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Kali Linux vs Ubuntu Linux 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)
Ubuntu Linux
Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business
2nd
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
7.8
Number of Reviews
147
Ranking in other categories
OpenStack (1st)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of May 2025, in the Operating Systems (OS) for Business category, the mindshare of Kali Linux is 2.2%, up from 0.2% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Ubuntu Linux is 13.4%, down from 22.0% 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.
Kevin Haury - PeerSpot reviewer
Linux's advanced terminal empowers versatile usage and ongoing secure development
Initially, there was nothing complicated. It's easy since I have many years of experience with it. However, if I were a beginner with Linux, it could be completely disruptive compared to Windows. So, I would have to spend some time practicing with Linux to understand how it works and how I can accomplish the same tasks compared to Windows. Maybe one month, at least.

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."
"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 valuable feature of Kali Linux is the attack it performs using a CVE script that's already on the internet."
"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."
"The tools available in Kali Linux are incredibly effective for conducting security assessments."
"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."
"Use of the tools for systems and software to test functionalities."
"There are many features I like about this solution, but one that stands out, is that it allows me to easily install new packages and to have recent packages available."
"It is fast and easy to install. It also supports containers and all kinds of libraries. I can do almost everything with it."
"Overall, I rate this solution ten out of ten."
"The solution is free to use and open-source."
"What makes Ubuntu easy to use is the large set of applications and the interface. The graphical interface is user friendly."
"Since Ubuntu is freely available for download and use, there is virtually no investment required, resulting in a high ROI."
"It is open-source, secure, and easy to use."
 

Cons

"The product should integrate AI and GPT capabilities."
"There can be some lagging issues because the product gets stuck at times, making it an area of concern where improvements are required."
"The product should improve its security features."
"Any new user or someone without deep expertise won't be able to understand how to scale or manage it"
"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 tool is slightly difficult to learn."
"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."
"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."
"We'd like to have a bit more of a friendly user interface."
"There were stability issues at specific times."
"I would like to see the group policies and the GUI improved in the next release."
"I want more insights and security features in the pro version, specifically activities and vulnerabilities. When releasing a new version, it's crucial to ensure no vulnerabilities. Sometimes, a new version may have minor vulnerabilities, like one medium and one low. These typically take about two weeks to resolve. More regular patching, especially addressing security vulnerabilities, is essential to improve."
"Ubuntu should create some specific features, like Red Hat. Red Hat has provided many features for open-source, like FreeIPA."
"Better integration between the interface of the software and the operating system itself would be a benefit in the future."
"Could be even more light weight than it currently is."
"More drivers for hardware such as different network adapters should be developed."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"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."
"Kali Linux is open source."
"I use it free of charge."
"Kali Linux is a free product, and you don't have to pay for a license."
"I have used the free version."
"The price is good because Kali Linux already provides a good bundle of tools."
"It is an open-source tool."
"I use the free version, so I don't have any license fees."
"Ubuntu pricing is reasonable."
"We are using Ubuntu Linux free of cost, and there is no licensing."
"It is open-source. We don't have to pay for its license."
"The solution is open source, so there is no licensing fee."
"It is a free product."
"Ubuntu Linux is an open-source product that is free to use."
"I am not in a position to comment on the licensing, as we mostly make use of the free version."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Comms Service Provider
15%
Computer Software Company
14%
University
13%
Educational Organization
11%
Computer Software Company
14%
University
11%
Manufacturing Company
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...
Which would you choose - Ubuntu Linux or Oracle Linux?
Ubunto Linux is a complete Linux operating system that is freely available with both community and professional support. This solution is suitable for both desktop and server use. It has a very app...
What do you like most about Ubuntu Linux?
It has a good support system for loading databases.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Ubuntu Linux?
The cost is not much, and I am not sure about the licensing cost because a separate team handles it.
 

Comparisons

 

Also Known As

No data available
Ubuntu
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Information Not Available
Samsung, eBay, AT&T, Walmart, Cisco, Time Warner Cable, Bloomberg, Best Buy, Dell, Intel, Microsoft, Ericsson, Orange, Wells Fargo
Find out what your peers are saying about Kali Linux vs. Ubuntu Linux and other solutions. Updated: April 2025.
851,604 professionals have used our research since 2012.