--- title: Kali Linux Reviews meta_title: 'Kali Linux Reviews 2026: Details, Pricing, & Features | G2' meta_description: Filter 243 reviews by the users' company size, role or industry to find out how Kali Linux works for a business like yours. aggregate_rating: rating_value: 4.5 review_count: 243 scale: '5' date_modified: '2026-07-12' parent_category: name: IT Infrastructure url: https://www.g2.com/categories/it-infrastructure --- # Kali Linux Reviews **Vendor:** OffSec **Category:** [Operating Systems](https://www.g2.com/categories/operating-system) **Average Rating:** 4.5/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 243 ## About Kali Linux Desktop Kali Linux is a specialized Linux distribution designed for penetration testing and security auditing. This Kali Linux VM (configured by Techlatest.net) with GUI Desktop interface is pre-installed with 2500+ wide variety of security tools that can be used for ethical hacking, vulnerability assessment, and other security-related tasks and made available on the leading Cloud Marketplaces so you can quickly and easily spin up an instance and start using its powerful security tools. Key Features: - GUI Based : Desktop Interface for easy and intuitive user experience. - Pre-installed Security Tools : 2500+ Comprehensive set of security tools, including Nmap, Metasploit Framework, Wireshark, Aircrack-ng, John the Ripper, Hydra, Nikto, Burp Suite, Sqlmap, THC-Hydra, among others. - Easy Deployment : With Desktop Linux Kali available on the Cloud Marketplace, you can quickly spin up an instance of the operating system on Cloud Platforms with just a few clicks. - High Performance : Cloud Platforms provide a reliable and high-performance infrastructure for running Desktop Linux Kali, ensuring that your security testing and auditing tasks can be completed quickly and efficiently. - Secure : Cloud Platforms provide a secure infrastructure for running Desktop Linux Kali, with features such as encryption at rest and in transit, security key management, and DDoS protection. - Use Cases: Kali Linux is an ideal solution for security professionals, ethical hackers, and other individuals or organizations that need to perform security testing and auditing. Its pre-installed security tools and easy deployment on Cloud Platforms make it a powerful and convenient solution for testing the security of networks, web applications, and other systems. - Legal & Ethical Use: It is important to note that the security tools included in the VM should only be used for legal and ethical purposes. - Disclaimer : Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this document to refer to either the entities claiming the marks and/or names or their products and are the property of their respective owners. We disclaim proprietary interest in the marks and names of others. ## Kali Linux Pros & Cons **What users like:** - Users love the **preinstalled security tools** in Kali Linux, enhancing efficiency for penetration testing and ethical hacking. (35 reviews) - Users value the **strong community support** of Kali Linux, enhancing troubleshooting and learning experiences in cybersecurity. (17 reviews) - Users appreciate the **wide array of security tools** in Kali Linux, enabling seamless access for professional use. (17 reviews) - Users value the **extensive customization options** in Kali Linux, enhancing their learning experience in cybersecurity effectively. (16 reviews) - Users appreciate the **regular updates** of Kali Linux, ensuring tools are current and enhancing overall security capabilities. (15 reviews) - Users value Kali Linux for its **wide range of built-in security tools** , enhancing their cybersecurity learning and testing experience. (14 reviews) - Ease of Use (13 reviews) - Easy Setup (13 reviews) - Security Features (12 reviews) - Users find Kali Linux's **ease of use and built-in tools** invaluable for cybersecurity and ethical hacking tasks. (10 reviews) **What users dislike:** - Users find the **skill requirements** of Kali Linux daunting, especially for beginners seeking a more user-friendly experience. (20 reviews) - Users find **usage difficulty** in Kali Linux, primarily due to its steep learning curve and lack of beginner-friendliness. (14 reviews) - Users often face **driver issues** with Kali Linux, particularly regarding Wi-Fi and hardware compatibility challenges. (8 reviews) - Users find Kali Linux has **hardware limitations** , leading to sluggish performance on lower-end systems and high resource demands. (7 reviews) - Users experience **performance issues** with Kali Linux, particularly on lower-end systems and when using certain tools. (6 reviews) - Installation Difficulties (5 reviews) - Users find the **command line interface challenging** , making operations frustrating and complicating the overall user experience. (4 reviews) - Users find Kali Linux challenging due to its **limited software** offering, hindering basic daily tasks and usability. (4 reviews) - RAM Issues (3 reviews) - Slow Updates (3 reviews) ## Kali Linux Reviews ### 1. Kali Linux as an Idea Operating System for Penetration Testing and Ethical Hacking **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Murtala A. | Data System Analyst, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 07, 2025 **What do you like best about Kali Linux?** Kali Linux is a spcialized Debian-Linux distribution created for Cybersecurity professionals and ethical hackers and what interest me most on the platform is its comprehensive and convenient style which is designed specifically for penetration testing and digital forensics. Its upsides are customazibility and open source nature, strong community and professional backing, its portabilty and live booting, comprehensive pre-installed toolset, it is designed for security, its versatility and multi-paltform support and its leverage on educational and professional stsndard. **What do you dislike about Kali Linux?** Most issues with Kali Linus as a user is that it is not a general purpose operating system as it is specialized in nature which hinders most of my work during usage because I usually inter-switch between the general purpose operating system such as windows OS and its platform. The downside of Kali Linux is its overly specialized nature, limited for everyday functionality, it is not secure for general use, it is not user friendly especially for beginners, its script kiddie culture leads to abuse of its usage by novice, Its performance and resource intensive, and its potential for misuse and legal issues that may come up. **What problems is Kali Linux solving and how is that benefiting you?