Tapkey
Austrian cloud platform that turns a phone or an NFC tag into a door key, with a free plan for up to five people
Quick Overview
| Company | Tapkey GmbH |
|---|---|
| Category | Access Control Systems |
| Headquarters | Vienna, Austria |
| Founded | Not stated |
| EU Presence | Yes - Austria (EU) |
| Data Location | Not stated on the pages checked |
| Open Source | No |
| GDPR Compliant | Yes |
| Self-Hosting | No |
| Main Features | Cloud administration, iOS and Android app, Apple Watch, NFC tags and wristbands, access log, office mode, access schedules and matrix on Premium, integrator API |
| Pricing | Starter free for up to 5 persons, then from €3,99 per month for 10 persons (incl. 20% tax); Premium per person or device via local dealers |
| Best For | Small and mid-sized sites that want phone keys without a sales call |
| Replaces | Brivo, Kisi |
Detailed Review
Tapkey sits on the opposite end of the market from enterprise controller suites. Its site describes secure digital credentials issued through a cloud platform in place of physical keys, and the same account handles offices, holiday homes, gyms, coworking spaces and self storage.
The business model is also unusual here: you buy the hardware from a compatible lock maker and rent the software by the number of persons, with a Starter tier at no charge for up to five of them.
Plans and what they cost
The Starter plan lists persons, locks, lock groups, NFC transponders, office mode and an access log. Plan sizes then run from 10 persons at €3,99 a month to 250 persons at €74,99 (prices shown include 20% tax and can vary slightly by country), or as a yearly plan from the online store.
Premium adds access schedules, an access matrix, person groups and units, and is priced per person or per device starting at five. It is arranged through a local dealer with annual billing, so no public price list exists for that tier.
Credentials and hardware
Doors open from the Tapkey app on iOS or Android, from an Apple Watch, or with NFC tags and wristbands managed in the same app. Hardware comes as digital cylinders, door escutcheons and wall readers from partner lock makers, which the site calls the biggest selection of compatible smart locks.
Integrations
Tapkey invites integrators to use its mobile access API, and the site lists home integration and a route to become an integrator. That makes it a candidate for property software that needs to hand out keys automatically.
Limitations to Consider
Tapkey is software and credentials, so the lock hardware, its price and its warranty come from a third-party partner, and support for Premium runs through a dealer. The Starter plan lacks access schedules and the access matrix. The pages we checked do not say where the cloud data is hosted, and Tapkey has no video or visitor modules of its own like Brivo.
Who Should Use Tapkey
Offices, coworking spaces, clubs and holiday lets with a handful of doors and a small group of key holders. Larger estates that need schedules and groups should expect to move to the dealer-sold Premium tier. For multi-site enterprise estates with intrusion and lockers, compare SALTO or Nedap Security.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Free plan for up to 5 persons
- Plan sizes and prices are public
- Phone, Apple Watch and NFC credentials
- Works with many partner lock brands
- Mobile access API for integrators
Cons
- Premium priced only through dealers
- No schedules on Starter
- Hardware bought separately from partners
- Data hosting location not stated on checked pages
Alternatives to Tapkey
Other European access control systems worth comparing before you decide:
Paxton
United Kingdom · Installer-sold door entry with licence-free Net2 and Paxton10 software
iLOQ
Finland · Battery-free digital locks managed from one cloud platform
EVVA
Austria · AirKey smartphone keys and Xesar for local or cloud management
SALTO
Spain · Salto KS cloud access control next to on-premise Salto Space
See all European access control systems or compare them directly against Brivo on our alternatives page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Its site points to a shop for smart locks and lists digital cylinders, door escutcheons and wall readers as compatible product types. Tapkey positions itself as the access platform on top of lock hardware from partners.
On its pricing page the 25-person monthly plan is €7,99 including 20% tax. Final amounts may vary slightly by country.
Premium lists access schedules, an access matrix, person groups and units on top of the Starter features, and is sold through local dealers with annual billing.