How do we compare?
SL
stickLabs
Kisi Kisi
Openpath Openpath
August August
HID HID
Salto Salto KS
Deployment Offline-first Cloud-first Cloud-first Cloud-first Hybrid Cloud-first
Credential Keycard /
Sticker /
Mobile App		 BLE /
mobile wallet		 BLE /
mobile wallet		 BLE /
mobile wallet		 Smart card / BLE Smart card / BLE
Retrofit ease ★★★ ★★☆ ★★☆ ★★☆ ★☆☆ ★☆☆
Pricing model One-time Subscription Subscription Subscription High upfront + license Subscription
Best scale SMB SMB–Enterprise SMB–Enterprise SMB Enterprise Enterprise
Real-time revocation Sync each lock
with app		 Instant Instant Instant Instant Instant
Enterprise compliance Basic Strong Strong Limited Enterprise-grade Enterprise-grade
Audit & monitoring Basic Real-time Real-time Limited Full Full

 

Comparison: stickLabs vs competitors

 

Competitors considered

  • Kisi
  • Openpath
  • August (Commercial)
  • HID Mobile Access / HID Prox
  • Salto KS
  • RemoteLock

Key dimensions

  • Deployment model
    • stickLabs: Offline-capable, retrofit hardware that works with existing master-key cylinders.
    • Kisi / Openpath / RemoteLock / Salto KS / August: Cloud-first, networked controllers; many require internet or edge devices for remote features.
    • HID: Enterprise, supports both local and cloud architectures depending on product.
  • Credential type
    • stickLabs: NFC stickers/cards + phone-based credentialing (NFC provisioning).
    • Kisi/Openpath/RemoteLock/August: BLE, mobile credentials, sometimes NFC (less common).
    • HID/Salto: Wide enterprise credential support (smartcards, mobile via BLE/NFC, prox).
  • Offline operation & reliability
    • stickLabs: Designed to work fully offline (local validation) — good for low-connectivity sites and reduced cloud dependency.
    • Most competitors: Rely on cloud/backend for auth and management; some offer local fallback but limited.
  • Integration & retrofit
    • stickLabs: Emphasizes retrofit with existing cylinders and simple physical install.
    • Kisi/RemoteLock/Smart commercial vendors: Offer retrofit kits but often require networked hubs or wiring.
    • Salto/HID: More invasive in commercial installations; enterprise-grade integration.
  • Security & credential lifecycle
    • stickLabs: NFC token-based; security depends on credential encryption and provisioning workflow (local provisioning via app).
    • HID/Salto: Strong enterprise-grade credential encryption, PKI options, audited implementations.
    • Cloud vendors: Offer centralized revocation/instant updates; stickLabs' offline model means credential revocation require physical sync.
  • Management & features
    • stickLabs: Mobile app for credential issuance and door/user management; simpler feature set focused on access control.
    • Competitors: Rich feature sets — real-time monitoring, audit logs, geofencing, visitor management, integrations (SaaS, HR systems), multi-site administration.
  • Costs
    • stickLabs: One-time hardware costs; Unlimited keycards for free, Unlimited mobile users (unlock via stickLabs.io app); No recurring credential fees.
    • Cloud competitors: Often subscription-based pricing for management, cloud features, and sometimes per-credential fees.
    • HID/Salto: Higher upfront costs and possible ongoing support/licensing for enterprise features.
  • Scalability
    • stickLabs: Best for small-to-medium, distributed sites where offline operation and retrofit matter.
    • Kisi/Openpath/Salto/HID: Better for large-scale, multi-site with centralized management and advanced integrations.
  • Compliance & enterprise readiness
    • stickLabs: Simpler offering; may lack enterprise compliance features, audit depth, and vendor support SLAs.
    • HID/Salto/Kisi: Offer enterprise-grade compliance, certifications, and professional services.

When to choose stickLabs

  • Need offline-capable, retrofit NFC solution
  • Minimal recurring costs desired
  • Small-to-medium deployments prioritizing simplicity and physical compatibility with existing cylinders

When to choose competitors

  • Require centralized cloud management, real-time revocation, audits, and integrations with other enterprise systems
  • Need large-scale deployments, SLA-backed support, or advanced credential/PKI options