FreeKiosk

FreeKiosk turns Android tablets into fullscreen kiosks for websites, web apps, or external Android apps. Device Owner mode can hide system controls and prevent users from leaving the kiosk. Video playback and image slideshows support digital signage, while URL Rotation & Planner can cycle through URLs or schedule them by time and date. For automation, FreeKiosk offers more than 40 REST API endpoints for Home Assistant control and native MQTT with Home Assistant auto-discovery. An optional Cloud dashboard provides live device monitoring, remote commands, groups, configuration profiles, alerts, and screenshots. The first Cloud device is free, billed forever, with no card required. Cloud pricing is €1 a month per device for 1–99 devices and €0.80 a month per device for 100–499 devices, with the first device free; both rates exclude VAT. The 500+ device rate is described as below the 499-device rate, but no price is listed. The Android app is free and open source under the MIT license, while Cloud source code is unpublished. FreeKiosk requires Android 8.0 or later; Device Owner setup requires ADB and a factory-reset device.

FreeKiosk pairs Android kiosk lockdown and signage tools with optional cloud fleet management. Its free Android app and first Cloud device have distinct terms, while larger Cloud fleets have per-device monthly rates.

FreeKiosk suits teams deploying Android tablets as kiosks or signage, including teams managing many devices across locations. Device Owner setup requires ADB and a factory-reset device.

Overview

FreeKiosk is Android software for turning tablets into fullscreen kiosks for websites, web apps, or Android apps. It suits operators who need locked-down displays, signage, or Home Assistant automation on Android. Its strongest case is a no-cost app with useful kiosk and signage controls; the main caveats are a demanding setup for full lockdown and separate Cloud charges as fleets grow.

Key features

Device Owner mode can hide system controls and prevent users from exiting the kiosk, making a tablet more appropriate for public-facing or dedicated operational use. That protection comes with a setup cost: ADB and a factory reset are required, so it is a poor match for devices that must remain configured and in service during deployment.

Video playback and image slideshows support basic digital signage, while URL Rotation & Planner can cycle through pages or schedule them by date and time. The combination is useful for displays mixing web content and media, though the facts support these specific tools rather than a claim of a broader signage suite.

More than 40 REST API endpoints and native MQTT with Home Assistant auto-discovery give automation-oriented users ways to control FreeKiosk. The optional Cloud dashboard adds live monitoring, remote commands, groups, configuration profiles, alerts, and screenshots. These controls are especially relevant to teams managing devices across locations, but they are separate from the free Android app.

The Android app is open source under the MIT license. Its maker says it contains no analytics or crash-reporting SDK and stores settings on the device unless it is enrolled in Cloud. Cloud uses TOTP two-factor authentication, a unique SHA-256 hashed API key per device, and per-organization data isolation; its fleet data is hosted by OVH in France and, according to the maker, is not sold, rented, or shared for advertising. The Cloud platform's source code is not published.

Pricing

The FreeKiosk Android app costs nothing for Android 8.0+. That makes it an appealing starting point for an Android deployment, but full Device Owner lockdown still requires ADB and a factory-reset device.

FreeKiosk Cloud's first device costs nothing, billed forever, with one device and no card required. For 1–99 devices, the rate is €1 a month per device, billed per device per month, excluding VAT; the first device is free. For 100–499 devices, the rate falls to €0.80 a month per device, billed per device per month for the whole fleet, excluding VAT; the first device is free. The 500+ device plan is custom pricing and is billed below the 499-device rate. The lower Cloud commitment is suitable for a single-device start; larger deployments gain lower per-device rates at the 100-device threshold, while the first-device allowance does not make the rest of a fleet free.

Platforms

FreeKiosk supports Android, with Android 8.0 or later required. Its deployment model is hybrid, and it provides remote management and digital signage support. The Android-only scope rules it out for organizations that need a single kiosk product across iOS or desktop platforms.

Who it's for

FreeKiosk is best suited to Android kiosk operators who value lockdown, web-and-media signage, or Home Assistant control, and are prepared to set up devices deliberately. Its maker describes Cloud as built for teams managing dozens or hundreds of kiosks across multiple locations, where remote monitoring and fleet controls can matter more than avoiding a per-device charge. Support is available at [email protected], and the documentation directs users to the FAQ or GitHub Issues.

Pros and cons

• Pros: The Android app is free and MIT-licensed, with kiosk lockdown, video and slideshow signage, and URL scheduling in one package.
• Pros: Home Assistant users get both REST API access and native MQTT with auto-discovery; Cloud adds remote commands and fleet oversight.
• Cons: Device Owner setup requires ADB and a factory reset, which complicates rollout on tablets already in use.
• Cons: Cloud is a separate paid service beyond the first device, and the platform itself is not open source.
• Cons: Android-only support limits its fit for mixed-platform deployments.

Alternatives

For a directory of other kiosk-browser options, see Kiosk Browsers. Choose KioskFrame if an iOS kiosk browser is the priority: its free core browser has no time limit, while its monthly plan is $4.99 a month with a 14-day free trial. SureAsset is a better fit when the need is asset lifecycle management, hardware and software license tracking, or API access and automation across platforms including Android, macOS, Linux, web, Windows, and iOS.

UniKiosk may suit teams seeking a free-per-screen Android and web signage product: its free plan is described as unlimited screens, all 26 widgets, full kiosk lockdown, an on-device admin console, and 451 templates. Kiosk is an open-source PDF reader alternative. Consider Kiosker if an Android or iOS option with a subscription model is a better match; its monthly plan is $6.99 a month and yearly plan is $24.99 a year, each with a 7-day free trial.

LimaxLock Secure Browser is another Android option with per-device pricing and a 14-day free trial. Hexnode Kiosk Browser is worth considering for Android, iOS, or Windows deployments: its Pro plan is $2.20 a month and Enterprise is $3.20 a month, both starting with 15 devices and 2 technicians. For iOS-only deployments, Kiosk Pro is an alternative with paid plans.

Verdict

Choose FreeKiosk if you need Android tablets locked to web or app content, want built-in signage or Home Assistant controls, and can accommodate its factory-reset setup. The free app and the first free Cloud device make it easy to start without an app charge; look elsewhere if you need cross-platform support, want to avoid device-reset deployment, or need a Cloud fleet without per-device costs.