The project dashboard is a free tool that is only available to verified hoteliers to make adopting new technology easier by streamlining their research and simplifying their communication workflow.
TLDR
We analyzed 84 verified hotelier reviews, compared feature sets, pricing, and real-world case studies to break down where each platform delivers. The right choice depends on your property type and priorities:
OpenKey shines in ease of use and customer support — especially for brand properties (2.8/5) , with exclusive features like Guest Management Dashboard and Mobile Checkin.
Telkey shines .
Side-by-side ratings based on 84 verified hotelier reviews on HTR.
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| Ease of Use |
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| Value for Money |
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| Starting Price | From $500/mo | Contact sales |
| Verified Reviews | 84 | 0 |
After analyzing 84 verified reviews, OpenKey users most value its guest satisfaction, app usability, bypass front desk, while Telkey users highlight . Click any theme to see what reviewers say.
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Guest Satisfaction
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App Usability
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Bypass Front Desk
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Contactless Check-In
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Customer Support
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Guest Communication
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Technical Issues
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How each product ranks among Hotel Keyless Entry Systems vendors for different property sizes, types, and regions — based on verified reviews from hoteliers in each segment.
By Hotel Size
| Segment |
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Telkey |
|---|---|---|
| Small (10-24 rooms) ▾ | #3 14 reviews | — |
| Mid-Size (25-74 rooms) ▾ | #1 55 reviews | — |
| Large (75-199 rooms) ▾ | #3 11 reviews | — |
| X-Large (200+ rooms) | #9 0 reviews | — |
By Property Type
| Segment |
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Telkey |
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| Boutique ▾ | #1 66 reviews | — |
| Luxury ▾ | #2 62 reviews | — |
| Branded / Chain ▾ | #4 10 reviews | — |
| Extended Stay | #5 3 reviews | — |
By Region
| Segment |
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Telkey |
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| North America ▾ | #1 76 reviews | — |
| Asia Pacific | #2 1 reviews | — |
Choosing the right hotel keyless entry system means evaluating more than just features — focus on reliability, ease of use, support, and regional presence. OpenKey, with its established reputation and extensive review base, clearly leads in recent user feedback, whereas Telkey remains unreviewed and lacks market penetration data. Your decision should hinge on current performance and proven hotel success.
OpenKey boasts a high overall rating of 4.26/5 backed by 69 recent reviews, reflecting active user engagement and satisfaction. Telkey, with zero reviews and no measurable market presence, provides no data to support its claims. If you’re seeking a proven solution with recent customer feedback, OpenKey is the clear choice.
OpenKey specializes in mobile key access through an app and Wallet integrations, offering over 50 PMS and lock system integrations, making it suitable for hotels prioritizing guest convenience and operational efficiency. Telkey, lacking recent reviews and integration data, offers no transparent insights into its capabilities. OpenKey’s proven track record and broad integration network make it the more reliable choice for hotels seeking digital key solutions.
If your hotel needs a mature, well-supported digital key platform with extensive PMS integrations and proven hotel success, go with OpenKey. Its ability to facilitate contactless check-in, multi-property management, and guest communication appeals to mid-size and large hotels seeking operational simplicity. If your hotel is experimenting with new providers without existing integration requirements, Telkey’s unverified offering might be considered, but there's no review-backed evidence to support that.
OpenKey scores a 4.45/5 for ease of use, with users praising its intuitive interface and quick onboarding process. The reviews highlight that staff can adopt the system rapidly, and the app’s user-friendly design helps guests access their rooms effortlessly. Telkey, with no reviews or usability data available, cannot match OpenKey’s demonstrated ease of use.
Edge: OpenKey.
OpenKey offers 16 unique features, including mobile check-in, notifications, multi-property management, guest dashboard, remote check-in, and SDK support, making it a comprehensive solution for modern hotels. Telkey provides no detailed feature list or differentiators, limiting its appeal. For feature depth and versatility, OpenKey’s robust suite clearly stands out.
Edge: OpenKey.
OpenKey's support is rated 4.25/5, with guests appreciating its quick responses and helpful staff. Conversely, Telkey has no available reviews or ratings, making it impossible to assess support quality. Hoteliers value dependable support during technical issues, and OpenKey’s established support team offers that assurance.
Edge: OpenKey.
OpenKey integrates with over 34 verified partners, including prominent PMS and lock system providers like RoomRaccoon, Stayntouch, SALTO, and Skyware. Telkey, with zero verified integrations, offers no proven connectivity. The extensive partner network makes OpenKey a more flexible and reliable choice for hotels seeking seamless integration.
Edge: OpenKey.
OpenKey’s user ratings reflect a high overall score, with 88% likelihood to recommend, and positive segment-specific reviews, especially in luxury and independent hotels. Telkey lacks reviews, preventing any comparison. Hoteliers’ recent feedback underscores OpenKey’s effectiveness in real-world hotel environments.
Edge: OpenKey.
OpenKey’s pricing starts at a $500 base fee, with no mention of monthly per-room fees, implementation costs, or trial options. Telkey's pricing details are unavailable, leaving hoteliers uncertain about total costs. Given the transparent pricing, OpenKey allows better budget planning.
