What is Windows kiosk mode?
Windows devices can be used to create self-service kiosks for businesses, thereby preventing improper usage.
As customers, we expect everything to be accessible with just a few clicks or taps. And businesses that want to keep their customers satisfied must offer a seamless and hassle-free experience, no matter where they are. That’s where Windows kiosk software enters the picture.
Businesses can create self-service kiosks using Windows devices that cater to all our needs. Whether we’re browsing products, placing orders or simply accessing information, these kiosks provide us with a user-friendly interface that’s easy to navigate. They’re the perfect solution for businesses that want to offer their customers a self-service option that’s quick, efficient and hassle-free. So, the next time you’re out and about and in need of a little assistance, keep an eye out for a Windows kiosk. You won’t be disappointed!
Table of Contents
- Why “Windows” kiosk software?
- Why does UEM have an upper hand over dedicated kiosk software?
- Top 10 Windows kiosk software
- 1. Microsoft Intune
- 2. Hexnode UEM
- 3. ManageEngine Desktop Central
- 4. Scalefusion
- 5. IBM MaaS360
- 6. SOTI MobiControl
- 7. SureMDM
- 8. VMware Workspace ONE
- 9. Citrix Endpoint Management
- 10. Radix VISO
- Conclusion
Why “Windows” kiosk software?
When it comes to self-service kiosks, Windows kiosk software holds the upper hand and for good reason. With over 1 billion active users worldwide, Windows is a familiar operating system that most people already know how to use. This familiarity makes it easier for customers to navigate and interact with Windows-based kiosks, improving their overall experience.
Wait, that’s not all! Windows kiosk software also offers a range of customization options. It ensures that businesses can tailor their kiosks to fit their specific needs and branding. Plus, with its hardware compatibility and robust security features, they provide a seamless and secure self-service solution for businesses and customers alike.
In today’s fast-paced digital world, customers demand convenience and efficiency, and Windows kiosk software delivers just that. It offers a simple and intuitive experience that meets the needs of modern consumers.
Why does UEM have an upper hand over dedicated kiosk software?
When it comes to managing your endpoints, Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) software is the way to go. While dedicated kiosk software certainly has its place, UEM software offers a host of benefits that make it the superior choice. Some key points to consider are as follows:
- Flexibility – Rather than being limited to a single device or application, UEM software can be used to manage a wide range of endpoints – from desktops and laptops to smartphones and tablets. This means that you can achieve a seamless and consistent experience across all your devices, no matter where you are or what you’re doing.
- Customization – UEM software also offers unmatched customization options. You can tailor your endpoint management strategy to meet your specific needs and goals.
- Centralized management – All the endpoints can be managed from a single console, simplifying the management tasks and reducing the risk of errors or oversights. This makes it easier to maintain consistency across your devices, enforce policies and track compliance.
- Security – UEM software offers a range of features to help keep the endpoints secure. From password restrictions to encryption and more, UEM software offers robust security capabilities. This will help to keep the data safe from prying eyes.
- Cost-effective – Cost is always a factor and UEM software offer a cost-effective solution for managing your endpoints. Rather than investing in dedicated kiosk software for each device or application, UEM software allows you to manage all your endpoints from a single platform, reducing overall costs and improving your ROI.
Top 10 Windows kiosk software
From remote management and device compliance to content filtering and payment integration, businesses can choose the best MDM solution for their needs. This will provide a seamless self-service experience for their customers using Windows Kiosk Software. The Top 10 MDM solutions that offer Windows kiosk mode are listed below. Check them out!
1. Microsoft Intune
Microsoft Intune MDM provides a comprehensive set of tools for managing and securing devices and data in a centralized manner. They offer a wide range of features that can help organizations to deploy and manage Windows Kiosk devices, which are typically for public access or single-purpose use cases. With this MDM, single-app kiosk mode can be configured on Windows 10/11 devices and multi-app kiosk mode on Windows 10 devices.
The IT admins can allow to configure various kiosk settings to customize the Windows 10 experience for their users. These settings include the ability to create and deploy custom start menus, configure app restrictions and set up automatic login. Additionally, it provides the ability to remotely lock down the device to prevent unauthorized access, configure network settings, and manage updates.
Features
- Customizable start menu: With Intune MDM, the start menu for Windows Kiosk devices can be designed and customized, giving users access to only the features and apps they require.
- Automatic logon: Intune MDM can be configured to enable automatic logon, so that the device automatically sign-in to the specified user account when it boots up.
- Remote lockdown: Intune MDM provides the ability to remotely lock down a device to prevent unauthorized access, providing an additional layer of security.
- Autopilot reset: They offer the ability to reset a Windows Kiosk device to its original state, ready for deployment to a new user.
Pricing: Microsoft’s Enterprise Mobility+Security E3 bundle is available at a starting price of $8.80 per user per month.
