The Best Tails AlternativesTop Linux Distros & Operating Systems like Tails

Alternatives list

1. 

   

   Qubes OS

    129 likes

   Qubes is an open source operating system designed to provide strong security for desktop computing.

   203 Qubes OS alternatives

   Cost / License

   • Free
   • Open Source

   Application typeApplication types

   • Linux Distro
   • Operating System

   Origin

   • United States

   Platforms

   • Linux
   • Fedora
   • Xen

   • United States

   

   

   

   +9

   

   More about Qubes OS  

   

   Good alternative?Is Qubes OS a good alternative to Tails?

    

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   7comments

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   Qubes OS vs Tails Comments

   Top Positive Comment by John Fastman · Jan 1, 2017

   Tails is a Debian-based distro you might install on a USB stick and run live. It funnels traffic through TOR to protect anonymity and wipes its behind on the way out. Qubes can do the same through its Whonix VM, but it also offers much more. It's offers security, by building ephemeral VMs in which apps can run. Thsese can be Debian, Fedora or Whonix based. Anonymity+security with Qubes.

   Positive comment by Guest · Dec 22, 2020

   Runs everything in Virtual Machines.

   Positive comment by Privacy Pirate · Dec 8, 2020

   Like Tails, Qubes OS routes all traffic over Tor. It also has advanced virtualization and hardened security settings that would be desirable to anyone who uses tails for its security upgrades.

   3 of 7 comments

   

   

   • Qubes OS is Free and Open SourceTails is also Free and Open Source
   • Qubes OS is CustomizableTails is not according to our users
2. 

   

   Whonix

    67 likes

   Whonix is a desktop operating system designed for advanced security and privacy. Whonix mitigates the threat of common attack vectors while maintaining usability. Online anonymity is realized via fail-safe, automatic, and desktop-wide use of the Tor network.

   Cost / License

   • Free
   • Open Source

   Application typeApplication types

   • Linux Distro
   • Operating System

   Origin

   • Germany
   • EU

   Platforms

   • Linux

   • Germany
   • EU

   

   

   

   More about Whonix  

   

   Good alternative?Is Whonix a good alternative to Tails?

    

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   1comment

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   Whonix vs Tails Comments

   Positive comment by redtrillix · Sep 7, 2022

   Unlike most of the other alternatives to Tails, this is a legitimate alternative to Tails.

   1 of 1 comments

   

   

   • Whonix is Free and Open SourceTails is also Free and Open Source
4. 

   

   Kali Linux

    296 likes

   Kali Linux is a Debian-derived Linux distribution designed for digital forensics and penetration testing, originally forked from Backtrack Linux by the Offensive Security team.

   26 Kali Linux alternatives

   Cost / License

   • Free
   • Open Source

   Application typeApplication types

   • Linux Distro
   • Penetration Testing

   Origin

   • United States

   Platforms

   • Windows
   • Linux

   • United States

   

   

   

   +8

   

   More about Kali Linux  

   

   Good alternative?Is Kali Linux a good alternative to Tails?

    

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   1comment

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   Kali Linux vs Tails Comments

   Negative comment by OAKSIF0 · May 23, 2018

   Kali Linux is a penetration testing Linux distro that does not come out of the box with Tor routing all network traffic - which is the primary feature of Tails. Although Kali Linux has hacking tools it has no tools for privacy or anonymity.

   1 of 1 comments

   

   

   • Kali Linux is Free and Open SourceTails is also Free and Open Source
5. 

   

   Parrot Security OS

    55 likes

   Parrot is a GNU/Linux distribution based on Debian Testing and designed with Security, Development, and Privacy in mind.

   31 Parrot Security OS alternatives

   Cost / License

   • Free
   • Open Source

   Application typeApplication types

   • Linux Distro
   • Penetration Testing

   Origin

   • France
   • EU

   Platforms

   • Linux

   • France
   • EU

   

   

   

   +5

   

   More about Parrot Security OS  

   

   Good alternative?Is Parrot Security OS a good alternative to Tails?

    

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   1comment

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   Parrot Security OS vs Tails Comments

   Positive comment by michaelcoxeu · Jan 24, 2023

   Parrot OS is free from trackers and telemetry "anti-features", and it provides many privacy tools like AnonSurf, Tor Browser, a custom Firefox profile, easy cryptographic tools and much more.

   1 of 1 comments

   

   

   • Parrot Security OS is Free and Open SourceTails is also Free and Open Source
   • Parrot Security OS is CustomizableTails is not according to our users
6. 

   

   Alpine Linux

    41 likes

   Alpine Linux is a security-oriented, lightweight Linux distribution based on musl libc and busybox.