** Kali Linux is a pecialized tool that solves problems for cybersecurity professionals and digital forensic auditors. therefore problem of finding, downloading and configuring over hundreds of individual security tools for penetration test or security audit is solved by Kali Linux by provinding a single pre-configure operating system with over 600 security tools readily available for my use. The next problem solved by Kali Linux is issue of consistent and up-to-date security testing environment which is solved by automatically rolling-release distribution, meaning it is constantly updated with latest versions of its tools. It also solves the problem of high barrier to entry of individuals and organizations to acquire professional grade security tools by leverage its open source and completely free operating system which allowed access to powerful security tools. It makes it invaluable for students, researchers and organization who cannnot affor expensive commercial software. Its benefits to me include efficiency by providing ready to go platform and inreases my work efficiency. Its versaitilty makes it one top benefit for me by leveraging on its powerful single platform to perform wide range of security related tasks. Its other benefit to me is that it gives that learning and educational paltform for some of us who are cybersecurity ethusiasts and learning to acquire more knwoledge on ethical hacking. Its portability cannot be under-estimated as benefit as it can be readily booted from usb flash live and perform tasks right away on the platform. ### 2. Flexibility and Power for Advanced Users **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Mauricio V. | Account Manager **Reviewed Date:** January 27, 2026 **What do you like best about Kali Linux?** I like the simplicity of access and the more advanced mode of the Kali Linux operating system. I appreciate the system codes, as they don't have as many restrictions as Windows. I can 'clear' and access many functions through them. **What do you dislike about Kali Linux?** It is a bit complex for new users or those not so familiar with codes. **What problems is Kali Linux solving and how is that benefiting you?** Kali Linux offers me simplicity of access and an advanced operating system, with access to many features without the restrictions of Windows. ### 3. Comprehensive Educational Tool with Easy Setup **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Misty T. | virtual Implementation Division Lead , Cybersecurity Engineer, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** December 16, 2025 **What do you like best about Kali Linux?** I use Kali Linux primarily for educational purposes, and I appreciate having a lab with various hacking and cracking methods for demonstration. I find it to be an all-in-one solution and a package of all the things you need for a lab and teaching. I also like that the initial setup was very easy. **What do you dislike about Kali Linux?** nothing that i know of **What problems is Kali Linux solving and how is that benefiting you?** I use Kali Linux for educational purposes, having a lab with various hacking and cracking methods for demonstration. It's an all-in-one solution, a package of all the things you need for a lab and teaching. ### 4. Powerful Preloaded Tools, but Would Benefit from Custom Tool Selection **Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Marketing and Advertising | Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 16, 2026 **What do you like best about Kali Linux?** Kali Linux comes with a bunch of tools preloaded, so it is always easy to get in without worrying about the setup. **What do you dislike about Kali Linux?** It's bloated at times, having a lot of unnecessary tooling for me. A better option would be to allow me to select the tools that I want. **What problems is Kali Linux solving and how is that benefiting you?** Kali Linux puts all the security testing tools I need in one place, so I don’t waste time installing and configuring them. It makes my pentesting work faster and more organized when I’m checking systems for vulnerabilities. ### 5. Powerful Preloaded Toolkit with Nmap, Metasploit, and Wireshark **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Information Technology and Services | Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 17, 2026 **What do you like best about Kali Linux?** It comes preloaded with powerful tools like Nmap, Metasploit, and Wireshark, which eliminates the need for manual installation and setup. **What do you dislike about Kali Linux?** Running Kali in virtual environments can sometimes lead to performance or compatibility issues. **What problems is Kali Linux solving and how is that benefiting you?** Kali Linux helps identify security vulnerabilities and misconfigurations across systems and networks, enabling proactive risk mitigation. This benefits me by improving infrastructure security posture and ensuring compliance through regular, efficient security testing. ### 6. Powerful Security Tools and Customization, Backed by a Strong Community **Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Education Management | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** December 25, 2025 **What do you like best about Kali Linux?** I like that Kali Linux comes with a wide range of built-in security and penetration testing tools, making it very powerful for cybersecurity work. It’s also highly customizable and well-supported by the security community. **What do you dislike about Kali Linux?** One downside of Kali Linux is that it can be overwhelming for beginners due to its complexity and advanced tools. It’s also not ideal for everyday use, since it’s designed specifically for security testing rather than general computing. **What problems is Kali Linux solving and how is that benefiting you?** Kali Linux solves the problem of needing a centralized, reliable platform for security testing by providing all the necessary tools in one system. This benefits me by making it easier and more efficient to practice and perform cybersecurity tasks without setting everything up from scratch. ### 7. Use of Kali Linux **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Information Technology and Services | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 07, 2025 **What do you like best about Kali Linux?** Among the positive aspects of Kali Linux is the availability and availability of numerous tools that can be used for pen testing and cybersecurity activities. Another advantage of the Kali Linux system is the community and the continuous updates that are made to improve the operating system and resolve any issues. Another advantage is the customization that can be made by installing custom tools for the tasks you need. **What do you dislike about Kali Linux?