If you’re looking for a digital tool to manage your shared vacation home, you’ve likely come across two names: DoorPact and SharedKey. Both aim to solve the same problem — helping families and co-owners coordinate schedules, expenses, and communication for a property they share. But the similarities end there.
In this comparison, we’ll break down the features, pricing, and experience of each platform so you can make an informed choice.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
Here’s how DoorPact and SharedKey stack up across every major capability:
| Feature | DoorPact | SharedKey |
|---|---|---|
| Shared Calendar & Booking | Yes — with conflict prevention and color-coded family views | Yes — basic calendar booking |
| Week Rotation / Draft System | Yes — fair rotation drafts so every family gets prime weeks | No |
| Expense Tracking & Splitting | Yes — automated cost splitting with receipt scanning | Beta — limited financial tracking |
| Checklists & Duties | Yes — arrival/departure checklists assigned to members | No |
| Real-Time Chat | Yes — property-specific group chat with message history | No |
| Voting & Polls | Yes — democratic decision-making for property matters | No |
| Guest Book | Yes — digital guest book with entries and memories | Yes |
| Photo Gallery | Yes — shared photo albums for the property | Yes |
| House Info & Manuals | Yes — appliance guides, WiFi codes, emergency contacts | Yes |
| Local Guide | Yes — restaurants, activities, and tips near your property | Yes |
| Contacts Directory | Yes — plumbers, electricians, property managers | Yes |
| Notice Board | Yes — announcements and pinned updates | Yes |
| Maps Integration | Yes — property location and nearby points of interest | Yes |
| Events Calendar | Yes — local events and property happenings | No |
| Supply Tracking | Yes — track what’s stocked and what needs replenishing | No |
| Push Notifications | Yes — stay updated on bookings, chats, and tasks | Limited |
| Mobile App | Yes — progressive web app (iOS & Android) | Yes — native iOS & Android apps |
| Unlimited Members | Yes — invite everyone, no per-seat charges | Yes |
| Price | $39/year per property | $49/year per property |
| Free Trial | 30 days | 30 days |
Where DoorPact Pulls Ahead
1. Week Rotation and Draft System
One of the biggest sources of conflict in shared properties is who gets the best weeks. Holidays, summer breaks, and long weekends are prime real estate, and without a fair system, someone always feels shortchanged.
DoorPact’s draft system works like a fantasy sports draft: families take turns picking their preferred weeks in a rotating order that changes each year. Everyone gets a fair shot at the best dates, and the process is transparent and documented.
SharedKey has no equivalent feature. Scheduling is first-come, first-served, which often advantages whoever checks the calendar first.
2. Automated Expense Splitting
Managing shared finances is the number one pain point for co-owners. DoorPact offers full expense tracking with automated splitting — log an expense, attach a receipt photo, and the system calculates each family’s share based on your chosen split method (equal, usage-based, or custom).
SharedKey’s finances feature is still labeled as beta with limited functionality. There’s no receipt scanning, no automated split calculations, and no cost history dashboard.
3. Checklists and Duties
Keeping a shared property clean and maintained requires accountability. DoorPact lets you create arrival and departure checklists — things like “check the water heater,” “empty the fridge,” or “lock the back gate” — and assign them to whoever is staying.
SharedKey doesn’t offer checklists, so families typically fall back on group texts or printed instructions that get lost.
4. Real-Time Property Chat
Instead of juggling group texts, email chains, and phone calls, DoorPact includes a built-in chat for each property. Every co-owner can see the conversation history, share updates, and coordinate without leaving the app.
SharedKey relies on its notice board for communication, which works for announcements but isn’t designed for back-and-forth conversation.
5. Voting and Polls
Should we repaint the deck? Replace the dishwasher or repair it? Rent the property out during off-season weeks? These decisions affect everyone, and DoorPact’s voting feature lets all co-owners weigh in democratically. Results are recorded so there’s no confusion about what was decided.
SharedKey has no polling or voting system.
Where SharedKey Holds Its Own
SharedKey has been around for several years and serves its core purpose — basic property information sharing — well. Its strengths include:
- Native mobile apps: SharedKey offers dedicated iOS and Android apps, while DoorPact uses a progressive web app that works on all devices via the browser.
- Established user base: SharedKey has been serving shared property owners for over a decade.
For families who primarily need a simple place to store house info, contacts, and photos — without the need for scheduling coordination, expense tracking, or communication tools — SharedKey may be sufficient.
Pricing Comparison
DoorPact is $10 cheaper per year at $39/year per property compared to SharedKey’s $49/year. Both platforms include unlimited members, so you’re never penalized for having a larger family or ownership group.
| DoorPact | SharedKey | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Cost | $39/year | $49/year |
| Per-Member Cost | $0 (unlimited) | $0 (unlimited) |
| Free Trial | 30 days | 30 days |
| Payment Methods | Credit card via Stripe | PayPal |
The Bottom Line
If your family needs a simple information hub for your shared property, SharedKey will get the job done.
But if you want a complete management platform that handles scheduling fairness, financial transparency, task accountability, and real-time communication — all while costing less — DoorPact is the clear choice.
The features that matter most for long-term co-ownership harmony — fair scheduling, expense splitting, checklists, chat, and voting — are exactly where DoorPact excels and SharedKey falls short.
Ready to try DoorPact? Start your free 30-day trial and see the difference for yourself.