Trial-period: 30-day free trial
2. Hexnode UEM
Hexnode’s Windows kiosk mode provides a secure user experience with an additional layer of powerful features to enhance the built-in capabilities of traditional Windows kiosk mode. The software is tamper-proof and prioritizes security. It also provides ease-of-use features to eliminate the learning curve of the lockdown mode. These features make it simple for even non-technical individuals to set up the kiosk mode quickly.
The Windows kiosk feature of Hexnode UEM offers two different types of lockdown modes for different usage scenarios:
- The Single app lockdown runs a single Universal Windows Platform (UWP) app on full screen. It is ideal for public use where auto sign-in is enabled and high security is needed. It pushes the kiosk mode to a local standard user account running on the device.
- On the other hand, Multi-app lockdown runs multiple UWP apps. This is ideal for the shared use of fixed-purpose devices in offices. Approved apps appear as tiles in the start layout on the desktop when the assigned local standard user account is logged in.
Features
- Streamlined setup process: The user-friendly interface of Hexnode Windows kiosk solution enables quick and easy configuration of kiosk devices, reducing the time and effort required for deployment.
- Reduced running costs and maintenance efforts: The kiosk devices can be remotely managed and monitored, eliminating the need for on-site maintenance and reducing downtime using Hexnode UEM.
- Enhanced kiosk performance: Hexnode Windows kiosk solution enables businesses to customize the kiosk environment, ensuring that only relevant apps and features are available to employees.
- Remote health monitoring: Hexnode Windows kiosk solution provides real-time alerts and notifications for issues such as a low battery or connectivity issues, enabling quick and efficient troubleshooting.
- Automatic device restart: The solution offers automatic device restart to update new settings, ensuring that kiosk devices are always up-to-date and running smoothly.
- Bulk device integration using PPKG enrollment: Hexnode Windows kiosk solution offers bulk device integration using PPKG (provisioning package) enrollment, enabling businesses to easily enroll and configure multiple devices simultaneously.
- Continuous device monitoring for enhanced security: The solution provides continuous device monitoring to protect the OS from manipulations and hacking. It offers features such as application whitelisting and blacklisting, device lockdown, and restricted access to ensure enhanced security.
- Remote device scan and location tracking: Hexnode Windows kiosk solution provides real-time location tracking of kiosk devices enabling businesses to quickly locate and recover lost or stolen devices.
- Remote lock and complete data wipe: This feature enables businesses to quickly and efficiently troubleshoot devices, ensuring that sensitive data remains secure.
- Complete visibility: Hexnode Windows kiosk solution enables businesses to track and manage device inventory, ensuring that kiosk devices are operating efficiently and effectively.
Note:
- The system requirements for activating Windows kiosk mode include:
- A Windows 11 or Windows 10 device with Pro, Enterprise, or Education editions running on v1709 or later
- An active internet connection
- Ultimate and Ultra subscription plans of Hexnode UEM support both Single App and Multi App kiosks.
Get a glimpse of how easy it is to achieve a purpose-specific environment in your organization with Hexnode.
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Hexnode Kiosk Solution
Pricing: Hexnode UEM provides flexible pricing plans to cater to diverse requirements, ranging from Express, Pro, Enterprise, Ultimate, and Ultra. Each plan offers varying features and functionalities, with pricing differing accordingly. The most economical plan, Express, commences at $1.08 per device per month.
Trial-period: 14-day free trial
3. ManageEngine Desktop Central
ManageEngine Desktop Central MDM is a powerful device management solution that offers robust features to help manage Windows kiosk devices from a centralized location. They provide organizations with the ability to increase the security of their devices. IT admins can also administer the devices from a single location, personalize the kiosk mode settings and cut IT costs.
Note:
Some of the pre-requisites for Windows Kiosk policy in ManageEngine Desktop Central MDM are as follows:
- Windows Home edition devices are not supported in the Kiosk policy.
- The account user must be a standard user. Administrator accounts are not supported in Kiosk.
- Windows Kiosk policy is user-specific, and only assigned users with accessible user accounts on the device are provisioned under Kiosk (this also applies to AD users).
- Only Universal Windows Provisioning (UWP) apps, commonly referred to as Metro-style apps or Modern apps, can be delivered using Kiosk.
- The device has to have the apps that will be provided through Kiosk. Apps must be available in the App Repository for quiet installation to take place.
Features
- Flexible configuration options: Desktop Central MDM offers a variety of kiosk modes that can be customized to meet the demands of different enterprises.
- Application management: By allowing enterprises to remotely install, update, and delete applications on kiosk devices, Desktop Central MDM makes sure that their devices are always secure and up to date.
- Controlling user access: By limiting access to only certain apps or features, IT admins can make sure that users can only access the information they need to complete their tasks.
- Monitoring and analytics: To make sure that kiosks are working properly, IT admins can keep an eye on device activity, user activity and device status.
