OpenKey vs Vacasa
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
OpenKey
Unlock hotel rooms worldwide using your smartphone as a secure digital key. Access your room instantly, share keys with companions, and manage your stay with features like check-out details and hotel information.
- Instant room access
- Digital key sharing
- Contact hotel operations
- View check-out details
- Room number displayed
- Explore hotel amenities
- Request check-out
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Introducing the latest release of the OpenKey Guest mobile app! Access hotel rooms worldwide with a secure and convenient digital key directly on your smartphone. With the OpenKey app, you can enjoy the following features: - Instant Room Access: Easily unlock your guest room with a simple touch of a button. No more fumbling with keycards or waiting in line at the front desk. - Key Sharing: Share your digital key with up to 4 other guests, making it easier for your travel companions to access the room. - Contact Hotel: Contact the hotel operations team for any additional needs during your stay, like extra pillows or towels, potential reservation details, and questions that may arise. - Check-Out Details: View your check-out date and time on the mobile key, helping you stay organized and plan your departure effortlessly. - Room Number on Mobile Key: Say goodbye to the hassle of carrying a keycard jacket. Your room number is conveniently displayed on the mobile key, allowing for a streamlined and hassle-free experience. - Hotel Exploration: Discover hotel amenities, dining options, and other features through the app. Get a comprehensive overview of everything your hotel has to offer. - Check-Out Request: Send a check-out request directly from your mobile key screen. Simplify the check-out process and save valuable time.
Vacasa
Discover and book thousands of vacation rentals across North America. Browse detailed listings with photos and 3D tours, filter by your needs, and manage your bookings easily. Access trip details offline for a seamless travel experience.
- Thousands of vacation rentals
- Advanced search filters
- 3D home tours
- Save favorite rentals
- Offline trip details
- Guest management
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With the Vacasa app, get instantly connected to thousands of vacation homes across North America to book your next vacation. FIND YOUR NEXT VACATION Search through our thousands of remarkable vacation rentals to find the perfect one for you, whether it’s nearby or further away. Filter results by home size and desired amenities, or use your device's location services to see what’s near you to discover. See property photos, cruise through 3D home tours, and read reviews. BOOK YOUR STAY Booking directly through the Vacasa app couldn’t be easier, especially with our descriptions that leave no unwanted surprises. Just a few taps and you’re off on your next vacation to make memories, or you can save homes to your favorites for when you’re ready to get away. After you book, you can add guests to your reservation and share the itinerary with anyone. TRAVEL EASIER Before your trip, get the necessary details for a smooth journey, like driving directions and home entry codes. Even if your reception is spotty (it happens), our offline mode makes accessing those details a snap. When you’re entering the vacation rental, get instantly connected to the home’s WiFi. We make the journey just as effortless as the destination.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: OpenKey at 73% against Vacasa's 44%. OpenKey also leads on iOS requirement (14.0 vs 16.0). Vacasa's advantage is rating (4.9 vs 4.7) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). 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.
Vacasa holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Vacasa has 24K ratings behind it against 3.1K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 73% of OpenKey's written reviews are positive against 44% of Vacasa's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
OpenKey ships an update every 2 months, Vacasa every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 27, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | OpenKey | Vacasa |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (3.1K ratings) | 4.9 (24K ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 72.6% of reviews — better | 43.6% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 3.1K | 24K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 — better | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 107 MB | 37 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | OPENKEY, INC. | Vacasa, LLC |
Customer experience
OpenKey
Vacasa
User reviews
OpenKey
From 3.1K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Seamless experience
- 🔑 Convenient keyless entry
- 💡 Sharing keys with others
- 👍 Easy to use
- 🔒 Secure access
Room to improve
- 🐛 Connectivity issues
- 🔍 Needs better instructions
- 🔋 Drains phone battery
- 🤔 Doesn't work consistently
Vacasa
From 24K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Easy booking process
- 🚀 Fantastic experience with Wyndham Rewards
- 👍 Great for longer-term rentals
- 👍 Excellent management and communication
- 👍 Amazing properties
Room to improve
- 💰 Expensive fees
- 🐛 Hidden fees
- 🔍 Lack of direct owner/host communication
- 🔍 Inflexible policies
- 🔍 Poor customer service
Bugs and requests
OpenKey
Reported bugs
3 issues- App crashes frequently
- Fails to unlock doors sometimes
- Issues with updating and reinstalling
Requested features
2 requests- Apple Watch app integration
- Improved error handling and troubleshooting
Vacasa
Reported bugs
4 issues- Reservation cancellations without explanation
- Broken/malfunctioning amenities in properties
- Inaccurate property descriptions and listings
- Difficulties with check-in/check-out processes
Requested features
4 requests- Ability to edit/extend reservations
- Improved communication and transparency
- More flexible policies and refund options
- Enhanced property vetting and quality control
In-app purchases
OpenKey
No in-app purchases
Vacasa
No in-app purchases
