# Parrot OS Software Pricing, Alternatives & More 2026 | Capterra > With the help of Capterra, learn about Parrot OS Software - reviews, pricing plans, popular comparisons to other Operating Systems products and more. Source: https://www.capterra.com/p/230180/Parrot-Security-OS --- # Parrot OS Software Review 2026: Features, Integrations, Pros & Cons Last updated on March 13, 2026 Provider data verified by our Software Research team, and reviews moderated by our Reviews Verification team. Independent research methodology Capterra’s researchers use a mix of verified reviews, independent research and objective methodologies to bring you selection and ranking information you can trust. While we may earn a referral fee when you visit a provider through our links or speak to an advisor, this has no influence on our research or methodology. [Learn more](https://www.capterra.com/resources/proprietary-data-research/) How Capterra verifies reviews Capterra carefully verified over 2.5 million+ reviews to bring you authentic software experiences from real users. Our human moderators verify that reviewers are real people and that reviews are authentic. They use leading tech to analyze text quality and to detect plagiarism and generative AI. [Learn more](https://www.capterra.com/resources/how-we-verify-reviews/) How Capterra ensures transparency Capterra lists all providers across its website—not just those that pay us—so that users can make informed purchase decisions. Capterra is free for users. Software providers pay us for sponsored profiles to receive web traffic and sales opportunities. Sponsored profiles include a link-out icon that takes users to the provider’s website. [Learn more](https://www.capterra.com/resources/how-we-ensure-transparency/) [Description](#description)[Use cases](#use-cases)[Alternatives](#alternatives)[Features](#features)[Pricing](#pricing)[Support](#support)[Reviews](#reviews) Parrot OS ## What is Parrot OS? Parrot OS is an operating system based on Debian designed for cyber security operations, penetration testing, and digital forensics. The system provides a developer-friendly environment and over 600 tools for penetration testing, vulnerability assessment, and more. Parrot Security aims to offer an advanced framework for cybersecurity operations with a focus on security, privacy, performance, and customizability. ## What is Parrot OS used for? [Operating Systems](https://www.capterra.com/operating-systems-software/) Overall rating Based on 17 user reviews Reviews sentiment Positive \- Neutral \- Negative \- Contact vendor for pricing Free trial not available Capterra Shortlist charts the highest-rated and most popular products... Our "Best of" badge program showcases products with the highest ratings... Our "Best of" badge program showcases products with the highest ratings... Do you work for Parrot OS?[Manage this product listing](https://digitalmarkets.gartner.com/get-listed/claim-bx?url=https://www.parrotsec.org/&name=Parrot OS) ## Compare with a popular alternative Capterra selects software alternatives based on relevant features, verified user reviews and user interactions. Placement may be influenced by client status. ### Parrot OS 4.5 (17) VS. [### Windows 11](https://www.capterra.com/p/251507/Windows-11/) [4.4 (101)](https://www.capterra.com/p/251507/Windows-11/reviews/) Starting Price Contact vendor Starting Price Contact vendor Free Trial Free Version Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version Ease Of Use 4.1 (17) Ease Of Use 4.5 (101) Value For Money 4.6 (11) Value For Money 4.1 (81) Customer Service 3.8 (12) Customer Service 4.0 (72) ## Parrot OS alternatives [Android 11](https://www.capterra.com/p/228982/Android-11/) [4.6 (121)](https://www.capterra.com/p/228982/Android-11/reviews/) Starting price Contact vendor for pricing [Learn More](https://www.capterra.com/p/228982/Android-11/) [Ubuntu](https://www.capterra.com/p/229058/Ubuntu/) [4.7 (122)](https://www.capterra.com/p/229058/Ubuntu/reviews/) Starting price $225.00 Per User, Per Month [Learn More](https://www.capterra.com/p/229058/Ubuntu/) Highest Rated [MacOS Big Sur](https://www.capterra.com/p/228984/MacOS-Big-Sur/) [4.8 (59)](https://www.capterra.com/p/228984/MacOS-Big-Sur/reviews/) Starting price Contact vendor for pricing [Learn More](https://www.capterra.com/p/228984/MacOS-Big-Sur/) [iOS14](https://www.capterra.com/p/228981/iOS14/) [4.6 (53)](https://www.capterra.com/p/228981/iOS14/reviews/) Starting price Contact vendor for pricing [Learn More](https://www.capterra.com/p/228981/iOS14/) [View all alternatives](https://www.capterra.com/p/230180/Parrot-Security-OS/alternatives/) ## Features Features with the highest number of reviews are displayed first. Those that have no reviews appear next, sorted alphabetically. System Updates 4.8 (12) 25.00% of 12 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Automatically update to the latest version Desktop Interface 4.4 (11) 18.18% of 11 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important A way of interacting with a desktop computer using items such as windows, icons, and menus Memory Management 4.2 (11) 18.18% of 11 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Store and save retrievable data User Interface 4.4 (11) 27.27% of 11 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important A visual way of interacting with a computer using items such as windows, icons, and menus, used by most modern operating systems For Developers 4.3 (10) 10.00% of 10 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important For the intention to be used by developers Parrot OS 5 features A way of interacting with a desktop computer using items such as windows, icons, and menus For the intention to be used by developers Store and save retrievable data Automatically update to the latest version A visual way of interacting with a computer using items such as windows, icons, and menus, used by most modern operating systems Features 4.6 (17) 4.6 Based on 17 reviews ## Pricing Value for money 4.6 (11) ### Starting price Contact vendor for pricing Free trial available Value for money 4.6 (11) 4.6 Based on 11 reviews ## Support, customer service and training options Customer Service 3.8 (12) Support - Email/Help Desk - FAQs/Forum - Knowledge Base - Phone Support - 24/7 (Live rep) - Chat Training - In Person - Live Online - Webinars - Documentation - Videos Deployment - Web - Android - iPhone/iPad Typical users - Freelancers - Small businesses - Mid size businesses - Enterprises Customer Service 3.8 (12) 3.8 Based on 12 reviews ## User reviews Overall rating 4.5 Based on 17 reviews Filter by rating 5(9) 4(8) 3(0) 2(0) 1(0) Mentioned topic Sorted by most recent PB Piet B. teacher Education Management ### "absolutely great" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 4.0 4.