Parrot OS 2026: Benefits, Features & Pricing

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Overview
Pricing and Plans
Features
User Reviews

Overview

Parrot OS

4.5

(17)

Pricing

Pricing available upon request

About Parrot OS

Parrot OS is a GNU/Linux distribution based on Debian, which helps IT teams of all sizes develop software and perform security-related tasks such as computer forensics, penetration testing, cryptography, hacking or reverse engineering.

Designed for security researchers, AnonSurf facilitates web browser security and anonymization of IP addresses. It enables ethical hackers to identify vulnerabilities across computer systems or networks. Parrot Hole, a variant built for desktop users, strips out penetration testing packages and offers a configured Debian environment. It comes with a virtual machine manager, which lets cybersecurity teams monitor VMs across the network or other computers.

Its Parrot Air variant focuses on wireless penetration testing and Studio for multimedia creation. The system also provides information about CPU temperature and displays a usage graph. Parrot OS is available for free and support is offered via community discussion and documentation.

Parrot OS Screenshots

Parrot OS Pricing and Plans

Starting price: Pricing available upon request

Free Trial

Free Version

Basic

Pricing available upon request

No plan information available

Parrot OS Features

Popular features found in Operating Systems
App Management
Data Security
Kernels
System Updates
More features of Parrot OS
Desktop Interface
For Developers
Memory Management
User Interface

Parrot OS User Reviews

Overall Rating

4.5

Ratings Breakdown

53%

47%

Secondary Ratings

Ease of Use

4.1

Value for money

4.6

Customer support

3.8

Functionality

4.6

Mohamed F.

Verified reviewer

Information Technology and Services

51-200 employees

Used daily for more than 2 years

Review source

Reviewed November 2022

Toppest OS of All Time for Pentesters

It's perfect for People into Pentesting.

Ratings Breakdown

Ease of use

Functionality

Pros:

My favorite part is Open-Source. The Parrot Security team is working a lot and contributing to Open-Source Community. With Kali Linux, we may carry a useful operating system on a USB stick and use it from any device thanks to its persistent live boot mode and forensic mode. In terms of investigating cyber incidents, it will be quite helpful. Anyone interested in cyber security will find it to be a powerful OS. It offers very high levels of stability and security.

Cons:

If all essential tools are pre-installed on the Kali Linux OS, that would be fantastic. because the most recent upgrades do not include programs like ZAP and several Python libraries. However, these are crucial components of security testing.

Reasons for switching to Parrot OS

Lovely UI in Parrot and many tools & libraries are pre-installed, which are not installed in Kali Linux.

Jeffrey R.

Verified reviewer

Telecommunications

2-10 employees

Used daily for less than 6 months

Review source

Reviewed May 2022

If your an IT Admin that has need for forensic work and advanced security apps

Overall I am happy with the product, though I would not suggest this distribution for a beginner in the world of linux. While I have used other linux distros and simply installed the various tools I had need for a quick install of a system that had most of the tools I use daily and this was the option I chose.

Ratings Breakdown

Ease of use

Value for money

Customer support

Functionality

Pros:

That it came with a host of tools that I need to use on a regular basis for pentesting networks and various hardware components.

Cons:

Clunky user interface, not as resource light as I would prefer and install was a little quirky.

Reasons for choosing Parrot OS

I could never get Kali to work with my laptops hardware and rather than fighting with the software I opted for Parrot which was much easier to install and work with.

Reasons for switching to Parrot OS

Needed a quick install option that included the majority of the tools I use daily.

Mohamed I.

Verified reviewer

Information Technology and Services

201-500 employees

Used weekly for less than 2 years

Review source

Reviewed June 2022

Most Friendly Penetration Testing Distro

Good experience and I think that it is better than Kali and other penetration testing distros in terms of consumption of device resources, user interface and fewer problems Plus there are a lot more penetration testing tools in Parrot than Kali

Ratings Breakdown

Ease of use

Customer support

Functionality

Pros:

Definitely the interface that suits the user and the penetration tester, and it is the only distribution that combines these two features In addition to monitoring resources in a friendly and clear manner with a strong UI and appropriate in its consumption of resources It also has the most important and most powerful penetration testing tools without the need to download them and face the problems of their work. In addition, it consumes much less resources than Kali in terms of RAM, CPU and Disk Space, with a stronger graphical interface.

Cons:

I haven't had any flaws with Parrot, on the contrary, I find it better than many penetration-testing distros.

Reasons for choosing Parrot OS

The availability of direct solutions to the problems faced by the user and the lack of complexity of working with the distribution.

Piet B.

Verified reviewer

Education Management

Self-Employed

Used daily for less than 6 months

Review source

Reviewed July 2024

absolutely great

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

Ratings Breakdown

Ease of use

Value for money

Customer support

Functionality

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

ANIRUDH T.

Verified reviewer

Computer & Network Security

51-200 employees

Used daily for less than 2 years

Review source

Reviewed November 2023

Best OS For Security Professionals

I'm very satisfied with Parrot OS and all of my students are using it.

Ratings Breakdown

Ease of use

Functionality

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.

Al Amin H.

Verified reviewer

Information Technology and Services

11-50 employees

Used daily for more than 2 years

Review source

Reviewed March 2023

An in depth review of using Parrot OS

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

Ratings Breakdown

Ease of use

Value for money

Customer support

Functionality

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.

Abhijith J.

Verified reviewer

Computer Software

Self-Employed

Used daily for more than 2 years

Review source

Reviewed November 2023

All in one tool for Cyber security

I would say one of the best OS i ever used. I like it more than the kali linux

Ratings Breakdown

Ease of use

Customer support

Functionality

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

Monir Hossain A.

Verified reviewer

Computer Software

11-50 employees

Used daily for more than 2 years

Review source

Reviewed March 2023

A stable OS with so many handy features for Ethical hacking

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.

Ratings Breakdown

Ease of use

Value for money

Customer support

Functionality

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.

Ariful I.

Verified reviewer

Apparel & Fashion

501-1000 employees

Used daily for more than 2 years

Review source

Reviewed March 2023

The things that you must know before using Parrot OS

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.

Ratings Breakdown

Ease of use

Value for money

Customer support

Functionality

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.

Tanmoy P.

Verified reviewer

Information Technology and Services

11-50 employees

Used daily for more than 2 years

Review source

Reviewed March 2023

It's one of the best OS i have ever seen

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.

Ratings Breakdown

Ease of use

Value for money

Customer support

Functionality

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.

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Parrot OS 2026: Benefits, Features & Pricing

Overview

About Parrot OS

Parrot OS Screenshots

Parrot OS Pricing and Plans

Parrot OS Features

Parrot OS User Reviews

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