** Among the few disadvantages of Kali Linux is that it is perhaps not a very useful system for basic, daily activities. Furthermore, the numerous tools present on the system are complex and require in-depth study to be able to use them correctly. **What problems is Kali Linux solving and how is that benefiting you?** I use Kali Linux primarily for penetration testing and, when necessary, for security incident analysis and investigation. It helps me primarily with the numerous pre-installed tools that allow me to perform my tasks more quickly. ### 8. Linux: a versatile operating system with many tools available **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Luis R. | Engineer Support, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 06, 2026 **What do you like best about Kali Linux?** The Linux operating system, with many tools available **What do you dislike about Kali Linux?** Sometimes the operating system update brings problems. **What problems is Kali Linux solving and how is that benefiting you?** The possibility of having many tools installed ### 9. Penetration-testing Swiss Army knife **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Luca P. | Chief Operations Officer DEQUA Studio | Formerly CTO in MarTech, Marketing and Advertising, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** July 24, 2025 **What do you like best about Kali Linux?** • Extensive, carefully curated catalog of 600+ offensive security, forensics, and reverse-engineering utilities preinstalled; everything from Nmap to Burp Suite is instantly available . • Rolling-release model synchronized with Debian repositories multiple times per day guarantees quick access to patched kernels and up-to-date tool versions, reducing manual maintenance overhead . • ISO customization framework and Live-Build scripts make it straightforward to craft slimmed-down images or add proprietary drivers before deployment, a plus when shipping field kits to consultants or students . • Wide hardware and form-factor coverage: official builds for x86, ARM (Raspberry Pi, Chromebook, BeagleBone), cloud images, Docker containers, WSL, and live USB with persistence support enable testing from “pocket lab” rigs to full red-team laptops . • Strong community and vendor backing (Offensive Security) mean signed packages, thorough documentation, and rapid responses to bug reports, which inspires confidence in production engagements . • Rooted in BackTrack heritage, Kali is the direct successor to that legendary distro, so seasoned testers instantly recognize the directory structure and tool groupings, easing migration from legacy scripts . **What do you dislike about Kali Linux?** Rolling releases sometimes introduce regressions in wireless injection drivers or external GPU passthrough; pinning packages or holding kernel upgrades becomes a periodic chore. **What problems is Kali Linux solving and how is that benefiting you?** • I rely on Kali for network reconnaissance, web-application assessments, and full red-team simulations, so attention stays on technique rather than on gathering individual tools. • ARM builds turn a Raspberry Pi into a discreet drop-box for long-term packet captures inside client networks. ### 10. Review Kali Linux **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Information Technology and Services | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** October 02, 2025 **What do you like best about Kali Linux?** I like about Kali Linux its ease of use especially for security professionals and ethical hackers. The system is built with a clear purpose. In terms of ease of implementation Kali can be quickly installed on a wide range of systems including virtual machines, USB drives, and cloud platforms. While customer support may not be traditional, the strong community and active forums offer reliable assistance. As for frequency of use Kali is a go to tool in cybersecurity and penetration testing. It also stands out for its number of features offering a wide range of pre-installed tools covering various areas like forensics, reverse engineering and wireless attacks. Finally Kali's ease of integration with other security tools and systems makes it a powerful and flexible solution for complex security tasks. **What do you dislike about Kali Linux?** Its customer support is not very traditional, it has a strong community and a lot of documentation but there is no corporate support **What problems is Kali Linux solving and how is that benefiting you?** Kali Linux solves the problem of accessing and using professional grade cybersecurity tools in one platform. It benefits me by providing a ready-to-use environment for penetration testing, ethical hacking and vulnerability assessment ### 11. The better pentesting distribution **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Juan Sebastián P. | Oficial de Seguridad de la Información y Líder del Sistema Integrado de Gestión (27001 y 9001), Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** October 10, 2025 **What do you like best about Kali Linux?** Kali Linux has all the necessary tools to perform pentesting and ethical hacking performance as well as blue team activities. **What do you dislike about Kali Linux?** The only downside I find with Kali Linux is the complexity of configuring and using wireless network cards to perform pentesting on Wi-Fi networks. **What problems is Kali Linux solving and how is that benefiting you?** With Kali Linux, I can perform pentesting on any type of infrastructure and operating system. I just have to install the necessary tools and the problem is solved ### 12. Kali Linux geat for Cyber security people. **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** ALISHETTI S. | Software Engineer, Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** February 04, 2026 **What do you like best about Kali Linux?** I like the features like network scanning, web application testing, hardware and driver support **What do you dislike about Kali Linux?** I only thing I dislike about Kali linux is that it is not day to day OS. **What problems is Kali Linux solving and how is that benefiting you?** Instead of manual configuration it provides pre configured everything. It provides safe lab environment. All tools are categorised. ### 13. Free, Lightweight OS with Pre-Installed Security Tools **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Raj B. | Software Engineer, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** December 09, 2025 **What do you like best about Kali Linux?