Kioskly AI

Question

Can I use an iPad as a kiosk?

Yes. Most businesses already own the hardware.

2 min readBy the Kioskly AI team

Quick answer

Yes. Put the iPad on a stand, keep it plugged in, and lock it to one app with Guided Access: turn it on in Settings › Accessibility › Guided Access, then triple-click the top button inside your app. The app decides what the kiosk does: a kiosk browser shows a website or menu, while an AI receptionist like Kioskly AI answers customers' questions out loud.

First decide what the kiosk is for

The iPad is just the screen. The app decides the job:

  • Show information: a menu, a map, a product catalog or your website. A kiosk browser app does this.
  • Collect information: sign-ins, feedback forms, newsletter sign-ups. Form and visitor-management apps do this.
  • Take orders and payments: this needs a point-of-sale or ordering system, often with a card reader.
  • Answer questions: an AI receptionist like Kioskly AI listens to customers and answers out loud, using your information.

What you need

  • An iPad or iPhone (Kioskly AI needs iOS 26 or later)
  • A counter stand, floor stand or wall mount, ideally lockable
  • Power: a kiosk should stay plugged in
  • Wi-Fi that reaches the spot
  • Guided Access switched on, so customers can't leave the app

Our step-by-step iPad kiosk guide covers where to put it and every setting.

iPad or dedicated kiosk hardware?

Dedicated kiosks are built for public spaces: bolted down, large and sometimes outdoor-rated. For most small businesses an iPad wins: it costs far less, takes up a corner of the counter, gets software updates for years, and you can take it home at night. The trade-offs are theft risk, which a locking stand reduces, and heat and glare outdoors, where an iPad isn't the right choice.

Frequently asked questions

Can an iPhone work as a kiosk too?

Yes. Guided Access works the same way on iPhone, and an iPhone on a small stand suits a narrow counter. Kioskly AI runs on both iPhone and iPad with iOS 26 or later.

Do I need device management software?

Not for one or two devices: Guided Access is enough. For many kiosks, Apple's supervised Single App Mode through a device management service saves time.