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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
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
7.2
Number of Reviews
16
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
Windows 11
Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business
7th
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
6.3
Number of Reviews
47
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of October 2025, in the Operating Systems (OS) for Business category, the mindshare of Kali Linux is 3.0%, up from 0.8% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Windows 11 is 8.0%, up from 2.3% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Operating Systems (OS) for Business Market Share Distribution
ProductMarket Share (%)
Windows 118.0%
Kali Linux3.0%
Other89.0%
Operating Systems (OS) for Business
 

Featured Reviews

NilutpalDutta - PeerSpot reviewer
Provides valuable real-time data scanning for vulnerability assessment
We don't know if Kali Linux has the port scanning capability yet, but that is an area of improvement because we are working with DMZ zones and customized ports. If we can add featured customized port scanning and DMZ zone capability, then it will be a very great tool. It might be there, but we are not exploring it yet. We are not exploring 100% of Kali Linux capabilities. If real-time customized port scanning can be added, for example, instead of a default port such as 8080 or 443, if we can use a customized port such as 9876, that capability would be great. The only point that I didn't find on Kali Linux for now is the ability to customize port scanning.
Pmurki@Micron.Com Praveen - PeerSpot reviewer
Easy to use, stable product and improve productivity
We use our laptops with Windows only. We use it for everything. For the last 20 years, my entire career, I've been using Windows only. Office 365 will be extensively used, along with other tools from Office 365 Everything is good. It's easy to use. It supports AI initiatives. Like we use…

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"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."
"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."
"The tools available in Kali Linux are incredibly effective for conducting security assessments."
"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."
"Kali Linux has helped me learn faster and understand concepts better; you get a sense of appreciation when completing tasks on your own machine without help or hints from available tools or operating systems, with minimal guidance."
"The interface is good and straightforward to use."
"The solution's most valuable feature is that it is very easy to use."
"We use the product for open-source intelligence and identifying vulnerabilities."
"Quick Assist is a valuable feature."
"Windows 11 is an easy-to-use solution."
"It has good security features, providing strong protection against platform viruses and vulnerabilities, which secures my resources."
"It is a stable solution."
"Windows 11 is a stable and easy-to-use solution."
"Windows 11 is more user-friendly in GUI (Graphical User Interface) and offers a wide range of settings and preferences."
"I like the product's taskbar and icon grouping. You can also get a Windows subscription for Android. The solution's performance is also better compared to the previous versions."
"We are migrating from Windows 10 to Windows 11 due to end-of-life, security concerns, and end-of-support. The tool's configuration is good and we are satisfied with it since it's a Microsoft product. We didn't face any hurdles in using the tool. We didn't feel much difference with both Windows products. The solution is good because in IT we want to secure our data. Nowadays, data is the most valuable thing. If your data is secured, then you are secured. I think that everyone has to move to Windows 11 since Windows 10 is facing end-of-life and end-of-sales, probably by 2024."
 

Cons

"The product should improve its security features."
"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."
"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 integrate AI and GPT capabilities."
"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 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."
"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."
"Major updates cause problems in small business environments because the end customers have to upgrade their workstations."
"The solution's installation process could be less time-consuming."
"I have noticed a difference in audio option."
"Sometimes the Windows 11 system hangs, and its stability could be improved."
"The product needs options for personalization and self-development. AI functions are also another area where improvement can be made. We're starting to use these features, but there's room for further development and integration."
"There was trouble installing a program from my USB flash drive."
"The solution’s pricing could be cheaper."
"Windows 11 is quite expensive compared to other products."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"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 open source."
"The licensing fee is expensive compared to other products."
"I use it free of charge."
"It is an open-source tool."
"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."
"We take a yearly license, but payment-wise, it's better to pay monthly."
"I rate Windows 11’s pricing a six or seven out of ten."
"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."
"My company purchases licenses in bulk for 2000 users."
"The licensing cost is high."
"We pay for a yearly license for Windows 11."
"The product is well-priced."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Comms Service Provider
13%
University
13%
Computer Software Company
12%
Educational Organization
11%
Comms Service Provider
13%
Computer Software Company
12%
University
9%
Government
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business9
Midsize Enterprise1
Large Enterprise7
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business12
Midsize Enterprise11
Large Enterprise24
 

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?
We don't know if Kali Linux has the port scanning capability yet, but that is an area of improvement because we are working with DMZ zones and customized ports. If we can add featured customized po...
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?
There's no difference; Windows 11 is not more expensive than Windows 10 for my institution. I spend £11,000 a year on Microsoft, which is a lot for a school. That £11,000 is for all Microsoft produ...
What needs improvement with Windows 11?
I have faced challenges with Windows 11, particularly with a recent Wi-Fi wireless issue. The dot 1.80 update caused Wi-Fi drivers to automatically disconnect, preventing users from connecting to W...
 

Comparisons

 

Overview

Find out what your peers are saying about Kali Linux vs. Windows 11 and other solutions. Updated: September 2025.
868,787 professionals have used our research since 2012.