# Paxton Key — user reviews > 55 indexed App Store user reviews of Paxton Key by Paxton Access Ltd, rated 4.40/5 from 735 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/paxton-key/id1510947334/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/paxton-key/id1510947334.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 581 · 4★ 32 · 3★ 27 · 2★ 26 · 1★ 69 ## Newest reviews (14 of 55) ### 1/5 — Nuisance *2026-03-05, version 2.4.0* The idea of making someone hold a phone (which costs over $1,000) out of a car window, just to access your place of living is ridiculous. Then having to make physical contact multiple times, just to get it to read, is infuriating. Can’t even see your personal gate code in the app. May be one of the worst implementations I’ve come across, and I lived through windows Vista. ### 1/5 — No *2026-02-06* Holy freaking trash of an app. The absolute worst. **Developer response:** Hi shampoo1776, we're sorry to hear about your experience with the app. To fix this, we'd like to understand exactly what is going wrong for you. Please contact our technical team so we can investigate and resolve the issue. You can contact them by phone, email, or webchat here: https://www.paxton-access.com/contact-us/ ### 1/5 — Awful *2025-12-31* The app never works how you want it to. Any time I try to get access to my community, Paxton is here to ruin my day. I am constantly scanning and rescanning while Paxton just sits idly by to tell me access denied. I hate this app **Developer response:** Hi GamesReviews2021, we're sorry to hear about your frustrating experience with the app. If you see Access Denied, it usually means you don't have permission to use that Paxton10 controlled door, or potentially just not at that specific time. These permissions are set by the system administrator rather than in the app itself. We’d recommend checking with whoever manages access for your community first. If everything looks correct and the issue continues, our Support team can help investigate further. You can contact them by phone, email, or webchat here: https://www.paxton-access.com/contact-us/ ### 1/5 — Good idea, frustrating execution on iPhone *2025-12-14, version 2.4.0* The concept is good, but on iPhone the app is often unreliable. It frequently requires force-closing and reopening, and holding the phone near readers triggers Apple Pay before access works. Have you considered supporting Apple Wallet access cards in your roadmap? A Wallet-based credential would greatly improve reliability and user experience on iOS. ### 1/5 — Good luck *2025-11-18* I was excited to use the app and system with my phone and watch. The watch app almost never works and the phone app works maybe 30% of the time. **Developer response:** Hi mrfunnyguyky, sorry, this obviously isn't the experience we want for you. Please get in touch with our Support team who will be able to help resolve this for you. You can reach them by phone, email or webchat, here: https://www.paxton-access.com/contact-us/ ### 1/5 — Trapped *2025-10-18, version 2.4.0* As I write this, I lie on the cold hard ground of my buildings hallway. I’ve popped in with plans to get some weekend work done and in the time between doors in a stairway my app has logged me out. I can’t get hold of anyone to reissue me a code. I can’t figure out why it did this to me. I’m thinking of that horror story, the one where the lady got trapped in the lift over the Christmas holidays and died. Will this be my last message? I better go as my phone battery is low and if I can’t get ahold of anyone i’ll be stuck here till Monday. But if I could give this app 0 stars I would. Remember me always. Alice. ### 2/5 — Doesn’t always work *2025-09-21* It was nice being able to use this app for easy entry but it is way too buggy. You never know if it will work or not. Don’t get me started with the Apple Watch. It never syncs. Or I thought perhaps the building is closed during the weekends but the management confirmed it’s open and to use this app. **Developer response:** Hi hcochcullhfflu, thank you for taking the time to leave a review. We’re sorry the experience hasn’t been as smooth as it should be. We know how important reliability is and we’re continuing to improve the app to make access more consistent. ### 1/5 — Hardly ever works *2025-09-10, version 2.4.0* I’d say it works one time in ten, reception often says use your Paxton pass to then be told “yep tried and didn’t work. AVOID INSTALLING THIS SYSTEM. ### 1/5 — The worst app ever *2025-08-17* I spelled a hot cup coffee over myself just trying to keep holding my phone against the reader when it clearly says you can run it in the background but doesn’t work and you have to stop what you’re doing on your phone and hold the stupid app against the reader and still would take forever to get access! I’m even considering moving out of my apartment complex if they insist on keeping this app **Developer response:** Hi M.I1986, we're sorry to hear that your app