Linutop Kiosk vs OpenKiosk

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.

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.