The best access control software lets you decide who can open which door, when, and with which credential, from a phone app to a card or a face scan. The main choices are cloud-based platforms for offices and multi-site businesses, smart lock systems for hotels and campuses, and intercom-led systems for apartment buildings. Eleven options follow in no particular order.
Keys get copied, lost and never returned. Once you have more than a handful of staff or a second site, knowing who can get in, and when they did, becomes a security job of its own.
The eleven systems below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order, and every description comes from the vendor's own website, read this week. If you're reviewing the rest of your setup at the same time, my office tech health check is a good companion.
Access control software compared
I checked the free plan column on each tool's own website, as of Oct 2026. Yes means the site names a free plan, a free version, a free tier or an open source edition. Trial only means a time-limited trial. Not stated means the pages I read named neither, even where there's a button inviting you to try it, so check the vendor's page before you sign up.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avigilon Alta | Cloud access control | Multi-site businesses | Not stated |
| Brivo | Unified physical security platform | Property portfolios | Not stated |
| Gallagher | Security systems | High-security sites | Not stated |
| Genea | Cloud-native access control | Combining access and energy tools | Not stated |
| Kisi | Cloud-based access control | Offices and coworking spaces | Not stated |
| Paxton | Access control systems | UK and European installers | Not stated |
| ProdataKey | Cloud access control | Choosing a system by space type | Not stated |
| Salto | Smart access and identity | Hotels, campuses and wireless locks | Not stated |
| Swiftlane | Touchless access and video intercom | Apartment buildings and intercoms | Not stated |
| UniFi Access | Door access system | Teams already on UniFi networking | Not stated |
| Verkada | Access control system | Cameras and doors in one | Trial only |
Eleven access control systems worth a look
Avigilon Alta
Best for: Multi-site businesses that want cloud access control systems built for enterprise, government, gyms and healthcare.
Brivo
Best for: Property owners who want access control and other physical security running at every location in one platform.
Gallagher
Best for: Organisations with demanding security needs who want access control and security solutions built for specific industries.
Genea
Best for: Building operators who want cloud-native access control software alongside tools for automating energy management.
Kisi
Best for: Offices and coworking spaces that want cloud-based access control with phone unlocks and simple admin.
Paxton
Best for: Installers and small businesses who want simple, popular access control systems from a British manufacturer.
ProdataKey
Best for: Dealers and owners who want cloud-based access control matched to the kind of space they're securing.
Salto
Best for: Hotels, universities and offices who want smart access and identity management, including wireless locks on many doors.
Swiftlane
Best for: Apartment and office buildings that want touchless access control with a video intercom and voice-enabled unlocking.
UniFi Access
Best for: IT teams already running UniFi networks who want door access managed from the same family of products.
Verkada
Best for: Businesses that want simple, secure building access alongside cameras, with a free trial offered on the product page.
Where to start
- Offices and coworking spaces: Kisi or Genea.
- Multi-site businesses: Avigilon Alta or Brivo.
- Cameras and doors together: Verkada.
- Apartment buildings and intercoms: Swiftlane.
- Hotels, campuses and wireless locks: Salto.
- High-security sites: Gallagher.
- UK and European installers: Paxton.
- Teams already on the same network kit: UniFi Access.
- Matching a system to the space: ProdataKey.
Face and fingerprint entry has extra rules
The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) says if you use biometric data for unique identification, it's special category biometric data under UK data protection law.
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So if a system unlocks doors by face or fingerprint, you need a lawful basis and a special category condition before you switch it on in the UK. Offer a card or phone alternative too, so nobody is forced into it.
Cloud-based or on-site servers?
Cloud-based systems let you add and remove people from anywhere and see who entered in a browser. They're the easier choice for small teams and businesses with several sites.
On-site systems keep everything on your own servers, which some high-security sites prefer. They need more IT care, so ask who will look after updates and backups.
Questions to ask before you choose
- Which credentials do I want: phones, cards, codes or biometrics?
- Will it work with my existing doors and locks?
- Can I manage several sites from one screen?
- Does it connect to my cameras, alarms or visitor system?
- What happens if the internet or power goes down?
- How quickly can I remove access when someone leaves?
Doors are one side of access, and our round-up of IAM tools compares the platforms that control who can log in.
Signs you've outgrown keys
- You don't know who has a key. Move to credentials.
- You run more than one site. Use a cloud platform.
- Leavers keep their access. Automate removal.
- You need an entry log. Add reporting.
Do you make access control systems or door entry software? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on choosing access control software
Start with the doors you have and the people who use them. Ask an installer to survey the site, because the right system has to work with your existing locks and wiring before any app feature matters.
Make leaving as easy as joining: the day someone leaves, their access should go with one click. If biometrics are on your list, read the ICO guidance first, and look at how the system protects visitor and staff data before you sign. Access control works best as part of a wider plan, so my guide to making your office connected is a good next step.
Frequently asked questions
What is access control software?
It's the software that decides who can open which door and when, and records who went through.
Is cloud-based access control secure?
It can be. Check how the vendor encrypts data, how it handles outages and how quickly you can remove access.
Can I use face recognition for door entry in the UK?
You can, but the ICO says biometric data used for unique identification is special category data, so you need a lawful basis and a special category condition.
Can staff open doors with their phones?
Yes. Several systems in this list support phone-based unlocking alongside cards.
Do I need new locks?
Sometimes. Some systems work with existing hardware, while others need their own readers or wireless locks.
Can one system cover several buildings?
Yes. Multi-site platforms let you manage access across locations from one screen.
