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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 January 2025, in the Operating Systems (OS) for Business category, the mindshare of Kali Linux is 1.5%, up from 0.0% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Windows 11 is 4.4%, up from 0.2% 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

"The tools available in Kali Linux are incredibly effective for conducting security assessments."
"We use the product for open-source intelligence and identifying vulnerabilities."
"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 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."
"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."
"Additionally, it now includes comprehensive migration analytics and reporting capabilities."
"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."
"Quick Assist is a valuable feature."
"The tool is very stable and I don't recall a time the screen went blue which was common for Windows 7. The product's installation is fast. If I have any issue that prevents me from booting Windows 11, it will automatically run into auto-repair mode and fix those issues. Windows 10 had this functionality but it wasn't good."
"I like the tool's Office software."
"Windows 11 has a very straightforward initial setup."
"Windows 11 is an easy-to-use solution."
"The variety of tools utilized to meet unique needs across the company and different departments."
"The tool's most valuable feature is its stability. When we planned the migration, about 70 percent of it was done remotely. We encountered some incidents, which were resolved quickly."
"Windows 11 is very user-friendly and has improved user interactivity compared to Windows 10."
 

Cons

"From an improvement perspective, it should be made possible for users to learn about the product easily."
"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."
"The installation process of Kali Linux can be slow, particularly when installing and upgrading packages within virtualized environments."
"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."
"I would like to have automation in Kali Linux instead of manually configuring or setting up something in case of an upgrade."
"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 focus more on security, particularly Outlook. It should also look into pricing since people will stop using it after a while if the prices are high."
"The solution's stability can be improved."
"Windows 11 is quite expensive compared to other products."
"I would like to add a frontend to manage the virtual machines that are installed in Windows 11. It should also improve security which includes patching the vulnerabilities."
"I didn't find any reliable reviews for applications in the Microsoft Store."
"The vendor must focus on building more reliable hardware."
"The solution's installation process could be less time-consuming."
"The solution must improve its aesthetics."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"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."
"There is no need to make any payments towards the licensing costs since it is a solution that is available for free."
"Kali Linux is a free product, and you don't have to pay for a license."
"I have used the free version."
"Kali Linux is open source."
"The licensing fee is expensive compared to other products."
"I use it free of charge."
"We pay for a yearly license for Windows 11."
"I would rate the solution's pricing an eight out of ten."
"The tool is expensive."
"I didn't pay for Windows 11 as it is automatically installed with Microsoft update."
"I rate the tool's pricing an eight to nine out of ten."
"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."
"The solution is affordable."
"The licensing cost is high."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
13%
Educational Organization
12%
Comms Service Provider
11%
University
11%
Computer Software Company
17%
Comms Service Provider
8%
Educational Organization
8%
Manufacturing Company
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 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

 

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Overview

Find out what your peers are saying about Kali Linux vs. Windows 11 and other solutions. Updated: January 2025.
831,158 professionals have used our research since 2012.