Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Tails VS Slax

Compare Tails VS Slax and see what are their differences

This page does not exist

Tails logo Tails

Tails is a Debian based live CD/USB with the goal of providing complete Internet anonymity for the...

Slax logo Slax

Slax is a modern, portable, small and fast Linux operating system. Slax LinuxSlax is a modern, portable, small and fast Linux operating system.
  • Tails Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-01-25
  • Slax Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-08

Tails features and specs

  • Privacy-focused
    Tails is designed to preserve your privacy and anonymity by routing internet traffic through the Tor network, which conceals your IP address and encrypted communications.
  • Amnesic System
    Tails runs from a USB stick or DVD and does not leave any traces on the computer, as it operates entirely in memory and does not alter the hard drive.
  • Pre-installed Security Tools
    Tails comes with a suite of pre-installed applications configured for security, including a web browser, instant messaging client, email client, office suite, and more.
  • Regular Updates
    The development team behind Tails releases regular updates and security patches, ensuring that the system remains up-to-date against vulnerabilities.
  • Open Source
    Tails is open source, meaning its source code is available for anyone to inspect, ensuring transparency and allowing the community to contribute to its development.

Possible disadvantages of Tails

  • Performance Limitations
    Running from a USB stick or DVD typically results in slower performance compared to an installed operating system.
  • Limited Persistence
    While Tails is designed to be amnesic, it offers limited options for persistence, meaning that any changes made or files created are not saved unless explicit steps are taken to store data on an encrypted persistent volume.
  • Steep Learning Curve
    For new users or those unfamiliar with Linux-based systems, Tails may have a steep learning curve, making it challenging to understand and use effectively.
  • Software Restrictions
    Tails includes a curated set of software focused on privacy and security, which means some commonly used applications are not available by default and need additional effort to install and configure.
  • Internet Dependency
    Since Tails relies heavily on the Tor network, disruptions or limitations in Tor service can impact the effectiveness and availability of anonymity services.

Slax features and specs

  • Portability
    Slax is a lightweight, portable Linux distribution that can be run directly from a USB drive or CD without installation, making it easy to carry and use on multiple devices.
  • Simplicity
    With a straightforward and clean interface, Slax is designed to be user-friendly, making it accessible for both beginners and experienced users.
  • Modularity
    Slax features a modular approach, allowing users to easily add or remove software packages to customize their system according to their needs.
  • Speed
    Due to its lightweight nature, Slax is fast and responsive, even when run from removable media, providing a quick boot and operational experience.
  • Live Environment
    Slax can be used as a live operating system, providing a reliable option for system rescue or for testing without altering the host system.

Possible disadvantages of Slax

  • Limited Software Repository
    Slax may not have as extensive a software repository as some other larger Linux distributions, which could limit the availability of certain applications directly from its package manager.
  • Minimalist Features
    While the simplicity is a pro for some users, others might find that Slax lacks some features and tools found in more comprehensive Linux distributions.
  • Community and Support
    Being a niche distribution, Slax might not have as large of a user community or as much official support, which can make troubleshooting more challenging.
  • Persistent Storage Setup
    Setting up persistent storage on USB drives requires additional configuration steps, which may not be straightforward for new users who want to retain their settings and data across sessions.
  • Hardware Compatibility
    As with many Linux distributions, Slax might face compatibility issues with some hardware components, particularly newer or less common devices.

Analysis of Tails

Overall verdict

  • Tails is generally regarded as a good tool for enhancing privacy and security online. It is widely recommended by privacy advocates and has a solid reputation in the community for effectively protecting users' identities and data.

Why this product is good

  • Tails, which stands for The Amnesic Incognito Live System, is a security-focused Debian-based Linux distribution aimed at preserving privacy and anonymity. It achieves this by routing internet connections through the Tor network and leaving no trace on the machine unless explicitly asked. This makes it particularly useful for users who are concerned about surveillance, censorship, and privacy breaches. Tails also includes a suite of cryptographic tools to encrypt files, emails, and instant messaging, making it a robust choice for privacy-conscious users.

Recommended for

  • Journalists and activists operating in repressive environments
  • Whistleblowers needing anonymity
  • Privacy-conscious individuals
  • Users who require a secure way to browse the internet without leaving traces
  • Individuals concerned about mass surveillance

Tails videos

Tails OS Installation And Review - Access The Deep Web/Dark Net

More videos:

  • Review - Tails Reviews Sonic The Hedgehog Movie | Post Credits Scene Reaction
  • Review - 5 Reasons to Use Tails | Privacy Linux

Slax videos

Slax OS 9.4.0 - Review & Demo on Real Hardware.

