Linutop Kiosk vs Porteus Kiosk
Linutop Kiosk
linutop.comPorteus Kiosk
porteus-kiosk.orgSide by side
| Figure | Linutop Kiosk | Porteus Kiosk |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | €2.17/mo |
| Free plan | — | — |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| API | — | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 8 |
| Spec score · Kiosk Browsers | 7.5 (#15) | 7.8 (#12) |
| Headquarters | Paris, France | Biskupice, Poland |
| Support | The maker provides technical documentation, a wiki for advanced users, and a contact form for support. | Active client subscriptions include software and hardware help; standard support queries are answered by email within 24 hours. |
Plans
Porteus Kiosk
- Automatic updates and support subscription (201–500 PCs)€26 a year
- Automatic updates and support subscription (101–200 PCs)€28 a year
- Automatic updates and support subscription (51–100 PCs)€30 a year
- Automatic updates and support subscription (26–50 PCs)€33 a year
- Automatic updates and support subscription (11–25 PCs)€36 a year
- Automatic updates and support subscription (1–10 PCs)€40 a year
- Porteus Kiosk Server subscription€300 a year
- Automatic updates and support subscription (above 500 PCs)Priced on request
In their own words
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.
Porteus Kiosk
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.