Kali Linux vs Sophos Central comparison

Kali Linux and Sophos are both solutions in the AWS Marketplace category. Kali Linux is ranked #6 with an average rating of 8.8, while Sophos is ranked #4 with an average rating of 8.3. Kali Linux holds a 0.9% mindshare in AWSM, compared to Sophos’s 0.3% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of Kali Linux users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 94% of Sophos users who would recommend it.

Kali Linux

497 Views
237 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Sophos Central

Read 39 Sophos Central reviews

405 Views
122 Comparison Views

94% willing to recommend

Kali Linux

Sophos Central

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Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between Kali Linux and Sophos Central based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out in this report how the two AWS Marketplace solutions compare in terms of features, pricing, service and support, easy of deployment, and ROI.

To learn more, read our detailed Kali Linux vs. Sophos Central Report (Updated: April 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Kali Linux vs. Sophos Central

April 2025

Download the complete report

Helped 857,028 peers since 2012

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 AWS Marketplace

6th

Average Rating

8.8

Reviews Sentiment

7.7

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Operating Systems (OS) for Business (11th)

Sophos Central

Ranking in AWS Marketplace

4th

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

8.5

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of June 2025, in the AWS Marketplace category, the mindshare of Kali Linux is 0.9%, down from 2.8% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Sophos Central is 0.3%, down from 0.8% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

AWS Marketplace

Featured Reviews

GurpreetSingh4

Manager at Accenture company

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.

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Sandeepraj Gatla

SOC Analyst at Wydur

Cost-effective security management with a user-friendly interface, efficient resource utilization, and rapid response capabilities

While Sophos Central has demonstrated commendable functionality, there is room for improvement in the realm of automation. Specifically, addressing ransomware attacks often requires leveraging external tools, deploying virtual machines, and utilizing supplementary tools like Caliper Analytics for operations and security communication. The integration of these essential functionalities directly into the software would represent a significant enhancement, streamlining the incident response process and bolstering the platform's comprehensive threat mitigation capabilities. Furthermore, a valuable addition to future releases could involve augmenting the new screen component with advanced capabilities such as XML utilization and rule integration. This enhancement, especially pertinent to tools involved in sandboxing and virtual machines within the investigation process, would greatly streamline the analysis of logs and reports. This would prove particularly beneficial in the context of email analysis, spam attack detection, and other critical security aspects. By incorporating these features, Sophos Central could further elevate its utility in facilitating in-depth security analyses and response strategies.

Read full review

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."

"Additionally, it now includes comprehensive migration analytics and reporting capabilities."

"The solution's stability is very good."

"The interface is good and straightforward 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."

"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 systems. With Kali Linux, you can conduct penetration testing for networks, web applications, and Android mobile apps."

More Kali Linux pros

"One of the most valuable features of Sophos Central for maintaining our cybersecurity posture is its ease of use."

"The advantage of central management, particularly in antivirus management, is that I don't need to go to each user individually."

"The solution's most valuable feature is that we use it predominantly for monitoring and anomaly detection."

"The most important feature is definitely the Root Cause Analysis (RCA) tool. It allows us to track malware and other incidents in our environment."

"The best thing about Sophos Central is how it brings all its security solutions together in one place."

"The tool enables me to see the security of my customers’ PCs at a glance."

"It's highly valuable as it ensures that no unauthorized installations occur without the IT team's permission, maintaining a secure environment."

"It is easy to manage and configure."

More Sophos Central pros

Cons

"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."

"I would like to have automation in Kali Linux instead of manually configuring or setting up something in case of an upgrade."

"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."

"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."

"There can be some lagging issues because the product gets stuck at times, making it an area of concern where improvements are required."

"The tool is slightly difficult to learn."

More Kali Linux cons

"Pushing global rules and policies to all devices from Central isn't easy. You can do it for all endpoints, which is fine. But you can't do the same with firewalls. Firewall management with Central is very limited. You can connect one firewall to another and tell it, "I want one policy for all my customer's firewalls," but that's not possible. For a customer with multiple firewalls, you can't say, "This works for France, Great Britain, Canada," and push it. It's not possible."

"The main drawback lies in the weak after-sales support system."

"SSID authentication has to be improved."

"The tool needs to improve its pricing."

"Having and option for endpoint security on mobile devices, it would be advantageous."

"The program slows down when you try to control or visualize multiple systems."

"Integration with third party applications should be improved."

"The product needs to improve monitoring since it gives false positives. It needs also to improve pricing."

More Sophos Central cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"There is no need to make any payments towards the licensing costs since it is a solution that is available for free."

