Kali Linux AlternativesOnly apps categorised as Penetration Testing Tools

The best Penetration Testing alternative to Kali Linux is Parrot Security OS, which is both free and Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 10 alternatives to Kali Linux and eight of them are Penetration Testing Tools so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Penetration Testing Tool alternatives to Kali Linux are BlackArch, Cyborg Linux, BackBox Linux and Pentoo.

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.
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Alternatives list

  1. Parrot Security OS icon

    Parrot Security OS

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

    28 Parrot Security OS alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    Parrot Security OS screenshot 1
     
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    3
    59
    Comments about Parrot Security OS as an Alternative to Kali Linux
    Armin
    Positive
    2

    Parot has more security tools than Kali.

    Adam Ehab
    Positive
    2

    Faster, more secure, lighter

    daviwalle
    Positive
    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 Customizable, Security-focused and LightweightKali Linux is not according to our users
  2. BlackArch icon

    BlackArch

     25 likes
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    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

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Arch Linux
    BlackArch screenshot 1
     
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    1
    40
    Comments about BlackArch as an Alternative to Kali Linux
    Guest
    Positive
    3

    Blackarch has more tools available in their repos!

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    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
  4. Cyborg Linux icon

    Cyborg Linux

     8 likes
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    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.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Linux
    INTERNET
     
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    1
    21
    Comments about Cyborg Linux as an Alternative to Kali Linux
    Guest
    Positive
    1

    Easy to use, fast and a lot of tools

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    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
  5. BackBox Linux icon

    BackBox Linux

     20 likes
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    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...

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    BackBox Linux screenshot 1
     
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    15
  6. Pentoo icon

    Pentoo

     2 likes
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    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.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    Pentoo screenshot 1
     
  7. ArchStrike icon

    ArchStrike

     1 like
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    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.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • VirtualBox
    • VMware Workstation
    ArchStrike screenshot 1
     
  9. Bugtraq icon

    Bugtraq

     2 likes
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    Bugtraq system offers the most comprehensive distribution, optimal, and stable with automated services manager in real time.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    Bugtraq screenshot 1
     
  10. Matriux icon

    Matriux

     7 likes
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    Matriux is a fully featured security distribution consisting of a bunch of powerful, open source and free tools that can be used for various purposes including, but not limited to, penetration testing, ethical hacking, system and network administration, cyber forensics...

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Linux
    Matriux screenshot 1
     
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    1
    Comments about Matriux as an Alternative to Kali Linux
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    There are many tools are available in this Operating System. And this is the first penetration testing distro in Asia.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Kali Linux Icon
    Matriux icon
    • Matriux is Free and Open SourceKali Linux is also Free and Open Source
8 of 8 Kali Linux alternatives