CAINE

6.8easy start · #7 of 29
in Digital Forensics Software

Free to practise onyes
Free trialnot on record
Well documentedyes
Runs where you worknot on record

Runs on Linux, Windows.

CAINE is ranked #7 of 29 in digital forensics software on The Geeks Club. It runs on Linux, Windows. There is a free plan.

CAINE plans and pricing

All plans

CAINE Free Free ISO image · approximately 4000 MB · third-party software has separate licenses caine-live.net · 30 Sept 2026

Compared on digital forensics software

Free plan: Yes
Evidence sources: raw/dd disk images; EnCase files; databases; internet histories; Windows registries; deleted files; EXIF data; volatile memory dumps; Android and iPod devices
Mobile forensics: Yes
Disk imaging: Yes
Memory forensics: Yes
Supported platforms: Linux; Windows forensic side tools
Export formats: raw/dd; EnCase; text reports

Best CAINE alternatives

See all 12

Paraben E3 Forensic Platform 0 of 4 in the starter kit Lesson 17.5 Cellebrite Inseyets 0 of 4 in the starter kit Lesson 27.1 NetworkMiner 0 of 4 in the starter kit Lesson 37.1 Plaso 0 of 4 in the starter kit Lesson 47.1 Arkime 0 of 4 in the starter kit Lesson 56.9 SUMURI PALADIN 0 of 4 in the starter kit Lesson 66.9

The record

Purpose: CAINE is an Italian GNU/Linux live distribution created as a digital forensics project.
Investigation workflow: The project describes an interoperable environment to support investigators through the four phases of a digital investigation.
Interface: CAINE integrates existing software tools as modules and provides a graphical interface.
Latest release: The downloads page lists CAINE 14.0 “LIGHTSTREAM,” dated 24/Mar/2025, as the current download.
Forensic write protection: CAINE 14.0 blocks block devices in read-only mode by default, and provides UnBlock to change that state.
Included utilities: CAINE includes rbfstab for read-only device mounting and Mounter, a graphical tool for mounting and unmounting devices.
Analysis tools: The tools page describes forensic utilities including Autopsy, FTK Imager, PhotoRec, TestDisk, hashcat, and memory-analysis scripts.
Windows tools: The site describes Windows incident-response and live-forensics tools, including Nirsoft utilities, WinAudit, FTK Imager, and USB Write Protector.
Integrity checks: The download instructions tell users to check the ISO’s published hash and list a SHA256 hash link for CAINE 14.0.
Secure Boot guidance: The site says users may need to disable Secure Boot and warns them to have the BitLocker recovery key before doing so.
License: CAINE is free software under the GNU Lesser General Public License version 2.1 or later; included third-party software retains its own licenses.
Support: The site provides a contact form for questions or problems and links to a user forum.
Project manager: The site names Nanni Bassetti of Bari, Italy, as CAINE project manager and developer.
Price from: Free

Where it ranks on The Geeks Club

Best Digital Forensics Software in 2026#7 of 29

Is CAINE yours?

Claim it for free: prove the domain, then correct facts, plans and screenshots. An editor reviews every change.

Claim it free Promote CAINE

Sources

caine-live.net· checked 30 Sept 2026
caine-live.net/page4/page4.html· checked 30 Sept 2026
caine-live.net/page5/page5.html· checked 30 Sept 2026
caine-live.net/page11/page11.html· checked 30 Sept 2026
caine-live.net/page2/page2.html· checked 30 Sept 2026
caine-live.net/page1/page1.php· checked 30 Sept 2026