Kiosk

Kiosk is a free, open-source PDF reader for web, desktop, mobile, and browser extensions, released under the MIT License. It renders PDFs and includes full-text search with highlighted results, page thumbnails, zoom, and light, dark, and night display modes. Its Chrome extension adds highlighting, underlining, strikethrough, drawing, shapes, and text annotations. The project says PDFs are processed on the device without telemetry, cloud processing, or an account requirement. The Android app works offline after installation, and extension release notes also describe offline use. The web app can run locally or be deployed through GitHub Pages as a self-hosted instance. Desktop apps can open PDFs directly and associate Kiosk with PDF files; the extension can intercept PDFs opened in Chrome. The extension supports Chrome 88+, Edge 88+, and Brave, but not Firefox or Safari. The Android release is an early alpha, with some features and performance work still in progress. The macOS app is ad-hoc signed and not notarized, so Gatekeeper may show a warning on first launch.

Kiosk covers core PDF reading and annotation across several platforms, with on-device processing and offline options. Readers should account for the Android alpha status, browser limits, and macOS warning.

Kiosk suits readers who want a free PDF reader with annotation tools and offline options. Its self-hosted web deployment may suit readers who want to serve the web app locally or through GitHub Pages.

Kiosk is a free, open-source PDF reader for desktop, mobile, web, and browser extensions. It is best suited to readers who want local document handling and, in Chrome, a broad set of annotation tools. Its range is appealing, though Android remains experimental and browser support is selective.

Overview

Kiosk covers the essentials for reading and navigating PDFs: full-text search with highlighted matches, page thumbnails, smooth zoom, and light, dark, and night modes. The project says files are processed on-device, without telemetry, cloud processing, or an account requirement. That makes it a strong fit for readers who prioritize local document handling, but it is not a cloud-based reading or collaboration service.

Key features

• PDF navigation: Search, thumbnails, and zoom serve both quick lookups and longer reading sessions. The three display modes offer practical flexibility without expanding the product beyond PDF reading.
• Markup: The Chrome extension supports highlighting, underlining, strikethrough, drawing, shapes, and text annotations. That is a useful review toolkit for Chrome users; readers on other platforms should not assume the same annotation set.
• Offline and self-hosted use: Android works without internet after installation, and the extension supports offline use. The web app can be served locally or deployed through GitHub Pages, giving technically comfortable users a self-hosting option.
• Opening PDFs: Desktop apps can open PDFs directly and be associated with PDF files, while the extension can intercept PDFs opened in Chrome. These options make Kiosk easier to use as a default reader in supported environments.

Pricing

Kiosk is free and open source under the MIT License, with no paid plans or free trial. The free plan includes the PDF reader without a stated seat or usage quota, so it suits individual readers who want the core product without a subscription. There is no higher paid tier for added services or capabilities.

Platforms

Kiosk spans Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows, web, self-hosted deployments, and browser extensions. The extension supports Chrome 88+, Edge 88+, and Brave, but not Firefox or Safari, so it is a poor fit for users committed to either unsupported browser. Android is explicitly an early alpha, with features and performance work still underway; readers who need a mature mobile experience should weigh that caveat carefully. On macOS, the app is ad-hoc signed and not notarized, so Gatekeeper may warn on first launch. Linux users are directed to report bugs through GitHub issues.

Who it's for

Kiosk makes sense for readers who want a no-cost PDF reader with local processing, offline options, and convenient desktop file handling. Chrome users who annotate documents get the clearest feature case. It is less suitable for people who require Firefox or Safari support, a polished Android release, or cloud-based document workflows.

Pros and cons

• Pros: On-device processing, no telemetry, and no account requirement suit privacy-conscious readers.
• Pros: Chrome annotations cover several common markup methods, from text notes to drawing and shapes.
• Pros: Offline support and local or GitHub Pages deployment offer options for use without a hosted account workflow.
• Cons: The Android app is early alpha, so it may not meet expectations for a mature mobile reader.
• Cons: Firefox and Safari are unsupported, limiting browser choice for extension users.
• Cons: The macOS app may trigger a Gatekeeper warning on first launch because it is not notarized.

Alternatives

For other PDF reader options, browse PDF Readers. For kiosk-focused software rather than a PDF reader, see Kiosk Management Software or Kiosk Browsers. The other linked products are webhook tools: Dispatch, Hook0, Hookdeck, Hookdeck Outpost, RelayHQ, Repost, Svix, and Webhook Management. The Webhook Management Software directory is also available for comparing that category.

Verdict

Choose Kiosk if you want a free, open-source PDF reader that keeps processing local and provides useful Chrome annotation tools. Look elsewhere if you need Firefox or Safari support, a mature Android app, or a cloud-centered workflow.