Comparison

dormakaba BlueSky Access vs Circla

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

dormakaba BlueSky Access

Transform your mobile device into a secure access key for hotels, apartments, and student housing. Bypass check-in and access authorized areas with ease. Requires compatible electronic locks and a Bluetooth antenna.

Highlights
  • Mobile access key delivery
  • Secure entry for hotels
  • Access for residential properties
  • Bypass front desk check-in
  • Access to common areas
  • Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) enabled
Features
Read full description

Use a mobile device as a secure key dormakaba BlueSky Access is a cloud-based mobile access key delivery system available for hotels and multifamily housing, student housing, market-rate apartments and senior living properties. It merges security and convenience for the mobile minded traveler or dweller in order to enhance the access experience. The delivery of a key to a mobile device (phone, tablet) is enabled via LEGIC Connect, a service that operates in a highly-secure and scalable data center. Once notification has been received and the BlueSky Access app has been installed, the mobile access key is sent to the app on that mobile device, allowing entry to those doors or areas access to which authorization has been given. The BlueSky Access app is available for use only in properties equipped with dormakaba contactless electronic locks that have been equipped with a dormakaba Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) radio antenna. Hotels With the BlueSky Access app on a mobile device, guests can bypass the front desk check-in process and go directly to their room as well as gaining access to any authorized common area in the hotel requiring a room key. Residence With the BlueSky Access app on a mobile device, residents can securely lock and unlock unit doors and other amenity areas within a property to which authorization to enter has been given. About dormakaba Group dormakaba is one of the top three companies in the global market for access and security solutions. With strong brands such as Dorma and Kaba in our portfolio, we are a single source for products, solutions, and services related to doors and secure access to buildings and rooms. With around 16,000 employees and numerous cooperation partners, we are active in over 130 countries. dormakaba is headquartered in Rümlang (Zurich/Switzerland) and generates an annual turnover of over CHF 2 billion. Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology enables the issuance and management of secure mobile access keys for hotels, multihousing, student and senior living properties. dormakaba’s latest RFID door locks and other access controls are BlueSky Access enabled. They can be installed on a variety of door types and locations giving properties a flexible, secure choice of entry options. BLE-enabled door locks and access controls allow an authorized user to place a compatible mobile device (smartphone, tablet) with the BlueSky Access app near a corresponding sensor on the door lock. The sensor reads the BlueSky Access key, the lock system communicates with the property management network, and determines whether the unique, encrypted code conveyed by the phone is on an approved "pass" list. If so, access is allowed, and the entry is recorded for audit purposes.

About

Circla

Connect with fellow students on campus or in your city. Buy and sell items, find housing, get local advice, and make new friends. This app helps students settle in, find support, and build connections.

Highlights
  • Second-hand marketplace
  • Housing and sublease listings
  • Private chat functionality
  • Campus and city communities
  • Ride-share and roommate search
  • Community safety features
Features
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Circla – Student Marketplace & Community Circla is a campus community app for college students. Buy and sell second-hand items, find housing and roommates, get local tips, and meet friends on your campus or in your city. What you can do • Marketplace for furniture, appliances, school supplies, daily items • Housing & sublease listings • Private chat • City & school-based communities • Ride-share, roommate search, questions & help from others Community Safety • Campus-based access (student email / ID supported) • Content and behavior review • Report & block system • Privacy protection and secure communication Circla helps students settle in, find support, and build real connections abroad. From moving in to exploring a new city — you’re never alone here. Circla — Live easier. Connect deeper.

Screenshots

dormakaba BlueSky Access3 screens
Circla3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Circla at 5.0 against dormakaba BlueSky Access's 1.7. Circla also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.0). dormakaba BlueSky Access's advantage is ratings volume (114 vs 1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Circla holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 1.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: dormakaba BlueSky Access has 114 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
dormakaba BlueSky Access versus Circla: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
Parameterdormakaba BlueSky AccessCircla
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.7 (114 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews16.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings114 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 5 months—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.012.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size66 MB42 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developerdormakaba Canada Inc.siling pan

Customer experience

dormakaba BlueSky Access

All ratings102 ratings
Positive15.7%
Neutral2.9%
Negative81.4%
Written reviews48 reviews
Positive16.7%
Neutral4.2%
Negative79.2%

Circla

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

dormakaba BlueSky Access

Reported bugs

9 issues
  • App won't open door
  • App freezes and cannot be closed
  • Mobile key not generating
  • Keys disappear from app
  • Constantly logged out
Show 4 more
  • App breaks Apple Pay/NFC
  • Unable to register
  • Access codes/guest delegation errors
  • App not working on iPhone 12 but works on Samsung

Requested features

6 requests
  • Add to Apple Wallet
  • Add Apple Watch version
  • Add widget compatibility
  • Allow key transfer to new phone
  • Improve speed of unlocking
Show 1 more
  • Make app available on Apple Watch

Circla

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

dormakaba BlueSky Access

No in-app purchases

None

Circla

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is dormakaba BlueSky Access free?
dormakaba BlueSky Access is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Circla free?
Circla is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, dormakaba BlueSky Access or Circla?
Circla is rated higher. dormakaba BlueSky Access averages 1.7 out of 5 from 114 ratings, while Circla averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do dormakaba BlueSky Access or Circla have ads?
Neither dormakaba BlueSky Access nor Circla shows ads.

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