Best Waiver Apps for iPad Kiosk Mode (2026)

Walk into any trampoline park, climbing gym, kayak outfitter, or tattoo studio and you will probably see the same thing near the front door: an iPad on a stand, ready for customers to sign a waiver before they start. Kiosk-mode waivers have become the standard check-in workflow for activity-based businesses, and the app you choose to run on that iPad matters more than you might think.

This guide covers what kiosk mode actually is, how to set it up on an iPad, and how the most popular waiver apps compare when locked to a single screen at your front desk.

What Is iPad Kiosk Mode and Why Use It for Waivers?

Kiosk mode locks a tablet to a single app or web page so the person using it cannot navigate away, open other apps, or change settings. On an iPad, this is accomplished through a built-in feature called Guided Access.

Businesses use kiosk-mode iPads for waiver signing in three common scenarios:

Front desk check-in. A customer walks in, approaches the counter, and signs a waiver on the iPad before proceeding. Staff can monitor the process and answer questions without managing clipboards or paper.

Event registration. At races, festivals, and corporate outings, a row of iPads on stands lets dozens of participants sign waivers in a short window. Everyone arrives at roughly the same time, so speed matters.

Walk-in signing stations. A kiosk in a waiting area or lobby where customers complete the waiver on their own, without staff involvement. This works well for businesses with high foot traffic and straightforward waiver requirements.

In all three cases, the kiosk needs to do one thing reliably: present the waiver, accept a signature, reset to a blank state, and be ready for the next person. Anything that disrupts that loop -- a customer accidentally closing the browser, the app crashing, the form failing to reset -- creates friction and slows down your operation.

How to Set Up iPad Kiosk Mode with Guided Access

Apple's Guided Access is free, built into every iPad, and works with both native apps and Safari. Here is how to configure it:

1. Open Settings, then Accessibility, then Guided Access. Toggle it on.
2. Tap Passcode Settings and set a passcode your staff can use to exit Guided Access.
3. Open Safari and navigate to your waiver form URL.
4. Triple-click the Side button (or Home button on older iPads) to start a Guided Access session.
5. Before tapping Start, circle any areas of the screen you want to disable -- such as the Safari address bar, so customers cannot type a different URL.
6. Tap Start. The iPad is now locked to that Safari tab.

To exit, triple-click the Side button and enter your passcode.

A few additional settings worth adjusting: turn off notifications so alerts do not appear over the waiver form, enable Do Not Disturb, and set Auto-Lock to Never (under Display and Brightness) so the screen stays on between signers.

Waiver Apps Compared for iPad Kiosk Use

Not every waiver app works equally well behind a locked screen. Some were designed for kiosk use from the start; others treat it as an afterthought. Here is how the main options compare.

WaiverDrop

How the kiosk experience works: WaiverDrop is a progressive web app (PWA) that runs entirely in the browser. There is no native app to install. You open your waiver form URL in Safari, enable Guided Access, and the kiosk is running. After submission, the form automatically resets for the next signer.

Pros:

• No app installation required. Open a URL and you are live. Updates happen server-side with zero maintenance on the iPad.
• Works on any device with a browser. If your iPad breaks, you can temporarily use an Android tablet, a laptop, or even a phone.
• Touch-friendly form design with large input fields and a smooth signature canvas.
• Auto-reset after submission with no staff intervention needed.
• Flat $15 per month pricing covers unlimited waivers and unlimited devices. Three kiosks cost the same as one.
• Offline-capable: signatures queue locally if WiFi drops and sync when connectivity returns.

Cons:

• No native iPad app means you cannot use Single App Mode via MDM for enterprise deployments. Guided Access is the lockdown mechanism.
• The Safari signature pad does not support Apple Pencil pressure sensitivity. Finger and basic stylus input work fine.

Best for: Businesses that want a simple, low-maintenance kiosk without app store dependencies or per-device fees.

Smartwaiver

How the kiosk experience works: Smartwaiver offers a dedicated iPad app called Smartwaiver Kiosk from the App Store. The app locks itself into full-screen kiosk mode, so you do not strictly need Guided Access (though using both adds an extra layer). It displays your waiver, collects signatures, and resets automatically.

Pros:

• Purpose-built native kiosk app with a polished full-screen experience.
• The app handles its own lockdown, reducing dependence on Guided Access.
• Photo capture lets you photograph the signer, useful for identification at adventure parks.
• Supports multiple waiver templates within the kiosk app.

Cons:

• Pricing starts at $25 per month with a limited number of waivers. Higher volume requires higher-tier plans, and costs climb quickly for busy businesses.
• The native app depends on App Store updates. If an update introduces a bug, you wait for the next patch.
• The kiosk app is iPad-only. Android falls back to a less refined web version.
• Some users report the app occasionally freezes after extended use and requires a force-restart.

Best for: Businesses that want a dedicated native kiosk app with features like photo capture and are comfortable with higher costs.