** I like that Kali Linux provides pre-installed security features. It's also lightweight software, so it runs smoothly for me. Additionally, I find it easy to install, which is a plus. **What do you dislike about Kali Linux?** Kali Linux is not ideal for daily use. Better hardware support out of the box for WiFi chipsets, GPUS, and Bluetooth would improve the experience. **What problems is Kali Linux solving and how is that benefiting you?** I use Kali Linux as a free OS from my study days, valuing its pre-installed security and lightweight nature for smooth operation. ### 14. Great OS for Pen Testing and Application Security **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Financial Services | Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 24, 2026 **What do you like best about Kali Linux?** Great OS for pen testing, application security testing. **What do you dislike about Kali Linux?** Sometimes initial set up may be difficult for beginners. **What problems is Kali Linux solving and how is that benefiting you?** Kali Linux is helping to find vulnerabilities in an organization's application or security posture. This helps the organization to fix the gaps in security. ### 15. Preloaded Security Tools Make Testing Effortless **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Shubham M. | Senior Consultant, Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** December 09, 2025 **What do you like best about Kali Linux?** Kali Linux is preloaded with 0ffensive security tools which saves lot of time in testing frameworks **What do you dislike about Kali Linux?** This becomes bit of unstable when using hacking related tools **What problems is Kali Linux solving and how is that benefiting you?** I am into Network Security Domain , It helps me to create a virtual machine and integrate the virtual routers to set up my lab for virtual firewall ### 16. Best OS for Vulnerability Assessment and Ethical Hacking **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Prajakta P. | Developer, Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** October 20, 2025 **What do you like best about Kali Linux?** One of the best Operation system distribution for penetration testing and ethical hacking. It contains automated as well as manual testing tools. I am using is daily for my red teaming exercises. **What do you dislike about Kali Linux?** It contains all the necessary tools so I don't think there is anything to dislike **What problems is Kali Linux solving and how is that benefiting you?** I was using multiple tools separately which was more time consuming. Now using Kali linux, time reduced minimum. Also got to know about more automation tools which helped me alot. ### 17. Kali: The Best Penetration Testing OS with Easy Installation and Broad Platform Support **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Rohit W. | Senior Consultant, Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** October 14, 2025 **What do you like best about Kali Linux?** It is one of the best penetration testing operating system with variety of tools. Installation is also very easy and it supports almost all platforms including mobile. Easy to learn as well. **What do you dislike about Kali Linux?** There is nothing to dislike about the kali, its the best **What problems is Kali Linux solving and how is that benefiting you?** I was using different tools in my OS where I need to install these tools. In kali, you have all the tools in built kali help is also good documentation ### 18. Perfect way to learn to become an ethical hacker **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Kylie C. | Security Operations Center Analyst, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 23, 2025 **What do you like best about Kali Linux?** I love that all the programs I need are all easy to find in different catagories. It comes pre loaded with all the tools that I need which saves me time of having to download them all. I also enjoy the simple interface and how quickly it runs **What do you dislike about Kali Linux?** It can be a real pain to instal if you do not know what you are doing **What problems is Kali Linux solving and how is that benefiting you?** It allows me to pen test quickly as all of the tools are already there and available. It can also run on many different machines even if they are a big older. ### 19. The go-to OS for penetration testing and cybersecurity **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Computer Software | Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 28, 2025 **What do you like best about Kali Linux?** Kali Linux comes preloaded with a wide range of security and penetration testing tools, saving me the hassle of setting everything up manually. The community support and documentation are excellent, and I like that it’s constantly updated to include the latest security utilities. It’s lightweight, customizable, and works well in both virtual machines and dedicated hardware. **What do you dislike about Kali Linux?** Since it’s tailored for security professionals, it can be overwhelming for beginners. Some tools require extra configuration to work smoothly, and it’s not ideal as a daily driver OS for general-purpose use. **What problems is Kali Linux solving and how is that benefiting you?** Kali Linux helps me test system vulnerabilities, run penetration tests, and explore network security without needing to install each tool individually. It streamlines my workflow as a security enthusiast and makes it easier to learn and practice cybersecurity in a professional environment. ### 20. best OS to learn cyber security **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** AAmr a. | cyber security student, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 27, 2025 **What do you like best about Kali Linux?** i find that kali linux is really helpful because i can find in it many tools i am using in my studies for cyber security **What do you dislike about Kali Linux?** kali linux kind of take a lot of resources for weak computers **What problems is Kali Linux solving and how is that benefiting you?** i am learning the basics of cyber security which helps me in my studies ### 21. Kali Linux and excellent alternative to the mainstream **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Information Technology and Services | Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 30, 2025 **What do you like best about Kali Linux?