Autohost vs KeyNest (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Autohost grades higher than KeyNest: 2.2 against 1.8 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Autohost grades higher on the free plan. They get the same grade on value for money, features, ease of use and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Autohost
Guest ID verification and fraud screening for rentals and hotels
KeyNest
Key handover through local drop-off points for rental hosts
Which one is for you
Pick Autohost if
- Fits if you want guest ID and fraud checks tied to your bookings
- Works for software partners who add checks through the API
Look elsewhere if
- Watch out: the pricing page is written for partners, and platform plans are sold through sales
- Pricey if you screen many guests, as checks bill per use
- Watch out: a US criminal check is $5 and credit history $20 on the self-serve route
- Skip it if you want a full property system, as it covers screening only
- Not for you if you want a free plan, as only $5 of credit is listed
Pick KeyNest if
- Fits if your guests collect keys in person
- Works for hosts in cities with a KeyNest Point nearby
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if no Point is near you, as it depends on one being close
- Pricey if you have many keys, as each key is $34.99 a month
- Watch out: prices on the US page exclude VAT, and other countries show their own
- Watch out: pay as you go adds daily storage after the first day
- Watch out: more than 20 keys is priced by quote
How we grade them
| 2.2GPAAutohostFair | 1.8GPAKeyNestWeak | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | CPer-use prices run $0.12 to $1.25 for ID steps and $2.15 to $7.25 for criminal checks by volume, with no monthly rate to compare against the category. | C$34.99 per key per month billed annually, ex VAT, in the category's dearest quarter. Pay as you go is $9.99 per key collection. |
| Free plan and trial | CThe self-serve route starts with $5 of free credit, then pay as you go. There is no free plan. | FNo free plan and no trial on record, so every use is paid from day one. |
| Features | CID verification, fraud screening, watchlist and background checks, touchless verification and an API. It does that one job fully, but it is a narrower job than a property system. | CA drop-off network, code collection, live key tracking, code delivery to Airbnb and PMS, and lockers. It does that one job fully, but it is a smaller job than a property system. |
| Ease of use | CNo store rating on record, and the SDK or partner setup needs connecting. | CNo store rating on record, and keys must reach a nearby Point. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWeb with an API, SDKs and a hosted portal, and links to Enso Connect, Breezeway and OwnerRez. | BWeb plus iOS and Android, with Airbnb code delivery. |
| Best for | screening guests before they arrive | hosts handing over keys in person |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Autohost and KeyNest. How we grade
Where they differ
- Autohost also covers forms.
- KeyNest also covers tasks and workflow automation.
At a glance
| Autohost | KeyNest | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free trial | Paid |
| Starts at | Not published | $34.99 per key per month, billed annually (ex VAT) |
| Free plan | None | None |
| Free trial | $5 in free credit on the self-serve option, then pay as you go | None listed |
| Web | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Autohost | KeyNest |
| Price read from | autohost.ai | keynest.com |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Autohost
- Per-verification prices vary by volume: $0.12 to $0.65 for touchless or ID collection, $0.35 to $1.25 for ID verification, $2.15 to $7.25 for criminal screening.
- The pricing page is written for partners and applies to SDK implementation; platform plans are sold through sales.
- Self-serve checks, from its Checktiv product, are listed at $0.75 for ID, $1 for watchlist, $5 for a US criminal check and $20 for credit history.
- Checks bill per use, so costs track the number of guests screened.
KeyNest
- Prices on the US page are listed excluding VAT; other country sites show their own prices.
- Pay-as-you-go charges per key collection plus daily storage after the first day.
- Availability depends on a KeyNest Point being near the property; the page names US cities such as New York and Chicago.
- More than 20 keys is priced by quote.
Key features
Autohost
- ID verification
- Guests photograph a government ID, with options for selfie matching, liveness detection and forensic document checks.
- Fraud detection and Screening AI
- Device fingerprinting, email and phone validation and an AI screening agent assess the risk of each booking.
- Background and watchlist checks
- Higher tiers add sex offender registry, criminal background, eviction history, global watchlist and adverse media checks, with optional credit history.
- Touchless verification
- A lighter option that collects data from the booking source in the background, without asking the guest to do anything.
- API, SDKs and hosted portal
- Verification can be embedded with web and mobile SDKs, an iFrame guest portal or the API, and the docs list an MCP server.
- Network effect data
- Checks are weighed against Autohost's reputation and watchlist databases, and data feeds are offered as an extra.
KeyNest
- Key Points network
- The vendor lists over 7,000 public KeyNest Points, usually shops, cafes, hotels or lockers, many open around the clock.
- Code-based collection
- Guests, cleaners or contractors get a notification and a 6-digit code, with time-restricted codes for extra security.
- Live key tracking
- The KeyNest app shows each key's status in real time, with an access link guests can use to find the collection point.
- Airbnb and PMS code delivery
- Access codes can be created and sent to guests automatically through Airbnb or a property management system.
- Lockers, Cloud and Guestcare
- Related products include private lockers, a key-tracking app for offices and a 24/7 guest-communication service.
Plans
Autohost
Self-serve & SDK$0
Free to start with $5 in credit, then pay as you go per check. No contract or minimums; this is the Checktiv self-serve product.
LaunchCustom
For platforms starting with verification. Usage-based pricing plus a platform fee, sold through sales.
GrowthCustom
For growing platforms. Usage-based pricing plus a platform fee, adds fraud detection pro, data verification and Screening AI.
Scale (Enterprise)Custom
For large platforms with high volume and custom needs. Volume discounts, a dedicated customer success manager, and custom or waived implementation fees.
KeyNest
Pay as you go$9.99
per key collection, ex VAT
First day of storage included, then 99 cents per extra day, or 75 cents a day after 30 days.
Monthly Plan$39.99
per key per month, ex VAT
Free storage and unlimited key movements for each key.
Yearly Plan$34.99
per key per month, billed annually, ex VAT
Same as the Monthly Plan at a lower monthly rate; custom quotes are offered above 20 keys.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Autohost or KeyNest?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Autohost publishes no starting price, and KeyNest starts at $34.99 per key per month, billed annually (ex VAT).
Which has a free plan, Autohost or KeyNest?
As of Nov 13, 2026, neither Autohost nor KeyNest has a free plan. Autohost has a free trial.
Which platforms do Autohost and KeyNest run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only KeyNest lists iOS and Android apps. Both list a web app. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.