Try our new research platform with insights from 80,000+ expert users

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 (3rd)
Windows 11
Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business
10th
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
7.4
Number of Reviews
45
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of April 2025, in the Operating Systems (OS) for Business category, the mindshare of Kali Linux is 2.0%, up from 0.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Windows 11 is 5.6%, up from 0.5% 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 solution's most valuable feature is that it is very easy to use."
"The most valuable feature of Kali Linux is the attack it performs using a CVE script that's already on the internet."
"We use the product for open-source intelligence and identifying vulnerabilities."
"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 tools available in Kali Linux are incredibly effective for conducting security assessments."
"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."
"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."
"Windows 11 is a user-friendly solution."
"Windows 11 has a good user interface."
"The solution's most valuable features are overall desktop and fast booting."
"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 a stable and easy-to-use solution."
"The search bar and graphic user interface (GUI) are my most valuable features."
"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."
"I use the tool for work which includes emails, using the internet, etc."
 

Cons

"The product should improve its security features."
"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."
"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 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."
"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."
"The user interface could be easier to operate when searching for more options."
"The solution's installation process could be less time-consuming."
"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."
"The Android subscription does not support all devices. It should be extended to all devices."
"The solution's price can be improved."
"From what I've been reading recently about the malware attacks on Windows Office 365 users, I might have some concerns about securing the OS."
"The vendor must focus on building more reliable hardware."
"There is room for improvement in terms of security."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The licensing fee is expensive compared to other products."
"Kali Linux is open source."
"The tool is open-source."
"Kali Linux is a free product, and you don't have to pay for a license."
"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."
"It is an open-source tool."
"I use it free of charge."
"Windows 11's pricing is fair."
"The product is not cheap."
"The solution is affordable."
"It is expensive."
"I rate Windows 11’s pricing a six or seven out of ten."
"The product is expensive. I rate its pricing a nine out of ten."
"The pricing is affordable."
"I didn't pay for Windows 11 as it is automatically installed with Microsoft update."
report
Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Operating Systems (OS) for Business solutions are best for your needs.
845,406 professionals have used our research since 2012.
 

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Comms Service Provider
16%
Computer Software Company
14%
University
12%
Educational Organization
10%
Computer Software Company
15%
Comms Service Provider
12%
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.
845,406 professionals have used our research since 2012.