** I love the fact that there are so many contributors to this fork and or flavour of Linux and is constantly being updated and improved. **What do you dislike about Kali Linux?** There is not a lot that I dislike about this Linux operating system, I guess the UI could do with a fresh new look at some point. **What problems is Kali Linux solving and how is that benefiting you?** I am using as a test environment to test some software code. ### 22. Best Linux Distro for Cyber Security Related Work **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Patel P. | Software development engineer, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** February 24, 2025 **What do you like best about Kali Linux?** Kali has a lot of tools available which are very helpful in any needed cyber-security field. These tools are easy to setup and you can start using those instantly. I used Kali-Linux by creating bootable pen-drive and it worked really well. **What do you dislike about Kali Linux?** There might be a learning curve with every tool and there are a lot of tools you can use. So don't get distracted by the quantity of available tools. Deciding which tools you need to use and learning them beforehand is the best way to go. **What problems is Kali Linux solving and how is that benefiting you?** The Kali Linux provides everything you need for ethical hacking at one place. There are tools available from penetration testing to digital forensic. So whichever tool you will require it will be there for you to use. ### 23. The Best OS for Security Engineers **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Information Technology and Services | Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** November 18, 2025 **What do you like best about Kali Linux?** The best OS we have in market for Security Engineers **What do you dislike about Kali Linux?** some application installations are tricky **What problems is Kali Linux solving and how is that benefiting you?** To perform external scans and find vulnerabilities ### 24. Kali is mostly very helpful for one who's starting to explore ethical hacking field. **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Telecommunications | Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** July 29, 2025 **What do you like best about Kali Linux?** Very helpful for someone who is very much interested into hacking. Kali linux has many built-in softwares which make hacker's work easier and faster. **What do you dislike about Kali Linux?** UI isn't much easier and user friendly and systems lags and has ling issues comparing to regular OSs. **What problems is Kali Linux solving and how is that benefiting you?** Being someone who's in path of learning ethical hacking, Kali linux is very helpful in analyzing the traffic and doing many more with easier tools already present in Kali Linux. ### 25. Smooth OS for Ethical Hackers! **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Kapil V. | Game Designer, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** July 02, 2025 **What do you like best about Kali Linux?** Kali Linux and its advanced tools for every security professional **What do you dislike about Kali Linux?** Nothing as of now, everything seems perfect right now. **What problems is Kali Linux solving and how is that benefiting you?** Installing and setting up tools on any linux is a hassle, Kali has it all ready to use. ### 26. Experience with Kali Linux **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Sarwar A. | Security Specialist, Information Technology and Services, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 17, 2025 **What do you like best about Kali Linux?** Kali offers every hacking tool in one place. No more begging IT to install Wireshark or Metasploit. It’s all just there. During my cybersecurity bootcamp, this let me practice SQL injections and password cracking in my home lab without hitting permission roadblocks. The preinstalled tools feel like training wheels for real pentesting. **What do you dislike about Kali Linux?** It’s overwhelming at first. I still remember staring at the terminal on Day 1, thinking, “Why are there 12 different network scanners? Which one do I even use?!” The Linux basics tripped me up too (I broke my sudo privileges twice). **What problems is Kali Linux solving and how is that benefiting you?** Kali Linux stops me from wasting hours installing tools like Nmap and Metasploit individually. Everything works together right away, so I spend time finding security flaws instead of fixing installations. ### 27. Essential Security Tools That Deliver Real Value **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Information Technology and Services | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** December 09, 2025 **What do you like best about Kali Linux?** Very useful tools for security and Linux practice **What do you dislike about Kali Linux?** There are not really any things I do not like about Linux **What problems is Kali Linux solving and how is that benefiting you?** It is helping me learn cybersecurity skills ### 28. Kali Linux The hackers choice **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** karan s. | Digital Forensic Expert , Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** October 15, 2024 **What do you like best about Kali Linux?** Kali Linux is best for pen testing and ethical hacking practices. I used Kali Linux for various purposes like network monitoring, web application testing, and digital forensics etc. The best thing that I like in Kali Linux is the pre-install software like John the Ripper, Metasploit Framework, Nikto, Nmap, Skipfish, and Social Engineering Toolkit, and also the Kali Linux GUI, which is very friendly for new comers. **What do you dislike about Kali Linux?** The dislike is that in Kali when I install tools like Volatility for forensics purposes or Cuckoo Sandbox for malware analysis, etc. Kali was mainly giving library errors, and libraries are already installed, yet I can't find a solution to this error. **What problems is Kali Linux solving and how is that benefiting you?** I remember Kali Linux helping me with forensics. I analyzed a Linux image using volatility in Kali and had to find deleted items from images, but volatility was not working properly, so I used bulk extractor, which only supports Linux-based OS. I installed bulk extractor in Kali Linux, and I used a technique called file carving, which is inbuilt in bulk extractor and bulk extractor to give all deleted files (file carving), and I successfully completed my analysis on the image. I also used bulk extractor in Ubuntu, but bulk extractor did not work properly or not install in Ubuntu, so I used Kali, which gave me the best result. Kali Linux saved my time and efforts. ### 29. All-in-One Toolkit for Pen Testers **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Information Technology and Services | Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** October 30, 2025 **What do you like best about Kali Linux?