
"It has good security features, providing strong protection against platform viruses and vulnerabilities, which secures my resources."
"The solution's most valuable features are overall desktop and fast booting."
"It is a stable solution."
"Windows 11 is easy to install. If you have any unclear issues, you can search Google for them. If you can't find any solutions, you can refer the issue to the IT support team."
"I like the tool's Office software."
 

Cons

"I would like to have automation in Kali Linux instead of manually configuring or setting up something in case of an upgrade."
"The tool is slightly difficult to learn."
"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."
"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."
"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."
"My problem with Windows 11 stems from the fact that I have to update it every other day."
"The product’s performance needs improvement."
"The solution must improve its aesthetics."
"The solution’s pricing could be cheaper."
"In terms of improvement, I have noticed some latency issues when loading large Excel or Word files."
"Accessing the network settings takes more time and can be cumbersome."
"The user interface could be easier to operate when searching for more options."
"If we can have some features to compare two versions of the same file,"
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The licensing fee is expensive compared to other products."
"The price is good because Kali Linux already provides a good bundle of tools."
"It is an open-source tool."
"There is no need to make any payments towards the licensing costs since it is a solution that is available for free."
"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 open source."
"I use it free of charge."
"The tool is open-source."
"I'm not directly involved in the financial aspects, but based on feedback from colleagues, Microsoft is flexible with pricing and addressing other licensing needs."
"I didn't pay for Windows 11 as it is automatically installed with Microsoft update."
"Windows 11 is not an expensive solution."
"I rate Windows 11’s pricing a six or seven out of ten."
"We pay for a yearly license for Windows 11."
"The pricing is affordable."
"The price of the solution is reasonable."
"The product is not cheap."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
14%
Comms Service Provider
12%
University
11%
Educational Organization
11%
Computer Software Company
16%
Comms Service Provider
11%
University
8%
Manufacturing Company
7%
 

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 do you like most about Windows 11?
We use Windows 11 for our workstation’s daily operations.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Windows 11?
I have a university license, so I do not pay anything for Windows 11.
What needs improvement with Windows 11?
Drives are a significant issue, and finding the correct drives for everything to function properly is challenging. I also faced issues with Teams, although it's unclear whether this is related to W...
 

Comparisons

 

Overview

Find out what your peers are saying about Kali Linux vs. Windows 11 and other solutions. Updated: January 2025.
838,640 professionals have used our research since 2012.