Comparison

OpenKey vs 1 Hotels

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Instant room access
  • Digital key sharing
  • Contact hotel operations
  • View check-out details
  • Room number displayed
  • Explore hotel amenities
  • Request check-out
Features
Read full description

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.

About

1 Hotels

Enhance your hotel experience with mobile check-in, keyless room entry, and in-room controls. Communicate directly with hotel staff, order room service, and discover local recommendations. Stay connected with hotel events and offers between visits.

Highlights
  • Mobile check-in and check-out
  • Keyless room entry
  • In-room controls
  • Direct messaging with hotel team
  • In-room dining orders
  • Concierge recommendations
  • Hotel events and offers
Features
Read full description

The 1 Hotels app allows you to tap into your personal device to seamlessly guide your journey at 1 Hotels. Check in, check out, book a stay, manage your existing reservations, experience keyless entry and in-room controls, communicate with our team¬ from in or outside of the hotel, order in-room dining and more. HERE TO HELP – 1 to 1 team messaging, to answer your questions and assist with your requests From your personal device, whether you’re near or far, communicate with our team for everything you need. Let us know if you’re on your way or arriving later than planned, request reservations at your favorite restaurant or set your wake-up call for that early morning meeting. Whatever you need, we’re just a message away. ARRIVE BEFORE YOU ARRIVE – Pre check-in for a seamless arrival We want to set the tone of your stay with us before you even arrive. With the 1 Hotels app, you can check in to your stay before you’ve landed from a flight, set any preferences we should know in advance, order in-room dining from your cab so it’s in your room waiting for you, and start chatting with the 1 Team so we are ready to welcome you home. THE KEY TO YOUR STAY – Keyless entry to get you settled faster Skip the Front Desk if you choose and head straight to your room. Once checked in on your 1 Hotels app, you’ll have your room number and everything you need to access your home away from home. No need to carry around a room key wherever you go during your stay either. With our new keyless entry, your personal device is all you need. GETTING YOU ON YOUR WAY – Check-out with the tap of a button While it’s always sad to see you go, we want to make check-out a seamless experience for you. Skip the extra stop along your way by viewing your folio and checking out of your room directly from your personal device. ROOT YOURSELF AT 1 – Stay in touch and up-to-date In-between your stays with us get the latest on programming and events at your favorite 1 Hotels properties; access sustainability information from The Field Guide, our online blog; learn about new 1 Hotels locations; take advantage of our best offers, deals and experiences; book upcoming stays; and stay up-to-date on everything we’re doing at 1. SEE, DO & EXPLORE – Recommendations from our Concierge Team Our Concierge Teams are always happy to help with recommendations and reservations face-to-face, but we have worked with them to curate suggestions for dining, shopping, theater, outdoor excursions and more so everything you need to plan your trip is right at your fingertips. Send us a 1 to 1 message to help with any reservations, before you arrive or throughout your stay, to make sure you don’t miss out on all that our local communities have to offer. WATCH & LISTEN – Smart technology to connect you to your room’s devices Remotes are over. Use the 1 Hotels app on your personal device to change the channel and adjust the volume on your in-room television.

Screenshots

OpenKey4 screens
1 Hotels4 screens

Verdict

The call

OpenKey and 1 Hotels both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 73% of OpenKey's written reviews are positive against 26% of 1 Hotels's. OpenKey also leads on iOS requirement (14.0 vs 17.6). 1 Hotels's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads 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

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for OpenKey against 4.8 for 1 Hotels. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3.1K and 1.9K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 73% of OpenKey's written reviews are positive against 26% of 1 Hotels's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

OpenKey ships an update every 2 months, 1 Hotels every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
OpenKey versus 1 Hotels: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterOpenKey1 Hotels
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (3.1K ratings)4.8 (1.9K ratings) — better
Positive reviews72.6% of reviews — better26.5% of reviews
Number of ratings3.1K — better1.9K
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS14.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size107 MB169 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperOPENKEY, INC.SH Group Operations LLC

Customer experience

OpenKey

All ratings3,083 ratings
Positive92.3%
Neutral1.6%
Negative6.1%
Written reviews113 reviews
Positive72.6%
Neutral3.5%
Negative23.9%

1 Hotels

All ratings1,879 ratings
Positive95.4%
Neutral1.1%
Negative3.6%
Written reviews34 reviews
Positive26.5%
Neutral2.9%
Negative70.6%

User reviews

OpenKey

From 3.1K App Store ratings

What 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

1 Hotels

From 1.9K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 💡 Mobile key functionality
  • 👍 Easy communication with hotel staff
  • 👍 Convenient for managing reservations

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Constant login issues
  • 🐛 Buggy and glitchy user experience
  • 🐛 Lack of basic functionality
  • 👎 Slow and unresponsive app
  • 👎 Poor design and user interface

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

1 Hotels

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Cannot log in or create account
  • App freezes and crashes frequently
  • Reservation and booking features do not work
  • Compatibility issues with various devices

Requested features

3 requests
  • Improve login and account management
  • Fix bugs and stability issues
  • Enhance user interface and user experience

In-app purchases

None

OpenKey

No in-app purchases

None

1 Hotels

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is OpenKey free?
OpenKey is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is 1 Hotels free?
1 Hotels is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, OpenKey or 1 Hotels?
1 Hotels is rated higher. OpenKey averages 4.7 out of 5 from 3.1K ratings, while 1 Hotels averages 4.8 from 1.9K ratings.
Do OpenKey or 1 Hotels have ads?
Neither OpenKey nor 1 Hotels shows ads.
Which is updated more often, OpenKey or 1 Hotels?
OpenKey ships an update every 2 months, and 1 Hotels every 2 weeks. Most recently, OpenKey was updated on October 2, 2026 and 1 Hotels on October 1, 2026.

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