When you look at modern cloud-managed door access, it is incredibly easy to assume that all digital locks are chasing the exact same goal. However, looking at companies like Kisi and RemoteLock, it’s clear that they solve entirely different spatial problems.
Picking between them comes down to a simple question: are you managing real estate portfolios with rotating guests, or run-rate commercial operations with members and teams? But let’s go into how they truly compare and see which is the best fit for each facility and business model.
At a glance #
How Kisi and RemoteLock compare #
Platform focus and target market #
RemoteLock mostly looks at a very specific problem and that’s property managers that need a way to control hundreds of independent residential unit doors, common areas, and vacation rentals without spending their entire life driving around to manually swap physical keys or hand out plastic fobs. Long story short, its sweet spot is residential property management. The system behaves like a master administrative console, integrating directly with booking platforms to automate guest turnover. RemoteLock operates as an open-source software layer that connects to third-party smart lock brands.
Kisi views physical security through more of a commercial lens. It targets corporate environments, enterprise networks, fitness spaces, and flexible workspaces where access patterns stay steady rather than rotating every weekend. Kisi designs and manufactures its own core hardware and also offers backwards-compatibility for existing buildings through legacy Wiegand wiring takeovers.
Hardware approach and reliability #
RemoteLock's hardware-agnostic model is one of its key selling points, because it works with a range of third-party smart lock brands including Schlage, Yale, Danalock, and others. This obviously gives property managers flexibility to choose hardware based on price or aesthetic preference. Kisi's hardware, on the other hand, is purpose-built and manufactured by Kisi specifically for commercial access control, with a 5-year warranty included on Kisi-manufactured devices.
Mobile credentials #
Kisi is pretty versatile with their offer and supports the Kisi mobile app, Apple Wallet, Apple Watch, MotionSense hands-free unlock, key cards, and fobs. For commercial environments with regular employees or members, Apple Wallet support is a meaningful convenience advantage since users don't need to open a separate app.
RemoteLock offers Mobile Key using what they call Passive Intent technology. Translation: a user can present their phone as a credential or simply tap the reader with a finger while the phone stays in their pocket, using PKI-based credentials that can't be copied the way traditional RFID cards can. PIN codes are also widely used, particularly for guest access in short-term rentals where issuing a physical credential isn't practical.
Integrations #
RemoteLock advertises 800+ hardware and software integrations, but the focus is heavily weighted toward property management systems, so some of the brand names on the list include Airbnb, Guesty, OwnerRez, and similar vacation rental and multifamily PMS platforms. For property managers, this depth of PMS integration is exactly what's needed.
Kisi's integration library covers 100+ tools but with a different focus, namely fitness software (Mindbody, ABC Glofox, Exercise.com), coworking platforms (Optix, Archie), identity providers (Okta, Azure AD), and workplace tools. For commercial buyers, these named integrations are more directly relevant than RemoteLock's PMS-centric ecosystem.
Pricing #
RemoteLock's pricing is subscription-based per lock, billed annually at approximately $6 per lock per month ($72/year) depending on plan type (wireless lock, wired lock, multi-family unit, or common area subscriptions). This per-lock model scales predictably for large multifamily portfolios with many doors.
Kisi's pricing starts at $99/month for the One Security Platform. For a smaller commercial deployment this flat structure may be more predictable, but for a large multifamily portfolio with hundreds of individual unit doors, RemoteLock's per-lock model may end up more cost-effective depending on door count.
Which one is right for your property type? #
Commercial offices and corporate #
Kisi is built for this segment specifically since it has a big portfolio of integrations such as Okta and Azure AD, SCIM provisioning, and an open APIl, which make it straightforward for IT teams to manage access as part of existing workflows. RemoteLock has no meaningful presence in corporate office environments, and as mentioned before, its integration ecosystem and feature set are oriented entirely around residential and rental property management, not employee access.
Multifamily residential #
This is RemoteLock's strongest category, because of its per-lock pricing, PMS integrations, and features built around tenant turnover, common area access, and package room management which are obviously built for apartment buildings and residential portfolios. Kisi can serve multifamily buildings, more specifically for amenity and common area access, but doesn't have the same depth of residential property management features RemoteLock offers natively.
Fitness and wellness #
Kisi has a clear advantage through KisiFit, with named integrations for Mindbody, ABC Glofox, Exercise.com, and TeamUp connecting access directly to membership management. RemoteLock has no fitness-specific features or integrations and is not positioned for this vertical at all.
Vacation rentals and short-term rental portfolios #
RemoteLock is the stronger choice here by a clear margin. The platform has integrations with Airbnb, Guesty, and OwnerRez, automated guest code generation, and PIN-based access without requiring app downloads are specifically designed for short-term guest turnover. Kisi is not built for this use case and doesn't compete in this space.
Kisi's integrations with Optix, Archie, and OfficeRnD make it well suited to coworking operators managing flexible, frequently changing member access. RemoteLock is not built for coworking-style membership access, since its model assumes longer-term residential tenancy or short-term guest stays, not day-to-day flexible workspace membership.
Commercial real estate and multi-tenant buildings #
Both systems can serve commercial real estate, but for different parts of the building. Kisi fits naturally for tenant and employee access where identity management integration is important to the flow. RemoteLock fits more where a property includes residential-style units or amenity spaces with guest-style access needs. Larger mixed-use properties may reasonably need to evaluate which parts of their access needs map to which platform's strengths, rather than expecting one system to cover everything equally well.
Kisi vs RemoteLock reviews #
Kisi — positive reviews
"Kisi's intuitive platform empowers us to manage access like a pro, ensuring our security posture remains strong." — Capterra
Kisi — negative reviews
"While Kisi excels in core features, advanced investigation tools could be more robust." — Source: Capterra
RemoteLock — positive reviews
"The software itself has good ideas and functionality. Being able to see when guests check in, integrate with other property management software, automate code creation, and email guests is genuinely helpful. The concept of the platform is solid." — Capterra
RemoteLock — negative reviews
" Customer service is extremely poor. It is difficult to reach anyone. — Capterra
Which one is right for you? #
Choose Kisi if:
- You're managing a commercial office, fitness facility, or coworking space rather than residential or vacation rental units
- You need integrations with identity providers (Okta, Azure AD) or fitness/coworking software
- Hardware reliability and a manufacturer warranty matter to your decision
- You want a flat platform pricing model rather than per-door billing
- Apple Wallet or Apple Watch credentials are relevant to your users
Choose RemoteLock if:
- You manage multifamily residential, vacation rental, or short-term rental properties
- You need deep integrations with property management systems like Airbnb, Guesty, or OwnerRez
- Hardware flexibility is more important than a single proprietary hardware line
- Your portfolio has many individual unit doors where per-lock pricing scales more predictably
- Most of your installations are indoor, where the hardware reliability concerns in reviews are less frequently reported
Looking for a RemoteLock alternative? #
If you want a commercial access control platform that goes beyond residential smart locks and automatically syncs your facility doors with your corporate directories, enterprise IT stacks, or fitness membership systems, get a custom Kisi quote today to see how easily you can automate your business entry points.
