KioskFrame vs Porteus Kiosk

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.

Porteus Kiosk is a lightweight Linux operating system that limits a computer to browser use and opens a selected homepage at startup. The maker lists public terminals in schools, libraries, cafes, hotels, offices, and tourist centers, as well as digital signage, as uses. It runs on x86_64 PCs, requires at least 2 GB of RAM and 1 GB of storage, and does not support ARM devices such as Raspberry Pi. The hybrid ISO can be installed on writable media including USB drives, hard drives, SSD or eMMC devices, and SD or MMC cards. Browser history is not retained, passwords are not saved, and caches are cleared when the browser closes. Automatic updates are enabled by default; the maker describes a read-only image and startup checks that stop booting if component values differ from registered values. Porteus Kiosk Server can manage up to 1000 clients behind NAT, proxies, or firewalls, but cannot host client updates: clients update from the maker’s domain and need separate subscriptions. A 30-day free evaluation is available. Continued use requires a subscription, starting at €40 per PC per year, excluding VAT, for 1–10 PCs.