** It is prebuilt with all the tools you look for as a pen tester **What do you dislike about Kali Linux?** sometimes tools configuration is difficult **What problems is Kali Linux solving and how is that benefiting you?** For running pen tests and identifying gaps and for conducting investigations ### 30. My Experience Using Kali Linux **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Information Technology and Services | Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** October 01, 2025 **What do you like best about Kali Linux?** It comes preloaded with all the major security and penetration testing tools, so I don’t have to waste time setting everything up. **What do you dislike about Kali Linux?** Some tools break after updates and it’s resource-heavy on old hardware. **What problems is Kali Linux solving and how is that benefiting you?** Penetration testing, vulnerability assessment, and learning cybersecurity. ### 31. Kali Linux good for Beginners **Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Narendra . | Software Engineer, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 13, 2025 **What do you like best about Kali Linux?** All Tool in A box and Organize as well and security was good. **What do you dislike about Kali Linux?** Dependencies and network problem sometimes **What problems is Kali Linux solving and how is that benefiting you?** We secure network and company policy ### 32. Powerful suite of tools for penetration testing and cybersecurity analysis. **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Swaraj K. | Python Developer, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** December 20, 2024 **What do you like best about Kali Linux?** What I like best about Kali Linux is its extensive toolkit for penetration testing and ethical hacking. It provides a vast array of pre-installed tools that are essential for vulnerability scanning, exploitation, and network analysis, making it the go-to OS for cybersecurity professionals. The ability to customize and configure the environment for specific tasks is also a huge plus. **What do you dislike about Kali Linux?** As I mentioned it is a powerful tool and it has many features in it but for a beginner it is little hard to understand **What problems is Kali Linux solving and how is that benefiting you?** Kali Linux solves the problem of accessing a wide range of cybersecurity tools in one place. It benefits me by saving time, providing up-to-date resources for penetration testing, and being portable with live boot options. It’s cost-effective, easy to use for professionals, and enhances productivity in cybersecurity tasks. ### 33. My experience as a kali Linux user **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Information Technology and Services | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 12, 2025 **What do you like best about Kali Linux?** Its best for learning hacking and find loop holes in network **What do you dislike about Kali Linux?** Like it need medium range laptop to work smoothly or else it lagging too much **What problems is Kali Linux solving and how is that benefiting you?** Its helpful learning basic network protocal and hacking basics too ### 34. Penetration testing necessity **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Manufacturing | Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 30, 2025 **What do you like best about Kali Linux?** Real world vulnerability testing toolkit **What do you dislike about Kali Linux?** So many tools it's daunting where to start **What problems is Kali Linux solving and how is that benefiting you?** Assisted with patching security vulnerabilities and reducing cyber insurance premiums ### 35. Experience using kali linux **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Mohd M. | Associate Systems Analyst, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** December 18, 2024 **What do you like best about Kali Linux?** The command uses in linux were easy and also linux is easy to use, It comes with many built in tools and provide better security and also it is open source. **What do you dislike about Kali Linux?** To use kali linux can be challenging as a beginner level, because it provide limited software to use and also can't play games on that. **What problems is Kali Linux solving and how is that benefiting you?** Kali Linux solve problems related to cybersecurity by giving tools for testing vulnerabilities, penetration testing, and digital forensics. It help to find weak points in systems and improve network security. ### 36. The best distro ever **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** F.M. M. | Expert rater, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** July 31, 2024 **What do you like best about Kali Linux?** I've been using Kali Linux for years, and I simply can't live without it. It's my go-to for work, and it's always been a reliable and versatile companion. From its user-friendly interface to its vast library of software, Ubuntu has everything I need to be productive. It's more than just an operating system; it's a tool that empowers me to do my best work. **What do you dislike about Kali Linux?** Non user-friendliest if you're not used to Linux. **What problems is Kali Linux solving and how is that benefiting you?** Kali Linux is a Linux distribution specifically designed for penetration testing and security auditing. In other words, it's a powerful tool used by experts to test the security of computer systems, identifying vulnerabilities and potential points of attack. ### 37. Kali Linux the best **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Puneet T. | Cyber Security Analyst, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** October 15, 2024 **What do you like best about Kali Linux?** Everything about kali is so good that user will love it. It's light installation, user friendly ui, customizable and etc. It is easily integrable to any other software. **What do you dislike about Kali Linux?** Someone need to learn linux before using it. **What problems is Kali Linux solving and how is that benefiting you?