Suggested integration directions (non-exhaustive)
These are starting points for common patterns; always confirm fit with your locks, wiring, network, and compliance.
Many doors, lowest cost per door
Section titled “Many doors, lowest cost per door”Industrial multi-relay / Modbus boards wired over Ethernet (often PoE) can reach very low cost per channel when you amortize hardware across many doors. Example product: Waveshare Modbus PoE Ethernet relay / 30-channel — at the time of writing, well under US$2.50 per door when divided by channel count (check current pricing and your region). In OpenApp, see Waveshare.
Single door, stable Wi‑Fi (home or small office)
Section titled “Single door, stable Wi‑Fi (home or small office)”Standalone Wi‑Fi relay controllers are easy to deploy per opening. The Shelly family is a common choice; example: Shelly 1 Gen4 (order-of-magnitude ~US$15 — verify live price). In OpenApp, see Shelly Cloud.
No dependable local internet (cellular-first)
Section titled “No dependable local internet (cellular-first)”Where LAN/Wi‑Fi is absent or untrusted, cellular gate controllers can reach the vendor cloud over 3G/4G. Example vendor line: PAL Electronics Systems (PalGate ecosystem). In OpenApp, see PalGate Cloud.
Lowest hardware cost and strong DIY skills
Section titled “Lowest hardware cost and strong DIY skills”ESP32-class devices are inexpensive and flexible; you usually supply firmware, enclosure, power, and protocol glue (often MQTT or a bridge). OpenApp connects through paths such as MQTT or automation hubs like Home Assistant depending on how you integrate.
For fallback, offline users, and parallel path security, see Fallback, networks, and parallel path security.
Choosing access control architecture covers price, connectivity, door count, and physical hardware in one place.
For wiring an integration after you choose an architecture, continue with Getting started and the Integrations catalog.