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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 (3rd)
Windows 11
Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business
10th
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
7.6
Number of Reviews
45
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

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 Windows 11 is 6.1%, up from 0.7% 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."
"We use the product for open-source intelligence and identifying vulnerabilities."
"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."
"Additionally, it now includes comprehensive migration analytics and reporting capabilities."
"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."
"The solution's stability is very good."
"The interface is good and straightforward to use."
"It is a stable solution."
"We plan to increase the usage as it is easy to deploy, and most users are familiar with Windows."
"I rate the initial setup process an eight out of ten. It takes less than a day to complete."
"The most valuable feature is animation. It is a good solution in terms of performance."
"The artificial intelligence capabilities of the product have supported my organization."
"Quick Assist is a valuable feature."
"Windows 11 is easy to install. If you have any unclear issues, you can search Google for them. If you can't find any solutions, you can refer the issue to the IT support team."
"We use Windows 11 for our workstation’s daily operations."
 

Cons

"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 for them to offer more features for the free version in order for users to test them in their internal environment before purchasing."
"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."
"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 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."
"From an improvement perspective, it should be made possible for users to learn about the product easily."
"The product should integrate AI and GPT capabilities."
"The product's price, performance, and implementation accessibility need improvement."
"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 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."
"Windows 11 is quite expensive compared to other products."
"Drives are a significant issue, and finding the correct drives for everything to function properly is challenging."
"The product’s performance needs improvement."
"The driver updates for the solution could be better."
"The solution's memory management could be improved."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"It is an open-source tool."
"There is no need to make any payments towards the licensing costs since it is a solution that is available for free."
"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."
"I use it free of charge."
"Kali Linux is open source."
"Kali Linux is a free product, and you don't have to pay for a license."
"The tool is open-source."
"The licensing fee is expensive compared to other products."
"It is expensive."
"My company purchases licenses in bulk for 2000 users."
"I rate the tool's pricing an eight to nine out of ten."
"The tool is expensive."
"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."
"We pay for a yearly license for Windows 11."
"The tool's price is high and I would rate it a nine out of ten."
"Windows 11 is not an expensive solution."
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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%
Comms Service Provider
12%
University
8%
Financial Services Firm
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 needs improvement with Windows 11?
Windows 11 requires a very powerful hardware infrastructure. When installed on an old machine, it can be problematic due to outdated configurations. For a better experience, Windows 11 should be im...
 

Comparisons

 

Overview

Find out what your peers are saying about Kali Linux vs. Windows 11 and other solutions. Updated: April 2025.
850,900 professionals have used our research since 2012.
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