For a gym that runs without staff, we recommend a 2N keypad with a magnetic lock (maglock), fitted by a professional door or access-control installer. It is wired, has no batteries and leaves nothing on the inside for a customer to fiddle with. The simpler, cheaper alternative is a Nuki smart lock with a keypad: you fit it yourself on an ordinary cylinder door, but it cannot be secured well against tampering. Sparekey works the same way with both.
Either way, a customer books a slot, pays online and gets a door code by SMS right after booking. The code opens the door only from the start to the end of their booking.
The two options side by side
| 2N keypad + maglock (recommended) | Nuki smart lock + keypad | |
|---|---|---|
| Who fits it | A professional door or access-control installer | You, or a locksmith if the cylinder needs replacing |
| Which doors | Almost any: glass, metal, wood, gates | Doors with a standard cylinder, opened by a key turn |
| Power | Mains power; the door releases if the power fails | Batteries in the lock and the keypad |
| Internet at the door | Network cable | Wi-Fi that reaches the lock |
| Tampering | Nothing to reach from inside; removing the keypad does not open the door | The lock sits inside, within reach of every customer |
| Best for | Unattended operation, long hours, busy doors | A small space, a tight budget, a quick start |
Other locks with time-limited PIN codes: ask us.
Why we recommend 2N with a maglock
A maglock is an electromagnet in the door frame that holds a metal plate on the door. The 2N keypad outside checks the code and switches the magnet off for a few seconds. There is no handle to turn, no motor and nothing inside to knock out of position.
- It is wired. No battery runs flat on a Sunday night. The maglock releases on fire alarm and on power loss.
- It stays secure. The part that releases the door sits on the protected side. Pulling the keypad off the wall does not open it.
- It is safe to leave. The installer connects it to your fire alarm and fits an exit button inside, so the door always lets people out.
- It holds plenty of codes. Every booking has its code stored as soon as it is made.
Details, including what the installer does, are on the 2N keypad and maglock page.
When Nuki makes sense
Nuki is a battery lock that mounts on the inside of the door over the existing cylinder and turns the key for you. A keypad outside takes the code. You can fit both in an afternoon without drilling the door.
It suits a door with a standard cylinder, Wi-Fi that reaches it, a tight budget and an owner who can get to the space quickly. Its limit: customers are alone inside with the lock, which can be turned by hand, knocked out of adjustment or pulled off. The Nuki page covers this and when to move to 2N.
If the internet goes down
Codes already stored at the door keep working. If a new code cannot be stored when a customer books, Sparekey sends them the location’s backup code instead, so they still get in. This works with any lock. More in what can go wrong without staff.
What we handle in setup
Setup has one price for both options (see pricing). It covers:
- connecting your lock or keypad to your booking system;
- a new code for every booking, valid for the slot, sent right after booking;
- the backup code for each location;
- several doors or a shared building entrance, at no extra cost;
- any number of locations, which you can add yourself later;
- test bookings with you before opening day: book, pay, receive the SMS, open the door, check the code stops working afterwards.
We do not sell or install hardware. You buy the lock or keypad, and for 2N you hire a local installer. We tell the installer exactly what to fit. The order of steps is on the setup page.
Your door checklist
Send us the answers and a photo of the door, its edge and the frame, and we tell you what fits.
- What is the door made of? Glass doors and gates almost always mean 2N with a maglock.
- How is it locked today? Nuki needs a cylinder it can turn.
- Is there power near the door? 2N needs mains power at the frame; an installer can run it.
- Does the internet reach the door? A network cable for 2N, Wi-Fi that works with the door closed for Nuki.
- Is it a fire exit? Then 2N with a maglock, wired to your fire alarm.
- Do you rent? Ask the landlord before anything is fixed to the door or frame.
- Is there a shared entrance? A building door in front of yours can be part of the same setup.
- How many doors do customers use? Each gets its own keypad, driven by the same booking.
Sparekey runs the doors of private gyms such as Chrám pohybu and Fithub, where customers book, pay and let themselves in at any hour.
FAQ
Which is better for a private gym, 2N or Nuki?
2N with a maglock, installed by a professional. It is wired and cannot be tampered with from inside. Nuki is cheaper and simpler and works on a small space with a standard cylinder door.
Does the price of Sparekey depend on the lock?
No. Hardware and, for 2N, the installer are paid separately to whoever supplies them.
Can I start with Nuki and switch to 2N later?
Yes. Your booking system stays the same; we connect the new keypad and run a test booking with you.
I already have a different lock. Will it work?
Other locks with time-limited PIN codes: ask us. Send us the make and model before you buy anything new.