"It is an open-source tool."

"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."

"The licensing fee is expensive compared to other products."

"I use it free of charge."

"The tool is open-source."

"The price is good because Kali Linux already provides a good bundle of tools."

"Kali Linux is open source."

More Kali Linux pricing and cost advice

"Sophos Central is moderately priced."

"The pricing is very competitive. When compared to other vendors like Fortinet, Sophos stands out, especially in terms of firewall and endpoint pricing."

"It is not cheap, it is expensive. The price is too much."

"When compared to the market, it's relatively more cost-effective."

"The product is not expensive."

"The tool is a little more expensive than other solutions."

"The product is expensive. However, you can get discounts for over 100 users."

"Sophos is more cost-effective than other vendors."

More Sophos Central pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Comms Service Provider

14%

Computer Software Company

13%

University

13%

Educational Organization

11%

Comms Service Provider

18%

Manufacturing Company

16%

Financial Services Firm

14%

University

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...

See all answers

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...

See all answers

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...

See all answers

What do you like most about Sophos Central?

One of the significant advantages of Sophos is its affordability compared to other technologies like Check Point and Fortinet.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Sophos Central?

As we get more people, we just add another item or Sophos appliances, and then we are good to go.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Sophos Central?

As a user, I suggest improving Sophos Central by addressing some error messages we occasionally encounter that we just do not know what they relate to, even when it says it has resolved them. To im...

See all answers

Comparisons

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) vs Kali Linux

Compared 20% of the time

Windows 10 vs Kali Linux

Compared 18% of the time

Windows 11 vs Kali Linux

Compared 16% of the time

CentOS vs Kali Linux

Compared 12% of the time

Rocky Linux vs Kali Linux

Compared 11% of the time

More Kali Linux Competitors

VyOS Platform vs Sophos Central

Compared 100% of the time

More Sophos Central Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Kali Linux

June 2025

Download Kali Linux product report

Buyer's Guide

Sophos Central

May 2025

Download Sophos Central product report

Overview

Kali Linux is widely used by organizations for penetration testing, vulnerability assessments, web application security, network audits, ethical hacking, and open-source intelligence, providing extensive free features.

Organizations run Kali Linux in virtualized environments alongside other operating systems, employing tools for automated scans, malware identification, infrastructure testing, and application development or hosting. These users benefit from lower maintenance requirements and a smaller footprint. The toolset includes Nmap, SQLMap, Metasploit, and Hydra, ensuring effective security assessments. Its high scalability, performance, user-friendly interface, and extensive documentation enhance the platform's usability. Known for stability, flexibility, and virus resistance, Kali Linux supports web security, troubleshooting, and configuration tasks comprehensively.

What are the most important features of Kali Linux?

Nmap: A network scanning tool for discovering hosts and services.
SQLMap: An SQL injection and database takeover tool.
Metasploit: A penetration testing platform with various exploit tools.
Hydra: A network log-in cracker supporting numerous protocols.
Documentation: Offers extensive resources for user guidance.
Stability: Provides a reliable and consistent operating environment.
Scalability: Adapts efficiently to growing security needs.
Performance: Ensures fast and efficient operations.
Virus Resistance: Enhances security through robust virus protection.

What benefits and ROI should users look for in reviews?

Cost Efficiency: Free tools reduce operational expenses.
Operational Efficiency: Lower maintenance needs and quick setup.
Enhanced Security: Robust tools for comprehensive security measures.
Flexibility: Adaptable to different environments and requirements.

Kali Linux can support industries in improving security through stable and flexible environments that resist viruses and provide extensive documentation. Users employ it for web security, troubleshooting, and configuring capabilities. Necessary improvements include automation, user-friendliness, and integrating AI and blockchain. Enhancements in security features, faster installations, and better learning tools are also essential. Machine learning integration and non-enterprise user functionalities can address current limitations.

Kali Linux

Sophos Central allows you to manage our award-winning Synchronized Security platform. Advanced attacks are more coordinated than ever before. Now, your defenses are too. Our revolutionary Security Heartbeat™ ensures your endpoint protection and firewall are talking to each other. It’s a simple yet effective idea that means you get better protection against advanced threats and spend less time responding to incidents. It’s so simple, it makes you wonder why nobody did it before.

Sophos

Buyer's Guide

Kali Linux vs. Sophos Central

April 2025

Free Report: Kali Linux vs. Sophos Central

Find out what your peers are saying about Kali Linux vs. Sophos Central and other solutions. Updated: April 2025.

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