# Parrot OS Software Reviews, Demo & Pricing - 2026 > Review of Parrot OS Software: system overview, features, price and cost information. Get free demos and compare to similar programs. Source: https://www.softwareadvice.com/operating-systems/parrot-os-profile/ --- [Home](https://www.softwareadvice.com/) / [Operating Systems Software](https://www.softwareadvice.com/operating-systems/) / Parrot OS Software Advice offers objective insights based on verified user reviews and independent product and market research. When our advisors match you to a software provider, we may earn a referral fee. Overview [Reviews](https://www.softwareadvice.com/operating-systems/parrot-os-profile/reviews/)[Alternatives](https://www.softwareadvice.com/operating-systems/parrot-os-profile/alternatives/) # Parrot OS Review Custom quote Free version 1 plan On this page - Overview - User Interface - Popular Alternatives - Pricing and Plans - Features - User Reviews ## Overview Parrot OS 4.5 [(17)](https://www.softwareadvice.com/operating-systems/parrot-os-profile/reviews/) 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 User Interface ## Popular Parrot OS Alternatives Main Product Parrot OS 4.5 [(17)](https://www.softwareadvice.com/operating-systems/parrot-os-profile/reviews/) Ratings Breakdown - 4.06Ease of use - 4.64Value for money - 3.75Customer support - 4.59Functionality Pricing Available upon request Alternative Product [Windows 11](https://www.softwareadvice.com/operating-systems/windows-11-profile/) 4.4 [(102)](https://www.softwareadvice.com/operating-systems/windows-11-profile/reviews/) Ratings Breakdown - 4.48Ease of use - 4.15Value for money - 4.0Customer support - 4.46Functionality Pricing Available upon request Alternative Product [Android 11](https://www.softwareadvice.com/operating-systems/android-11-profile/) 4.6 [(121)](https://www.softwareadvice.com/operating-systems/android-11-profile/reviews/) Ratings Breakdown - 4.65Ease of use - 4.49Value for money - 4.01Customer support - 4.53Functionality Pricing Available upon request Alternative Product [Ubuntu](https://www.softwareadvice.com/operating-systems/ubuntu-profile/) 4.7 [(122)](https://www.softwareadvice.com/operating-systems/ubuntu-profile/reviews/) Ratings Breakdown - 4.42Ease of use - 4.77Value for money - 4.33Customer support - 4.56Functionality Pricing Starting at $225.00 per year Alternative Product [MacOS Big Sur](https://www.softwareadvice.com/operating-systems/macos-big-sur-profile/) 4.8 [(59)](https://www.softwareadvice.com/operating-systems/macos-big-sur-profile/reviews/) Ratings Breakdown - 4.71Ease of use - 4.42Value for money - 4.54Customer support - 4.73Functionality Pricing Available upon request Alternative Product [iOS14](https://www.softwareadvice.com/operating-systems/ios14-profile/) 4.6 [(53)](https://www.softwareadvice.com/operating-systems/ios14-profile/#reviews) Ratings Breakdown - 4.77Ease of use - 4.75Value for money - 4.66Customer support - 4.64Functionality Pricing Available upon request ## 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 5 53% 4 47% 3 0% 2 0% 1 0% 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 5 It's perfect for People into Pentesting. Ratings Breakdown 4 Ease of use 4 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. Read More JR 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 4 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 3 Ease of use 5 Value for money 4 Customer support 4 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. Read More MI 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 4 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 3 Ease of use 2 Customer support 4 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. Read More 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 4 I'm very satisfied with Parrot OS and all of my students are using it. Ratings Breakdown 4 Ease of use 4 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. Read More AH 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 5 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 5 Ease of use 4 Value for money 3 Customer support 4 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. Read More 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 4 I would say one of the best OS i ever used. I like it more than the kali linux Ratings Breakdown 5 Ease of use 3 Customer support 4 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 Read More MA 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 5 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 5 Ease of use 5 Value for money 4 Customer support 5 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. Read More AI 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 4 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 4 Ease of use 5 Value for money 4 Customer support 5 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. Read More TP 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 4 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 4 Ease of use 4 Value for money 5 Customer support 5 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. Read More DB Debasree B. Verified reviewer Computer Software 501-1000 employees Used daily for more than 2 years Review source Reviewed March 2023 Must use OS for hacker and security tester 5 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. Ratings Breakdown 3 Ease of use 4 Value for money 4 Customer support 5 Functionality 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. 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