- Security features: Desktop Central MDM offers strong security features, such as password protection, session time-outs, etc. to prevent unauthorized access.
Pricing: The standard edition costs $495 a year for 50 devices.
Trial-period: 30-day free trial
4. Scalefusion
Scalefusion MDM enables businesses to manage and secure their Windows 10 devices. With Scalefusion’s Kiosk mode feature, businesses can easily set up their Windows 10 devices as kiosks and restrict user access to a single app or group of apps. They provide businesses with a powerful tool to enhance productivity, reduce costs, and improve security by preventing unauthorized access to the device’s settings and features.
Note:
- The Scalefusion MDM agent needs to be installed on Windows OS 7 and 8.1 devices.
- Windows Enterprise or Windows Education are advised for a better Single App Mode/Kiosk App experience.
- Minimum OS requirements for Scalefusion MDM’s Windows Kiosk mode are:
- Windows Enterprise or Windows Education Edition (recommended) with build Number 1709 & above
- Windows Professional Edition with build Number 1809 & above.
Features
- Auto-start and reboot: Scalefusion Kiosk software enables you to periodically reboot your device and start the kiosk app at boot time to maximize performance and reliability.
- User authentication: Organizations can set up user authentication for increased security using Scalefusion’s Windows Kiosk mode functionality.
- Browser management: Scalefusion offers Windows Kiosk Browser for Windows 10 devices. With the help of this, IT administrators can set up comprehensive browser preferences. They can also disable JavaScript, pop-up windows, form autofill, cookies, and history.
- Remote troubleshooting: Enterprises can manage their kiosk devices remotely from a web-based console, allowing them to easily troubleshoot issues, push updates, and perform other management tasks from anywhere.
Pricing: Each device costs $2 to $4 each month.
Trial-period: 14-day Free Trial
5. IBM MaaS360
IBM MaaS360 MDM provides a comprehensive kiosk mode for Windows devices. It allows IT admins to restrict access to a single app or a set of apps, enabling organizations to set up self-service kiosks, public displays and digital signage. With IBM MaaS360, IT admins can deploy and manage kiosk mode configurations for Windows devices. They can also customize the user interface to ensure that only the necessary apps and features are available to users. The kiosk mode provided by IBM MaaS360 is supported by Windows 10 Pro, Education and Enterprise.
Features
- Flexibility: Kiosk mode configurations of IBM MaaS360 enable IT admins to lock down Windows devices to a single app or a set of apps. They provide the ability to remotely manage and monitor kiosk mode configurations. They also help to troubleshoot issues with devices from a centralized dashboard.
- Assigned access: This enables the configuration of a kiosk system with different user accounts to safeguard shared devices as well as lock those devices to a single Universal app.
- Configurations: Advanced policy configurations enable IT admins to control device features such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and camera access and configure device settings such as display brightness, power options and screen timeout.
- Multi-app kiosk mode: Using IBM MaaS360, IT admins can assign up to 10 apps in a single group in multi-app kiosk mode. Additionally, admins can also assign the same kiosk profile to many users on the system.
Pricing: The four options offered by IBM MaaS360 are Essentials, Deluxe, Premier and Enterprise, with a monthly cost of $4, $5, $6.25 and $9 per device respectively.
Trial-period: 30 days free trial
6. SOTI MobiControl
SOTI MobiControl MDM solution allows organizations to manage and secure their mobile devices and applications. With its Kiosk mode feature, SOTI MobiControl can help transform Windows devices into kiosks. This helps the organizations to control user access and improve device security.
Features
- Supported devices: SOTI MobiControl’s Kiosk mode supports a range of Windows devices, including desktops, laptops, tablets, and even IoT devices.
- User interface: Organizations can customize the user interface of their kiosks using SOTI MobiControl’s Kiosk mode, allowing for a seamless and branded user experience.
- Advanced security features: They offer advanced security features, such as disabling USB ports, disabling screen savers, and restricting access to the Windows taskbar and other system settings.
- Assigned access: The kiosk mode prevents device users from accessing any other applications or device controls while Assigned Access is active. This can be applied to a local device account, a domain account, or a Microsoft account
Pricing: varies from $3.25 to $90 per device per month.
Trial-period: 30-day free trial
7. SureMDM
SureLock and SureFox Kiosk lockdown are two features offered by SureMDM. They allow companies to transform their Windows devices into interactive kiosks, ultimately improving employee productivity. This software allows users to only access whitelisted applications and content displayed on the screen.
This solution also benefits businesses by deploying off-the-shelf mobile devices as kiosks in high-traffic areas. It will thereby provide a wider audience access to business-related apps and increasing sales. Additionally, the kiosk software saves infrastructure costs by locking mobile devices into kiosk mode. Businesses have more control over their apps and can restrict user access to one or multiple specific apps.