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 July 7, 2024 10/10 I have some kind of perfect second system on my Chromebooks Gnome-Boxes, it is really amazing, I used to be a great Linux user 10-15 years ago until I switched to ChromeOS for ease of use, but now I have jumped in again with this system Pros ease of use, amazing layout, great security in a country where there is censorship, great to safely use in browsers with anonsurf Cons nothing, everything works out of the box and is self explanatory Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. ANIRUDH T. Cyber Security Instructor Computer & Network Security ### "Best OS For Security Professionals" 4.0 Overall Rating 4.0 4.0 Ease of Use 4.0 4.0 Features 4.0 4.0 Customer Service 0.0 0.0 Likelihood to Recommend 8/10 November 9, 2023 I'm very satisfied with Parrot OS and all of my students are using it. Pros As a cyber security instructor I'm using Parrot OS as my home OS for a long and its too easy for me to use. The factor that made me interested to Parrot more than Kali Linux is its stability, we can use it as our main OS without worrying about anything and of course its coming with a lot of preinstalled penetration testing tools and most of the common libraries. Cons For me the most hated thing in Parrot OS is lack of drivers, We need to install audio drivers , mic and camera drivers manually and community support is less than Kali Linux, however some people really love to install drivers manually as part of their learning. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. Abhijith J. Cyber security researcher Computer Software ### "All in one tool for Cyber security" 4.0 Overall Rating 4.0 4.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 4.0 4.0 Customer Service 3.0 3.0 Likelihood to Recommend 9/10 November 6, 2023 I would say one of the best OS i ever used. I like it more than the kali linux Pros All the tools need for ethical hacking and Cyber security is preinstalled. Take only less resources compare to other OS in this field. Great repository and Regular updates. Excellent Community support. Cons Most of the hardware drivers are missing. Need to installed manually each of them Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. WL Whitney L. Owner/Operator Arts and Crafts ### "Parrot OS via live boot usb" 4.0 Overall Rating 4.0 4.0 Ease of Use 3.0 3.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 0.0 0.0 Likelihood to Recommend 9/10 October 31, 2023 Pros I enjoy all the penetration testing programs already included with it and how well organized just the try option on live usb boot generates for a person looking to get started in any kind of tech field career and computer technology. Cons The assumption that every user naturally knows the correct commands to operate an included program naturally and isn’t step by step instructing first to ease into it and educate others. Review source Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. TP Tanmoy P. Web Developer Information Technology and Services ### "It's one of the best OS i have ever seen" 4.0 Overall Rating 4.0 4.0 Ease of Use 4.0 4.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 8/10 March 16, 2023 If you're serious about cybersecurity, Parrot OS is a must-have tool in your arsenal. It's a comprehensive operating system that provides everything you need to protect your digital assets from cyber threats. Pros As someone who's been exploring the depths of cybersecurity, I can confidently say that Parrot OS is a top-notch operating system that makes you feel like a master hacker, even if you're a beginner. Cons As someone who's used Parrot OS, I can say that the operating system's occasional stability issues have been a source of frustration for me, despite its impressive set of security tools. Review source Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. MH Monir Hossain A. Front-end Developer Computer Software ### "A stable OS with so many handy features for Ethical hacking" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 4.0 4.0 Likelihood to Recommend 9/10 March 12, 2023 Parrot OS is like the Batman utility belt of cybersecurity operating systems. It's got all the tools you need to fight cybercrime and protect your organization, making it an essential tool for any serious cybersecurity professional. Pros As a seasoned Linux user, I found Parrot OS to be a unique and comprehensive distribution that prioritizes both security and privacy without sacrificing usability. Its diverse toolset makes it an excellent choice for penetration testers and cybersecurity professionals, while its user-friendly interface and robust documentation make it accessible for beginners as well. Cons My experience with Parrot OS has been challenging as a beginner due to its complex interface and steep learning curve, which made it hard to navigate and utilize its powerful tools effectively. Review source Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. DB Debasree B. Junior Frontend Software Developer Computer Software ### "Must use OS for hacker and security tester" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 3.0 3.