FreeKiosk vs Linutop Kiosk
FreeKiosk
freekiosk.appLinutop Kiosk
linutop.comSide by side
| Figure | FreeKiosk | Linutop Kiosk |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | €0.80/mo | — |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | — |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| Android | Yes | — |
| API | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 5 | 1 |
| Spec score · Kiosk Browsers | 8.5 (#3) | 7.5 (#15) |
| Intended users | The maker describes FreeKiosk Cloud as built for teams managing dozens or hundreds of kiosks across multiple locations. | The maker lists shops, advertising, point-of-sale displays, vending machines, museums, public transport, and city halls as signage use cases. |
| Purpose | FreeKiosk turns Android tablets into fullscreen kiosks for websites, web apps, or external Android apps. | Linutop Kiosk is digital signage software and can turn a PC or Raspberry Pi into a secure internet access kiosk. |
| Support | Product support is available at [email protected], and the documentation directs users to the FAQ or GitHub Issues for help. | The maker provides technical documentation, a wiki for advanced users, and a contact form for support. |
Plans
FreeKiosk
- FreeKiosk Android appFree
- FreeKiosk Cloud — first deviceFree
- FreeKiosk Cloud — 100–499 devices€0.80 a month
- FreeKiosk Cloud — 1–99 devices€1 a month
- FreeKiosk Cloud — 500+ devicesPriced on request
In their own words
FreeKiosk
FreeKiosk turns Android tablets into fullscreen kiosks for websites, web apps and external Android apps. In Device Owner mode, it can hide system controls and prevent users from leaving the kiosk. Video playback and image slideshows support digital signage, while URL Rotation & Planner can cycle through pages or schedule them for particular dates and times. For automation, FreeKiosk provides more than 40 REST API endpoints and native MQTT with Home Assistant auto-discovery. Its optional Cloud dashboard adds live device monitoring, remote commands, groups, configuration profiles, alerts and screenshots. The first Cloud device is free forever with no card required. Rates for 1–99 devices are €1.00 per device per month, and for 100–499 devices €0.80 per device per month; the first device is free in either range. The 500-plus rate is described as below the 499-device rate. The Android app is free and open source under the MIT license, while Cloud source code is not published. FreeKiosk requires Android 8.0 or later; Device Owner setup requires ADB and a factory-reset device.
Linutop Kiosk
Linutop Kiosk is Linux self-hosted software that turns a PC or Raspberry Pi into a secure internet kiosk or digital signage player. It displays photos, PDFs, videos, music, and web pages through configurable playlists sourced from a local folder, Linutop TV server, or USB key. Web kiosk settings include a starting page, website allowlist or blacklist, display options, and password locking. Lock mode restores the initial state at each restart. The software can run as a web kiosk, a signage player, or switch to signage when the kiosk is unused. Browser-based remote control works from a smartphone, tablet, or PC, and Linutop Kiosk is compatible with Linutop.tv for multi-screen management. Pro installation supports one PC or Raspberry Pi, with Ubuntu-based PC and Raspbian-based Raspberry Pi compatibility described. It includes Firefox or Chromium, LibreOffice 6, VLC 3, a PDF viewer, an on-screen keyboard, VNC, and remote management. Linutop also offers a free Linutop OS version. The Pro installation costs €79, paid once, excluding VAT.