Key takeaways
- Amazon Key’s new access control system modernizes building entry with app-based video intercoms designed for small to mid-sized properties.
- The product lineup includes four models tailored to different property needs and budgets.
- Key benefits include remote access via the Ring app, video calling, and Amazon delivery integration, but customization and third-party integrations are limited.
- While Amazon Key offers a fast, familiar solution, ButterflyMX provides a more robust, property-focused platform with broader hardware options and deeper system integrations.
Disclaimer: ButterflyMX provides these blog posts to help our customers and potential customers make the right business decisions for them. Our blog posts are based on the information we have available to us at the time of writing.
Managing access to apartment buildings and gated communities has never been more important or more challenging. Property managers need solutions that are easy to use, secure, and convenient for both residents and visitors. That’s where the Amazon Key Access Control System comes in.
Building on the popularity of Amazon Key for Business, this new intercom system is designed to streamline property access with app-based entry, video calling, and remote management, all through the Ring app. With four product options to choose from, Amazon aims to make it easier for properties of all sizes to modernize their entry systems and improve the resident experience.
In this review, we’ll break down the full Amazon Key intercom lineup, highlight its features and drawbacks, and compare it to more robust video intercom systems.
This review includes:
- What is the Amazon Key Access Control System?
- Amazon Key Access Control System product lineup
- Key features & benefits of the Amazon Key Access Control System
- Installation & availability
- Comparisons & alternatives
- Potential drawbacks of the Amazon Key Access Control System
- Use case & verdict
- Amazon Key Access Control System vs. ButterflyMX
What is the Amazon Key Access Control System?
The Amazon Key Access Control System is a new suite of smart intercom products designed to modernize property access for multi-tenant buildings. Built on Amazon’s growing Key platform, this system allows residents to open doors, manage visitor access, and receive deliveries using the Ring app without relying on keys, fobs, or onsite staff.
At its core, the system replaces or enhances traditional call boxes with app-based controls, video calling, and digital directories. Depending on the version, it can either upgrade an existing intercom setup or serve as a full replacement. Each version is connected to Amazon’s broader ecosystem, which includes Ring doorbells and Key for Business, their delivery access solution already used at thousands of apartment buildings across the country.
Amazon is offering four distinct versions of the system: Virtual Key, Intercom Boost, Intercom Lite, and Intercom Plus, each tailored to different property types and budgets. Whether a building has an aging call box or no intercom at all, Amazon now offers a path to cloud-based access control that’s fully integrated with its delivery network and smart home tools.
Amazon Key Access Control System product lineup
Amazon’s new access control system includes four products designed for different property types and installation needs. Whether you’re retrofitting an older call box or starting from scratch, there’s a version tailored to your building.
*All product images sourced from The Verge
Explore the product lineup:
Quick comparison
Virtual Key
Amazon Key Virtual Key
Virtual Key is the most lightweight version of Amazon’s offering. It works with your existing call box; no new hardware is required. Once installed, it allows residents to answer intercom calls and unlock the door using the Ring app on their smartphone. It’s a quick, affordable way to modernize legacy systems without a full rip-and-replace.
Best suited for buildings with a functioning call box that need app-based access and remote entry capabilities, Virtual Key is an audio-only entry point into Amazon’s broader ecosystem.
Intercom Boost
Amazon Key Intercom Boost
Intercom Boost builds on the functionality of Virtual Key by adding two-way video and two-way audio. It connects to your existing intercom system but enhances the experience by letting residents see and speak to visitors through the Ring app.
This option is ideal for properties that want the benefits of a video intercom without fully replacing existing infrastructure. By layering modern features onto older hardware, Intercom Boost offers a cost-effective upgrade path for improving security and convenience.
Intercom Lite
Amazon Key Intercom Lite
Intercom Lite is a full replacement for legacy call boxes. It includes video calling, two-way audio, and smartphone-based entry, all through a standalone device mounted at the property entrance. Residents use the Ring app to manage access, and property managers can issue digital keys through an online portal.
This version is best for buildings that either don’t have an intercom at all or are ready to move on from outdated hardware. With a streamlined install and all core features included, Intercom Lite is designed for simplicity.
