Hotel Mobile Keys Without the Need for App Downloads or Lock Replacements
What Sets Us Apart
If your hotel uses battery-powered locks with key cards and you’d like to upgrade to digital keys, you’ve come to the right place!
Most mobile key systems on the market require guests to download yet another app, and hotels to replace every single door lock.
HotelBuddy takes a different approach. We turn your existing electronic locks into digital-ready locks by adding a small IoT chip inside the lock.
We’ve developed a unique IoT chip that integrates with your existing locks, connecting them to the internet. No need for hardware replacement or large upfront investments! It’s the simplest, most cost-effective way to go keyless.
This allows guests to unlock their doors with their smartphones, offering a fully digital guest experience without replacing your locks or requiring app downloads.
Benefits of Mobile Keys
Instant Room Access
Guests can use their smartphones to unlock their room upon arrival, bypassing the front desk entirely. Optimize front desk work, eliminate queues and waiting times.
Enhanced Security
While plastic key cards can be lost or stolen, the digital keys are safely stored on guests' smartphones. They can be promptly and remotely deactivated if the phone is lost.
Reduced Costs
Eliminate the need for physical key cards, contributing to a greener future. Save on the recurring costs of purchasing, printing, and programming plastic cards.
What Guests Say
Take a look at what happy travelers have to say about their experience using digital keys at our partner hotels. With Hotelbuddy, you can elevate guest satisfaction, boost your online reviews, and achieve higher ratings on platforms like Booking.com and Tripadvisor.
How Mobile Keys Work
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Guests receive an email and SMS with a secure link to their personal, encrypted web page— HotelBuddy dashboard. No need to install apps or log in.
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HotelBuddy web-app works in any browser, allowing guests to click the "Open Door" button on their dashboard to unlock their room. Our chip inside the lock receives the signal and unlocks the door.
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Guests can also use the same dashboard to open gym doors, main door and corridor doors, lifts, or any other doors where HotelBuddy’s chip is installed.
Compatible With All Locks
HotelBuddy’s technology ensures compatibility with all types of locks:
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Older Locks: HotelBuddy has developed its own specialised IoT door lock modules designed for quick installation in any door lock. These modules create a secure communication between the lock and our system via an IoT Access Point, controlled by an IoT controller.
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New Electonic Locks: If you already have online locks with functionality that allows them to be opened through an API, we can open them without adding our IoT chips to the locks.
In both cases guests can smoothly unlock their rooms using HotelBuddy's browser-based app on their mobile phones—no app downloads or logins needed. Guests can opt to use both mobile keys and traditional plastic key cards simultaneously. The digital key does not disable your existing key cards.
With this flexible dual approach, HotelBuddy empowers you to unlock the full potential of digital key technology, regardless of your existing infrastructure.
Why Are HotelBuddy Mobile Keys Better?
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No App = More Guest Adoption
Mobile keys are sent via email or SMS — guests open them in any browser.
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No Lock Replacement = Huge Cost Savings
We insert a small IoT chip into your existing electronic locks.
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Compatible with Your PMS
HotelBuddy is integrated with major PMS systems and handles check-in, keys, payments, and guest profiles.
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Flexible Access
Guests can still request a plastic key card if they prefer. Both options work.
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Enhanced Security
Digital keys can’t be lost, copied, or demagnetized. Guests' phones are password- or Face-ID protected.
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Eco-Friendly
No plastic cards to buy, replace, or discard. Mobile keys help reduce plastic waste.
FAQ
A digital key (also mobile key or electronic room key) allows hotel guests to unlock their room using their smartphone, instead of a plastic keycard. It's part of a hotel keyless entry system that provides contactless access via mobile device.
Digital keys are typically delivered through a hotel mobile key app — but modern systems like HotelBuddy use a secure browser-based link, so guests don’t need to download anything.
Hotels need a digital key hotel system that connects the door lock system with their property management system (PMS).
With HotelBuddy:
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We install a small IoT chip into your existing locks.
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You don’t need to replace hardware.
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Our system is integrated with major PMS platforms (Opera Cloud, Infor, HotelTime, Hotsoft, MEWS).
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Digital keys are automatically issued after online check-in and payment and disabled after check-out.
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Adopting mobile keys can be straightforward, especially if you choose a solution that doesn’t require major hardware changes.
