Active Unlock vs Request-Based Unlock in Smart Locks
The single most expensive misunderstanding in app-connected locks, and how to avoid it.
Read the article →Tuya vs TTLock: Which Smart Lock Ecosystem Should You Sell?
Every smart lock has to belong to an app ecosystem, and for locks sold outside China that almost always means Tuya or TTLock. Both work. They are not interchangeable, and the difference shows up months after the sale.
The short answer
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| Choose TTLock | Multi-user management, timed e-keys, rental and property use, contractor access |
|---|---|
| Choose Tuya | Buyers who already sell or use Tuya smart home devices and want one app for the whole home |
| Either works for | Fingerprint, keypad, card and mechanical key entry, which run locally on the lock |
Where TTLock is stronger
- Sharing access as a timed e-key, which is what rental and short stay operators need.
- Managing a larger number of users per lock, which matters for staff and contractor access.
- Reviewing an access history so the operator can answer who opened a door and when.
Where Tuya is stronger
- Integration with a home that already runs Tuya devices, because the lock appears in the same app.
- Buyers whose customers already recognise the Tuya app and do not want to install another one.
- Scenes and automation alongside lighting, sensors and cameras.
The version problem that catches buyers out
Tuya has more than one hardware generation. Tuya Bluetooth and TTLock versions support active unlock, where the lock opens from the phone without touching it. The older Tuya Wi-Fi version only supports request-based unlock, where the lock is pressed first and the app confirms.
Buyers have received request-based hardware when they expected active unlock, and the complaint reached the end user rather than the factory. We confirm the version in writing on every quotation.
Gateways and remote control
Bluetooth alone reaches the driveway. A gateway puts the lock on the network so access can be granted, revoked and reviewed remotely. The gateway has to match the ecosystem, so the ecosystem decision is made before the gateway is ordered.
What about a buyer's own app?
For volume projects we support app customization and cloud-to-cloud integration, and our engineers can join a call with your developer. Custom development is quoted separately, and it is worth confirming the scope before promising an end customer a launch date.
Not sure which ecosystem fits your market?
Tell us who opens the lock and how often. We will recommend the ecosystem and the app version, then quote it.
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