Kali Linux
The most advanced Penetration Testing Distribution
Kali Linux is an open-source, Debian-based distribution designed for information security tasks. It supports penetration testing, security research, computer forensics and reverse engineering.
| Best for | security professionals |
| Website | kali.org |
Company facts
| Social profiles | X, Facebook, Instagram |
| Brand colour | #367bf0 |
Facilities and features
- Integrations
What stands out
Kali Linux is optimized to reduce setup work for professionals.
“Kali is optimized to reduce the amount of work, so a professional can just sit down and go.”Kali Linux, own website
The product offers extensive availability across numerous platforms and devices.
“Hyper-V, Parallels, Proxmox & Vagrant), DVD/USB , WSL , and so on - is all available.”Kali Linux, own website
Strengths and trade-offs
- Kali Linux is optimised to reduce setup work for professionals.
- The product offers extensive availability across numerous platforms and devices.
Appears in
How Kali Linux ranks
#4 in Best penetration testing tools
How the score is made up: Evidence on its own site 20; How complete its published information is 14; Fit to this ranking's criteria 40; Buying information on its own site 8.
“The Kali Linux penetration testing platform contains a vast array of tools and utilities. From information gathering to final reporting, Kali Linux enables security and IT professionals to assess the security of their systems.”Kali Linux, own website
Alternatives to Kali Linux
 Pentest-Tools.comAutonomous AI pentesting for web, network and cloud | #1 in Best penetration testing tools | 98.0 |
 Picus SecurityAttack surfaces, exposures, and Security controls all validated | #2 in Best penetration testing tools | 86.0 |
 HackerOneSecurity for AI and continuous risk reduction | #3 in Best penetration testing tools | 84.0 |
 LockwellSimple, affordable, effective cybersecurity for small business | #5 in Best penetration testing tools | 82.0 |
 SqlmapAutomatic SQL injection and database takeover tool | #6 in Best penetration testing tools | 82.0 |
 MetasploitThe world’s most used penetration testing framework | #7 in Best penetration testing tools | 80.0 |
Questions about Kali Linux
Who is Kali Linux best for?
Kali Linux is best for security professionals.
Where does Kali Linux rank?
Kali Linux is ranked #4 in Best penetration testing tools (Lister Score 82.0).
What are the best alternatives to Kali Linux?
The closest alternatives on Lister are Pentest-Tools.com (#1 in Best penetration testing tools), Picus Security (#2 in Best penetration testing tools) and HackerOne (#3 in Best penetration testing tools).
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