The easiest way is to choose a system like HotelBuddy that:
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Works with your existing locks
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Doesn’t require guests to download an app
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Is integrated with your PMS
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Offers dual access (plastic card + mobile)
With HotelBuddy here’s no need for guests to download an app and no need for you to replace your existing door locks. We simply insert a small IoT chip into your current electronic locks and connect everything to your PMS.
Installation takes about 5–10 minutes per door, and staff training is minimal. This approach allows you to digitize your key system with little disruption to operations.
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The best mobile key systems for hotels in 2025 offer
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App-free access
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PMS integration
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Affordable pricing
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Quick setup
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Strong guest adoption
HotelBuddy is built specifically for independent hotels and hotel groups that want an affordable yet reliable, no-hardware-replacement digital key solution.
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Some mobile key systems require full lock replacement, which can cost €500–2,000 per door. HotelBuddy avoids this. We insert a small chip in your existing electronic locks making them mobile key–ready. You keep the locks you already have. Most common lock models are supported.
Module installation
The installation involves the placement of small IoT chips into your existing door locks (no need to change the locks!). This takes 5-10 minutes per door and can be handled by our certified local IT partners or by your hotel's in-house technicians.
Most providers do — but guests are often reluctant to download hotel apps for a one-time stay.
HotelBuddy eliminates this barrier. We use a 100% web-based guest app, so the digital key is delivered via SMS or email and opened in any browser. No app, no account, no password.
This dramatically increases usage rates — especially among short-stay and business travelers.
HotelBuddy digital keys
HotelBuddy's Mobile Key solution enables guests to access their rooms using their smartphones, without needing to download an app.
Here’s how it works:
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Integration with Your PMS: HotelBuddy integrates with your property management system (PMS) to securely retrieve guest data.
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Integration with Your Door Locks:
> If your door locks already support web-based opening via an API, the Mobile Key is directly integrated into the solution.
> If your door locks do not support web-based opening, HotelBuddy offers a unique IoT-based smart chip that can be installed on any type of electronic door lock, bringing it online and connecting it to the system.
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Automated Notifications: Guests receive an email or SMS with a secure link to their personalized guest dashboard prior to their arrival.
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Guest Dashboard Access: The guest dashboard includes a button listing all doors they have access to during their stay. Guests can simply tap the button to unlock their assigned doors, securely and conveniently.
This innovative solution ensures compatibility with most electronic door locks, providing a seamless, modern experience for both guests and hotel staff.
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Digital Keys are safe
Yes — digital keys are more secure than magnetic keycards:
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Can’t be cloned or demagnetized
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Stored on phones with PIN or biometric protection
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Automatically expire after checkout
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Can be revoked remotely
HotelBuddy digital keys are encrypted and trackable, and we log each access attempt for full auditability. Our system uses encrypted communication protocols to securely transmit key credentials to guests’ devices. Additionally, access is limited to the specific room and duration of the stay, minimizing risks. Regular updates and compliance with industry standards further ensure a secure and reliable solution.
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Common concerns include:
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Replacing door locks
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Guests not using the app
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Staff resistance or training time
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Integration delays
HotelBuddy was specifically built to remove these barriers. Our mobile key solution:
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Works with existing locks
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Requires no app download
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Takes just 5–10 minutes per door to install
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Comes with training, support, and a live admin dashboard
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Allow dual access: guests can use both mobile keys and plastic keycards
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Can be configured to unlock also corridor or elevator access, spa and fitness center doors, parking gates or garage entries
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Cost of digital keys
The cost of Mobile Keys depends on several factors, such as the type of locks you currently have and the number of rooms in your property. HotelBuddy offers flexible pricing tailored to your needs, ensuring a cost-effective solution for your business.
For a personalized quote, please contact our team sales@hotelbuddy.eu, and we’ll be happy to assist you.
Benefits of digital keys
Digital keys help hotels:
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Reduce front desk workload
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Eliminate lost/demagnetized keycards
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Speed up check-in
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Lower operational costs
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Improve guest satisfaction
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Support sustainability goals
Hotels using HotelBuddy digital keys report fewer queues, higher guest adoption, and improved reviews.
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HotelBuddy digital keys
Yes — if they don’t need to download anything.
One of the biggest reasons guests don’t use hotel mobile keys is because they’re forced to download an unfamiliar app. HotelBuddy solves this by sending the digital key as a secure link via SMS or email. Guests open it in their browser — just like checking in for a flight.
Because of this, guest adoption rates are significantly higher, especially among younger and business travelers who expect fast, contactless access.