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 4.0 4.0 Likelihood to Recommend 9/10 March 7, 2023 I've been using Parrot OS for a while now, and I have to say, it's an incredibly versatile and powerful system. The pre-installed security tools are comprehensive, and the ability to customize the OS to my needs has been invaluable. Pros I'm a big fan of Parrot OS - as someone who's passionate about cybersecurity, it's been an invaluable tool for me. The pre-installed security tools and customization options make it a top choice for anyone looking to secure their digital environment. Cons While Parrot OS has its strengths, I've personally found that it can be overwhelming to use. The learning curve is steep, and the system can be resource-heavy, which can impact overall performance. Review source Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. AI Ariful I. COO Apparel & Fashion ### "The things that you must know before using Parrot OS" 4.0 Overall Rating 4.0 4.0 Ease of Use 4.0 4.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 4.0 4.0 Likelihood to Recommend 8/10 March 7, 2023 From what I've gathered, Parrot OS is an excellent choice for security enthusiasts and professionals due to its Debian-based structure, a wide range of pre-installed tools, and customizable features. Pros It's a Debian-based operating system designed for security professionals with a variety of pre-installed tools and customizable features. It's perfect for ethical hacking and research. Cons I've heard some people mention three potential downsides to Parrot OS. They claim it can be resource-intensive, has a steep learning curve for beginners, and may not have as extensive documentation as other operating systems. Switched from [Ubuntu](https://www.capterra.com/p/229058/Ubuntu/) Review source Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. AA Al Amin H. Web Developer Information Technology and Services ### "An in depth review of using Parrot OS" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 4.0 4.0 Customer Service 3.0 3.0 Likelihood to Recommend 9/10 March 6, 2023 Overall it is a powerful and versatile operating system designed for cybersecurity professionals and enthusiasts. Its pre-installed security tools, anonymity features, and sleek interface make it a top choice for penetration testing and digital forensics. While it may not be the easiest for beginners, the vast community support and active development make it a solid choice for those with advanced technical skills Pros Parrot OS is a fantastic platform for cybersecurity professionals and enthusiasts. Its pre-installed security tools and anonymity features make it a go-to choice for penetration testing and digital forensics. The sleek and user-friendly interface coupled with the vast community support further enhances the overall experience. Cons Parrot OS can be overwhelming for beginners due to its advanced features and complex interface. The frequent updates and compatibility issues can also be frustrating for some users. Additionally, the lack of official documentation and support can make troubleshooting difficult for those with limited technical knowledge. Switched from [Linux Mint](https://www.capterra.com/p/229032/Linux-Mint/) Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. SM Sapan M. Assistant Engineer Consumer Electronics ### "An honest review from a long time Parrot OS user" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 4.0 4.0 Features 4.0 4.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 9/10 March 5, 2023 It comes with a lot of tools and features that make it a great choice for anyone looking for a good Linux distro. The only downside is that it doesn't have a lot of documentation, but other than that, it's a great distro. Pros I really like Parrot OS! It's a great Linux distro for security researchers and pentesters. The tools and features it comes with are awesome. Cons I don't really have any negative things to say about Parrot OS. It's a great Linux distro for security researchers and pentesters. The tools and features it comes with are awesome. Switched from [Linux Mint](https://www.capterra.com/p/229032/Linux-Mint/) Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. [View all Reviews](https://www.capterra.com/p/230180/Parrot-Security-OS/reviews/) Popular comparisons [Windows 11 vs Parrot OS](https://www.capterra.com/compare/230180-251507/Parrot-Security-OS-vs-Windows-11)[Ubuntu vs Parrot OS](https://www.capterra.com/compare/229058-230180/Ubuntu-vs-Parrot-Security-OS) [Linux Mint vs Parrot OS](https://www.capterra.com/compare/229032-230180/Linux-Mint-vs-Parrot-Security-OS)[Debian vs Parrot OS](https://www.capterra.com/compare/229027-230180/Debian-vs-Parrot-Security-OS)  Independent research methodology Capterra's researchers use a mix of verified reviews, independent research and objective methodologies to bring you selection and ranking information you can trust. While we may earn a referral fee when you visit a provider through our links or speak to an advisor, this has no influence on our research or methodology. [Learn more](https://www.capterra.com/resources/proprietary-data-research/) How Capterra verifies reviews Capterra carefully verified over 2.5 million+ reviews to bring you authentic software experiences from real users. Our human moderators verify that reviewers are real people and that reviews are authentic. They use leading tech to analyze text quality and to detect plagiarism and generative AI. [Learn more](https://www.capterra.com/resources/how-we-verify-reviews/) How Capterra ensures transparency Capterra lists all providers across its website—not just those that pay us—so that users can make informed purchase decisions. Capterra is free for users. Software providers pay us for sponsored profiles to receive web traffic and sales opportunities. Sponsored profiles include a link-out icon that takes users to the provider's website. [Learn more](https://www.capterra.com/resources/how-we-ensure-transparency/)