is not opening doors whilst it's running in the background. You're right that this is expected functionality and it's not the experience we want you to have. Please get in touch with our Support team who will be able to help troubleshoot this with you. You can reach them by phone, email or webchat, here: https://www.paxton-access.com/contact-us/ ### 1/5 — Never works *2025-07-18, version 2.3.2* We’ve had this installed at our office, and never works. You have to reset your blue tooth everytime you want to get in the building before it will work. Pain in the neck when you are carrying items. ### 1/5 — Not good at all *2025-07-01, version 2.3.2* We have this app on 80 users devices and on any given day, half of those people can’t get in the building. The guys have resorted to propping doors open to avoid using the system. Absolute shambles. ### 1/5 — Unreliable *2025-06-23, version 2.3.2* Recently had Paxton installed at our offices. It’s very unreliable and inconsistent in granting access to the building. Apple wallet often opens the first time you try to enter. Then takes many attempts to gain access. Today it even refused me access when nothing on the system has been changed. Very strange. Oh and my Apple Watch has never been able to open the door even though it says key is ready in green on the watch. Serious problems with the tech. ### 1/5 — Frustrating *2025-01-25, version 2.3.2* If you love standing outside a door for ages repeatedly moving your phone towards the Paxton sensor in an attempt to make it do it’s one job then you’ll love this app. This is without doubt the worst access system available. I, and all my colleagues, have about a 20% success rate with this app actually letting us in at each try. I’ve long given up on the hope it’ll actually work in the background but even with the inconvenience of having to open this everytime I want to go through a door it still mostly doesn’t work. The only good thing I can say is at least the bug where it was opening my default Apple Wallet payment card every time I presented the phone to the reader appears fixed. ### 1/5 — Almost inoperable *2024-12-19* Rarely ever works properly, just opens the Apple Wallet. I’ve even tried opening the app itself to open the door and still to no avail. I’ve been left in the cold waiting on coworkers to unlock the door. Please fix for the love of god. **Developer response:** Hi Zylahhalyz, we’re sorry to your experience with Paxton Key has not been ideal. The two most recent updates included fixes for the issue with Apple Wallet. If you are running the latest version and still experiencing this issue, our Support team would really like to help. You can reach them by phone, email, or live chat, here: https://www.paxton-access.com/contact-us/ Thank you. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Rubbish *2026-07-22, version 2.5.0* It only works 50% of the time which is pretty rubbish ### 1/5 — Not a good app *2026-07-21* It takes forever for this app to work on the sensors. If you are taking on the phone you have to end your call for it to work If I was in an urgent situation and needed to get into my complex quickly there would be no way with this app. **Developer response:** Thank you for your review. Smart Credentials work differently to a traditional key fob. While fobs use RFID technology that provides an almost instant response, Smart Credentials rely on Bluetooth communication between the reader and your phone. Bluetooth performance can vary depending on factors such as phone model, operating system, battery-saving settings, background app restrictions, and local wireless interference. As a result, entry times can occasionally be slower than a physical fob. If you're seeing delays regularly, please get in touch with our support team and we'd be happy to help troubleshoot the issue. ### 1/5 — Not always works *2026-07-06* Meh **Developer response:** Hi Rokuluka, we're sorry to hear about your experience with the app. We'd like to understand exactly what is going wrong for you. Please contact our technical team so we can investigate and resolve the issue. You can contact them by phone, email, or webchat here: https://www.paxton-access.com/contact-us/ ### 1/5 — Mr *2026-06-24, version 2.5.0* Difficulties using app. Have to wait different length of time each time the phone is presented to the reader - very frustrating ### 1/5 — It sucks so bad *2026-06-23, version 2.5.0* The worst security access app ever, never works always pulls up a bank card instead. Totally causes problems every day. ### 1/5 — Horrible system. *2026-06-23, version 2.5.0* It hardly ever works! ### 1/5 — Terrible *2026-06-17* Readers rarely work quickly and always have to open the app despite having run in the background enabled. DO NOT INSTALL PAXTON IN YOUR BUILDING. PURE GARBAGE. **Developer response:** Hi mrfunnyguyky, sorry, this obviously isn't the experience we want for you. Please get in touch with our Support team who will be able to help resolve this