# OpenKey vs Known Ground

The clearest difference is price: OpenKey at Free against Known Ground's $9.99. OpenKey also leads on ratings volume (3.1K vs 2) and iOS requirement (14.0 vs 18.0). Known Ground's advantage is update cadence (daily vs every 2 months) and rating (5.0 vs 4.7). On ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

OpenKey is free to download; Known Ground costs $9.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Known Ground holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: OpenKey has 3.1K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

OpenKey ships an update every 2 months, Known Ground daily. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | OpenKey | Known Ground |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $9.99 |
| Rating | [4.7 (3.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/openkey/id990142776/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/known-ground/id6764661165/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **3.1K** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 72.6% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Daily** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Paid |
| Size | 107 MB | 144 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [OPENKEY, INC.](https://appshunter.io/developer/990142775) | [Oliver Kawwass](https://appshunter.io/developer/1895868601) |

## What reviewers say

### OpenKey

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/openkey/id990142776)

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:** Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Seamless experience
- 🔑 Convenient keyless entry
- 💡 Sharing keys with others
- 👍 Easy to use
- 🔒 Secure access

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Connectivity issues
- 🔍 Needs better instructions
- 🔋 Drains phone battery
- 🤔 Doesn't work consistently

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes frequently
- Fails to unlock doors sometimes
- Issues with updating and reinstalling

**Requested features**

- Apple Watch app integration
- Improved error handling and troubleshooting


### Known Ground

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/known-ground/id6764661165)

This app helps you privately document your travels by connecting photos, notes, and routes to specific locations. Create a personal map of places you've visited and want to return to, and easily recall memories.

**Highlights:** Private travel journal, Photo map of trips, Connect photos to places, Record routes and notes, Save places for future visits, Search memories by location, Private sharing options

**Features:** Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is OpenKey free?

OpenKey is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Known Ground free?

Known Ground costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, OpenKey or Known Ground?

Known Ground is rated higher. OpenKey averages 4.7 out of 5 from 3.1K ratings, while Known Ground averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do OpenKey or Known Ground have ads?

Neither OpenKey nor Known Ground shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, OpenKey or Known Ground?

OpenKey ships an update every 2 months, and Known Ground daily. Most recently, OpenKey was updated on October 24, 2026 and Known Ground on October 28, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*