7 Best Windows Kiosk Software for Small Businesses
Windows is the second most popular operating system, including both mobile and desktop, followed by Android. Windows dominates desktops worldwide with a share of just over 76%. The prolific use of Windows makes it a preferred choice for many use cases in different areas of business.
One of the most common use cases is the Windows kiosk software or Windows kiosk mode (PC lockdown software) which enables businesses to lock devices like laptops, desktops, tablets, and mobile phones for dedicated enterprise use.
Let’s first look at what Windows kiosk software is and how it works for different businesses.
Windows kiosk software and its industry applications
Kiosk software for Windows allows access only to particular applications or approved websites. The devices are locked in a single app or multi-app mode to make them dedicated for business purposes.
In other words, kiosk mode software for Windows does not allow the user to make any changes to the device settings or customize anything. The devices are restricted to multiple applications or a single screen with a list of restrictions for different use cases.
Windows kiosk software is used to manage Windows devices across all geographies for businesses and some of its use cases are-
- Restricting access to apps and websites on employee devices to safeguard their activity
- Cutting down on employee distractions and improving employee productivity
- Devices used for collecting customer feedback/ payments
- Airport self-check-in kiosks
- Digital signage displaying ads
Windows kiosk mode software use cases are either employee-centric or customer-centric depending on the nature of the businesses. To deploy and manage kiosk mode on Windows devices you need kiosk software i.e. mobile device management software.
Before moving on to know the best Windows kiosk software, let us first understand which Windows devices support the kiosk software for Windows.
Most Windows kiosk lockdown software support Windows 11, 10, 8.1, and 7 OS versions. This enables you to utilize all features of the kiosk lockdown software and you can deploy and manage the devices seamlessly. A pre-check for Windows device compatibility will enable you to use the kiosk software in an effective way.
Here are the 7 best Windows kiosk software that can help get the most reliable kiosk services for small businesses:
1. Scalefusion
Scalefusion’s Windows kiosk software is a simple and secure kiosk mode for Windows desktops, laptops, tablets, mobile phones, and digital signages. The kiosk mode software for Windows supports Windows OS versions 11, 10, 8.1, and Windows 7, having extensive features in Windows 10 multi-app kiosk mode.
Scalefusion provides single-app mode if you wish to lock down the Windows device to a single app or browser as well as multi-app mode for use of multiple selected apps or browsers of choice. It also allows you to configure business apps and settings on Windows devices with Windows Autopilot available on Windows 10 and above. The devices run into the kiosk mode policy settings on the first boot by the end users.
Scalefusion’s Windows 10 kiosk software can provide a secure browsing experience to your employees or customers by configuring chrome settings, blocking in-private browsing, restricting browser history, and allowing or blocking websites. It is widely loved for its remote cast and control feature that can help troubleshoot your devices anytime from anywhere and provide uninterrupted services for your business.
Apart from Windows 10 and Windows 11 kiosk mode, Scalefusion MDM manages and controls all endpoints operating on Android, iOS, and macOS. Its pricing plans start at $2 per device/ month billed annually. It also provides a 14-day free trial. This solution is currently providing a year-end offer with a 25% discount on multi-year plans, which can be quite beneficial for small businesses. It provides 18x5 free customer support for ensuring great customer service.
2. SiteKiosk
SiteKiosk is an easy-to-use kiosk solution used for display in public access areas. It is a kiosk lockdown software that protects Windows PCs, tablets, signages, and displays against any manipulations in public access areas. It is counted as one of the best kiosk software for Windows 10.
It has powerful features like a robust content management system, full app control, remote management, and monitoring using two-factor authentication, reports, and real-time statistics. Additional features include content filtering in real-time to eliminate inappropriate content, an easy user interface, and time and event control in Windows devices.
Small businesses such as car dealerships, retail stores, gas stations, pharmacies, supermarkets, hotels, and restaurants can benefit from using SiteKiosk as a Windows lockdown software for displaying digital information.
The annual plan for SiteKiosk online cloud starts at $239 per unit for up to 9 kiosks with a gradual price increase for a higher number of kiosks.