for you. You can reach them by phone, email or webchat, here: https://www.paxton-access.com/contact-us/ ### 1/5 — It takes 5 m to open the door! *2026-05-20, version 2.4.0* You need to close all background apps for it to work! ### 1/5 — Reverted back to card *2026-04-01, version 2.4.0* April 2026, I have just reverted back to using a card as the app is totally unfit for purpose. Weirdly, my review (1 star consistently, with regular updates over a number of years, giving reasons why) has disappeared. Avoid this app and platform: it is unreliable at best. ### 1/5 — Barely works *2026-03-29* This app is terrible. It never works when you need it to. Have to close and re open several times to work. **Developer response:** Hi Coopereichelt, we're sorry to hear the app hasn’t been working reliably for you. This definitely isn’t the experience we want anyone to have. Closing and reopening shouldn’t be necessary, so we’d really like to investigate what’s causing this on your device. Issues like this are often related to background permissions. Please contact our Technical Support team so we can investigate and resolve the issue. You can contact them by phone, email, or webchat here: https://www.paxton-access.com/contact-us/ ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Works perfect *2025-03-11, version 2.3.2* Need to keep the app open, but once you’re used to that it’s great. ### 5/5 — Works well *2024-05-10, version 2.2.0* App works well for what it is - not had any issues so far 👍 ### 3/5 — Paxton smart key *2026-07-05, version 2.5.0* Sometimes the app is very slow whereas using a fob is instant. WHY?? ### 3/5 — It usually works eventually *2026-06-12, version 2.5.0* What choice do I have? They’re not my doors ### 3/5 — Varias llaves en la app *2026-05-21* Pertenezco al grupo de reparación de 16 edificios en el dowtown de Miami lo cual necesito que esta app me deje agregar varias llaves electrónicas a la misma aplicación ya que la mayoría de los edificios en los que trabajo utilizan este sistema de clik para abrir las puertas mi recomendación es que actualicen la versión de la app para poder agregar varias llaves en esta muchas gracias ### 3/5 — Great when it works *2024-07-17, version 2.2.0* The system seems to have a few bugs that frustrate my users. Apple IOS denied access is a regular occcurrence, removing and re adding the key fixes this sometimes but more often we are now having to issue Fobs, which is not what we wanted. ### 3/5 — Doesn’t work on Apple Watch *2024-01-19* It works on my phone just fine, but not on my watch. When I open the app on the watch, it just says “no credential”. I have tried uninstalling and reinstalling the app on the watch multiple times and did the same with the iPhone app. **Developer response:** Hello, thank you for taking the time to share your review. We are able to continually improve customer experience with our products because of feedback like yours. Our Support team will be able to assist you setting up the Paxton Key app on your watch, please contact them on 01273 811011 or email support@paxton.co.uk ### 3/5 — App keeps checking me in after being closed and getting access. *2023-06-06* I love using the app to check in and get access to the building, however even though I close the app after being granted access and I’ve disabled run in the background it keeps checking me in repeatedly. The only way I can stop the behavior is to reboot my phone. **Developer response:** Hi there, we're delighted you love using the app to get in to your building! We're not thrilled about the repeat check-in behavior you're seeing, this is not expected. Please get in touch with us and we'll help you out as best we can. Here's our number: 877.438.7298 Or if you like you can email us on supportUS@paxton-access.com ### 2/5 — Decent, but regularly malfunctions *2026-07-16* I regularly have to restart the app or continually rescan to gain access. We shouldn't be replacing keys with something that has 75% the efficacy. **Developer response:** Hi Beocorgi, we're sorry to hear the app hasn’t been working reliably for you. This definitely isn’t the experience we want anyone to have. Closing and reopening shouldn’t be necessary, so we’d really like to investigate what’s causing this on your device. Issues like this are often related to background permissions. Please contact our Technical Support team so we can investigate and resolve the issue. You can contact them by phone, email, or webchat here: https://www.paxton-access.com/contact-us/ ### 2/5 — Poor *2026-06-15* It fails on my phone unless I put it next to panel to unlock **Developer response:** We're sorry to hear about your experience with the app. To fix this, we'd like to understand exactly what is going wrong for you. Please contact our technical team so we can investigate and resolve the issue. You can contact them by phone, email, or webchat here: https://www.paxton-access.com/contact-us/ --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-30.*