OpenKey’s established presence and 69 recent reviews make it a dependable choice for hotels wanting a proven mobile key platform. Its extensive integrations, high user ratings, and active support network give it a clear advantage. Telkey offers no evidence of market presence or user satisfaction, making it unsuitable for hotels seeking a trusted solution.
If your hotel needs a reliable, well-supported system with recent hotel feedback, OpenKey should be your choice. Its features and support structure are proven to meet the demands of modern hospitality environments.
Choose OpenKey if you value proven performance, extensive integrations, and a high level of support. Consider Telkey only if your hotel is testing new providers and can tolerate the risk of unverified service quality.
According to HTR's product database, Openkey.co and Telkey share 0 features. Here are the key differences — features one has that the other lacks.
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Telkey |
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| Guest Management Dashboard | ||
| Keyless Entry | ||
| Mobile Checkin | ||
| Multi-property Management | ||
| Notifications | ||
| Whitelabel Capability |
Showing top differences. 4 more features differ between these products.
What hoteliers love
Overall, OpenKey has been well-received by guests, who appreciate the convenience of mobile keys, the ease of use, and the reduced need to carry physi... Overall, OpenKey has been well-received by guests, who appreciate the convenience of mobile keys, the ease of use, and the reduced need to carry physical keys. This positive feedback is a testament to its functionality and user experience.
The app is generally praised for its user-friendly interface, but some users feel that improvements could be made in terms of navigation and additiona... The app is generally praised for its user-friendly interface, but some users feel that improvements could be made in terms of navigation and additional features like in-app reset options for keys, and integrated guest services.
OpenKey's mobile key feature allows guests to bypass the front desk and go directly to their rooms, significantly enhancing operational efficiency and... OpenKey's mobile key feature allows guests to bypass the front desk and go directly to their rooms, significantly enhancing operational efficiency and guest satisfaction. This feature minimizes waiting time and offers a seamless check-in experience, particularly praised during busy periods.
Where hoteliers push back
Customer support for OpenKey is generally responsive and helpful, though some users report delays in receiving assistance and a need for more proactiv... Customer support for OpenKey is generally responsive and helpful, though some users report delays in receiving assistance and a need for more proactive communication regarding updates and fixes.
Several reviews highlight the need for better guest communication features within the app, such as clearer instructions for app use or notifications w... Several reviews highlight the need for better guest communication features within the app, such as clearer instructions for app use or notifications when rooms are ready. Enhancing these communication channels could further improve guest satisfaction and operational efficiency.
Unique capabilities
Where the ratings diverge most
It depends on your requirements. Openkey.co and Telkey share many core Hotel Keyless Entry Systems features, but each has unique capabilities. Openkey.co offers 34 verified integration partners, while Telkey offers 0. Review the feature comparison above to see where they differ before switching.
Small hotels should prioritize ease of use and fast onboarding. Openkey.co leads in ease of use at 4.5/5 vs 0.0/5. Look for transparent pricing and a trial or demo option. Filter reviews on each product page by property size to hear from hotels like yours.
Openkey.co: No. Telkey: No. Neither product currently offers a free tier. Most Hotel Keyless Entry Systems vendors offer demos or trials — request one from each to evaluate before committing.
The HT Score is a composite ranking that considers 4 criteria groups and over a dozen variables to help hoteliers objectively compare hotel technology products. OpenKey has an HT Score of 39 and Telkey has 0. Here is how the score is calculated.
| Criteria Group | Weight | What It Measures |
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| Customer Ratings & Reviews |
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How highly do users recommend this product? Ratings Score, Review Volume, Share of Voice, Review Depth, Review Recency, Success Stories ▾ The most heavily weighted factor. Analyzes average satisfaction ratings (likelihood to recommend, ease of use, support, ROI), total review count relative to category peers, review recency (at least 20 reviews in the trailing 6 months), and share of voice across unique hotel clients to detect selection bias. |
| Partner Ecosystem |
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How highly do tech partners recommend this company? Partner Recommendations, Integration Quantity, Integration Quality ▾ Evaluates partner recommendations as expert votes of confidence, the number of verified integrations, and ecosystem quality — the average HT Scores of integration partners. Products with higher-quality integration ecosystems are more likely to deliver a connected tech stack. |
| Customer Centricity |
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How customer-centric is this organization? Certified Support, Review Consistency, Profile Completeness ▾ Assesses whether the company has earned HTR Customer Support Certification, maintains consistent review collection over time (an indicator of feedback-driven culture), and keeps product profiles complete with capabilities, screenshots, pricing, and features. |
| Reach, Staying Power & Resources |
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How extensive is this company's reach and resourcing? Geographic Reach, Staying Power, Company Resources, Trending Score ▾ Measures global presence (countries and regions served), years in business as a stability proxy, team headcount as a resource proxy, and a trending score based on trailing-twelve-month buyer inquiries, reviews, partner recommendations, and press activity. |
Customer ratings and reviews are by far the most important factor in the HT Score algorithm. HTR does not accept payment for higher rankings. All reviews are verified — only hotel industry practitioners with confirmed affiliations can submit ratings. View full HT Score methodology →
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