The Best Tails AlternativesTop Linux Distros & Operating Systems like Tails

Tails is described as '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' and is a very popular Linux Distro in the security & privacy category. There are more than 100 alternatives to Tails for a variety of platforms, including Linux, Self-Hosted, Windows, BSD and Mac apps. The best Tails alternative is Qubes OS, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Tails are Whonix, Kali Linux, Parrot Security OS and Alpine Linux.

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Alternatives list

  1. Qubes OS icon

    Qubes OS

     118 likes
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    Qubes is an open source operating system designed to provide strong security for desktop computing.

    191 Qubes OS alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Fedora
    • Xen
    Qubes OS screenshot 1
     
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    43
    Comments about Qubes OS as an Alternative to Tails
    Top Positive Comment
    John Fastman
    11

    Tails is a Debian-based distro you might install on a USB stick and run live. It funnels traffic through TOR to protect anonymity and wipes its behind on the way out. Qubes can do the same through its Whonix VM, but it also offers much more. It's offers security, by building ephemeral VMs in which apps can run. Thsese can be Debian, Fedora or Whonix based. Anonymity+security with Qubes.

    Guest
    Positive
    -1

    Runs everything in Virtual Machines.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Privacy Pirate
    Positive
    2

    Like Tails, Qubes OS routes all traffic over Tor. It also has advanced virtualization and hardened security settings that would be desirable to anyone who uses tails for its security upgrades.

    Show more comments
    3 of 7 comments
    Tails Icon
    Qubes OS icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Qubes OS is a great Tails alternative.

    • Qubes OS is the most popular Linux alternative to Tails.

    • Qubes OS is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Tails.

    • Qubes OS is Free and Open SourceTails is also Free and Open Source
    • Qubes OS is CustomizableTails is not according to our users
  2. Whonix icon

    Whonix

     58 likes
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    Whonix is a desktop operating system designed for advanced security and privacy. Whonix mitigates the threat of common attack vectors while maintaining usability. Online anonymity is realized via fail-safe, automatic, and desktop-wide use of the Tor network.

    43 Whonix alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    Whonix Desktop Environment
     
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    1
    20
    Comments about Whonix as an Alternative to Tails
    redtrillix
    Positive
    4

    Unlike most of the other alternatives to Tails, this is a legitimate alternative to Tails.

    Tails Icon
    Whonix icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Whonix is a great Tails alternative.

    • Whonix is Free and Open SourceTails is also Free and Open Source
  4. Kali Linux icon

    Kali Linux

     284 likes
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    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.

    22 Kali Linux alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    Kali Linux screenshot 1
     
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    1
    11
    Comments about Kali Linux as an Alternative to Tails
    OAKSIF0
    Negative
    6

    Kali Linux is a penetration testing Linux distro that does not come out of the box with Tor routing all network traffic - which is the primary feature of Tails. Although Kali Linux has hacking tools it has no tools for privacy or anonymity.

    Tails Icon
    Kali Linux icon

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

    • Kali Linux is the most popular Windows alternative to Tails.

    • Kali Linux is Free and Open SourceTails is also Free and Open Source
  5. Parrot Security OS icon

    Parrot Security OS

     52 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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    1
    9
    Comments about Parrot Security OS as an Alternative to Tails
    michaelcoxeu
    Positive
    0

    Parrot OS is free from trackers and telemetry "anti-features", and it provides many privacy tools like AnonSurf, Tor Browser, a custom Firefox profile, easy cryptographic tools and much more.

    Tails Icon
    Parrot Security OS icon

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

    • Parrot Security OS is Free and Open SourceTails is also Free and Open Source
    • Parrot Security OS is CustomizableTails is not according to our users
  6. Alpine Linux icon

    Alpine Linux

     36 likes
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    Alpine Linux is a security-oriented, lightweight Linux distribution based on musl libc and busybox.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    Alpine Linux screenshot 1
     
  7. Haiku icon

    Haiku

     100 likes
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    Haiku is an open-source operating system that specifically targets personal computing. Inspired by the BeOS, Haiku is fast, simple to use, easy to learn and yet very powerful.

    225 Haiku alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Haiku
    • Self-Hosted
    Haiku screenshot 1
     

    • Haiku is the most popular Self-Hosted alternative to Tails.

    • Haiku is Free and Open SourceTails is also Free and Open Source
  9. Deepin icon

    Deepin

     60 likes
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    Deepin is a reinterpretation to creativity and individuality. It is not only a rebirth to the system appearance, but also a brand-new upgrade to the operating experience! All of this lets deepin become the best partner of your computer.

    198 Deepin alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    Deepin screenshot 1
     
  10. Q4OS icon

    Q4OS

     27 likes
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    Fast and powerful operating system based on the latest technologies while offering highly productive desktop environment. We focus on security, reliability, long-term stability and conservative integration of verified new features.

    177 Q4OS alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Raspberry Pi
    Q4OS screenshot 1
     
  12. Slackware icon

    Slackware

     66 likes
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    Slackware Linux is an advanced Linux operating system, designed with the twin goals of ease of use and stability as top priorities. Including the latest popular software while retaining a sense of tradition, providing simplicity and ease of use alongside flexibility and power...

    178 Slackware alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    Slackware screenshot 1
     
  13. Trisquel icon

    Trisquel

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

    176 Trisquel alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    Trisquel screenshot 1
     
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    1
    Comments about Trisquel as an Alternative to Tails
    OAKSIF0
    Positive
    1

    Trisquel Linux has only free libre software so no propriatary blobs spying on you. It's more user friendly than Tails because its based on Ubuntu, but its more for a desktop install than as a live USB operating system like Tails. You can use full disk encryption to protect your files in Trisquel.

    Tails Icon
    Trisquel icon
    • Trisquel is Free and Open SourceTails is also Free and Open Source
12 of 130 Tails alternatives