The Mac alternative to xStand
xStand’s last release was January 2021.
xStand was a well-known Mac kiosk browser, but it is effectively frozen. Its last release, version 6.8.2, is dated 31 January 2021 (per its MacUpdate listing). It is an Intel-64 app requiring OS X 10.8 or later, with no Apple Silicon or universal build.
The maker has moved on, too. The old adnx.com domain now redirects to a different company, Elonovo (XPROLINE LLC), whose current kiosk product is WebKiosk. xStand is not listed there, and it is not on the current Mac App Store.
So on a modern Apple Silicon Mac running macOS 14 or later, xStand is a five-year-old, Intel-only app that the vendor no longer sells or updates. It may still run under Rosetta 2, but an unattended public display is the last place you want an unmaintained browser.
Canned Web, the current native option
Canned Web is a native, universal macOS app (Apple Silicon and Intel), actively maintained, built for exactly this job. Enter a URL, hold ⌘⇧S, and the Mac is sealed fullscreen to that site, with Spotlight, Cmd-Tab, Cmd-Q and screenshots blocked, navigation locked to your domain, and auto-start back into the site after a reboot. Updates arrive automatically through Sparkle. One-time €49 per machine, with a 14-day free trial.
| Canned Web | xStand | |
|---|---|---|
| Latest release | Current, updated regularly (Sparkle auto-updates) | Version 6.8.2, dated 31 January 2021 |
| Architecture | Universal (Apple Silicon and Intel) | Intel-64 only, no Apple Silicon build |
| macOS | macOS 14 (Sonoma) or later | Built for OS X 10.8 or later |
| Still sold and updated | Yes | No. The maker’s site now redirects elsewhere; not on the Mac App Store |
| Price | One-time €49 per machine, 14-day trial | Was paid; no longer offered by the vendor |
| Best for | A current Mac kiosk | Legacy Intel Macs, historically |
If you are standing up a Mac kiosk today, you want something built for today’s Macs. That is Canned Web.
xStand on Mac, FAQ
- Is xStand still updated?
- No. Its last release, version 6.8.2, is dated 31 January 2021 (per its MacUpdate listing), and the maker’s old adnx.com domain now redirects to a different company, Elonovo (XPROLINE LLC), which no longer lists xStand. It is also not on the current Mac App Store.
- Does xStand run on Apple Silicon Macs?
- It was built for Intel. Its last version is an Intel-64 app requiring OS X 10.8 or later, with no universal or Apple Silicon build. It may run under Rosetta 2, but it has not been updated since early 2021, so you would be relying on an unmaintained browser for an unattended public display.
- What is a current alternative to xStand on a Mac?
- Canned Web: a native, universal macOS app (Apple Silicon and Intel), actively maintained, that seals a Mac to one website. One-time €49 per machine, with a 14-day free trial.
- Who made xStand?
- It was published under the adnX name. That domain now redirects to Elonovo (XPROLINE LLC), whose current kiosk browser is WebKiosk. xStand itself is no longer promoted or updated.
Migrating off an old kiosk browser? Tell us your setup.
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