# Alternatives to Rhombus

Rhombus is a cloud-managed physical security platform combining smart cameras, IoT sensors, and door access control in one console. Its DR20 door readers support card, mobile, remote unlock, and video-intercom-enabled access, with native visitor management (Rhombus Guest) and full audit trails, aimed at multi-site commercial and enterprise customers.

Rhombus ranks #6 of 12 in Physical access control, with an Alt Score of 93. It is proprietary, sold by subscription from $199/door/yr and available on iOS, Android and Web. 12 of 12 checklist rows are verified against a public source.

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

## Overview

- **Who it's for**: Rhombus targets organizations that need physical access control across one or more buildings — schools, cities, and mid-market to enterprise companies — typically managed by IT or security administrators rather than end users, and bought through Rhombus's authorized reseller network.
- **What you get**: The platform provides door controllers (e.g. DC20), door readers and a video intercom (DR40) with mobile, keycard/fob, and touchless credentials, plus cloud console features for access schedules and lockdown plans, audit trails of entry events, and remote administration across multiple sites and doors.
- **How it works**: Door hardware connects to Rhombus's cloud console (no on-site NVR/DVR server), so administrators unlock doors, set schedules, and review access logs remotely from a web dashboard or the mobile app; each device is activated with a per-device, multi-year license, and the same public REST API, CLI, and SDKs used internally are exposed for customer automation and third-party integrations, including native SCIM/SAML directory sync with providers like Okta and Microsoft Entra ID.

## Profile

- **License**: Proprietary (verified 2026-07-30)
- **Pricing model**: Subscription (verified 2026-07-30)
- **Starts at**: $199/door/yr (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 | [Kastle Systems](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/kastle.md) | 93 | Proprietary | iOS, Android, Web |
| 5 | [Kisi](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/kisi.md) | 93 | Proprietary | Web, iOS, Android |
| 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 | Rhombus | Avigilon Alta Access | Gallagher Security | Genea | Kastle Systems | Kisi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Subscription | ? | ? | Subscription | ? | Subscription |
| Starts at | $199/door/yr | ? | ? | ? | ? | $99/mo |
| License | Proprietary | ? | Proprietary | Proprietary | Proprietary | Proprietary |
| Platforms | iOS, Android, Web | Web, iOS, Android | Windows, iOS, Android, Web | iOS, Android, Web | iOS, Android, Web | Web, iOS, Android |
| 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 Rhombus. Each alternative is sourced on its own page.

- **Starts at**: $199/door/yr — <https://rhombus.com/pricing/access-control/> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Note: Cheapest recurring line item is the 1-year door license ($199/door). A working deployment also needs controller/reader hardware (e.g. DC20 4-door controller, $1,399 MSRP). Sold via resellers; a custom
  - Quote: “1 Door License License is per door $199 Years 1 3 5 10 Total Cost $1,598”
- **Status**: active — <https://rhombus.com/blog/console-updates-july-2026/> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Note: Dated July 21, 2026 — one of a recurring series of monthly product-update posts, indicating ongoing active development.
  - Quote: “This month's Console updates are all about giving you more visibility and more control”
- **License**: Proprietary — <https://legal.rhombus.com/end-user-tos> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Note: No open-source LICENSE file; product is sold as licensed hardware + cloud service under Rhombus's End User Licensing Agreement (EULA). Legal hub is a JS-rendered doc portal that lists this as one of s
  - Quote: “End User Licensing Agreement”
- **Pricing model**: Subscription — <https://rhombus.com/pricing/access-control/> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Note: Model is hardware purchased once plus a per-device, term-based license (1/3/5/10-year); closest fit to Subscription among the allowed vocabulary.
  - Quote: “Number of Doors affects licensing cost, which is calculated per door.”
- **Platforms**: iOS, Android, Web — <https://rhombus.com/console/> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Note: Native iOS and Android apps (per app-store links in the rhombus.com footer); desktop/browser access is via the Rhombus Console web app (console.rhombus.com). No Windows/macOS/Linux native desktop clie
  - Quote: “remote access via desktop or mobile app”
- **Mobile / smartphone unlock**: Yes — <https://www.rhombus.com/access-control/> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Quote: “Securely unlock doors straight from your smartphone.”
- **Keycard / fob / badge**: Yes — <https://www.rhombus.com/access-control/> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Note: Rhombus also sells dedicated Secure Cards and Secure Fobs hardware.
  - Quote: “Gain instant access to buildings with a wave of your hand, tap of your finger, or the touch of a keycard.”
- **Cloud-managed**: Yes — <https://www.rhombus.com/access-control/> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Quote: “a unified, cloud-managed physical security system that evolves with your needs”
- **Video intercom**: Yes — <https://rhombus.com/access-control/door-readers/dr40/> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Note: DR40 Commercial Video Intercom product page.
  - Quote: “Grant access, review entry events, and easily communicate with visitors on an integrated cloud platform.”
- **Visitor management**: Yes — <https://www.rhombus.com/access-control/> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Note: Visitor workflows lean on the DR40 video intercom plus integration partners (e.g. Envoy, OpenTech Alliance) rather than a standalone native visitor-management module.
  - Quote: “Key features include mobile access, video intercom enabled readers, visitor management systems, audit trails, and integration with video surveillance.”
- **Remote unlock**: Yes — <https://www.rhombus.com/access-control/> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Note: Confirmed at API level too: POST /api/accesscontrol/unlockAccessControlledDoor, described as 'Unlock an access controlled door'.
  - Quote: “Administrators can control access, adjust permissions, and monitor entry points from anywhere with an internet connection.”
- **Access schedules & rules**: Yes — <https://www.rhombus.com/access-control/> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Quote: “set access schedules, create customized lockdown plans, and automate workflows between access control, cameras, sensors, and alarms”
- **Audit logs & reporting**: Yes — <https://www.rhombus.com/access-control/> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Quote: “tracking and logging all entry attempts for security purposes”
- **Multi-site management**: Yes — <https://www.rhombus.com/access-control/> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Quote: “allows remote management of multiple locations”
- **Directory sync (Google / Azure / SCIM)**: Yes — <https://rhombus.com/blog/scim-sso-provisioning-access-control/> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Note: Entra ID is Microsoft's current name for Azure AD. Also: 'Rhombus supports both natively, including SAML SSO for any SAML 2.0 provider.' Google Workspace not explicitly named, but SCIM/SAML are IdP-ag
  - Quote: “Rhombus offers native SCIM 2.0 lifecycle automation with Okta and Entra ID, covering automated user creation, updates, and deactivation.”
- **API & integrations**: Yes — <https://www.rhombus.com/llms.txt> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Quote: “Developers and AI agents can automate the entire platform through a public REST API (~900 endpoints), an official CLI, SDKs, and a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server.”
- **On-prem option**: No — <https://www.rhombus.com/pricing.md> (verified 2026-07-30)
  - Note: Rhombus's whole architecture is cloud-managed (cameras/controllers buffer footage locally but there is no on-premise server/VMS deployment option advertised anywhere on the site).
  - Quote: “no NVR/DVR hardware is required”

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