   Cost / License

   • Free
   • Open Source

   Application typeApplication types

   • Linux Distro
   • Operating System

   Origin

   • Norway

   Platforms

   • Linux

   • Norway

   

   More about Alpine Linux  

   

   Good alternative?Is Alpine Linux a good alternative to Tails?

    
8. 

   

   Artix Linux

    26 likes

   Artix Linux is a fork (or continuation as an autonomous project) of the Arch-OpenRC and Manjaro-OpenRC projects. Artix Linux offers a lightweight, rolling-release operating system featuring the OpenRC init software.

   94 Artix Linux alternatives

   Cost / License

   • Free
   • Open Source

   Application typeApplication types

   • Linux Distro
   • Operating System

   Origin

   • France
   • EU

   Platforms

   • Linux

   • France
   • EU

   

   More about Artix Linux  

   

   Good alternative?Is Artix Linux a good alternative to Tails?

    
9. 

   

   Haiku

    104 likes

   Haiku is an open-source operating system that specifically targets personal computing. Inspired by the BeOS, Haiku is fast, simple to use, easy to learn and yet very powerful.

   236 Haiku alternatives

   Cost / License

   • Free
   • Open Source (MIT)

   Application type

   • Operating System

   Origin

   • International

   Platforms

   • Haiku

   • Global

   

   

   

   +7

   

   More about Haiku  

   

   Good alternative?Is Haiku a good alternative to Tails?

    
10. 

    

    Q4OS

     30 likes

    Fast and powerful operating system based on the latest technologies while offering highly productive desktop environment. We focus on security, reliability, long-term stability and conservative integration of verified new features.

    188 Q4OS alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application typeApplication types

    • Linux Distro
    • Operating System

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Raspberry Pi

    

    

    

    +9

    

    More about Q4OS  

    

    Good alternative?Is Q4OS a good alternative to Tails?

     
11. 

    

    Slackware

     72 likes

    Slackware Linux is an advanced Linux operating system, designed with the twin goals of ease of use and stability as top priorities. Including the latest popular software while retaining a sense of tradition, providing simplicity and ease of use alongside flexibility and power...

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application typeApplication types

    • Linux Distro
    • Operating System

    Origin

    • United States

    Platforms

    • Linux

    • United States

    

    

    More about Slackware  

    

    Good alternative?Is Slackware a good alternative to Tails?

     
12. 

    

    Deepin

     62 likes

    Deepin is a reinterpretation to creativity and individuality. It is not only a rebirth to the system appearance, but also a brand-new upgrade to the operating experience! All of this lets deepin become the best partner of your computer.

    209 Deepin alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application typeApplication types

    • Linux Distro
    • Operating System

    Origin

    • China

    Platforms

    • Linux

    • China

    

    

    

    +3

    

    More about Deepin  

    

    Good alternative?Is Deepin a good alternative to Tails?

     
13. 

    

    Revision (ReviOS)

     16 likes

    ReviOS aspires to re-create what Windows as an operating system should have been - easy and simple.

    85 Revision (ReviOS) alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    • Operating System

    Origin

    • International

    Platforms

    • Windows

    • Global

    

    More about Revision (ReviOS)  

    

    Good alternative?Is Revision (ReviOS) a good alternative to Tails?

     

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    1comment

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    Revision (ReviOS) vs Tails Comments

    Negative comment by Guest · Jun 16, 2026

    its not even close.. tails is for security and privacy, windows is not

    1 of 1 comments

    

    

    • Revision (ReviOS) is Free and Open SourceTails is also Free and Open Source
    • Revision (ReviOS) is an Operating System Tails is a Linux Distro
14. 

    

    Trisquel

     53 likes

    Trisquel is a computer operating system, a GNU + Linux distribution, derived from another distribution, Ubuntu, which is derived from Debian.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application typeApplication types

    • Linux Distro
    • Operating System

    Origin

    • International

    Platforms

    • Linux

    • Global

    

    

    

    +9

    

    More about Trisquel  

    

    Good alternative?Is Trisquel a good alternative to Tails?

     

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    1comment

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    Trisquel vs Tails Comments

    Positive comment by OAKSIF0 · Jul 28, 2018

    Trisquel Linux has only free libre software so no propriatary blobs spying on you. It's more user friendly than Tails because its based on Ubuntu, but its more for a desktop install than as a live USB operating system like Tails. You can use full disk encryption to protect your files in Trisquel.

    1 of 1 comments

    

    

    • Trisquel is Free and Open SourceTails is also Free and Open Source