More videos:

  • Review - Linux Slax 9.5.0 - 64 Bit Review
  • Review - Linux Slax 9.8 Preview, See What's New

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Tails and Slax)
Linux
88 88%
12% 12
Operating Systems
81 81%
19% 19
Linux Distribution
76 76%
24% 24
Cryptocurrencies
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

Share your experience with using Tails and Slax. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Tails and Slax

Tails Reviews

Best Linux distro for privacy and security of 2024
All connections are routed through the anonymity network Tor, which conceals your location. The applications in Tails have also been carefully selected to enhance your privacy – for example, there’s KeePassX - which, while not the best password manager, is still pretty good - and Paperkey, a command line tool used to export OpenPGP secret keys to print on paper. There are...
Top 5 Secure Operating Systems for Privacy and Anonymity
Tails has the option for persistent storage which can improve usability, albeit at the cost of some anonymity. Although it enables saving files across sessions, it creates a trace of your activities, which contradicts Tails' amnesic feature. However, you still preserve a high degree of privacy due to robust encryption. This is made possible due to how the persistent data is...
The 5 Best Privacy-Focused Operating Systems
Tails, short for "The Amnesic Incognito Live System," is a privacy-focused portable Linux distribution, designed with anonymity and security in mind. What makes Tails stand out is its focus on leaving no digital trace. It operates as a live OS, meaning you can run it directly from a USB stick or DVD without leaving any footprint on the host system.
Avoid The Hack: 11 Best Privacy Friendly Operating Systems (Desktops)
TAILS is a live operating system focusing on anonymity in addition to user privacy; TAILS effectively disappears, wiping data when you shut down the system.
Best Secure Linux Distros for Enhanced Privacy & Security
Tails uses the Tor network, a network heralded for its privacy and anonymity benefits, to keep users safe online. All connections run through this network - concealing users’ location and other private information. Tails comes with a secure browser, a secure email client and other secure Internet tools. Tails is the most well-known privacy-focused distro, and a popular...

Slax Reviews

We have no reviews of Slax yet.
Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Tails seems to be a lot more popular than Slax. While we know about 385 links to Tails, we've tracked only 5 mentions of Slax. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Tails mentions (385)

  • Ten years from Snowden revelations – what's next for Tor and privacy online?
    I’m not sure about the Tor project, but the closely-related Tails project (which is excellent, BTW) seems to be uncomfortably adjacent to far-left anarchist groups. Their website, https://tails.boum.org, is hosted by one such group, and on it they prominently link to another anarchist “collective” called RiseUp. Why are we okay with this kind of implicit endorsement of violence-adjacent groups? It should be just... - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • very strange
    I noticed that the website url https://tails.boum.org/ was changed to https://tails.net/. Does anyone know why? Source: over 1 year ago
  • My Mother Found Out I was Installing Linux...
    If you pop this onto a USB you can leave a beautiful Windows installation on your computer unfettled with: https://tails.boum.org/. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • How does this work in Proton?! I was told it's impossible...
    If you want to factor out your host machine entirely whilst surfing the web, have a look at https://tails.boum.org/ . Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Is it possible for a skilled hacker or government to remotely access my computer?
    Tails is a security-focused Linux distro that (by default) only runs as a live-USB and is not meant to be used as a traditional daily-driver. As you've probably understood by now, it's a 'limited' system for the sake of security and privacy. At least it's assuring to have a far better protected distro than what distros like Arch/Debian/Fedora offer by default. Source: almost 2 years ago
View more

Slax mentions (5)

  • External SSD. How to get more from it? Linux on external SSD
    I find Slax which is looks like a good choice for live distro at a glance. If I'm correct it works not just in live mode it is installed on sdd. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Lightweight arch based distro
    Slax. It is based pn Debian, so you can apt install most packages. Make sure to read Slax's installation guide first though. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Best xfce distro for an old laptop
    You mentioned in another comment that your laptop is from 2001? Try Slax or MX Linux. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Live ISO with many utilities installed
    You can try Slax as it can be loaded to RAM. However you will need to install rest of the required utils... (afaik Chrome and GParted are included by default). Source: over 3 years ago
  • Slax Linux - Download
    I'm trying to download slax linux from slax.org but its not working. If I go down to the bottom of the page and click on any of the download links I see a loading icon in the browser tab but nothing gets downloaded, I'm wondering if this is an issue with just me or if anyone else is having a simmilar issue. Source: almost 4 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Tails and Slax, you can also consider the following products

Linux Mint - Linux Mint is one of the most popular desktop Linux distributions and used by millions of people.

Puppy Linux - Home, overview and getting started with Puppy Linux, amazingly fast, fascinatingly complete and delightfully small Linux.‎Wiki · ‎Download latest Puppy Linux .

Ubuntu - Ubuntu is a Debian Linux-based open source operating system for desktop computers.

SliTaz - Internationalization.

Debian - Debian is a free distribution of the GNU/Linux operating system.

Arch Linux - You've reached the website for Arch Linux, a lightweight and flexible Linux® distribution that tries to Keep It Simple. Currently we have official packages optimized for the x86-64 architecture.