Windows 11 Kiosk Mode vs SiteKiosk Online

When it comes to locking down public or shared Windows devices, Windows 11 kiosk mode, often configured through Assigned Access mode, is one of the first options IT admins explore. It’s a simple way to restrict a PC to run a single app or experience, ideal for digital signage, check‑in stations, or self‑service kiosks. But while Windows 11’s built‑in tools provide a good starting point, many organizations soon find they need more flexibility, remote management, and customization than Assigned Access mode can deliver. That’s where SiteKiosk Online comes in—a comprehensive kiosk management platform that’s not only more powerful but also easier to use and configure. With an intuitive web interface and ready‑to‑deploy templates, SiteKiosk Online streamlines setup and ongoing management, helping IT teams save time while maintaining full control over their kiosk environments. SiteKiosk Online is available as both Cloud and on-premise versions.

Feature support table

Feature	SiteKiosk Online	Windows 11 kiosk mode
Kiosk lockdown of Windows session (restricted user access)	✅ Supported	✅ Supported
Hardened / locked‑down browser environment	✅ Hardened kiosk browser	✅ Via Edge kiosk mode (fewer kiosk‑specific controls)
Accessibility	✅ Includes built-in accessibility options such as adjustable zoom, on-screen keyboard, configurable font sizes, and support for assistive input to make the kiosk easier to use for people with disabilities.	⚠️ Relies on standard Windows and app-level accessibility features; no dedicated kiosk-wide accessibility configuration interface.
Customizable Start page layout	✅ Fully customizable start page with configurable buttons, sections, and branding.	❌ Uses the built-in kiosk start experience with limited layout control.
Branding and themes	✅ Supports custom logos, colors, backgrounds, and styles to match corporate branding.	❌ Limited to basic Windows personalization; no kiosk-specific theming options.
Navigation controls	✅ Flexible browser/toolbars, custom home buttons, navigation rules, and on-screen controls.	✅ Navigation options depend on the assigned app (e.g., Edge); minimal kiosk-level control.
Customizable On-screen elements	✅ Fine-grained control over which UI elements are visible (address bar, context menus, system icons).	❌ UI elements are mostly determined by the kiosk app and Windows; fewer options to hide or customize them.
Customizable Idle and attract screens	✅ Customizable idle/attract loops, digital signage content, and timeouts between kiosk and signage modes.	❌ Basic lock screen and timeout behavior; no integrated attract-loop or signage-focused UI.
Single‑app kiosk	✅ Supported (dedicated browser/project)	✅ Supported (assigned access single app)
Multi‑app kiosk	✅ Supported via layouts/projects	✅ Supported (multi‑app kiosk profiles)
Centralized cloud portal for alerts, config, content, and devices	✅ SiteKiosk Online management portal	❌ Not included; requires external MDM
Built‑in digital signage CMS (playlists, layouts, scheduling)	✅ Included CMS	❌ Not included; use separate apps/services
Remote monitoring and Alerts (online/offline, status dashboard)	✅ Included monitoring	❌ Not part of kiosk feature; depends on other tools
Remote control / remote desktop to kiosk	✅ Integrated remote access	❌ Requires third‑party tools; not native to kiosk mode
Remote jobs (reboot, file transfer, scripts/actions)	✅ Built‑in jobs/actions	❌ Use MDM/scripting; not a kiosk feature itself
Work with local files and USB storage securely	✅ Hardened file and download manager	❌ Use MDM/policies; not a kiosk feature itself
Web content filtering / URL allow‑ or block‑lists	✅ Browser lockdown & filters	⚠️ Possible via Edge policies and MDM
Session reset on idle / logout (clean user data)	✅ Session control & reset	⚠️ Possible via scripts/policies; less turnkey
Built‑in schedules (reboot, start/stop, content changes)	✅ Scheduling in platform	❌ Use Task Scheduler/MDM; not kiosk‑specific
On‑screen keyboard optimized for kiosk	✅ Kiosk‑focused virtual keyboard	⚠️ Uses standard Windows touch keyboard
Device and folder/app access control (shell, drives, dialogs, etc.)	✅ Fine‑grained lockdown options	✅ Shell/app restriction via kiosk profiles
Cross‑platform support (Windows and Android)	✅ Windows & Android clients	❌ Windows only
Designed specifically for public kiosks & signage	✅ Purpose‑built kiosk/signage solution	❌ General OS lockdown feature for limited scenarios
Shell replacement	✅ Replaces the standard Windows shell with a secure, locked-down kiosk shell.	❌ Uses Assigned Access to lock users into allowed apps; does not provide a dedicated full kiosk shell by default.
Fullscreen	✅ Runs in fullscreen, hides the taskbar and desktop, and keeps users inside the kiosk environment.	⚠️ Can run selected apps (for example, Edge) in a focused fullscreen experience, but still relies on the standard Windows shell.
Dialog blocking	✅ Blocks system dialogs, pop-ups, and unexpected windows, with options to allow only approved ones.	❌ No central dialog-blocking engine; behavior depends on the selected kiosk app and system policies.
Folder/program access rules	✅ Provides granular rules to allow or block drives, folders, files, and external programs.	❌ Focuses on restricting users to specific apps rather than detailed filesystem or external program rules.
Crash recovery	✅ Monitors the kiosk process and can automatically restart after a crash to keep the kiosk available.	❌ Relies on normal Windows and app restart behavior; no dedicated kiosk-specific crash recovery loop.
Account/app switching restrictions	✅ Prevents users from exiting the kiosk session, switching accounts, or launching unauthorized apps.	✅ Assigned Access prevents switching accounts or launching apps beyond the configured allowed list.