Intercom Plus
Amazon Key Intercom Plus
Intercom Plus is the most advanced version in the Amazon Key lineup. It features a large touchscreen display, a full digital directory, a keypad, and all the app-based features of the other models. Residents can unlock doors using the Ring app, a PIN code, or a key card, offering flexibility for different types of users.
With Intercom Plus, Amazon is clearly targeting newer or luxury properties looking for a sleek, all-in-one access solution. It delivers a polished experience that combines the familiarity of Ring with the functionality of a full-featured smart intercom.
Key features & benefits of the Amazon Key Access Control System
Whether you’re a property manager upgrading outdated hardware or a developer outfitting a new build, Amazon’s intercom system offers a set of modern features designed for convenience, flexibility, and resident satisfaction.
Features include:
- App-based access through Ring
- Multiple models for different building needs
- One-way video & two-way audio
- Digital directory & keypad (Intercom Plus only)
- Seamless delivery access integration
App-based access through Ring
At the core of every Amazon Key model is smartphone-based entry through the Ring app. Residents can see who’s at the door, talk to them, and unlock the entrance, all from their phones. That means no more juggling fobs, keys, or buzzers. This feature also streamlines access for guests and service providers, as residents can buzz them in remotely from anywhere.
Multiple models for different building needs
From add-ons like Virtual Key and Intercom Boost to full replacements like Intercom Lite and Plus, Amazon’s lineup makes it easy to match the right product to your property type. Instead of forcing one-size-fits-all hardware, the system provides flexible upgrade paths, whether you’re modernizing or building from the ground up.
One-way video & two-way audio
Starting with Intercom Boost, the system includes video and audio capabilities that improve security and communication. Residents can see who’s requesting access before opening the door, an essential feature in today’s multifamily landscape, where contactless entry and safety are top priorities.
Digital directory & keypad (Intercom Plus only)
Intercom Plus offers an intuitive touchscreen directory that lets visitors search for a resident by name or unit number. It also includes a keypad for PIN entry, which is ideal for managing access for delivery drivers, housekeepers, and other recurring visitors without needing to rely on resident intervention.
Seamless delivery access integration
While this new system goes beyond Amazon Key for Business, it still benefits from the same integration with Amazon delivery drivers. For properties already using Key for Business, the intercom system builds on that foundation, offering even more control over how and when packages and people get in.
Installation & availability
Amazon designed the Key access control system to be simple to install, whether you’re upgrading an older building or implementing access control for the first time.
Installation process
Each product in the lineup is available with professional installation. Amazon or its partners handle the setup, ensuring the system is properly integrated with the building’s existing infrastructure (if applicable). Virtual Key and Intercom Boost, which connect to current call boxes, require minimal disruption, while Intercom Lite and Plus involve a full device installation at the property entrance.
Support for property managers
Amazon offers an online management portal that lets property staff issue digital credentials, update resident directories, and configure access permissions, all from a centralized dashboard. The system is designed to reduce operational workload while giving managers full visibility into building access.
Comparisons & alternatives
Amazon’s Key access control system introduces a familiar tech brand into the intercom space, but it’s not the only option available. If you’re evaluating your property’s access control strategy, here’s how Amazon Key stacks up against both legacy systems and modern alternatives.
Amazon Key vs. legacy intercom systems
Traditional intercoms, especially analog models, typically offer little more than audio buzz-in functionality. Many rely on in-unit hardware, which can be expensive to maintain or replace. Amazon Key, by contrast, eliminates in-unit wiring entirely. All access is managed through the cloud and the Ring app, giving residents and managers remote control and real-time visibility without needing to physically be at the property.
Additionally, older systems don’t support digital directories, video calling, or smartphone integration, all of which come standard with Amazon Key’s newer models. For properties looking to upgrade without a full renovation, models like Virtual Key and Intercom Boost offer an incremental path to modernization.
Amazon Key vs. Amazon Key for Business
If you’re already using Amazon Key for Business, you may be wondering how this new system differs. The short answer: It’s a major expansion. Key for Business is specifically designed for unattended Amazon deliveries, enabling drivers to access lobbies or package rooms during their route. The new Amazon Key intercom system brings that concept full circle by supporting all types of access, not just packages.
With the new models, property managers can manage visitor access, resident entry, and deliveries, all in one system. So, while Key for Business may still be useful in tandem, it’s now just one part of a much larger access ecosystem.
