What Devices Work for the Kiosk and Workstation
The kiosk and Workstation run in a web browser, so almost any current phone or tablet works. This page lists the exact requirements and explains the few things that actually matter.
Bottom line
- Kiosk: any tablet running Android 10+ or iPadOS 16.4+, with a 10-inch or larger screen. Android is the better choice — a roughly $100 Android tablet runs the kiosk better than a far more expensive iPad. iPads work too.
- Workstation: any phone or tablet running Android 9+ or iOS 16+. Workers use the device they already own — there's nothing to buy. Android is the smoother experience; iPhones work well too.
- Both sign in with a passkey (fingerprint, face, or screen PIN), so the device needs a screen lock set up.
Why we recommend Android. FabWise is a progressive web app — an app you install straight from the browser instead of an app store. Android and Chrome support that style of app more fully than Apple does, which lets us install it cleanly, keep the kiosk screen awake, and tune how the app runs on the device. iPhones and iPads handle the same app well, but Android gives us more room to make it run its best — and it costs less. So iPads work; Android is better.
Kiosk requirements
The kiosk is the shared tablet on the wall that workers tap to clock in and out. It stays mounted, plugged in, and turned on all day.
| Requirement | Detail | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Android 10+ or iPadOS 16.4+ | Older versions can't run the current browser or hold the screen awake. |
| Screen size | 10 inches or larger | Buttons need to be tappable from arm's length with gloves nearby. Skip 7-inch tablets and the iPad Mini. |
| Memory | 3 GB RAM or more (Android) | Below that, the browser gets killed in the background and the kiosk reloads. |
| Power | Charges while running | The kiosk is plugged in 24/7; the port and cable have to handle continuous power. |
| Screen lock | Any (PIN is fine) | The device authenticates once with a passkey at setup. After that it stays signed in, so the screen lock is rarely used. |
Why Android is the better kiosk: a basic Android tablet around $100 meets every requirement above, and the app simply runs better on it. Android's fuller support for installed web apps lets us keep the screen awake reliably (the setup guide turns on a built-in "stay awake while charging" setting), launch full-screen with no browser chrome, and tune the kiosk's behavior on the device. An iPad does the core job — set Auto-Lock to Never on iPadOS 16.4+ and it stays on — but the cheapest suitable iPad runs $250–$350 and gives us less control over how the app behaves.
Workers don't sign in to the kiosk with a fingerprint — they tap their 4-digit PIN. So a fingerprint reader doesn't matter for the kiosk.
You can pair up to 5 kiosk tablets per account — typically one per entrance or department.
Setup guides: Set Up an Android Tablet for the Kiosk · Set Up an iPad for the Kiosk
Workstation requirements
Workstation is each worker's private app on their own phone — their schedule, jobs, performance, and messages. Unlike the kiosk, they sign in every time they open it.
| Requirement | Detail | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Android 9+ or iOS 16+ | Passkeys require these versions or newer. |
| Device | The worker's existing phone | Nothing to buy. Android and iPhone both work. |
| Screen lock | Fingerprint, face, or PIN | The passkey is stored behind the phone's screen lock. No lock means no passkey. |
A fingerprint or face reader is worth having here — it turns daily sign-in into a single touch. A screen PIN works too, it's just an extra step. Almost every phone made in the last several years has a fingerprint or face reader, so this is rarely a real constraint.
Android phones get the smoother experience for the same reasons as the kiosk: fuller support for installed web apps means a cleaner install and a more app-like feel. iPhones work well — if a worker already carries one, there's no reason to switch.
Workers without a phone simply use the kiosk instead. That's a normal setup, not a problem.
Setup guides: Set Up Workstation on Android · Set Up Workstation on iPhone or iPad
Frequently asked questions
Is Android or Apple better for the kiosk?
Android is better. FabWise installs as a progressive web app, and Android supports that style of app more fully than Apple does — so we can install it cleanly, keep the screen awake reliably, and tune how it runs on the device. On top of that, a $100 Android tablet does the job, while the cheapest suitable iPad runs $250–$350. iPads work, but Android runs the kiosk better and costs less.
Can I use an iPhone or iPad for Workstation?
Yes. iOS 16 or newer supports passkeys, and sign-in uses Face ID or Touch ID exactly the way Android uses a fingerprint. Android gives a slightly smoother installed-app experience, but iPhones work well — if a worker already carries one, it's a perfectly good choice.
Do the kiosk and Workstation have different hardware requirements?
Not really. Both run as installed web apps and both use passkeys, and Android is the better fit for both. The only real differences: the kiosk needs a 10-inch-or-larger screen and stays plugged in all day, while Workstation runs on whatever phone the worker already carries.
Does the kiosk need a fingerprint reader?
No. Workers clock in with a 4-digit PIN. The device itself signs in with a passkey once at setup and then stays signed in, so a fingerprint reader adds nothing for the kiosk.
Do workers need their own phone for Workstation?
Yes — Workstation is tied to one worker's personal device. Workers without a phone use the shared kiosk to track time instead.
How old can the device be?
The kiosk needs Android 10 (released 2019) or iPadOS 16.4. Workstation needs Android 9 (2018) or iOS 16. You can check the version under Settings → About on the device.