# Alternatives to Kastle Systems

Kastle Systems is a managed security service provider offering cloud-based access control, video surveillance, and visitor management for commercial real estate and multi-site enterprises, historically strong in the Washington DC office market. Unlike self-serve platforms, Kastle typically operates access policy changes on behalf of the customer as a managed service.

Kastle Systems ranks #4 of 12 in Physical access control, with an Alt Score of 93. It is proprietary and available on iOS, Android and Web. 12 of 12 checklist rows are verified against a public source.

Source: https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/kastle/
Category: Physical access control

## Overview

- **Who it's for**: Kastle Systems targets property owners and operators of commercial office buildings, multifamily/residential communities, and coworking or mixed-use portfolios who need physical access control and video surveillance managed for them across one or many sites, rather than software they operate themselves.
- **What you get**: Kastle provides managed access control (badge, key fob, and mobile/smartphone credentials via Apple Wallet and Google Wallet), video surveillance and video intercom, visitor registration and self-service kiosks, and a cloud-based admin portal for remote door schedules, lockdown, user/directory management, and activity reporting, along with an SDK/open API for integrating with property management, building automation, and tenant-experience platforms.
- **How it works**: Kastle installs and owns the on-site hardware (readers, cameras, intercoms) and delivers the system as a monitored, cloud-connected service: administrators log into a single online portal to manage users, locations, schedules, and reporting from anywhere, while Kastle's team continuously monitors access and alarm activity and pushes SaaS software updates, positioning itself as a managed-service (MSP/MSSP) alternative to buying and self-hosting on-premise access control hardware.

## Profile

- **License**: Proprietary (verified 2026-07-30)
- **Platforms**: iOS, Android, Web
- **Status**: active (verified 2026-07-30)

## Ranked alternatives

| # | App | Alt Score | Licence | Platforms |
|---|-----|-----------|---------|-----------|
| 1 | [Avigilon Alta Access](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/avigilon-alta.md) | 93 | ? | Web, iOS, Android |
| 2 | [Gallagher Security](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/gallagher.md) | 93 | Proprietary | Windows, iOS, Android, Web |
| 3 | [Genea](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/genea.md) | 93 | Proprietary | iOS, Android, Web |
| 4 | [Kisi](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/kisi.md) | 93 | Proprietary | Web, iOS, Android |
| 5 | [Rhombus](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/rhombus.md) | 93 | Proprietary | iOS, Android, Web |
| 6 | [Swiftlane](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/swiftlane.md) | 93 | Proprietary | iOS, Android, Web |
| 7 | [Verkada](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/verkada.md) | 93 | Proprietary | Web, iOS, Android |
| 8 | [Brivo](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/brivo.md) | 89 | Proprietary | Web, iOS, Android |
| 9 | [ProdataKey](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/prodatakey.md) | 89 | ? | iOS, Android, Web |
| 10 | [SALTO KS](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/salto-ks.md) | 85 | Proprietary | Web, iOS, Android |
| 11 | [ButterflyMX](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/butterflymx.md) | 81 | Proprietary | Web, iOS, Android |

Alt Score = Verified coverage (90%) + Visibility (10%). See https://altcatalog.com/how-alt-score-works/

## Feature comparison

Legend: Yes / No / Partial / ? (not verified).

| Physical access control checklist | Kastle Systems | Avigilon Alta Access | Gallagher Security | Genea | Kisi | Rhombus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | ? | ? | ? | Subscription | Subscription | Subscription |
| Starts at | ? | ? | ? | ? | $99/mo | $199/door/yr |
| License | Proprietary | ? | Proprietary | Proprietary | Proprietary | Proprietary |
| Platforms | iOS, Android, Web | Web, iOS, Android | Windows, iOS, Android, Web | iOS, Android, Web | Web, iOS, Android | iOS, Android, Web |
| Mobile / smartphone unlock | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Keycard / fob / badge | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cloud-managed | Yes | Yes | Partial | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Video intercom | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Visitor management | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Remote unlock | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Access schedules & rules | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Audit logs & reporting | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-site management | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Directory sync (Google / Azure / SCIM) | Yes | Yes | Partial | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| API & integrations | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| On-prem option | No | No | Yes | No | No | No |

## Sources

Sources for Kastle Systems. Each alternative is sourced on its own page.

