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Porteus Kiosk

Name: Porteus Kiosk
Price: 26 EUR

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What Porteus Kiosk is

Porteus Kiosk is a lightweight Linux operating system that locks 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, along with digital signage, as uses. It runs on x86_64 PCs, needs at least 2 GB of RAM and 1 GB of storage, and does not support ARM devices such as Raspberry Pi. Installation uses a hybrid ISO image written to media such as a USB stick, hard drive, SSD/eMMC device, or SD/MMC card. 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 system image with startup checks that halt boot if registered component values do not match. Porteus Kiosk Server can monitor and manage clients behind NAT, proxies, or firewalls, supporting up to 1000 clients. Clients must obtain updates from the maker's domain and need separate subscriptions. The ThinClient variant supports Citrix, RDP, VNC, and SSH; the Cloud variant is intended mainly for education and provides access to services including Google Apps for Education, OwnCloud, and Dropbox.

Who it suits

Porteus Kiosk suits organizations setting up browser-only public terminals or digital signage on x86_64 PCs. It may also suit administrators managing multiple clients remotely, or education deployments using its Cloud variant.

What it does well

Opens a chosen homepage in a browser-only system
Clears caches when the browser closes and does not save passwords
Automatic updates are enabled by default
Server can manage up to 1000 clients
ThinClient variant supports Citrix, RDP, VNC, and SSH

What to know first

Requires x86_64 PCs and does not support ARM devices
Needs at least 2 GB RAM and 1 GB storage
Continued use requires a subscription after the 30-day evaluation
Clients need separate subscriptions for updates

Limits

A non-activated client can be evaluated for up to 30 days; a subscription is required afterward. The 1–10 PC automatic updates and support subscription costs €40 per PC per year, excluding VAT. Clients require separate subscriptions for updates even when managed through Porteus Kiosk Server.

Plans

Plan	Billed and limits	Price
Automatic updates and support subscription (201–500 PCs)	€26 EUR per PC per year (excl. VAT) · 201–500 PCs · 35% discount	€26 a year
Automatic updates and support subscription (101–200 PCs)	€28 EUR per PC per year (excl. VAT) · 101–200 PCs · 30% discount	€28 a year
Automatic updates and support subscription (51–100 PCs)	€30 EUR per PC per year (excl. VAT) · 51–100 PCs · 25% discount	€30 a year
Porteus Kiosk Server subscription	€300 euros (excl. VAT) per year · Up to 1000 clients · clients require separate subscriptions for updates	€300 a year
Automatic updates and support subscription (26–50 PCs)	€33 EUR per PC per year (excl. VAT) · 26–50 PCs · 17.5% discount	€33 a year
Automatic updates and support subscription (11–25 PCs)	€36 EUR per PC per year (excl. VAT) · 11–25 PCs · 10% discount	€36 a year
Automatic updates and support subscription (1–10 PCs)	€40 EUR per PC per year (excl. VAT) · 1–10 PCs · subscription required after 30-day free evaluation	€40 a year
Automatic updates and support subscription (above 500 PCs)	Negotiable · Above 500 PCs	On request

As porteus-kiosk.org lists them, read 7 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.

Getting started

Visit https://porteus-kiosk.org/
Download the hybrid ISO for a free evaluation of up to 30 days
Write the ISO to writable media such as a USB stick, hard drive, SSD/eMMC, or SD/MMC card
Install it on an x86_64 PC with at least 2 GB RAM and 1 GB storage
Select the homepage to open at startup
Choose a subscription to continue using the client after the evaluation

Verdict

Choose Porteus Kiosk for browser-locked terminals or signage on supported x86_64 hardware, especially when remote client management is useful. Look elsewhere if your devices are ARM-based or you need a free ongoing plan; continued use requires a subscription after the trial.

Questions

Is Porteus Kiosk free?

There is no free plan, but a non-activated client version can be evaluated for up to 30 days. A subscription is required to continue afterward.

How much does a client subscription cost?

The 1–10 PC automatic updates and support subscription is €40 per PC per year, excluding VAT. Pricing varies by number of PCs.

Which hardware does Porteus Kiosk support?

It supports Linux on x86_64 PCs and requires at least 2 GB RAM and 1 GB storage. ARM devices such as Raspberry Pi are not supported.

Can Porteus Kiosk Server manage remote clients?

Yes. It can monitor and manage clients behind NAT, proxies, or firewalls, and supports up to 1000 clients. Client updates come from the maker's domain and require separate subscriptions.

What connectivity protocols does ThinClient support?

The ThinClient variant includes applications supporting Citrix, RDP, VNC, and SSH.

What is Porteus Kiosk used for?

The maker lists browser-based public terminals in schools, libraries, cafes, hotels, offices, and tourist centers, as well as digital signage.

Facts from Porteus Kiosk's own pages

Automatic updates: Automatic updates are enabled by default for client systems and provide security patches, updated components, and new system features. · porteus-kiosk.org, 7 Oct 2026
Browser privacy: Browser history is not kept, passwords are not saved, and caches are cleared when the browser closes. · porteus-kiosk.org, 7 Oct 2026
Cloud use: The Cloud variant is intended mainly for education and provides access to web applications and services including Google Apps for Education, OwnCloud, and Dropbox. · porteus-kiosk.org, 7 Oct 2026
Customization: The maker offers a paid customization service for additional functions not available by default, with quoted pricing and delivery ranging from a working day to a few weeks in typical cases. · porteus-kiosk.org, 7 Oct 2026
Hardware: The system supports x86_64 PCs and requires at least 2 GB RAM and 1 GB storage; ARM devices such as Raspberry Pi are not supported. · porteus-kiosk.org, 7 Oct 2026
Headquarters: Biskupice, Poland · porteus-kiosk.org, 28 Sept 2026
Installation: It is distributed as a hybrid ISO image that can be installed on writable media such as USB sticks, hard drives, SSD/eMMC devices, or SD/MMC cards. · porteus-kiosk.org, 7 Oct 2026
Integrations: The ThinClient variant includes applications supporting Citrix, RDP, VNC, and SSH connectivity protocols. · porteus-kiosk.org, 7 Oct 2026
Product: Porteus Kiosk is a lightweight Linux operating system restricted to browser use that opens a chosen homepage at startup. · porteus-kiosk.org, 7 Oct 2026
Remote administration: Porteus Kiosk Server can monitor and manage clients behind NAT, proxies, or firewalls, and supports up to 1000 clients. · porteus-kiosk.org, 7 Oct 2026
Security design: The maker says the OS is distributed as a read-only ISO image and checks system components at startup, stopping boot if registered values do not match. · porteus-kiosk.org, 7 Oct 2026
Server security limitation: Porteus Kiosk Server cannot host client system updates; clients must update from the maker's domain and require a separate subscription. · porteus-kiosk.org, 7 Oct 2026
Support: Active client subscriptions include software and hardware help; standard support queries are answered by email within 24 hours. · porteus-kiosk.org, 7 Oct 2026
Trial and licensing: A non-activated client version can be downloaded and tested free for up to 30 days, after which a subscription is required to continue using it. · porteus-kiosk.org, 7 Oct 2026
Use cases: The maker lists public web terminals in schools, libraries, cafes, hotels, offices, and tourist centers, plus digital signage. · porteus-kiosk.org, 7 Oct 2026