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Kali Linux vs Windows 10 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 (6th)
Windows 10
Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business
8th
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
5.3
Number of Reviews
277
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of June 2025, in the Operating Systems (OS) for Business category, the mindshare of Kali Linux is 2.3%, up from 0.3% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Windows 10 is 2.7%, down from 4.3% 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.
Deboprio Dutta - PeerSpot reviewer
Improved security features with gaming enhancements while supporting various features
I understand that Windows 11 supports quite a bit of additional features for people who are, for example, into high-end gaming and the features that support that kind of utility. It's not personally much of a thing for me, however, I've heard about differences between the two operating system versions. To the best of my knowledge, I think Windows 11 brings some AI features for Microsoft Copilot, which probably weren't as integrated into the previous version. There are the occasional bugs and issues that pop up, yet none are significant enough for me to consider a major update. Overall, it's a smooth experience.

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"The interface is good and straightforward to use."
"The solution's stability is very good."
"We use the product for open-source intelligence and identifying vulnerabilities."
"The solution's most valuable feature is that it is very easy to use."
"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."
"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."
"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."
"Windows 10 is stable. Its performance is good."
"Windows 10 is easy to use."
"I like the Windows interface, Microsoft Office, and Edge."
"The most valuable feature of this solution is its ease of use. It is the most used operating system in the world."
"The customization of the solution is easy."
"Windows 10 is definitely stable."
"As we are talking about Microsoft, I have encountered no problems with the installation."
"The solution is stable and scalable."
 

Cons

"Any new user or someone without deep expertise won't be able to understand how to scale or manage it"
"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."
"The product should integrate AI and GPT capabilities."
"The product should improve its security features."
"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."
"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."
"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 solution would benefit from more dashboards."
"Security-wise, Windows 10 should be more stable."
"Like all Windows products or like all the Microsoft products, like Office, it's priced a bit on the higher side."
"There are no missing features."
"Everything's tied-in via Bluetooth; it's kind of a pain in the ass because it hijacks your calls."
"I've had some issues with a configuration that's given me trouble."
"PowerShell could be improved."
"We had some issues deploying Windows 10 for our clients."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The licensing fee is expensive compared to other products."
"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 open-source tool."
"I use it free of charge."
"The price is good because Kali Linux already provides a good bundle of tools."
"I have used the free version."
"The tool is open-source."
"Kali Linux is a free product, and you don't have to pay for a license."
"Licensing fees are paid on a yearly basis."
"Windows 10 came preinstalled on my laptop, I am not sure the price."
"For my home computer it's a lifetime license, only purchased once."
"The pricing scheme could improve for Windows 10. There is an annual license required for the use of this solution."
"I rate the product's price as seven on a scale of one to ten, where ten means it is a very expensive tool. I need around 80 USD for Microsoft Office because I already paid for Windows 10. In general, I don't pay anything for the product."
"It's a one-time payment when you purchase the system."
"We pay for the license, and it's fine."
"There is a license to use the solution."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Comms Service Provider
14%
Computer Software Company
13%
University
13%
Educational Organization
11%
Computer Software Company
12%
Financial Services Firm
10%
Manufacturing Company
9%
University
9%
 

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 needs improvement with Windows 10?
The only annoyance is the frequent updates that come almost every month or couple of months. A couple of updates could enhance the experience overall.
What is your primary use case for Windows 10?
I use Windows 10 ( /products/windows-10-reviews ) as my main operating system for daily business. It is part of a couple of different systems that I use, including Linux.
 

Comparisons

 

Overview

Find out what your peers are saying about Kali Linux vs. Windows 10 and other solutions. Updated: June 2025.
856,873 professionals have used our research since 2012.