KioskFrame vs OpenKiosk

KioskFrame turns an iPhone or iPad into a fullscreen kiosk for websites, images, PDFs, and photo galleries. It hides browser controls and the status bar, while a configurable gear button gives operators access to settings. An idle screensaver can display a clock, and the screen can reload after inactivity or connection problems. Content includes live websites, local or Photos images, PDFs, and photo slideshows; the free PDF viewer displays only the first page. Free and Pro both include JavaScript allow-or-deny controls and a navigation hostname whitelist. Pro adds settings passcode protection, photo galleries, multi-page PDF slideshows, bookmarks, scheduled reloads, read-only mode, branding removal, and zoom control. The standalone iOS App Store app requires no MDM enrollment, Apple Configurator, or enterprise certificates. Devices are installed and configured separately, with no fleet management. The maker recommends iOS Guided Access to prevent visitors leaving the app. The operator interface supports English, Spanish, German, French, and Japanese. Plans are Free, $4.99 per month, $49.99 per year, or $99.99 once; paid plans include a 14-day trial.

OpenKiosk is a remotely configurable public browser terminal based on Mozilla Firefox. It runs as a system-integrated standalone browser, with system-level controls intended to keep public users within web browsing. Administrators can register devices for remote management using a token and change settings through a web interface. After registration succeeds, the token is removed from the device, so a backup token is needed for later device management.

Kiosk settings cover fullscreen display, toolbar and URL bar visibility, an on-screen keyboard, and whether bookmarks persist. Administrators can set session timers and choose whether cache, history, and cookies carry over. URL allowlists or blocklists are available, with a strict mode that checks page resources and may disrupt pages if rules omit required resources. The settings can disable local terminal access and start a clean browser profile. Downloads and uploads are labeled insecure when enabled; uploads can expose the terminal filesystem to web pages. OpenKiosk is free and open source under the Mozilla Public License. Current beta installation instructions require Debian 13 on x86_64 or aarch64 hardware.