Insights & Updates
Tips, guides, and insights for property managers looking to automate guest access and streamline operations.
The 2026 STR Smart Lock Automation Platform Comparison
30+ tools sit in the STR smart-lock automation space and they sort into six structurally different categories. Here's the honest map — including where GuestsKey wins, where it doesn't, and a decision matrix that tells you what to use based on your situation.
Why GuestsKey Over PMS-Native Lock Automation
Hospitable, OwnerRez, and Lodgify all ship some form of native smart-lock automation. Here's the honest case — from an official partner of two of them — for using a dedicated tool instead, and the three scenarios where the PMS-native path is actually right.
GuestsKey + OwnerRez: Now an Official Partner Integration
GuestsKey is now an official OwnerRez partner. Sync bookings to your smart locks automatically — guest codes generated, scheduled, and removed without lifting a finger.
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How to Automate Airbnb Door Codes: With a PMS, Without One, and What Happens After You Connect
Airbnb's own smart lock feature covers one profile of host well. This is the guide for everyone else: the free no-PMS path, the OwnerRez, Hospitable and Lodgify path, and exactly what happens to a code after you connect.
Two Links, No Apps: The GuestsKey Vacation Rental Guest Portal and Cleaner Portal
Two links, no apps. The guest portal goes out when the code is confirmed on the lock, and the cleaner portal's Mark Clean button can let the next guest in early. Here's how both work.
Hospitable Smart Lock Integration: Three Ways to Automate Door Codes (and Which One Fits Your Plan)
Hospitable's built-in lock feature, GuestsKey connected to your Hospitable account, or free Hospitable Connect for Airbnb-only hosts: which one fits your plan, and when the built-in one is enough.
Lodgify Smart Lock Automation: Lodgify's Add-On vs GuestsKey, and the One Setting to Check After You Connect
Lodgify ships its own Smart Locks add-on, and GuestsKey connects to Lodgify with one API key. Here's how the two compare on price and coverage, what a connection imports, and the one property setting we ask every Lodgify host to check after the first sync.
OwnerRez vs Hospitable for Smart Lock Automation: What Each Does Natively, and Where GuestsKey Fits
Both OwnerRez and Hospitable ship native smart-lock automation. Here's what each one does, what it costs, which locks it covers, and when GuestsKey, a partner of both, is the better layer.
Schlage Encode for Vacation Rentals: When You Need Software, When You Don't, and How to Set It Up
The Encode is one of the few locks where the honest answer to 'do I need automation software?' is sometimes no. Here's how to tell, and how to set it up when the answer is yes.
The Seam API for Vacation Rentals: What It Gives You, What You Still Build, and When to Build It Yourself
Seam gives you access codes, webhooks, and a login flow. A vacation rental still needs timezone math, a 'did it really land' check, and a plan for the lock going offline; here's the full list.
Static Door Codes: The Guest Portal for Properties Without a Smart Lock
Some doors will never get a supported smart lock. Static door codes put those properties in the same guest portal as the rest, for $0.99 a month, with no automation attached.
How to Connect an Airbnb Property to GuestsKey
You don't need a paid PMS to automate your Airbnb door codes. Here's how to connect an Airbnb listing to GuestsKey through Hospitable Connect — free, in about ten minutes, including the shared-front-door case most tools get wrong.
How to Connect an August Smart Lock to OwnerRez
OwnerRez doesn't talk to August directly. Here's how GuestsKey bridges the two — what to set up, what's automatic, and how to verify it before your next check-in.
How GuestsKey's Emergency Backup Codes Prevent Guest Lockouts
Most lock automation tools wait for guests to complain. GuestsKey proactively validates your locks before check-in and automatically distributes backup codes if anything fails.
RBoy Apps Stopped Working? Here's Your 5-Minute Migration to GuestsKey
RBoy Apps RLA stopped working after SmartThings Groovy shutdown. Migrate to GuestsKey in under 5 minutes - same locks, better automation, cloud-native reliability.
GuestsKey vs RemoteLock vs Rental Home Automator: Which Is Right for You?
An honest comparison of the top smart lock automation solutions for vacation rentals. We break down pricing, features, and ideal use cases to help you choose.
Complete Guide: OwnerRez + SmartThings Smart Lock Automation
Step-by-step guide to automating guest access codes with OwnerRez and SmartThings. Connect your vacation rental bookings to your smart locks in minutes.
5 Smart Lock Mistakes Costing Vacation Rental Hosts Money
Avoid these common smart lock automation mistakes that lead to lockouts, bad reviews, and lost revenue. Learn how top hosts manage guest access codes.
Why Z-Wave Smart Locks Outperform Wi-Fi Locks for Vacation Rentals
Discover why Z-Wave smart locks offer superior reliability, range, and battery life compared to Wi-Fi locks for short-term rental properties.
Why We Built GuestsKey: A Vacation Rental Host's Frustration
GuestsKey wasn't born in a boardroom. It was born at 11 PM on a Friday night, with a guest stranded outside a property 200 miles away. Here's our story.
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