A smart lock with a PIN code or with an app?
A PIN code you type on a keypad. An app or digital key uses the phone. For rentals a PIN code is usually the easiest, for regular people a digital key is convenient.
The difference at a glance
| PIN code | App or digital key | |
|---|---|---|
| For whom | Guests, tenants, one-off visitors | Regular staff and tenants |
| What the user needs | Only the code | A phone with the app, and a one-time registration |
| Hardware | Lock with keypad | Lock that supports Bluetooth or NFC |
| Revoking | Remove the code or let it expire | Revoke the key in the system |
| Example with Sojolock | Tedee | EVVA AirKey |
When to choose which
Choose a PIN code if
You have different guests every day, people do not want to install an app, or you want to send the code by email.
Choose a digital key if
It concerns regular people (staff, tenants, technicians) and you want to grant and revoke access per person.
You can combine them
Many locations use both: a PIN code on the front door for guests and a digital key for staff on the office door. In Sojolock they are in the same environment, with one log.
Frequently asked questions
Is a PIN code less secure than an app?
Not necessarily. A PIN code per guest with an end date is safe for rentals. A digital key is personal and can be disabled if a phone is lost. Which suits depends on who comes in.
Can a guest also open without an app?
Yes, with a PIN code. With a digital key the lock brand's app is needed.
Does the guest need internet?
Not for a PIN code. For a digital key the phone first has to receive the key through the internet and then it works at the lock via Bluetooth or NFC.
Read more
Tedee or Nuki
Tedee or Nuki for your door or rental? What to look at: keypad, internet, your cylinder, integrations and what Sojolock supports today.
PIN code for guests
Why a temporary PIN code per guest is safer than a key safe, how it works and what you need to arrange: spare key, battery and internet.
EVVA AirKey integration
Connect EVVA AirKey to Sojolock: view locks, people and the log, and issue and revoke digital keys, with an overview of what is possible.