If you manage an office, a small apartment building, a church or a shop with a back door, you've probably dealt with the same problems: keys that walk off with former employees, a buzzer that half works, and no record of who came in when. A modern door entry system fixes all three. Here's how the main options compare and what they cost.
The three kinds of door entry systems
| Feature | Buzzer / audio intercom | Key fob system | Video intercom |
|---|---|---|---|
| How people get in | Press a button, someone inside buzzes the door open | Tap a fob, card or phone on a reader | Visitor calls; you see them and unlock from a screen or your phone |
| Best for | Letting visitors in | Letting staff or residents in | Visitors, deliveries, after-hours entry |
| Know who came in | No | Yes, every tap is logged | Yes, with video of the visitor |
| Lost key or fob | Rekey the lock | Disable that fob in seconds | Disable that fob in seconds |
| Unlock remotely | Only from the buzzer station | Yes, from the app | Yes, from the app |
Most buildings end up with a mix: fobs for the people who belong there, and a buzzer or video intercom for everyone else. On a modern system both run on the same door, the same lock and the same app.
How a key fob entry system works
- Reader: mounted beside the door. People tap a fob, card or phone.
- Door hub (controller): decides whether that fob is allowed in at that time, then releases the lock.
- Electric lock: usually an electric strike in the door frame, or a magnetic lock for glass and storefront doors.
- Request-to-exit: a motion sensor or button so people can always get out.
- Software: where you add and remove people, set schedules ("staff 7am–6pm, cleaners Tuesday nights") and see the entry log.
Electric strike or magnetic lock?
An electric strike replaces the strike plate in the door frame. The door keeps its normal lever and lock, so it still opens from the inside and still works with a key, even without power. It's the usual choice for wood and hollow-metal doors.
A magnetic lock holds the door shut with a magnet at the top of the frame. It's common on glass and aluminum storefront doors where a strike won't fit. Because a maglock releases when power is cut, it has to be installed with a request-to-exit sensor and, in many buildings, tied into the fire alarm so it releases automatically. We check local fire and building code requirements for each door before quoting.
Equipment prices
We install UniFi Access, Ubiquiti's door entry system. It works with the same app as UniFi cameras and Wi-Fi, and there's no per-door subscription.
Ubiquiti US store prices as of October 2026, before tax. Prices change from time to time, so we confirm current pricing on every quote.
| Item | Price | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Access Ultra | $129 | Compact single-door hub |
| Access Door Hub Mini | $129 | Single-door hub |
| Access Door Hub | $199 | Single-door hub |
| Access Reader | from $139 | Fob, card and phone reader |
| Access Reader Pro | from $359 | Reader with a camera and screen |
| Intercom | from $399 | Video intercom for the entrance |
| Intercom Viewer | from $199 | Indoor screen to see and talk to visitors |
| Door Starter Kit | from $289 | Bundled hub and reader for one door |
| Pocket Keyfob, 10-pack | $99 | Fobs (about $10 each) |
| Electric locks | from $89 | Electric strikes and locks |
| Magnetic Lock | from $149 | For glass and storefront doors |
| Access Button | $39 | Exit button |
UniFi Access runs on a UniFi console (a UniFi gateway or Cloud Key). If you already have UniFi Wi-Fi or cameras, you probably have one. If not, it's added to the quote.
Example: one front door
A typical single office or building entrance with fobs uses a door hub, one reader, an electric strike and a pack of fobs. With the Access Door Hub, a standard reader, an entry-level electric lock and 10 fobs, the equipment comes to about $526 at current list prices. Add an Intercom at the front door for visitors and it's about $925. Each additional door adds a hub, a reader and a lock.
What decides the installation cost
- The door itself. Wood, hollow metal, glass storefront and fire-rated doors each need different locks and different amounts of work.
- Cable runs. Each door needs network cable back to the hub and switch. Open drop ceilings are quick; finished walls, brick and long runs take longer.
- Existing wiring. Replacing an old buzzer? Existing wiring can sometimes be reused. Ubiquiti also makes a PoE-over-2-wire extender for some retrofit situations.
- Fire alarm tie-in. Doors with magnetic locks, or doors on a fire exit route, may need to release when the alarm goes off.
- Number of doors and people. Programming schedules, groups and fobs for a 10-person office is quicker than for a 40-unit building.
Every quote starts with a free walkthrough. We look at each door, plan the cable runs and give you an itemized quote before any work starts.
Monthly fees
Many cloud-managed access systems charge a yearly license per door. UniFi Access doesn't: the hardware, the app, mobile unlock and the entry log are included. Your ongoing costs are fobs for new people and, if you want it, a support plan.
Upgrading an old buzzer system
Older apartment and office buzzers often fail in the same ways: a dead handset in one unit, a door release that sticks, no way to know who buzzed whom. Upgrading usually means a video intercom at the entrance, fobs for residents or staff, and phone unlock instead of hard-wired handsets. Residents get a better system and you get an entry log and no more rekeying.
Pairing entry with cameras
Because UniFi Access and UniFi Protect cameras share the same system, every door event can be matched with video from that door. If someone says they never came in, you can check in seconds. For more on cameras without monthly fees, see security cameras without a subscription.
Get a quote
We install key fob and video intercom entry systems for offices, apartment buildings, churches and shops across Greater Cleveland. See how our access control installs work, or call or text (216) 232-5975, every day 7am–9pm.
Sources
Equipment prices from Ubiquiti's US store, door access category, checked October 2026.
Frequently asked
How much does a key fob entry system cost?
For one door on UniFi Access, equipment runs about $450–$600 at current list prices for a hub, reader, electric lock and 10 fobs, plus installation. Installation depends on the door type, cable runs and whether the door needs a fire alarm tie-in. We quote it free after a walkthrough.
What's the difference between a buzzer and a key fob system?
A buzzer lets someone inside open the door for a visitor. A key fob system lets the people who belong there open it themselves, logs every entry, and lets you disable a lost fob instantly. Many buildings use both on the same door.
Can I unlock the door from my phone?
Yes. With UniFi Access you can unlock any door from the app, and staff or residents can use their phone as their key.
Is there a monthly fee?
Not with UniFi Access. There's no per-door license. You only pay for the equipment, installation, and any extra fobs you need later.
Can you replace our old apartment buzzer?
Yes. We replace old buzzer panels with a video intercom and fobs, and reuse existing wiring where it tests good.