WaiverForever

How the kiosk experience works: WaiverForever provides an iPad app with a kiosk mode feature. Select a template, enable kiosk mode, and the device locks into a signing loop. The app supports offline signing, queuing completed waivers and uploading them when connectivity is restored.

Pros:

• Strong offline mode. Waivers signed without internet are stored locally and synced later -- a real advantage for outdoor events and venues with unreliable WiFi.
• Custom branding with your logo and color scheme on the kiosk screen.
• Template library with pre-built waivers for common industries.
• Multi-language support within the kiosk, letting signers choose their preferred language.

Cons:

• The free plan is limited to three templates and a small number of signatures per month. Paid plans start at $19.99 per month.
• Kiosk mode within the app can be exited by savvy users without Guided Access as a backup. Always layer Guided Access on top.
• The app has not been updated as frequently as competitors, and the interface feels dated.
• Inconsistent customer support response times based on user reviews.

Best for: Businesses that frequently operate in areas with poor internet connectivity and need reliable offline waiver collection.

WaiverSign

How the kiosk experience works: WaiverSign takes a web-first approach similar to WaiverDrop. Load your waiver form in Safari, use Guided Access to lock the iPad, and the form resets after each signature. WaiverSign also offers a lightweight iOS companion app for waiver management, but signing happens through the web.

Pros:

• Clean, straightforward signing interface that loads quickly.
• Web-based approach works across devices.
• Group signing lets a parent or guardian sign for multiple minors in a single session -- particularly useful for family-oriented businesses.
• Integrates with several booking and CRM platforms.

Cons:

• Per-waiver pricing on lower tiers can become expensive at volume. Unlimited plans are available but cost more.
• The iOS app is a management companion, not a true kiosk solution.
• Limited customization options for the signing page appearance.
• Auto-reset timing is not configurable on all plans.

Best for: Businesses that need strong group and minor signing workflows and already use a CRM that WaiverSign integrates with.

Why a PWA Works Well for Kiosks

WaiverDrop's decision to build as a PWA rather than a native app directly affects kiosk reliability and maintenance, and it is worth understanding why.

A native app depends on the App Store for updates, can break when iOS versions change, and ties you to a single platform. A PWA runs in the browser. When WaiverDrop pushes an update, every kiosk picks it up the next time the page loads. There is nothing to update on the device.

This also means portability. If your iPad goes down during a busy Saturday, you can load the waiver URL on any device with a browser and keep signing. You are not locked into Apple hardware or a specific app installation.

For businesses running multiple kiosks, the PWA approach is simpler to manage. Every device just needs Safari pointed at the same URL. No app licenses, no per-device activation, no coordinated installs.

The tradeoff is relying on Guided Access for lockdown rather than in-app kiosk controls. In practice, Guided Access is robust and well-tested -- the same mechanism schools and hospitals use to lock down shared iPads across millions of devices.

Practical Tips for Running a Reliable Waiver Kiosk

Use a Locking Mount or Stand

A tablet lying flat on a counter will get knocked over or walked off with. Invest in a locking enclosure from Heckler Design, Bouncepad, or Compulocks. Counter stands run $100 to $250 and pay for themselves the first time they prevent a broken screen or theft.

Hardwire Power

A kiosk that dies during peak hours is useless. Run a charging cable through the enclosure to a wall outlet. Most commercial enclosures have cable routing channels for exactly this purpose.

Ensure Reliable WiFi

Test your WiFi at the kiosk location during peak hours, not just when the business is empty. A network that works fine with five people may struggle with fifty. If signal is weak, add a range extender near the kiosk. If your waiver platform supports offline mode, enable it as a safety net.

Configure Auto-Reset Between Signers

After submission, the form should show a brief confirmation (three to five seconds) and then return to a blank state automatically. Too fast and the signer misses the confirmation. Too slow and the next person is staring at someone else's information.

Disable Distractions

Beyond Guided Access, lock down the iPad: turn off notifications, enable Do Not Disturb, disable Bluetooth and Siri, and set Auto-Lock to Never. These small steps prevent interruptions that confuse customers and break the signing flow.

Keep a QR Code Backup

Print a QR code that links to your waiver form and display it next to the kiosk. If the iPad goes down, customers scan the code with their own phone and sign there. Many customers actually prefer signing on their own device, so the QR code turns a kiosk failure into a non-event.

Choosing the Right App for Your Kiosk

The best waiver app for your iPad kiosk depends on your priorities:

• If you want minimal setup and maintenance with no per-device fees, WaiverDrop's PWA approach is the simplest path. One URL, any device, flat pricing.
• If you want a dedicated native kiosk app with features like photo capture, Smartwaiver is the most established option.
• If you operate in areas with unreliable internet and need robust offline signing, WaiverForever's offline-first design addresses that directly.
• If group and minor signing is central to your workflow, WaiverSign's group features are worth evaluating.

Regardless of which platform you choose, the fundamentals are the same: a locked iPad, a reliable mount, hardwired power, stable WiFi, and a form that resets cleanly between signers. Get those right and your waiver kiosk will run itself.