The Best Kali Linux AlternativesTop Linux Distros & Penetration Testing Tools like Kali Linux

Kali Linux is described as 'Debian-derived Linux distribution designed for digital forensics and penetration testing, originally forked from Backtrack Linux by the Offensive Security team' and is a very popular Linux Distro in the os & utilities category. There are more than 10 alternatives to Kali Linux for a variety of platforms, including Linux, VirtualBox, Windows, Arch Linux and GNOME apps. The best Kali Linux alternative is Parrot Security OS, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Kali Linux are Tails, BlackArch, Cyborg Linux and BackBox Linux.

filter to find the best alternatives

Kali Linux alternatives are mainly Linux Distros, but if you're looking for Penetration Testing Tools or Operating Systems you can filter on that. You can also filter by region, for example EU-based alternatives if you prefer software developed in the European Union. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to Kali Linux.
Kali Linux iconKali Linux
  271
  • ...

Kali Linux is a Debian-derived Linux distribution designed for digital forensics and penetration testing, originally forked from Backtrack Linux by the Offensive Security team.

More about Kali Linux
More about Kali Linux
Kali Linux alternatives page was last updated Jun 25, 2024
Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard
  1. Parrot Security OS icon

    Parrot Security OS

     47 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Parrot is a GNU/Linux distribution based on Debian Testing and designed with Security, Development, and Privacy in mind.

    27 Parrot Security OS alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • FR flagFrance
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Linux
    Parrot Security OS screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Customizable
    2.  Security-focused
    3.  Lightweight
    4.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Security Testing
    2.  Penetration Testing
    3.  Vulnerability Assessment
    4.  Real time collaboration
    5.  Ad-free
    6.  Cloud Sync
    7.  Command line interface
    8.  Portable
    9.  No Tracking
    10.  Rolling Release
    11.  No registration required
    12.  Linux-based

    Parrot Security OS VS Kali Linux

     
    Comments about Parrot Security OS as an Alternative to Kali Linux
    Most Recent Comment
    Armin
    Positive Jul 24, 2021
    2

    Parot has more security tools than Kali.

    Adam Ehab
    Positive May 17, 2023
    1

    Faster, more secure, lighter

    daviwalle
    Positive May 13, 2020
    2

    It really is the best alternative, since it shares some repositories with Kali Linux (besides having its own), and for novice users it is very easy to use

    Kali Linux Icon
    Parrot Security OS icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Parrot Security OS is a great Kali Linux alternative.

    • Parrot Security OS is the most popular Linux alternative to Kali Linux.

    • Parrot Security OS is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Kali Linux.

    • Parrot Security OS is Free and Open SourceKali Linux is also Free and Open Source
    • Parrot Security OS is Lightweight and Privacy focusedKali Linux is not according to our users
  2. Tails icon

    Tails

     235 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    The Amnesic Incognito Live System (Tails) is a Debian 9 based live CD/USB with the goal of providing complete Internet anonymity for the user. The product ships with several Internet applications, including web browser, IRC client, mail client...

    131 Tails alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Tor Browser
    • GNOME
    • Tor
    • Thunderbird
    Tails screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Security-focused
    3.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Booting from USB
    2.  Tor
    3.  Online Anonymity
    4.  No Tracking
    5.  Works Offline
    6.  PGP Encryption
    7. Tor icon  Support for TOR
    8.  Based on Debian
    9.  Dark Mode
    10.  Ad-free
    11.  No registration required
    12.  Cold Boot Protection

    Tails VS Kali Linux

     
    Comments about Tails as an Alternative to Kali Linux
    tomhart
    Positive Aug 30, 2017
    3

    I mean for anonymity yeah, TAILS is great.

    Guest
    Positive Aug 16, 2016
    0

    It is aimed on security like Kali.

    Kali Linux Icon
    Tails icon

    • Most users think Tails is a great Kali Linux alternative.