Legend:

✅ Supported directly
⚠️ Possible with extra configuration/tooling
❌ Not provided by that feature

FAQ: SiteKiosk Online vs Windows 11 Kiosk Mode

What is the fundamental difference between these two options?

SiteKiosk Online is a purpose-built, cross-platform solution (supporting both Windows and Android) designed specifically for public-facing kiosks and digital signage.
Windows 11 Kiosk Mode is a built-in feature of the operating system designed for limited scenarios, focusing on locking a user into specific apps without providing a full kiosk-specific management ecosystem.

Do they both support single-app and multi-app setups?

Yes. Both platforms support single-app and multi-app kiosk configurations. Windows 11 uses “Assigned Access” profiles for this, while SiteKiosk uses its own layout and project management system.

Management & Remote Access

Can I manage my kiosks remotely through a central dashboard?

SiteKiosk Online: Yes. It includes a centralized cloud portal for alerts, configuration, content distribution, and device status.
Windows 11 Kiosk Mode: No. Remote management is not included natively; you would need to set up and pay for an external MDM (Mobile Device Management) solution.

How do they handle remote maintenance like reboots or file transfers?

SiteKiosk Online has built-in “remote jobs” that allow you to reboot, transfer files, or run scripts directly from the portal.
Windows 11 Kiosk Mode requires you to use standard Windows tools like Task Scheduler or external scripting/MDM tools to perform these actions.

Security & User Experience

Which one is more secure for web browsing?

SiteKiosk Online features a “hardened” kiosk browser designed specifically for security, including built-in URL filtering (allow/block lists) and a dedicated file/download manager.
Windows 11 Kiosk Mode typically uses Microsoft Edge in kiosk mode. While secure, it offers fewer kiosk-specific controls and relies on MDM policies for advanced content filtering.

What happens if the kiosk application crashes?

SiteKiosk Online includes a dedicated crash recovery system that monitors the kiosk process and automatically restarts it to ensure the machine stays functional.
Windows 11 Kiosk Mode relies on standard Windows app-restart behavior and does not have a dedicated kiosk-specific recovery loop.

Customization & Signage

Can I customize the look to match my company’s branding?

SiteKiosk Online provides full control over branding, including custom logos, colors, backgrounds, and themes. You can also fully customize the start page layout.
Windows 11 Kiosk Mode is limited to basic Windows personalization settings and offers very little control over the layout of the kiosk start experience.

Can these tools be used for Digital Signage?

SiteKiosk Online includes a built-in CMS (Content Management System) for managing playlists, layouts, and scheduling digital signage content.
Windows 11 Kiosk Mode does not have an integrated signage tool; you would need to find and install a separate third-party signage app.

Accessibility

How do these platforms help users with disabilities?

SiteKiosk Online includes built-in, configurable accessibility options such as adjustable zoom, font sizes, and on-screen keyboards specifically designed for kiosk use.
Windows 11 Kiosk Mode relies on standard Windows accessibility features (like the standard touch keyboard), but lacks a dedicated interface for configuring these specifically for a kiosk environment.