These are two of the longest-running names in kiosk software.
On paper, they look a lot alike.
Both lock down Windows and Android. Both clear data between users. Both offer remote management.
The differences are in the details, and in where each product is headed.
If you are choosing between KioWare and SiteKiosk, or you are a SiteKiosk Classic customer weighing your next move, this guide lays out how the two compare in real deployments. It covers what each platform is today, what the SiteKiosk Classic sunset means, how the products stack up side by side, and how to decide.
Two Established Kiosk Software Platforms
SiteKiosk is made by PROVISIO. Its current flagship, SiteKiosk Online, bundles three things into one subscription: lockdown (Protect), remote management (Manage), and content management for kiosks and digital signage (Show). The older product, SiteKiosk Classic, is a standalone lockdown product that is being phased out.
KioWare is kiosk and device lockdown software for Windows, Android, and Linux. It is sold in three tiers, Starter, Essential, and Enterprise, and one license installs on any of the three operating systems. Central kiosk management is optional and available through KioCloud (hosted) or KioWare Server (self-hosted).
So the core difference is packaging. SiteKiosk Online is an all-in-one platform. KioWare is lockdown first, with management added when you need it.
If You Run SiteKiosk Classic, You Have a Decision Coming
PROVISIO has announced that SiteKiosk Classic will get no new features. The last day to purchase it is December 31, 2029, and support ends December 31, 2030. The SiteRemote functions that once handled remote management for Classic have also been discontinued.
That means every SiteKiosk Classic deployment is headed for a move, either to SiteKiosk Online or to another platform.
There is one detail worth checking early. SiteKiosk's own FAQ notes that SiteKiosk Online requires a connection to the cloud or to your own server, and that offline setups have relied on Classic. If any of your kiosks run with limited or no connectivity, ask every vendor you evaluate exactly how their product behaves offline.
If you are going to migrate anyway, it is the right moment to compare your options rather than default to the next version of what you already have.
KioWare vs. SiteKiosk, Side by Side
Here is how the two compare on the points that matter most. Details come from each company's own website as of fall 2026, so confirm current specifics with each vendor before you buy.
Operating systems. SiteKiosk Online runs on Windows 10 and 11 (64-bit, no ARM) and Android 7 through 15. KioWare runs on Windows 10 and 11, Windows Server 2016, 2019, and 2022, Android 5.0 and later, and Linux through KioWare OS for Linux, including Raspberry Pi 4B and 400 hardware. If your fleet includes Linux devices, older Android hardware, or Windows Server machines, that narrows the field quickly.
Lockdown. Both platforms lock down the device at the operating system level. SiteKiosk replaces the Windows shell, blocks key combinations like Ctrl-Alt-Del, and can block USB sticks. KioWare provides OS and desktop lockdown, keyboard filtering, startup on boot, and single app mode. Either can secure a public kiosk. Test both against your own kiosk security requirements.
Browser. SiteKiosk's Windows client uses the Microsoft Edge (WebView2) engine. KioWare for Windows is built on Chromium. Both support website whitelisting, download control, and popup blocking, and both clear session data automatically when a user leaves.
Content and attract screens. This is a real strength for SiteKiosk. SiteKiosk Online includes a full content management system with templates, scheduling, and video wall support. KioWare offers dynamic attract screens and lets you push content and configurations centrally through its management tools. If digital signage is the main job, weigh SiteKiosk's CMS seriously.
Remote management. Every SiteKiosk Online license includes remote management, hosted in the cloud (US or EU), on a dedicated server, or on-premises. KioWare's management is an optional add-on for the Enterprise tier, available hosted (KioCloud) or self-hosted (KioWare Server) and quoted separately. That cuts both ways. If you need central management on every device, SiteKiosk bundles it. If you run standalone kiosks that do not need it, KioWare lets you skip paying for it.
Peripherals. SiteKiosk publishes a supported-device list that includes accessibility keypads, Nexmosphere sensors, and ccTalk bill and coin acceptors. KioWare adds device support release by release, including recent support for the PAX A80 payment terminal and Pertech check scanners. Whatever you evaluate, bring your exact hardware list and ask for confirmation by make and model.
Pricing and trials. Both platforms price per device, per year. Because SiteKiosk Online bundles management and CMS, and KioWare separates lockdown from management, list prices are not a like-for-like comparison. Price out your actual configuration with each vendor. For trials, SiteKiosk Online offers 30 days. KioWare offers 14 days with no credit card required, and your configuration carries over when you buy.
When SiteKiosk Is the Better Fit
SiteKiosk makes sense when signage and content are central to the deployment.
If your screens spend most of their time showing scheduled content, you want management included on every device by default, and your fleet is entirely Windows and Android, SiteKiosk Online's all-in-one model is a strong option.
When KioWare Is the Better Fit
KioWare makes sense when flexibility and lockdown come first.
If you run Linux devices, older Android hardware, or Windows Server machines, if you want to lock down kiosks without paying for management on every one, if you want a single license that works across Windows, Android, and Linux, or if your kiosks rely on payment and scanning peripherals, KioWare's kiosk software is built for that mix.
What to Ask Before You Choose
Work through these before you commit.
Which operating systems will your fleet run, now and in three years?
Map every device type you run today and the ones you are likely to add. Platform coverage is the fastest way to rule a product in or out.
Do you need central management on every device?
A large, distributed fleet almost always does. A few standalone kiosks may not. Your answer changes the real cost of each option.
Will every kiosk always be online?
If some locations have spotty connectivity, get a clear answer on offline behavior before you sign anything.
What hardware has to work on day one?
Payment devices, accessibility keypads, sensors, and scanners each need specific support. Ask by make and model.
If you are on SiteKiosk Classic, what does your migration look like?
Whichever platform you move to, plan the timeline, the reconfiguration work, and the testing now. For a broader framework, see our guide to what goes wrong in kiosk deployments and how to avoid it.
The Bottom Line
KioWare and SiteKiosk are both serious kiosk software platforms. The choice comes down to fit.
SiteKiosk Online bundles lockdown, management, and signage content into one subscription for Windows and Android. KioWare puts lockdown first, runs on Windows, Android, and Linux under one license, and lets you add management when your fleet needs it. And if you are on SiteKiosk Classic, the clock is already running, which makes this the right time to compare. For more on vetting any vendor, see our guide to choosing a kiosk software company.
See how KioWare handles your deployment. Try KioWare free for 14 days on your own hardware, or download our Kiosk Security Checklist to pressure-test your plan before you commit.