- **Status**: active — <https://www.kastle.com/kastle-expands-video-search-with-appearance-based-and-area-based-search/> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Note: Product-update article dated 2025-07-23; site sitemap shows continued page updates through July 2026, consistent with active ongoing development.
  - Quote: “Kastle Expands Video Search with Appearance-Based and Area-Based Search”
- **Platforms**: iOS, Android, Web — <https://www.kastle.com/solutions/managed-access-control-systems/#google-wallet> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Note: Apple Wallet section on the same page confirms iOS; the customer/admin login portal is web-based ("Login from anywhere ... from a single online portal").
  - Quote: “You can now add your Kastle badge to Google Wallet™ for easy mobile access”
- **License**: Proprietary — <https://www.kastle.com/kastle-systems-terms-of-use/> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Quote: “all Content is the proprietary property of Kastle or our licensors or users, as applicable, and are protected by United States and international copyright laws”
- **Mobile / smartphone unlock**: Yes — <https://www.kastle.com/solutions/managed-access-control-systems/#apple-wallet> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Quote: “Kastle EverPresence™, anchored on the Aliro standard, makes mobile access simple, secure, and compatible across buildings and devices... one trusted mobile credential.”
- **Keycard / fob / badge**: Yes — <https://www.kastle.com/solutions/managed-access-control-systems/#keyless-entry> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Quote: “a single credential (access card, key fob, or smartphone-based digital key via KastleResident®) that works everywhere within the community”
- **Cloud-managed**: Yes — <https://www.kastle.com/solutions/managed-access-control-systems/#cloud-based-management> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Note: Section heading on the same page is literally "Remote Cloud-Based Access Management"; also states "Regular and Instant SaaS software upgrades pushed from Kastle to your system."
  - Quote: “Login from anywhere to manage users, locations and even reporting from a single online portal.”
- **Video intercom**: Yes — <https://www.kastle.com/solutions/visitor-management/#video-intercom> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Note: Product branded KastleVideocom.
  - Quote: “Unexpected guests and passers-by can use the video intercom to call the office to request entry.”
- **Visitor management**: Yes — <https://www.kastle.com/solutions/visitor-management/#registration-scheduling> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Quote: “KastleVisitor® makes it easy to schedule on-site meetings via online calendars and seamlessly register the outside visitor to be expected upon arrival”
- **Remote unlock**: Yes — <https://www.kastle.com/solutions/managed-access-control-systems/#cloud-based-management> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Quote: “Flexible operation to change door schedules, access rights or even lockdown activation remotely from any device.”
- **Access schedules & rules**: Yes — <https://www.kastle.com/solutions/managed-access-control-systems/#cloud-based-management> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Quote: “Flexible operation to change door schedules, access rights or even lockdown activation remotely from any device.”
- **Audit logs & reporting**: Yes — <https://www.kastle.com/solutions/managed-access-control-systems/#cloud-based-management> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Quote: “Easy, fast and powerful data reporting for space use analysis, contact tracing, auditing, compliance & more.”
- **Multi-site management**: Yes — <https://www.kastle.com/solutions/partner-integrations/> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Note: Also stated on managed-access-control-systems page: "Ability to share access rights across landlords, tenants, or departments."
  - Quote: “Fluid operation across locations from parking garages and office buildings to shared gyms and individual office suite.”
- **Directory sync (Google / Azure / SCIM)**: Yes — <https://www.kastle.com/solutions/managed-access-control-systems/#cloud-based-management> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Note: Site names Active Directory explicitly and lists Okta among partner integration logos (solutions/partner-integrations/); Google Workspace/Azure AD/SCIM are not named specifically, so treat the Google/
  - Quote: “Integration with user active directory to easily and instantly add or revoke access rights to any location.”
- **API & integrations**: Yes — <https://www.kastle.com/solutions/managed-access-control-systems/#seamless-integration> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Quote: “Integrate access control with other applications like property management platforms, health screening, and tenant experience apps using our SDK and open API.”
- **On-prem option**: No — <https://www.kastle.com/total-cost-of-ownership/> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Note: Kastle's own cost-of-ownership comparison places itself in the "Managed Services (MSP/MSSP)" category as distinct from "Traditional On-Prem"; elsewhere Kastle describes itself as a "Security-as-a-Serv
  - Quote: “Traditional On-Prem ... Cloud-Only ... Managed Services (MSP/MSSP) ... One predictable fee. Installation, operations, monitoring, maintenance included.”

---
Ranked by verified data, never by who paid. https://altcatalog.com/trust/