The two leading cloud access control platforms for modern multifamily and commercial. Both deliver mobile credentials and remote management. They are not, however, the same product. Which one fits your building?
If you operate multi-site commercial or multi-tenant multifamily and you want a platform-first, vendor-flexible cloud, Salto KS is usually the right answer. It's "Keys as a Service" — the cloud is the product, the hardware ecosystem is broad, and the dashboard is mature.
If you're standardizing on Schlage hardware or you want native Apple Wallet and Google Wallet support out of the box, Allegion Zentra is usually the right answer. It's the cloud purpose-built for Schlage's modern lock ecosystem (XE360, NDE, LE), and the wallet integration is best-in-class.
The deeper trade-offs — hardware lock-in, pricing model, dashboard depth, PMS integrations, deployment time — are below. We deploy both regularly and don't favor one over the other in principle; we favor whichever fits the property and the operator's preferences.
Where each platform excels, where it has trade-offs, and what to ask about during your evaluation.
KS's multi-site management dashboard is mature. Operators with portfolios benefit from the centralized admin model.
Salto's catalog covers more lock form factors. If you have a mix of door types, gate readers, lockers, and amenity access, KS handles all of it.
KS PMS integrations are widely deployed and proven. Resident provisioning is usually plug-and-play.
Salto's offline-first (data-on-card) mode is mature. Locks keep working when network is down; sync when it comes back.
Native Wallet integration is one of Zentra's strongest features. Premium multifamily often markets this directly to prospective residents.
Native first-party integration between Zentra cloud and Schlage hardware (XE360, Control, NDE) is tighter than any third-party path.
Zentra's integration with Gatewise gives you one platform from the entry gate to the apartment door — useful for properties with significant perimeter access.
XE360 FleX Module lets you deploy battery locks today and field-upgrade them to real-time online when you're ready. No hardware swap.
We deploy both. The right answer depends on your hardware preferences, your PMS, your connectivity, your residents, and your budget. The walk-through gives us the information we need to recommend honestly. Free, no commitment.
Schedule a free walk-throughYes, but it's not trivial. Both platforms tie to specific hardware ecosystems. Switching usually means replacing locks (mostly), reissuing credentials to all residents, and migrating audit history. We can help if it ever needs to happen, but the better answer is to pick correctly the first time.
They're often within 10–15% of each other for comparable scope. Salto KS tends to be more predictable for portfolio operators (linear per-door pricing). Zentra can be more cost-effective for single properties wanting the wallet feature. Honest answer: get quotes for both during the walk-through.
Salto has multiple product lines. Salto Space is their on-prem commercial enterprise platform. Salto KS is the cloud SaaS platform — what we usually deploy for multifamily and multi-site commercial. Homelok is a residential-focused offering that we don't install. This comparison is KS vs Zentra specifically.
Yes. During the walk-through phase, we can usually arrange a site visit to a recently completed install of whichever platform you're considering. Talking to the property's operations team is the fastest way to validate which platform fits your operation.
No. We deploy both. The platform should serve the building, not the integrator. We'd rather install the right platform once than the wrong one twice.
Tell us about your property. We'll recommend which platform fits, explain why, and give you a line-item estimate so you can compare.