Many access control companies have emerged in recent years. With all the options available, it can be difficult to pinpoint the best access control system for your needs. Whether you’re a property manager, business owner, enterprise executive or IT and security professional, we’ve got you covered with a list of the top 10 access control companies. See how these solutions stack up and the features you need to secure your business or organization in 2024.
Top 10 Access Control System Companies In 2024
- Genea Security
- HID
- Honeywell
- Kisi
- Feenics
- Avigilon (formerly Openpath)
- Brivo
- Elements
- Genetec
- Butterfly MX
1. Genea Security
Genea Security is a leading cloud-based access control system, built on non-proprietary hardware. It’s the only system of its kind that unifies security infrastructure within a single pane of glass platform. Enterprises, schools, hospitals and more can use their existing security technology along with API integrations to easily connect disparate security systems. Additionally, Genea Security offers a variety of access credential options such as key cards, proximity cards and mobile. Users can also add their mobile credentials to their Apple Wallet for increased convenience and safety. With a customizable dashboard and robust feature set, Genea users benefit from the ability to monitor, provision and respond to access incidences whether working on site or working remotely. Genea is also backed by 24/7/365 live customer support.
Benefits of Genea Security
- Cloud-based security
- Non-proprietary hardware for future flexibility
- Mobile and Physical Access Credentials
- Single Pane of Glass Security
- Interactive Floor Plans
- Custom Reporting
- Mobile Credentials in Apple Wallet
Drawbacks of Genea Security
- Some integrations are not included in Genea Essential (Genea’s plan for small and medium-sized businesses).
- Not suitable for those looking for a proprietary hardware system.
Who Should Use Genea
Enterprises, commercial real estate, K-12 schools and universities, hospitals
2. HID
HID is ranked second on our list of best access control companies. The provider is a leading innovator in non-proprietary hardware for the security industry. Known for their mobile access control, physical credentials (e.g., key cards, proximity cards and key fobs) and card readers, HID offers both on-prem and cloud-based access control to safeguard physical and digital assets. With scalable and customizable features, businesses can effortlessly manage access permissions, monitor activities and set access alarms. Some of the most popular features include the access control company’s NFC technology and smartphone digital keys.
Benefits of HID Access Control
- Mobile Access Control in Apple Wallet
- Full support for HID security hardware, including access readers and controllers
- Dashboards visualizing activity data
- Biometric readers
Drawbacks of HID Access Control
- Pricing- Unlike many access control companies, HID’s pricing model charges for each individual credential within a system. Consequently, business scalability can become unnecessarily expensive.
- Software- HID is a hardware-first access control company. Their set of software features is not as robust as other access control companies on this list.
Who Should Use HID
HID is used in a variety of industries including commercial real estate, enterprises, residential buildings and school districts.
3. Honeywell
Honeywell is a prominent manufacturer of products ranging from aerospace to building technologies. Due to its longstanding reputation and product versatility in various business sectors, Honeywell has gained the trust of many customers in the security industry. The access control company offers a versatile panel-based system with generic door controllers, ensuring compatibility with numerous security products. However, customers report one of the most significant drawbacks of Honeywell access control is its system’s piecemeal approach.
Like many other access control companies, Honeywell offers enterprise-grade security with many standard security features. These features include a dashboard to monitor alarms and access events in real-time, credential scheduling and maps of live floor plans.
Benefits of Honeywell Security
- Proprietary video management
- Native visitor management
- Reporting
Drawbacks of Honeywell Security
- No directory integrations
- No cloud-based camera integrations
- No native mobile access platform- IT and security teams cannot control Honeywell hardware through a smartphone or other mobile device.
- Poor customer support- unlike smaller access control companies, Honeywell does not offer the same level of support due to its size.
Who Should Use Honeywell
Airports, banking, education, commercial offices, finance, gaming, government, health care, and industrial
4. Kisi
Kisi is a cloud-based access control provider based in New York, NY. Their software operates on proprietary hardware.
