Enterkey vs Protobuzz
Enterkey and Protobuzz are both software-only apartment buzzer apps: no hardware, no rewiring, your building's existing intercom. The biggest difference is how each thinks about automation — Enterkey uses timed keys and schedules that answer the buzzer for you, while Protobuzz builds per-contact rules. Here's an honest look at both.
| Protobuzz | Enterkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Hardware required | None | None |
| Hands-free entry | Rule-based automations (per-contact, delivery windows) | Timed keys (5 min–12 hr), recurring weekly schedules, and Forever keys with a PIN — Enterkey answers the buzz and lets visitors in automatically while a key is active |
| Guest PINs | Guest codes | PINs guests can type or say out loud at the panel |
| Household sharing | Yes | Yes — invite link, everyone gets buzz calls |
| Platforms | See their site | iOS (no Android app) |
| Pricing | See their site for current plans | $9.99/month or $69.99/year (about $5.83/month), with a one-month free trial for new members |
Competitor details checked against public information in July 2026 — confirm current pricing and features on their site.
Is Enterkey really "manual-only"?
You may have read elsewhere that Enterkey only supports manual buzz-in. That's not accurate. Auto-unlock is Enterkey's core feature: arm a key for five minutes or twelve hours, and while it's active Enterkey answers the buzzer and plays your building's entry tone with nobody touching a phone. Recurring weekly schedules do the same on autopilot — a dog-walker window every weekday, cleaners every Thursday.
What Protobuzz genuinely does differently is per-contact rules — conditions tied to specific people. If you want rule trees per visitor, that's their strength. If you want one tap (or a standing schedule) that makes the door handle itself, that's ours.
How do setup and honesty compare?
Both apps need the same one-time step: your building's buzzer has to point at the app's phone number, which your property manager updates — typically within a day for Enterkey users. Any software-only buzzer app that claims zero setup is skipping this detail.
Enterkey works with buzzer systems that dial out to a phone number; systems hardwired to an in-unit landline aren't compatible. See how Enterkey works for the full picture.
When they're the better pick
Pick Protobuzz if per-contact rule automation is the feature you care most about, or if you need a platform other than iOS.
When Enterkey is the better pick
Pick Enterkey if you want set-and-forget entry through timed keys and schedules, spoken PINs for guests, and a real human support team — with a free first month to test it on your actual buzzer.
Try it on your own buzzer — setup is one directory change by your property manager, and it costs nothing to find out.