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    Tails Alternatives

    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' and is a very popular operating system in the security & privacy category. There are more than 50 alternatives to Tails for a variety of platforms, including Linux, Windows, BSD, Self-Hosted solutions and Windows S. The best alternative is Ubuntu, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Tails are Linux Mint, Debian, Manjaro Linux and Arch Linux.

    Tails is mainly a Operating System but alternatives to it may also be Linux Distros. Filter by these if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Tails.
    This page was last updated May 4, 2022
    Tails
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    • Free • Open Source
    • Linux
    • Electrum
    • Tor Browser Bundle
    • GNOME
    • Tor
    • VeraCrypt
    • Thunderbird
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    The Amnesic Incognito Live System (Tails) is a Debian 9 based live...
    Learn more about Tails
    1. Ubuntu is a community developed, Linux-based operating system that is perfect for laptops, desktops and servers. It contains all the applications you need - a web browser, presentation, document and spreadsheet software, instant messaging and much more.
      Ubuntu vs Tails opinions
      pros, cons and recent comments
      Tails is a secure, anonymous OS, targeting anonymous Internet usage. Ubuntu is not.
      Negative comment • over 5 years ago

      2
      It's not based on security.
      Negative comment • almost 6 years ago

      1
    2. Linux Mint is one of the most popular desktop Linux distributions and used by millions of people. The purpose of Linux Mint is to produce a modern, elegant and comfortable operating system which is both powerful and easy to use. Latest: Uma (20.2).
      Linux Mint vs Tails opinions
      This alternative is disputed. Linux Mint is still a legitimate alternative to Tails, but it might have issues that some users think are important.
      OAKSIF0 Linux Mint is a generic Linux distro that does not come out of the box with Tor routing all network traffic - which is the primary feature of Tails.
      Negative comment • about 4 years ago

      13
    4. The Debian Project is an association of individuals who have made common cause to create a free operating system. This operating system that we have created is called Debian.
      Debian vs Tails opinions
      This alternative is disputed. Debian is still a legitimate alternative to Tails, but it might have issues that some users think are important.
      OAKSIF0 Linux Tails is based off of Debian Linux but Debian doesn't come out of the box with TOR, RAM wiping, privacy tools, or Veracrypt.
      Negative comment • almost 4 years ago

      14
      Debian is a generic Linux distro that does not come out of the box with Tor routing all network traffic - which is the primary feature of Tails.
      Negative comment • over 4 years ago

      21
    5. Manjaro is a user-friendly Linux distribution based on the independently developed Arch operating system.
    6. Arch Linux is an independently developed, i686- and x86_64-optimised GNU/Linux distribution targeted at competent Linux users. It uses pacman, its home-grown package manager, to provide updates to the latest software applications with full dependency tracking.
      Arch Linux vs Tails opinions
      This alternative is disputed. Arch Linux is still a legitimate alternative to Tails, but it might have issues that some users think are important.
      not a privacy linux specialized
      Negative comment • almost 2 years ago

      0
      OAKSIF0 Arch Linux is a generic Linux distro that does not come out of the box with Tor routing all network traffic - which is the primary feature of Tails.
      Negative comment • about 4 years ago

      9
    8. Qubes is an open source operating system designed to provide strong security for desktop computing.
      Qubes OS vs Tails opinions
      Almost everyone thinks Qubes OS is a great alternative to Tails.
      OAKSIF0 Great alternative to Linux Tails. Is more secure by isolating everything using Virtual Machines. Takes more resources obviously but more secure. Downside is that its not portable like Linux Tails is, but you can carry it around in a USB stick preferably 128GB.
      Top positive comment  about 4 years ago

      5
      privacy_pirate 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.
      Top positive comment  over 1 year ago

      1
      Runs everything in Virtual Machines.
      Positive comment • over 1 year ago

      -1
      Security oriented, routes everything through tor
      Positive comment • almost 2 years ago

      2
      oomelyannaoo It is a security-oriented operating system just like Tails
      Positive comment • over 2 years ago

      3
      Its listed fifth besides being the only one that routes traffic via Tor.
      Positive comment • over 2 years ago

      3
      JohnFastman 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.
      Positive comment • over 5 years ago

      10
    9. Fedora creates an innovative, free, and open source platform for hardware, clouds, and containers that enables software developers and community members to build tailored solutions for their users.
      Fedora vs Tails opinions
      This alternative is disputed. Fedora is still a legitimate alternative to Tails, but it might have issues that some users think are important.
      OAKSIF0 Fedora is a generic Linux distro that does not come out of the box with Tor routing all network traffic - which is the primary feature of Tails.
      Negative comment • about 4 years ago

      10
    10. Windows 7 is the successor to Windows Vista . The new OS introduces a compelling combination of welcome innovations and much-needed polish. Windows 7 is built with the codebase from Vista and is a minor upgrade (6.

      Discontinued

      Mainstream support for Windows 7 ended on January 13, 2015. Extended support with security updates ended on January 14, 2020.

      Windows 7 vs Tails opinions
      pros, cons and recent comments
      LinuxDoge Tails is open source and based on Privacy, Windows 7 is the beginning of Microsofts total bullshit area
      Negative comment • 22 days ago

      1
    11. Windows 10 is a personal computer operating system released by Microsoft as part of the Windows NT family of operating systems
      Windows 10 vs Tails opinions
      pros, cons and recent comments
      Windows 10 is the opposite of Tails, Tails is a security and privacy tool, Windows is not.
      Negative comment • 11 months ago

      2
      LinuxDoge The opposite of Tails. Even after using Tools like DoNotSpy10 (from which O&O Shutup10 stole its code, and now is an "official Microsoft Gold partner") you cant get rid of Telemetry. Channeling app traffic through Tor is not possible.
      Negative comment • 22 days ago

      1
    12. macOS is a Unix-based operating system, developed and marketed by Apple Inc. It is designed to run on Macintosh computers, having been pre-installed on all Macs since 2002.
      macOS vs Tails opinions
      pros, cons and recent comments
      LinuxDoge Not privacy focused, closed up, proprietary
      Negative comment • 22 days ago

      0
    Showing 10 of 92 alternatives