When comparing Tails vs Parabola GNU/Linux-libre, the Slant community recommends Parabola GNU/Linux-libre for most people. In the question“What are the best Linux distributions for desktops?” Parabola GNU/Linux-libre is ranked 15th while Tails is ranked 33rd.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Privacy focused
Pro Has TOR built-in
Use the Internet anonymously and circumvent censorship; all connections to the Internet are forced to go through the Tor network.
Pro Easy to use with an USB key
Pro Protects your freedom, certified free by the FSF
Pro Option to use OpenRC or Systemd
Parabola has an OpenRC edition and a Systemd edition, so users can choose which init system they want.
Pro All the benefits of Arch Linux, only 100% certified free software
Pro Very Secure
Pro Has its own repos
Parabola has its own repos (which are almost as large as Arch Linux) and the IceCat browser is included.
Pro Can be migrated from Arch Linux without a CD/USB
Pro Based on Arch Linux
Cons
Con Not for daily use
Tails is a privacy focused Linux distro. The updates that you will receive are only for improving privacy and not for improving user experience.
Con You can't install it to a hard drive
Con Saved states are not present for security
For security reasons, saved states are not supported in Tails. Files can be stored in a separate, persistent volume which must be accessed with a root password. Personal settings (e.g. -- keyboard layout, window settings, etc.) are not saved persistently across reboots. This can be a hindrance for anyone not using English as their language, or not using a QWERTY keyboard layout.
Con Only GNOME desktop environment
Con Slow internet
Tails uses the TOR network and as a result the internet on your computer will be very slow.
Con Won't work out-of-the-box on the most PC's
Almost all PCs need non-free drivers but Parabola has none to offer.
Con Not compatible with AUR
Unlike other Arch-based distros, this free distro doesn't support AUR.
Con Same cons that apply to Arch Linux
Con Small repositories
Since Parabola is a completely free distro, there is no non-free software available and the community repositories are small compared to the AUR.
Con Incompetent developers
They only care about removing "non-free" software, rather than making a properly working OS.
Con Serves no purpose
It's just Arch without non-free software and is basically a niche OS with few users.
Con Not really free
People have to pay hundreds to maintain this distro.