** Windows is a large operating system. If the system lacks resources then it can't install on it. That's where kali linux comes in. Minimum requirement to install and work anywhere. ### 38. A single tool has multiple security solution. **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Subhasish M. | Sr. Cyber Security Lead, Banking, Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** December 08, 2024 **What do you like best about Kali Linux?** Most powerfull tool where as a Pen tester or as a security analysist will get all the solution. **What do you dislike about Kali Linux?** Limitation of few plugins. Maybe want to scan or to penetrate witha alimitation. **What problems is Kali Linux solving and how is that benefiting you?** Application Security, Vulnerability Assessment ### 39. The industry standard **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Benjamin F. | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** February 16, 2025 **What do you like best about Kali Linux?** Open source; documentation; strong community of users **What do you dislike about Kali Linux?** Steep learning curve; amount of tools can be overwhelming **What problems is Kali Linux solving and how is that benefiting you?** PenTesting and network analysis ### 40. powerhouse for pen testing **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Ayush V. | Software dev, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 12, 2025 **What do you like best about Kali Linux?** Packed toolset for ethical hacking, strong community **What do you dislike about Kali Linux?** complex at beginning, overwheling for casual use **What problems is Kali Linux solving and how is that benefiting you?** streamlines hobby purpose of ethical hacking ### 41. My experience using Kali Linux **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Abin K. | System Engineer, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 20, 2024 **What do you like best about Kali Linux?** I appreciate the robust security features and protection that this product offers to users. As an open-source solution, it benefits from a strong community and receives regular updates and support. **What do you dislike about Kali Linux?** The wide variety of tools and features in Kali Linux can be overwhelming for beginners. It might take a lot of time and effort to learn how to use everything effectively. **What problems is Kali Linux solving and how is that benefiting you?** The active community and detailed documentation for Kali Linux offer great support and resources. They help admins solve problems, learn new skills, and use best practices effectively. ### 42. It's a very good tool for recon, but hacking itself is not really practical. **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Yeon L. | Software Developer, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** July 26, 2024 **What do you like best about Kali Linux?** The application is not as practical as it used to be. **What do you dislike about Kali Linux?** The application is great if you are looking to hack into a VM. **What problems is Kali Linux solving and how is that benefiting you?** Kali Linux solves the one in all use as an OS for ethical hacking. However, it's turning more into an education purpose OS because most tools are not practical anymore with the exception being wireshark and NMAP ### 43. Kali Linux-The Super OS **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** ankush p. | Security Consulatant, Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** July 28, 2024 **What do you like best about Kali Linux?** Kali Linux is having great features.It is very useful for hacking.It is very userfriendly for users to do the hacking things legally and to pentest legally.Kali linux is very good Operating system. **What do you dislike about Kali Linux?** It is command based Operating system.Sometime it is impossible to remember the commands.kali is difficult to install.Many of the companies use it but engineers find it diffivult to operate. **What problems is Kali Linux solving and how is that benefiting you?** It is very useful for pentesting for legal purpose.It is best Operation system which is helping to run many tools on it to do hacking stuff. ### 44. UNMASKING ANONYMITY With kali linux **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Computer Networking | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 22, 2024 **What do you like best about Kali Linux?** In my opinion, Kali Linux is very helpful when it comes to tools. In Kali Linux, some amazing tools are preinstalled, which helps users save lots of time. For penetration testing, I used tools like wireshark, tcp dump, burpsuit, etc. This tool helps me in my work. The best thing about Kali is that it's anominous and user-friendly. **What do you dislike about Kali Linux?** The bad thing about Kali that I don't like is its libraries. Sometimes when I try to install third-party tools, some libraries are not available on the Kali server, and I want to find those libraries manually, which is a boring task for me. **What problems is Kali Linux solving and how is that benefiting you?** Kali Linux solved many problems for me in vulnerability assessment and penetration. Testing tools that are preinstalled in Kali are very helpful. Mostly, I used Burpsuite in Kali Linux for testing. When I used Burp Suite in Windows, Burp Suite sometimes gave me an error of a certificate, which is used in browsers, but in Kali, I didn't get this type of error, which saved me time. ### 45. Kali Linux **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** K Bharath R. | Software Engineer, Information Technology and Services, Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** July 26, 2024 **What do you like best about Kali Linux?** It provdes some of the best information collecting tools like Nmap,nessus which are used by the Ethical Hackers and Network Security Engineers **What do you dislike about Kali Linux?** It operates slow when different Tabs are opened in the Kali OS **What problems is Kali Linux solving and how is that benefiting you?** I use it in almost all aspects of Cyber Security like Information Gathering ,Web Applications,Password Attacks. ### 46. My thoughts on Kali Linux **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** sanju k. | System Engineer, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 25, 2024 **What do you like best about Kali Linux?** I like using Kali Linux because it has a lot of tools and is open-source. It's really helpful, with regular updates, strong security, customization options, and great community support. **What do you dislike about Kali Linux?** Kali Linux is harder to use than other Linux distributions and can be tough for beginners because its many tools and features can feel intimidating. **What problems is Kali Linux solving and how is that benefiting you?