    • Tails is Free and Open SourceKali Linux is also Free and Open Source
    • Tails is Privacy focused, Security-focused and LightweightKali Linux is not according to our users
  4. BlackArch icon

    BlackArch

     22 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    BlackArch Linux is an Small Arch Linux iconArch Linux -based distribution for penetration testers and security researchers. The repository contains 2554 tools.

    17 BlackArch alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Arch Linux
    BlackArch screenshot 1

    BlackArch Features

    1.  Based on Arch Linux
    2.  Arch User Repository
    3.  Command line interface
    4.  Rolling Release
    5.  No registration required
    6.  PHP IDE

    BlackArch VS Kali Linux

     
    Comments about BlackArch as an Alternative to Kali Linux
    Guest
    Positive May 10, 2016
    3

    Blackarch has more tools available in their repos!

    Kali Linux Icon
    BlackArch icon

    • Almost everyone thinks BlackArch is a great Kali Linux alternative.

    • BlackArch is Free and Open SourceKali Linux is also Free and Open Source
  5. Cyborg Linux icon

    Cyborg Linux

     7 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    The most advanced, powerful and yet beautiful penetration testing distribution ever created.Lined up with ultimate collection of tools for pro Ethical Hackers and Cyber Security Experts.

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • GB flagUnited Kingdom

    Platforms

    • Linux
    INTERNET
    Discontinued

    have not been any updates on their website in almost 2 years.

    Cyborg Linux VS Kali Linux

     
    Comments about Cyborg Linux as an Alternative to Kali Linux
    Guest
    Positive Aug 8, 2017
    1

    Easy to use, fast and a lot of tools

    Kali Linux Icon
    Cyborg Linux icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Cyborg Linux is a great Kali Linux alternative.

    • Cyborg Linux is Free and Open SourceKali Linux is also Free and Open Source
  6. BackBox Linux icon

    BackBox Linux

     18 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    BackBox is a Linux distribution based on Ubuntu developed to perform penetration tests and security assessments. Designed to be fast, easy to use and to provide a minimal yet complete desktop environment thanks to its own software repositories...

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • IT flagItaly
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Linux
    BackBox Linux screenshot 1

    BackBox Linux Features

    1.  Based on Ubuntu

    BackBox Linux VS Kali Linux

     
  7. Exodia OS icon

    Exodia OS

     4 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Exodia OS is a highly customized Arch-based Linux distribution built for and by cybersecurity experts, and also for daily usage, capable of performing the strongest pentests and the simplest daily tasks.

    20 Exodia OS alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Arch Linux
    Exodia OS screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Rolling Release
    2.  Based on Arch Linux

    Exodia OS VS Kali Linux

     
  9. Wifislax icon

    Wifislax

     13 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Wifislax is a GNU / Linux LiveCD and LiveUSB features conceived and designed for security auditing and related to computer security in general.

    17 Wifislax alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
    Wifislax screenshot 1

    Wifislax VS Kali Linux

     
  10. Pentoo icon

    Pentoo

     1 like
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Pentoo is a security-focused livecd based on Gentoo. It's basically a Gentoo install with lots of customized tools, a customized kernel, and much more.

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    Pentoo screenshot 1

    Pentoo VS Kali Linux

     
  11. ArchStrike icon

    ArchStrike

     Like
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    ArchStrike is a penetration testing and security layer on top of Arch Linux done the Arch Way and optimized for i686, x86_64, ARMv6, ARMv7 and ARMv8. We follow the Arch Linux standards very closely in order to keep our packages clean, proper and easy to maintain.

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • VirtualBox
    • VMware Workstation
    ArchStrike screenshot 1

    ArchStrike Features

    1.  Linux-based

    ArchStrike VS Kali Linux

     
  12. Trisquel icon

    Trisquel

     52 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Trisquel is a computer operating system, a GNU + Linux distribution, derived from another distribution, Ubuntu, which is derived from Debian.

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    Trisquel screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  DRM Free
    2.  FSF Endorsement
    3.  Based on Debian

    Trisquel VS Kali Linux

     
10 of 20 Kali Linux alternatives