Features
- Kiosk lockdown: SureMDM’s kiosk lockdown feature enables businesses to restrict Windows devices to IT-approved, whitelisted applications.
- Secure browser: SureMDM offers a secure browsing experience for Windows devices by restricting access to only pre-approved websites.
- Kiosk video player: SureMDM enables businesses to turn any Windows 10 device into a secure video player that loops videos in a playlist and prevents viewers from tampering with or exiting video playback.
- Additional capabilities: Some of the other capabilities offered by SureLock Kiosk Mode for Windows 10 are as follows:
- Restrict access to pre-approved applications only
- Allow browsing of specific websites or URLs only
- Automatically launch selected applications at the system startup
- Enable automatic login after a system reboot
- Disable the Ctrl-Alt-Delete key combination
- Filter and customize keyboard inputs
- Protect settings with a password
- Customize background wallpaper as per choice
- Disable access to Windows Task Manager
- Configure Windows Kiosk Mode simultaneously on multiple computers using SureMDM
Pricing: starts from $3.99 per month per device.
Trial-period: 30-day free trial
8. VMware Workspace ONE
VMware Workspace ONE UEM offers a complete solution for managing Windows 10 devices in kiosk mode. They allow organizations to streamline workflows, improve productivity, and enhance security. Kiosk Mode enables IT administrators to convert a Windows 10 device into a dedicated, single-purpose device that runs a specific app or set of apps. With Workspace ONE UEM, organizations can implement kiosk mode on their Windows 10 devices with ease and control access to specific apps, websites, or other device features.
Features
- URL filtering: Restrict user access to specific websites or URLs while in kiosk mode, ensuring that users only have access to the websites that are necessary for their tasks.
- Automatic updates: Automatically deploy software updates to kiosk mode devices to ensure that they are up-to-date and secure.
- Customizable security settings: Customize security settings to meet your organization’s specific security requirements and ensure that kiosk mode is secure and protected from unauthorized access.
- Automatic app launch: Configure kiosk mode to automatically launch a specific app or set of apps when the device starts. This will ensure that users are presented with the necessary application immediately.
Pricing: Four pricing plans are available: Employee Essentials, Mobile Essentials, Desktop Essentials, and UEM Essentials. Among these, the most economical option is the Employee Essentials plan. It offers a monthly subscription fee of $1.66 per device or $3.00 per user.
Trial-period: 30-day free trial
9. Citrix Endpoint Management
By using Citrix Endpoint Management, organizations can easily deploy and manage their Kiosk devices. They also ensure that the devices are made secure and compliant with corporate policies. IT teams can easily configure and deploy Windows Kiosk devices across their organization. Furthermore, they enforce strict security policies to protect corporate data.
Features
- Secure network access: Citrix Endpoint Management provides secure network access for Kiosk devices, ensuring that devices can only connect to authorized networks.
- App whitelisting: Administrators can define a list of authorized apps that can be used on Kiosk devices, preventing users from downloading or installing unauthorized apps.
- Automated enrollment: Citrix Endpoint Management supports automated device enrollment, making it easy for organizations to deploy Kiosk devices at scale.
- Automatic kiosk launch: Using Citrix Endpoint Management, IT admins can activate the kiosk policy upon device startup by users.
Pricing: begins at $2.25 per device per month.
Trial period: Free trial available
10. Radix VISO
Radix VISO device management simplifies the setup of multi-app kiosk mode. It’s done by transforming devices into predetermined environments with specific functionality and device appearance. It secures external ports, hardware components, and applications to prevent user interaction, except for whitelisted applications and essential hardware elements. IT admins can also centrally manage multiple Windows kiosk devices, collect reports and implement policy and security measures.
Features
- Multi-app: Multiple selected apps can be whitelisted to ensure users only have access to the necessary applications.
- Customized launcher: It helps to remove the start and apps menu, creating a seamless and focused user experience.
- Custom kiosk background: This will help to personalize the kiosk mode environment and better align with branding guidelines.
- Additional features: The IT admins can configure device settings including camera, Wi-Fi, power, etc.. This will optimize the device for its intended purpose in kiosk mode.
Pricing: Three plans are available: VISO Standard, VISO Professional, and VISO Premium with a yearly cost of $11.50, $22, and $33 per device respectively.
Trial-period: Free trial available
Conclusion
As you consider your options for Windows kiosk software and Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions, it’s important to take the time to carefully evaluate your needs and preferences. With the help of our list of top MDM solutions for Windows kiosk software, you can make an informed decision that aligns with your organization’s goals and objectives. So go ahead and explore the features and capabilities of each solution and choose the one that best fits your needs. And as always, happy kiosk hunting! 👋🏻
Disclaimer
All product and company names are trademarks™ or registered® trademarks of their respective holders. Use of them does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement by them.
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