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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 (6th)
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 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 11 is 6.5%, up from 0.8% 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.
Pmurki@Micron.Com Praveen - PeerSpot reviewer
Easy to use, stable product and improve productivity
We use our laptops with Windows only. We use it for everything. For the last 20 years, my entire career, I've been using Windows only. Office 365 will be extensively used, along with other tools from Office 365 Everything is good. It's easy to use. It supports AI initiatives. Like we use…

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 stability is very good."
"The tools available in Kali Linux are incredibly effective for conducting security assessments."
"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."
"Kali Linux is much better than other OS because it gives you a good set of tools. It is preferred for vulnerability assessments and cybersecurity."
"The interface is good and straightforward to use."
"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."
"Additionally, it now includes comprehensive migration analytics and reporting capabilities."
"It has helped with analytics."
"Windows 11 has nice icons and colors."
"The graphics of Windows 11 are awesome."
"The most valuable feature is animation. It is a good solution in terms of performance."
"Having Windows 11 on both my personal and company laptops made it easier for me to use."
"The variety of tools utilized to meet unique needs across the company and different departments."
"It supports AI initiatives like we use co-pilot."
"The solution is the most updated version of Windows."
 

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 to have automation in Kali Linux instead of manually configuring or setting up something in case of an upgrade."
"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 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."
"The tool is slightly difficult to learn."
"The product should improve its security features."
"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."
"Windows 11 is not very stable, and its stability could be improved."
"Windows 11 is quite expensive compared to other products."
"Windows 11 requires a very powerful hardware infrastructure. When installed on an old machine, it can be problematic due to outdated configurations."
"Windows 11 has a terrible snipping tool. It seems to be quite buggy. The previous version that came with Windows 10 is better."
"The solution's stability can be improved."
"The product's price, performance, and implementation accessibility need improvement."
"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."
"If we can have some features to compare two versions of the same file,"
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Kali Linux is a free product, and you don't have to pay for a license."
"The tool is open-source."
"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 have used the free version."
"There is no need to make any payments towards the licensing costs since it is a solution that is available for free."
"I use it free of charge."
"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 product is not cheap."
"We take a yearly license, but payment-wise, it's better to pay monthly."
"I rate Windows 11’s pricing a six or seven out of ten."
"I use the free home version."
"The pricing is affordable."
"The product is expensive. I rate its pricing a nine out of ten."
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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
13%
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 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: June 2025.
857,028 professionals have used our research since 2012.