** Kali Linux comes with most of the tools and frameworks pre-installed, making it an ideal environment for users. ### 47. very good opreting system **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Computer Networking | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** June 02, 2024 **What do you like best about Kali Linux?** Customizability: Users can tailor Kali Linux to their specific needs by easily adding or removing tools and features. The distribution is highly customizable to fit the unique requirements of different security tasks. Deployment Options: Kali Linux can be run from a live CD or USB, installed on a hard drive, or used in a virtual machine. This flexibility allows users to deploy Kali Linux in various environments according to their needs. **What do you dislike about Kali Linux?** Powerful Tools: The tools included in Kali Linux are powerful and can cause significant damage if misused. This makes it risky for inexperienced users who might accidentally harm their own systems or networks. Legal and Ethical Concerns: Misusing Kali Linux tools for unauthorized activities can lead to serious legal and ethical issues. It's crucial for users to understand and adhere to ethical hacking principles and legal constraints. **What problems is Kali Linux solving and how is that benefiting you?** Comprehensive Penetration Testing Toolset: Problem: Assembling and configuring a wide range of security tools for penetration testing and security assessment can be time-consuming and challenging. Benefit: Kali Linux comes with over 600 pre-installed tools tailored for various security tasks, such as network analysis, vulnerability scanning, password cracking, and forensic analysis. This comprehensive toolkit saves time and ensures that users have access to the necessary tools out-of-the-box. Consistent and Reliable Environment: Problem: Setting up a reliable and consistent environment for penetration testing can be difficult, especially when dealing with dependencies and configurations. Benefit: Kali Linux provides a stable and consistent environment, ensuring that all tools work harmoniously. This reliability is crucial for professionals who need to trust their tools during critical security assessments. ### 48. Review of kali Linux **Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** sunny g. | Data analyst, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** November 06, 2024 **What do you like best about Kali Linux?** Easy to learn Ethical hacking and it is open source platform so it is free. **What do you dislike about Kali Linux?** most of thinks we have to do on cammand line interface. **What problems is Kali Linux solving and how is that benefiting you?** Data privece, undersand the networking how it is work. ### 49. Kali Linux **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Ganga Sagar P. | Analyst, Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** October 16, 2024 **What do you like best about Kali Linux?** common operating system used by security experts and ethical hackers **What do you dislike about Kali Linux?** It can be a little challenging to use if you're unfamiliar with Linux, and it's less user-friendly for daily usage. **What problems is Kali Linux solving and how is that benefiting you?** used for Manual testing in our envirnoment ### 50. Kali Linux review by Taha Khan **Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Taha K. | Data Annotator, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** July 31, 2024 **What do you like best about Kali Linux?** It is open source and also help me to implement my kernel based uni assignment. It has more frequent updates . **What do you dislike about Kali Linux?** Difficult to learn and average UI and not easy to use. **What problems is Kali Linux solving and how is that benefiting you?** I am cs student at FAST NUCES and in my 4th semester I had a course namely Operating System concepts. Kali linux help me to practically implement each concepts I learned and help me in assignments ## Kali Linux Discussions - [How do I update my kali linux os form the terminal](https://www.g2.com/discussions/how-do-i-update-my-kali-linux-os-form-the-terminal) - 3 comments, 2 upvotes - [Can I enable support for all ubuntu-PPA package in Kali?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/can-i-enable-support-for-all-ubuntu-ppa-package-in-kali) - 2 comments, 2 upvotes - [What Kali Linux can do?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-kali-linux-can-do) - 4 comments, 1 upvote - [What is the best way to learn AngularJS?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-the-best-way-to-learn-angularjs) - 1 comment, 1 upvote - [which package i use for wifi hacking](https://www.g2.com/discussions/which-package-i-use-for-wifi-hacking) - 2 comments, 1 upvote - [View Kali Linux pricing details and edition comparison](https://www.g2.com/products/kali-linux/reviews?page=2§ion=pricing&secure%5Bexpires_at%5D=2026-07-13+09%3A46%3A49+-0500&secure%5Bsession_id%5D=e1ede4dc-6241-43a1-b08b-5951f2e7a039&secure%5Btoken%5D=ba25193e414a969077101c3ac18feed001b5f7f3ea7cd181ce597d05e3294ede&format=llm_user) ## Kali Linux Integrations - [Android Studio](https://www.g2.com/products/android-studio/reviews) - [Autopsy - Digital Forensics](https://www.g2.com/products/autopsy-digital-forensics/reviews) - [Burp Suite](https://www.g2.com/products/burp-suite/reviews) - [Metasploit](https://www.g2.com/products/metasploit/reviews) - [OpenOffice](https://www.g2.com/products/openoffice/reviews) - [Oracle VM](https://www.g2.com/products/oracle-vm/reviews) - [pandas python](https://www.g2.com/products/pandas-python/reviews) - [Splunk Enterprise](https://www.g2.com/products/splunk-enterprise/reviews) - [VirtualBox](https://www.g2.com/products/virtualbox/reviews) - [Visual Studio Code](https://www.g2.com/products/visual-studio-code/reviews) - [VMware Workstation Pro](https://www.g2.com/products/vmware-workstation-pro/reviews) - [Windows 11](https://www.g2.com/products/windows-11/reviews) ## Kali Linux Features **Memory Management - Operating System** - RAM management **Device Management - Operating System** - I/O management **Backup and Recovery - Operating System** - Data backup **Error Detection - Operating System** - System operations monitoring ## Top Kali Linux Alternatives - [CentOS](https://www.g2.com/products/centos/reviews) - 4.4/5.0 (408 reviews) - [Parrot Security OS](https://www.g2.com/products/parrot-security-os/reviews) - 4.4/5.0 (56 reviews) - [Arch](https://www.g2.com/products/arch/reviews) - 4.4/5.0 (45 reviews)