Additionally, Kisi manufactures its own IP-based access control reader complete with five different communication channels: ethernet, WiFi, NFC, Bluetooth and cellular. When it comes to access credentials, Kisi touts its keyless entry experience. Users can leverage a mobile app on their iOS and Android devices to unlock doors. If your business is not ready to deploy mobile credentialing, 128-bit AES encrypted key cards are also available. Like other access control companies on this list, Kisi allows system administrators to create and assign credentials by groups and roles, automating the provisioning processes. Credentials can also be time-based.
Benefits of Kisi Access Control
- Feature-rich dashboard
- Open API, meaning businesses can integrate with a variety of third-party hardware and software
Drawbacks of Kisi Access Control
- Proprietary hardware ties users to Kisi, making any system changes expensive
- Difficult supporting enterprises and organizations with many doors. 20-30 doors require upwards of 8 controllers
- No robust visitor management platform
- Some users complain about Kisi’s customer support
Who Should Use Kisi
Small to medium-sized businesses
5. Feenics
Feenics Access Control was purchased by Acre, which is a Triton Fund V portfolio company, in 2021. Feenics operates as Acre’s cloud-based access control platform and is managed in a public AWS server. The platform has a building emergency lockdown feature, mass notifications and multi-factor authentication. Additionally, the company offers a handful of integrations, including a native visitor management that can be used with the Feenics VM kiosk. However, its IP-based platform is not as robust or streamlined as other non-proprietary, cloud competitors.
With around 20 API integrations, Feenics can help enterprises equip themselves with a connected access control system. Some of these include integrations with the HR platform, Workday. However, one of the drawbacks is that Feenics has fewer video management integrations than other access control companies. It does not integrate with Cisco Meraki, Rhombus or Eagle Eye Security. For commercial real estate teams, there are fewer elevator options than the leading cloud-based security provider.
Advantages of Feenics Access Control
- Non-proprietary, Mercury Hardware
- Native visitor management
- Open API, meaning businesses can integrate with a variety of third-party hardware and software
Drawbacks of Feenics Access Control
- Pricing
- Dashboard has limited features compared to others
- Fewer video management integrations than cloud-based competitors
- No integration with Apple Wallet or Google Wallet
- Limited end-user functionality on mobile
- No badge designer/printer feature
Who Should Use Feenics
Their website does not clearly state their target industries.
6. Avigilon Alta (formerly Openpath)
As far as access control companies go, Motorola is a fairly new player. In May 2023, the company acquired Openpath – a reputable, cloud-based access control system – and rebranded their cloud access control product to Avigilon Alta. Avigilon Alta is a web-based access control management platform that runs on proprietary hardware. The company touts the platform’s ability to be accessed remotely, whether on site or off. Additionally, Avigilon mentions their ability to provide real-time video security, however, this is not available in their basic package. Avigilon also offers mobile and physical credentials; however, it does not integrate with Apple Wallet or Google Wallet.
Benefits of Avigilon Alta
- Advanced reporting
- Robust integrations
- User-friendly dashboard
- Remote access
- Mobile and physical credentials
Drawbacks of Avigilon Alta
- Three-tiered billing
- Apple and Google integrations are not available
- VMS integration is not included in the basic package
- Custom dashboards (not included in the basic package)
- Proprietary hardware
Who Should Use Avigilon Alta
Enterprises, commercial real estate, schools, healthcare, airports, government
7. Brivo
Brivo is seventh on our list of access control companies. The company specializes in cloud-based access control and video surveillance. It features a robust selection of API integrations, including a native video platform. Like other security manufacturers, Brivo’s platform runs on proprietary hardware (manufactured by Wavelynx). If a user ever decides to switch providers, the hardware system will need to be replaced.
The platform is reported to be less intuitive than other cloud-based access control companies. Brivo requires system administrators to click through multiple tabs to make user modifications, rather than streamlining the user experience.
Brivo also has various apps depending on the use case. For example, Brivo Mobile Pass acts as a platform for end users to access a given space via a smartphone, and Brivo Smart Home is made exclusively for their residential customers. The provider also has Brivo Access, Brivo Visitor and Brivo Install. With this array of apps, Brivo must keep up to date with the development of each, whereas similar access control companies like Kisi and Genea offer a single universal app.
