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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 (5th)
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 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 Windows 11 is 5.2%, up from 0.4% 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 interface is good and straightforward to use."
"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 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."
"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."
"We use the product for open-source intelligence and identifying vulnerabilities."
"The solution's stability is very good."
"Additionally, it now includes comprehensive migration analytics and reporting capabilities."
"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 tool is user-friendly. It is easy to use, and we have many applications like Excel and Word where we can do spreadsheet work."
"Windows 11 is now more stable and doesn't crash like its earlier versions."
"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."
"The security features in Windows 11 are always being updated."
"The variety of tools utilized to meet unique needs across the company and different departments."
"I like the tool's Office software."
"It supports a lot of features compared to other operating systems."
"It is a stable solution."
 

Cons

"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."
"The installation process of Kali Linux can be slow, particularly when installing and upgrading packages within virtualized environments."
"There can be some lagging issues because the product gets stuck at times, making it an area of concern where improvements are required."
"I would like to have automation in Kali Linux instead of manually configuring or setting up something in case of an upgrade."
"Any new user or someone without deep expertise won't be able to understand how to scale or manage it"
"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."
"Drives are a significant issue, and finding the correct drives for everything to function properly is challenging."
"When I was using Winsel, a tool for the existing purpose, and completing the purpose of that is to complete the file, it would show an error and ask me to purchase the product. But now, instead of giving the product, we have a patch to loop the tool. This happened via dot key dot shared and dot bat solutions. So, that kind of convenience has not been provided in Windows 11."
"The solution's installation process could be less time-consuming."
"Sometimes, I experience slowness in Windows 11, and its speed could be improved."
"The solution must improve its aesthetics."
"The solution's price can be improved."
"The product’s performance needs improvement."
"Windows 11 needs to improve its pricing."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"I have used the free version."
"The tool is open-source."
"Kali Linux is a free product, and you don't have to pay for a license."
"The licensing fee is expensive compared to other products."
"It is an open-source tool."
"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."
"The price is good because Kali Linux already provides a good bundle of tools."
"We take a yearly license, but payment-wise, it's better to pay monthly."
"It is expensive."
"My company purchases licenses in bulk for 2000 users."
"My machine came with a Windows 10 license and I upgraded to Windows 11 without paying anything. If you buy a new computer, Windows 11 is included with it."
"The licensing is expensive, but it's value for money. Many people need it for deployment in Windows environments. It's very much required at this time."
"On a scale from one to ten, where one is cheap and ten is expensive, I rate the solution's pricing a nine out of ten."
"I use the free home version."
"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."
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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
15%
Comms Service Provider
11%
University
8%
Financial Services Firm
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: March 2025.
842,296 professionals have used our research since 2012.