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

Kali Linux vs Oracle 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)
Oracle Linux
Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business
3rd
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
7.7
Number of Reviews
116
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 Oracle Linux is 10.2%, down from 15.1% 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.
Marcelo Muniz - PeerSpot reviewer
The operational system is the best and is packed with free features like CapsLive
It is important to work with a vendor who will sell you the correct product for your environment rather than just try to make the most money off of you. Study the solution and learn how to install it correctly and use it in the best ways. Follow best practices from Oracle and get some training in the operational system. The solution comes with a lot of features and options that you can use for free. It is reliable and you can even use an old version with no issues. It is not the most user friendly, but you can learn it with a bit of study. Overall, the solution beats other operational systems by a large margin. The solution is rated a nine out of ten.

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"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 solution's most valuable feature is that it is very easy to use."
"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."
"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."
"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."
"We use the product for open-source intelligence and identifying vulnerabilities."
"It's mostly reliable."
"It is good for web, network, and file management."
"The platform is stable, and there is no risk of viruses, unlike the Microsoft platform."
"The features that I have found to be the most valuable are the performance, stability, and support that Oracle offers for the solution."
"I like that it's very stable and lightweight and that it requires very little resources."
"Oracle Linux has fulfilled all my requirements so far. It has very advanced features, especially the latest product for this Oracle in a cloud infrastructure."
"The tool's performance is good."
"It has a good amount of mount points."
 

Cons

"There can be some lagging issues because the product gets stuck at times, making it an area of concern where improvements are required."
"From an improvement perspective, it should be made possible for users to learn about the product easily."
"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, 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."
"I would like to have automation in Kali Linux instead of manually configuring or setting up something in case of an upgrade."
"The tool is slightly difficult to learn."
"Any new user or someone without deep expertise won't be able to understand how to scale or manage it"
"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."
"Technical support slow to respond."
"Another notable aspect that could be improved is minor compatibility with Red Hat."
"The download speed is not good. Oracle can improve their servers capacity, especially in Asia."
"Addressing room for improvement in Oracle Linux, some applications supported by other operating systems are not supported, which is a pain."
"Kernel updates need improvement."
"The main challenge for new users of Linux is the command-line interface (CLI). It can be intimidating if you're not familiar with it."
"I think they should also pay more attention to the open-source community."
"The solution could be more user friendly."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"It is an open-source tool."
"I use it free of charge."
"Kali Linux is a free product, and you don't have to pay for a license."
"The tool is open-source."
"Kali Linux 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."
"I have used the free version."
"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."
"It is an expensive solution for us."
"We have a yearly license, and I think Oracle charges too much."
"Low-cost solution."
"The product's pricing is cheap. The tool's pricing is yearly."
"The solution is free."
"We pay an annual subscription."
"We are currently operating the solution using a license-based version. We get licenses per machine."
"This solution is very cost-effective, as it is essentially free, with charges only for support purposes."
report
Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Operating Systems (OS) for Business solutions are best for your needs.
850,028 professionals have used our research since 2012.
 

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Comms Service Provider
16%
Computer Software Company
14%
University
13%
Educational Organization
10%
Computer Software Company
14%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Government
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...
How does Oracle Linux compare with Solaris?
When comparing Oracle Linux and Solaris, I believe that Linux is more secure and more flexible. It is also very suitable for enterprises that are already Oracle solution users. I found Linux to be ...
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...
 

Comparisons

 

Also Known As

No data available
Oracle Enterprise Linux
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Information Not Available
See here
Find out what your peers are saying about Kali Linux vs. Oracle Linux and other solutions. Updated: April 2025.
850,028 professionals have used our research since 2012.