Amazon Key vs. ButterflyMX
ButterflyMX offers a broader suite of access control products purpose-built for multifamily and gated communities, including video intercoms, vehicle access, package rooms, and elevator controls. Unlike Amazon Key, which requires the Ring app and is primarily designed around Amazon’s delivery ecosystem, ButterflyMX provides a unified platform that gives property managers more control across the entire building.
Key differences include:
- App experience: ButterflyMX’s app is designed specifically for property access, not adapted from a consumer smart home product.
- Hardware options: ButterflyMX offers 8-inch and 12-inch touchscreen intercoms, vehicle readers, keypads, and more with cohesive branding and functionality.
- System integrations: ButterflyMX integrates with over 80 property management systems, smart locks, and other building technology tools, while Amazon Key primarily promotes its integrations within the Ring and Amazon ecosystem.
Amazon Key may appeal to properties looking for a simple, consumer-friendly solution with a lower upfront investment. But for buildings needing a robust, customizable system with enterprise-level tools, ButterflyMX remains the more scalable and flexible choice.
Potential drawbacks of the Amazon Key Access Control System
While Amazon Key offers a streamlined, app-based approach to access control, it’s not without its limitations. Depending on your property’s needs and infrastructure, there are a few potential concerns to keep in mind before making the switch.
Limited app flexibility
Amazon Key relies entirely on the Ring app for resident access. While this works well for users already in the Amazon ecosystem, it may not be ideal for residents who prefer to minimize the number of apps on their phone or for properties seeking a more neutral, property-branded solution. There’s currently no custom branding or white-labeled experience available for buildings.
Resident and visitor data lives within Amazon
Amazon’s strength in data infrastructure is also a consideration. Since all user activity flows through the Ring platform, property managers have limited visibility or control over where that data is stored and how it’s used. For buildings with strict privacy standards or compliance requirements, this level of data centralization may raise questions.
Designed with Amazon deliveries in mind
Because the system is built on the foundation of Amazon Key for Business, its delivery access features are primarily optimized for Amazon drivers. While it can support guest access and PIN codes for others, it may not be as versatile as systems that are purpose-built for managing food delivery, service providers, or non-Amazon couriers.
Limited hardware customization
Amazon Key’s lineup offers four models, but there’s minimal flexibility beyond that. You won’t find modular components or accessories to adapt the system to unique building layouts, such as secondary entrances, garages, or elevators. Properties with more complex access needs may require a more configurable solution.
Lack of customer feedback
The Amazon Key Access Control System is still in the earliest stages of rollout. As a result, finding customer feedback on the system is hard to come by. Investing in the system new requires you to do so without knowing firsthand the customer experience.
Use case & verdict
Amazon Key’s intercom system is designed for a specific type of property: one that wants to modernize access control with minimal friction and prefers a consumer-friendly, app-based experience. It’s best suited for small- to mid-sized apartment buildings, gated communities, and residential developments that prioritize ease of use and fast installation over complex integrations or customization.
For properties that already use Amazon Key for Business, this new intercom system offers a natural expansion, adding resident access, visitor management, and video capabilities to an existing delivery-first foundation. And for buildings with aging call boxes, options like Virtual Key and Intercom Boost provide an easy path to modernization without the cost of a full replacement.
However, the system may fall short for larger properties or those with more complex access needs. The lack of multi-system integration, limited hardware options, and reliance on the Ring app may not be ideal for operators who need tighter control or more robust features across multiple entry points.
Amazon Key Access Control System vs. ButterflyMX
Both Amazon Key and ButterflyMX offer modern intercom systems designed to simplify access at multi-tenant properties, but the two platforms take very different approaches.
Amazon Key is built around the Ring ecosystem and designed for properties seeking a fast, familiar solution for app-based entry. It’s a strong fit for buildings that want to streamline Amazon deliveries and add basic video and smartphone access with minimal installation or infrastructure changes.
ButterflyMX, on the other hand, is purpose-built for multifamily and commercial properties from the ground up. It offers a fully integrated access control platform, including video intercoms, keypads, vehicle access readers, package rooms, elevator controls, and more, all managed from a single dashboard.
Here’s how the two compare:
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