3. Kioware
Kioware provides Windows lockdown software that lets you secure your Windows devices and convert them into self-service kiosks. It also helps manage your device settings to restricted cloud-based apps and permitted websites only. The Windows lockdown software for kiosk mode also provides basic authorization and keyboard filtering, controls pop-up Windows, and blocks file downloading.
Kioware provides browser lockdown security for public access area devices for businesses like retail, healthcare, banks, hospitality, hotels, and restaurants. The KioCall features provide a video conferencing option with kiosks so your users can initiate or receive video calls.
Kioware allows you to buy a server license for high-quantity kiosk deployments at about $4950 for a one-time purchase with additional support costs.
4. ManageEngine Mobile Device Manager Plus
ManageEngine kiosk for Windows 10 & 11 transforms mobile devices like smartphones, tablets, desktops, and TVs into single-purpose devices in kiosk mode. It onboards devices with zero-touch and manages them. The kiosk mode software allows you to customize the settings and restrict devices to one or multiple apps for dedicated use.
It helps improve employee productivity by eliminating distractions and improving enterprise security with features like mobile device management, application management, and content management.
ManageEngine Mobile Device Manager Plus standard plan starts at a flat rate of $1195 for cloud subscription annually for 50 devices and extra charges (starting at $345) for additional technicians.
5. SureLock
SureLock Kiosk lockdown by SureMDM converts corporate devices like smartphones, tablets, PCs, or any customized devices into kiosks to improve employee productivity. The Windows interactive kiosk software converts devices into interactive devices that help users access applications and content whitelisted on the screen.
Businesses also benefit from deploying these off-the-shelf mobile devices as kiosks in high-foot-traffic areas so that a wider audience can access them and fulfill the business purpose of increasing sales. Kiosk software for Windows also helps in saving infrastructure costs by locking mobile devices into kiosk mode. Businesses have more control over apps and can restrict user access to one or multiple, specific apps.
SureMDM pricing plans start at $3.99 per device/month with a plan for every size and type of deployment.
6. Netkiosk
Netkiosk is an open-source kiosk software for Windows. It is a computer kiosk software designed to use and protect public access PCs or business PCs. It has been developed to work hand-in-hand with existing Windows settings to restrict program access. The Netkiosk browser restricts user access to one or more websites in the Windows kiosk mode. It also allows you to change the browser layout to interactive kiosk mode.
Its applications include public kiosks, factory devices, library PCs, and interactive displays. It is a kiosk software for Windows 10 and 11. It also works for Windows 7, 8 and XP.
Netkiosk has certain defined plans but the pricing is undisclosed.
7. Hexnode
Hexnode transforms your mobile devices locked into Windows 10 kiosk mode. The kiosk software enables users to make sure that users have restricted access to apps; they cannot leave the app or make any changes to the device settings. Windows single app kiosk mode is ideal for public use and is preferred as unattended devices.
The kiosk devices can be configured to launch the same app every time it reboots. It can be locked down to specific apps and the same devices can be used by multiple users. Hexnode kiosk software for Windows 10 is used for digital signages in public access areas.
Hexnode provides basic kiosk software in its Ultimate plan starting at $3.6 per device/month. It also provides a 14-day free trial.
Windows kiosk software works best for small businesses
Whatever the organization size, Windows kiosk mode software is beneficial not only for internal organizational requirements but also for small businesses to use it to improve their sales using Windows kiosk mode as single-purpose dedicated devices.
The best kiosk software manages and secures devices when used as kiosks for advertising campaigns, standalone computers in public spaces, self-service kiosks, self-checkout kiosks, self-check-in kiosks in airports, or digital signages. More or less all kiosk software mentioned above provide similar features, and an important thing to pay attention to while making a selection for your small business is the customer support that they provide post-sales.
Closing lines:
Windows kiosk software lessens the efforts of IT in managing devices and restricts the use of these devices for dedicated use. The device settings and customization are also controlled by IT and remotely configured for business. The most important factors to consider while choosing a kiosk software for Windows are whether it can meet the client’s challenging needs, is cost-effective, and performs the best out of all.
