Porteus Kiosk vs QikServe Pay at Table
Porteus Kiosk
porteus-kiosk.orgQikServe Pay at Table
resources.qikserve.comSide by side
| Figure | Porteus Kiosk | QikServe Pay at Table |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | €2.17/mo | — |
| Free plan | — | — |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | — | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| API | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 8 | 1 |
| Spec score · Self-Service Kiosk Software | 7.9 (#3) | 7.7 (#5) |
| Headquarters | Biskupice, Poland | Edinburgh, United Kingdom |
| Integrations | The ThinClient variant includes applications supporting Citrix, RDP, VNC, and SSH connectivity protocols. | The datasheet lists POS integrations including Oracle Micros, NCR Aloha, Dinerware, Access, Maitre’D, Squirrel Systems, POSitouch and XPI, plus payment integrations FreedomPay, Global Payments and Stripe. |
| Product | Porteus Kiosk is a lightweight Linux operating system restricted to browser use that opens a chosen homepage at startup. | Pay at Table lets hospitality businesses take digital payments at a table, counter, or drive-thru. |
| Support | Active client subscriptions include software and hardware help; standard support queries are answered by email within 24 hours. | The product page provides [email protected] as its contact address. |
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
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.
QikServe Pay at Table
QikServe Pay at Table lets hospitality businesses accept digital payments at a table, counter, or drive-thru. Guests use the QikPay web app from their own mobile devices, opening a check with a QR code, NFC tag, or URL; they do not need to download an app or create an account. They can review a check, pay a portion, and add a tip using configured percentages or an amount they enter, calculated on the net check total. Apple Pay and Google Pay are listed payment options. After a successful payment, guests can enter an email address for a receipt. POS compatibility listed on the help page includes Oracle, Tevalis, and Access; the datasheet also lists Oracle Micros, NCR Aloha, Dinerware, Maitre’D, Squirrel Systems, POSitouch, and XPI. Payment integrations include FreedomPay, Global Payments, and Stripe. QikServe says QikConnect offers integration options for loyalty, delivery management, and kitchen management systems. The service is paid, with pricing on request. QikServe was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in Edinburgh, United Kingdom.