OpenPaths vs Chirp Access
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
OpenPaths
Securely store and visualize your personal location history. Track your movements, upload data to a website for download in various formats, and control who can access your information. Offers API integration and runs with minimal battery drain.
- Location tracking
- Data visualization
- Data export (KML, JSON, CSV)
- Secure data locker
- API integration
- Background operation
- Minimal battery drain
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OpenPaths (https://openpaths.cc) is a secure data locker for personal location information. Using our iPhone app you can track your location, visualize where you've been, and upload your data to the OpenPaths website. You can then download your data from the website in a variety of friendly formats, including KML, JSON, and CSV. The OpenPaths API enables you to integrate your own software with the platform. You can keep your location history to yourself, or you can share it with specific research initiatives, art projects, or educational programs as you so choose. The OpenPaths online interface allows you to manage who has access to your data. Your data is secure on the encrypted OpenPaths servers and cannot be accessed by anyone without your express consent. OpenPaths is a new way for individuals to take ownership of, to work with, and to share the data that they generate in their daily lives. OpenPaths is a community project initiated by the Research and Development Lab at the New York Times Company. - Runs in the background - Minimal battery drain For more information, please visit https://openpaths.cc
Chirp Access
This app allows residents of multifamily and student housing to open doors, gates, and garages using their mobile device. It also enables remote access granting for guests and service providers, eliminating the need for physical keys and fobs.
- Open doors, gates, and garages with mobile device
- Remotely grant access to guests
- Grant access to service providers
- Eliminates key and fob requirements
- Smart access for multifamily housing
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Chirp is a smart access solution for individuals living in multifamily and student housing communities. Chirp enables you to open any door, gate or garage using a mobile device and makes it easy to remotely grant access to friends, guest and service providers. Chirp liberates both residents and property management from the key and fob access nightmare. Use of the app requires Chirp-compatible hardware to be installed at your building. To learn more about our products visit www.chirpsystems.com.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: OpenPaths at 44% against Chirp Access's 9%. OpenPaths also leads on rating (2.3 vs 2.0) and iOS requirement (7.0 vs 15.1). Chirp Access's advantage is update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 35 months) and ratings volume (642 vs 3). 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
OpenPaths holds the better App Store score, 2.3 against 2.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Chirp Access has 642 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 44% of OpenPaths's written reviews are positive against 9% of Chirp Access's.
OpenPaths ships an update every 35 months, Chirp Access every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | OpenPaths | Chirp Access |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 2.3 (3 ratings) — better | 2.0 (642 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 43.8% of reviews — better | 9.2% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 3 | 642 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 35 months | Every 6 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 7.0 — better | 15.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 15 MB | 45 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | University of California, San Diego (Business Affairs) | Chirp |
Customer experience
OpenPaths
Chirp Access
Bugs and requests
OpenPaths
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
Chirp Access
Reported bugs
4 issues- App frequently freezes or becomes unresponsive
- Spaceship mode rarely works as intended
- Favorites list doesn't always load properly
- Inconsistent Bluetooth detection and connectivity
Requested features
5 requests- Apple Watch app support
- CarPlay integration for gate access
- Siri/voice control for door/gate opening
- Ability to add front door to favorites
- Improved UI/UX, especially for frequently used actions
In-app purchases
OpenPaths
No in-app purchases
Chirp Access
No in-app purchases
