NeatKiosk

Guided Access alternative

NeatKiosk vs Guided Access

Guided Access locks the iPad to an app. NeatKiosk locks it to a website — with URL rules, idle auto-reset and PIN-protected settings. Use them together for the strongest kiosk.

Download on the App Store

Guided Access vs a dedicated kiosk app

Guided Access is a built-in iOS accessibility feature that restricts an iPad to a single app during a session. It is perfect for short, attended use — handing your phone to a child, or a quick demo. But it has no awareness of the web: it cannot keep a visitor on one website, cannot reset the page after inactivity, and must be started by hand with a triple-click each time. For an unattended, all-day web kiosk you need a dedicated app like NeatKiosk, which you can run alongside Guided Access.

Comparison

CapabilityNeatKioskGuided Access alone
Lock to one websiteYesNo — locks the app, not the page
URL allow / deny listsYesNo
Idle auto-reset (clears web data)YesNo
PIN-protected settings + hidden exitYesPasscode to exit only
Starts automaticallyBoots into the kioskManual triple-click each time
Fleet config (MDM)Managed App ConfigNo
Device-level lockVia Guided Access / MDMYes
Survives rebootWith MDM Single App ModeNo

The best setup: NeatKiosk + Guided Access

For a single iPad, run NeatKiosk for website lockdown and turn on Guided Access for device-level lock (Settings → Accessibility → Guided Access, then triple-click to start). For many iPads, use MDM Single App Mode on supervised devices so the kiosk re-locks automatically after a reboot, and Managed App Configuration to push the URL and options.

Frequently asked questions

Is Guided Access enough for a kiosk?

Guided Access locks an iPad to one app and is great for short, supervised sessions, but it knows nothing about web pages: no URL allow/deny lists, no idle auto-reset, and it must be started by hand. For a permanent web kiosk, pair Guided Access with NeatKiosk.

Can I use NeatKiosk together with Guided Access?

Yes. Run NeatKiosk for website lockdown (URL rules, idle reset, PIN settings) and turn on Guided Access for device-level lock. On supervised devices, MDM Single App Mode adds reboot persistence.

Does NeatKiosk replace MDM?

No — it complements it. NeatKiosk handles the in-app kiosk behavior and reads Managed App Configuration, while your MDM enforces Single App Mode and supervision.

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