Astra Security vs Kali Linux:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Kali Linux had more branded searches than Astra Security among penetration testing platforms worldwide. Kali Linux had about 550,000 branded searches, while Astra Security had 3,600. Kali Linux made up 54.1% of all penetration testing platform searches we track, and Astra Security accounted for 0.35%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about penetration testing platforms, Kali Linux appeared in three of the five answers and Astra Security in none.
Who do people search for more?
Kali Linux, about 153 searches for every 1 for Astra Security
Who does AI mention more?
Kali Linux, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, Astra Security in 0
Who does AI recommend more?
Kali Linux, the only one of the two named
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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. Astra Security did not appear in any of the five answers.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Burp Suite1st
Kali Linux2nd
Metasploit3rd
ZAP4th
Tenable5th
Nmap6th
Horizon3.ai7th
Pentera8th
Intruder9th- +1 more
Astra Security–
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
Astra Security0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about penetration testing platforms
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which penetration testing platform should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best penetration testing platforms?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best penetration testing platform for security weaknesses?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“penetration testing software”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“security testing tools”
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.
Is Astra Security or Kali Linux more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Astra Security and Kali Linux by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 11 penetration testing platforms we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for Kali Linux, Astra Security. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Kali Linux | Nmap | Burp Suite | ZAP | Tenable | Metasploit | Pentera | Horizon3.ai | Astra Security | Cobalt | Intruder |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 55.2% | 16.5% | 11.1% | 4.3% | 6.1% | 5% | 1% | 0.41% | 0.24% | 0.2% | 0.06% |
| Nov 2025 | 52.1% | 15.6% | 12.8% | 5% | 7% | 5.7% | 0.96% | 0.39% | 0.27% | 0.18% | 0.05% |
| Dec 2025 | 53.9% | 16.2% | 13.2% | 4.2% | 5.9% | 4.9% | 0.81% | 0.35% | 0.28% | 0.14% | 0.05% |
| Jan 2026 | 53.6% | 16.1% | 13.2% | 4.2% | 5.9% | 4.8% | 1.2% | 0.43% | 0.28% | 0.16% | 0.05% |
| Feb 2026 | 53.8% | 16.1% | 13.2% | 4.2% | 5.9% | 4.8% | 1% | 0.43% | 0.28% | 0.15% | 0.05% |
| Mar 2026 | 51.3% | 18.7% | 12.6% | 4.9% | 5.6% | 4.6% | 1.2% | 0.55% | 0.34% | 0.15% | 0.06% |
| Apr 2026 | 53.2% | 15.9% | 13% | 5% | 5.8% | 4.8% | 1% | 0.64% | 0.35% | 0.17% | 0.05% |
| May 2026 | 48.7% | 17.8% | 14.6% | 4.6% | 6.5% | 5.4% | 1.1% | 0.72% | 0.39% | 0.16% | 0.06% |
| Jun 2026 | 52.3% | 15.7% | 12.8% | 6% | 5.8% | 4.7% | 1.2% | 0.87% | 0.42% | 0.18% | 0.06% |
| Jul 2026 | 51.1% | 18.7% | 12.5% | 4.8% | 5.6% | 4.6% | 1.2% | 0.85% | 0.41% | 0.17% | 0.05% |
| Aug 2026 | 56% | 16.8% | 11.2% | 4.3% | 5% | 4.1% | 1% | 0.88% | 0.37% | 0.15% | 0.04% |
| Sep 2026 | 54.1% | 16.2% | 13.3% | 5.1% | 4.9% | 4% | 1% | 0.92% | 0.35% | 0.16% | 0.04% |
How has the Astra Security and Kali Linux comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Kali Linux was ahead of Astra Security in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Astra Security’s share of searches among penetration testing platforms worldwide moved from 0.24% to 0.35%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 2.9K to 3.6K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Kali Linux’s share of searches among penetration testing platforms worldwide moved from 55.2% to 54.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 673K to 550K.
How did search popularity change for penetration testing platforms worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes

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

Estimated monthly branded searches for Astra Security worldwide rose 24.1% over 12 measured months, from 2.9K to 3.6K in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
3 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Astra Security’s and Kali Linux’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Astra Security
2 branded search terms
- astra security
- astrasecurity
Kali Linux
1 branded search term
- kali linux
Other head-to-heads among penetration testing platforms

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