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

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 interface is good and straightforward to use."
"The tools available in Kali Linux are incredibly effective for conducting security assessments."
"The most valuable feature of Kali Linux is the attack it performs using a CVE script that's already on the internet."
"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."
"Additionally, it now includes comprehensive migration analytics and reporting capabilities."
"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."
"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."
"I use the tool for work which includes emails, using the internet, etc."
"It has good security features, providing strong protection against platform viruses and vulnerabilities, which secures my resources."
"Windows 11 is a stable and easy-to-use solution."
"I like the product's taskbar and icon grouping. You can also get a Windows subscription for Android. The solution's performance is also better compared to the previous versions."
"Windows 11 is an easy-to-use solution."
"It has helped with analytics."
"Windows 11 has nice icons and colors."
"It is a stable solution."
 

Cons

"The product should improve its security features."
"From an improvement perspective, it should be made possible for users to learn about the product easily."
"Any new user or someone without deep expertise won't be able to understand how to scale or manage it"
"I would like to have automation in Kali Linux instead of manually configuring or setting up something in case of an upgrade."
"The product should integrate AI and GPT capabilities."
"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."
"The tool is slightly difficult to learn."
"The installation process of Kali Linux can be slow, particularly when installing and upgrading packages within virtualized environments."
"Sometimes the Windows 11 system hangs, and its stability could be improved."
"Accessing the network settings takes more time and can be cumbersome."
"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."
"There was trouble installing a program from my USB flash drive."
"The product’s performance needs improvement."
"Sometimes, I experience slowness in Windows 11, and its speed could be improved."
"Windows 11 requires a very powerful hardware infrastructure. When installed on an old machine, it can be problematic due to outdated configurations."
"Drives are a significant issue, and finding the correct drives for everything to function properly is challenging."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"I use it free of charge."
"There is no need to make any payments towards the licensing costs since it is a solution that is available for free."
"The tool is open-source."
"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."
"Kali Linux is open source."
"The licensing fee is expensive compared to other products."
"Kali Linux is a free product, and you don't have to pay for a license."
"The price is good because Kali Linux already provides a good bundle of tools."
"The price of the solution is reasonable."
"Windows 11's pricing is fair."
"I'm not directly involved in the financial aspects, but based on feedback from colleagues, Microsoft is flexible with pricing and addressing other licensing needs."
"We pay for a yearly license for Windows 11."
"Windows 11 is not an expensive solution."
"The tool's price is high and I would rate it a nine out of ten."
"The pricing is affordable."
"The product is not cheap."
report
Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Operating Systems (OS) for Business solutions are best for your needs.
849,686 professionals have used our research since 2012.
 

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Comms Service Provider
15%
Computer Software Company
14%
University
13%
Educational Organization
10%
Computer Software Company
14%
Comms Service Provider
12%
University
9%
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.
849,686 professionals have used our research since 2012.