Finally, Brivo’s visitor management platform requires guests to download and sign into a mobile app. This may be an inconvenience for some guests. Alternatively, other cloud-based companies issue QR code visitor badges that can be temporarily activated.
Benefits of Brivo Access Control
- Robust integrations
- User-friendly dashboard
- Remote access
- Mobile and physical credentials
- Apple Wallet integration
Drawbacks of Brivo Access Control
- Different platform editions depending on industry
- Additional fee to add more mobile credentials
- Multiple apps
- Less streamlined dashboard
- Inconvenient visitor management- No QR code or email-based guest credentials
- Visitor management requires an additional fee
- VMS integration is not included
Who Should Use Brivo
Residential, enterprise, religious institutions, schools
8. Lenel Elements
LenelS2 is a legacy access control company known for its on-prem access control solution, Lenel OnGuard. To keep up with the transition to cloud platforms, the security provider released Lenel Elements.
Elements comes with a much needed, reimagined dashboard from which IT and security teams can manage their third-party integrations, provision mobile credentials and create access reports. Elements runs on non-proprietary, Mercury hardware, but is limited to 64 readers, 4 controllers and 16 cameras per site. It’s also capped at 5,000 access events per day, making it unsuitable for enterprise use.
Benefits of LenelS2 Elements
- Non-proprietary hardware
- Improved dashboard compared to legacy systems
- Remote access
Drawbacks of LenelS2 Elements
- Limited system scalability
- No badge designing and printing capabilities
- No integration with Apple Wallet
Who Should Use LenelS2 Elements
Small to medium-sized businesses, education, government, healthcare
9. Genetec
Genetec ranks ninth on our list of best access control companies. Their IP-based system, Synergis, operates with non-proprietary hardware from HID Global and HID Mercury Security, along with ASSA ABLOY door locks. As with other non-proprietary hardware systems, Genetec gives users flexibility to switch software providers as needed without ripping and replacing hardware. The security solution requires an extra piece of hardware Genetec calls Synergis Cloud Link. The hardware supports up to 32 downstream devices (Vertx RS-485), 256 locks and readers and 600,000 cardholders.
In addition to their access control software, Genetec offers a native video surveillance platform, Omnicast. The solution includes facility maps and custom dashboards as well. Additionally, Genetec’s vehicle license plate recognition software can be integrated to boost security.
For IT and security teams hoping to implement mobile credentialing, Genetec should be avoided. Genetec does not offer a native mobile option, so users must use physical credentials. Additionally, the provider lacks directory integrations like Okta or Azure AD.
Benefits of Genetec Access Control
- Non-proprietary hardware
- Native video management software
- Cloud-based access control
- Alarms
Drawbacks of Genetec Access Control
- No directory integrations
- Advanced features are only available with premium plans
Who Should Use Genetec Access Control
Enterprises, factories, military facilities and airports that need large-scale video surveillance
10. ButterflyMX
ButterflyMX is a proprietary, cloud-based access control system. The provider manufactures various keypad and key card readers, including mullion readers, vehicle readers and single gang readers. Their system also runs on a proprietary controller. ButterflyMX also touts its video intercom, which can transmit to its desktop or mobile apps. Users can also enjoy a mobile option to remotely manage, update and monitor their property access.
ButterflyMX is likely inadequate for enterprises, schools and other multi-site organizations. The access control system has few integrations with video management platforms. Absent from their list are Milestone and Cisco Meraki. Further, their system does not integrate with Okta or Azure AD, making it difficult to automate the adding and removing of users.
Benefits of ButterflyMX Access Control
- Native video management software
- Cloud-based access control
- Native video intercom integration
Drawbacks of ButterflyMX Access Control
- Proprietary hardware
- No directory integrations
- Fewer video management system integrations
- Geared primarily to small businesses and residential
ButterflyMX Access Control Industries
Residential, commercial & office, industrial
Choosing the Right Access Control System
Access control security is increasingly important in 2024. To learn more about your options and choose a system that is right for you, contact a Genea representative.
