Brandwave

How popular isKali Linux?

In September 2026, people searched for Kali Linux by name about 550,000 times worldwide, an 18.3% decrease from the previous year. These searches made up 54.1% of all global penetration testing platform searches, placing Kali Linux first out of 11 platforms. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about penetration testing platforms, Kali Linux appeared in three of the five answers and was the second most recommended of the 11.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

Kali Linux is the most searched of 11 competitors and the second most recommended in AI answers.

  1. Kali LinuxShare of searches 54.1%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
  2. NmapShare of searches 16.2%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 6th
  3. Burp SuiteShare of searches 13.3%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
  4. ZAPShare of searches 5.1%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th
  5. TenableShare of searches 4.9%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th

+6 more

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Top penetration testing platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Kali Linux was mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Kali Linux is the second most recommended of the 11.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Burp Suite1st
  2. Kali Linux2nd
  3. Metasploit3rd
  4. ZAP4th
  5. Tenable5th
  6. Nmap6th
  7. Horizon3.ai7th
  8. Pentera8th
  9. Intruder9th
  10. Cobalt10th
  11. +1 more

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Burp Suite5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • ZAP5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Metasploit4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Kali Linux3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Nmap3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Tenable3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Pentera2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Horizon3.ai2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Cobalt1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Intruder1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers

+1 more

See every answer about penetration testing platforms

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.

Which penetration testing platforms compete with Kali Linux?

Kali Linux against penetration testing platforms worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Kali Linux, Nmap, Burp Suite, ZAP, Tenable, Metasploit. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthKali LinuxNmapBurp SuiteZAPTenableMetasploitPenteraHorizon3.aiAstra SecurityCobaltIntruder
Oct 202555.2%16.5%11.1%4.3%6.1%5%1%0.41%0.24%0.2%0.06%
Nov 202552.1%15.6%12.8%5%7%5.7%0.96%0.39%0.27%0.18%0.05%
Dec 202553.9%16.2%13.2%4.2%5.9%4.9%0.81%0.35%0.28%0.14%0.05%
Jan 202653.6%16.1%13.2%4.2%5.9%4.8%1.2%0.43%0.28%0.16%0.05%
Feb 202653.8%16.1%13.2%4.2%5.9%4.8%1%0.43%0.28%0.15%0.05%
Mar 202651.3%18.7%12.6%4.9%5.6%4.6%1.2%0.55%0.34%0.15%0.06%
Apr 202653.2%15.9%13%5%5.8%4.8%1%0.64%0.35%0.17%0.05%
May 202648.7%17.8%14.6%4.6%6.5%5.4%1.1%0.72%0.39%0.16%0.06%
Jun 202652.3%15.7%12.8%6%5.8%4.7%1.2%0.87%0.42%0.18%0.06%
Jul 202651.1%18.7%12.5%4.8%5.6%4.6%1.2%0.85%0.41%0.17%0.05%
Aug 202656%16.8%11.2%4.3%5%4.1%1%0.88%0.37%0.15%0.04%
Sep 202654.1%16.2%13.3%5.1%4.9%4%1%0.92%0.35%0.16%0.04%

  1. 1.Kali Linux

    54.1%

    Held 1st. 550K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -2 points.

  2. 2.Nmap

    16.2%

    Held 2nd. 165K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.6 points.

  3. 3.Burp Suite

    13.3%

    Held 3rd. 135K estimated branded searches, +22.7% vs prior month. Share +2.1 points.

  4. 4.ZAP

    5.1%

    Moved from 5th to 4th. 51.9K estimated branded searches, +22.4% vs prior month. Share +0.8 points.

  5. 5.Tenable

    4.9%

    Moved from 4th to 5th. 49.5K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.2 points.

  6. 6.Metasploit

    4%

    Held 6th. 40.5K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.

  7. 7.Pentera

    1%

    Held 7th. 10.2K estimated branded searches, -0.1% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  8. 8.Horizon3.ai

    0.92%

    Held 8th. 9.4K estimated branded searches, +8.9% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  9. 9.Astra Security

    0.35%

    Held 9th. 3.6K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  10. 10.Cobalt

    0.16%

    Held 10th. 1.6K estimated branded searches, +11.2% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  11. 11.Intruder

    0.04%

    Held 11th. 440 estimated branded searches, +12.8% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

Compare popularity between Kali Linux and its closest rivals

Every comparison with Kali Linux

10 comparisons

How has branded search demand for Kali Linux changed worldwide over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Kali Linux worldwide fell from 673K to 550K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Kali Linux’s share of searches among penetration testing platforms worldwide decreased from 55.2% to 54.1%.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Kali Linux’s share of searches among penetration testing platforms worldwide peaked at 56% in August 2026 and was lowest at 48.7% in May 2026.

How did search popularity change for penetration testing platforms worldwide in September 2026?

6 changes

  1. In September 2026, ZAP overtook Tenable to rank 4th among penetration testing platforms worldwide, with 5.1% of the searches.

  2. In September 2026, Burp Suite gained share of searches among penetration testing platforms worldwide, from 11.2% to 13.3%.

  3. In September 2026, Kali Linux lost share of searches among penetration testing platforms worldwide, from 56% to 54.1%.

  4. In September 2026, Nmap lost share of searches among penetration testing platforms worldwide, from 16.8% to 16.2%.

  5. Tenable’s share of searches among penetration testing platforms worldwide has lost ground for 3 months in a row, from 5.8% to 4.9% in September 2026.

  6. Metasploit’s share of searches among penetration testing platforms worldwide has lost ground for 3 months in a row, from 4.7% to 4% in September 2026.

How are Kali Linux’s branded searches counted?

1 search term

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Kali Linux’s name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for this branded term can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.

  • kali linux

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How the Brand Demand Index is measured

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