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.- Linux Distro
- Free • Open Source
- 27 Parrot Security OS alternatives
Parrot is a GNU/Linux distribution based on Debian Testing and designed with Security, Development, and Privacy in mind.
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application types
Country of Origin
France
EU
Platforms
- Linux
Comments about Parrot Security OS as an Alternative to Kali Linux
Most Recent CommentAdam EhabFaster, more secure, lighter
daviwalleIt 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
- 131 Tails alternatives
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...
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application types
Country of Origin
United States
Platforms
- Linux
- Tor Browser
- GNOME
- Tor
- Thunderbird
Comments about Tails as an Alternative to Kali Linux
tomhartI mean for anonymity yeah, TAILS is great.
It is aimed on security like Kali.
- 17 BlackArch alternatives
BlackArch Linux is an Small Arch Linux iconArch Linux -based distribution for penetration testers and security researchers. The repository contains 2554 tools.
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application types
Platforms
- Linux
- Arch Linux
BlackArch Features
Comments about BlackArch as an Alternative to Kali Linux
Blackarch has more tools available in their repos!
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
United Kingdom
Platforms
- Linux
Discontinuedhave not been any updates on their website in almost 2 years.
Comments about Cyborg Linux as an Alternative to Kali Linux
Easy to use, fast and a lot of tools
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
Italy
EU
Platforms
- Linux
BackBox Linux Features
- 20 Exodia OS alternatives
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.
- 17 Wifislax alternatives
Wifislax is a GNU / Linux LiveCD and LiveUSB features conceived and designed for security auditing and related to computer security in general.
License model
- Free • Open Source
Platforms
- Linux
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.
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 Features
Trisquel is a computer operating system, a GNU + Linux distribution, derived from another distribution, Ubuntu, which is derived from Debian.
Parot has more security tools than Kali.