Gate Sentry
Gate Sentry for Gated Communities

Visitor Management Software for Gated Communities with On-Site Security

Tablet-based visitor and vendor management that eliminates hardware, replaces paper logs, and speeds up the gate, with real-time entry logs for guards and HOA boards and arrival alerts for residents.

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500K+
Users across thousands of properties
3 sec
Typical SentryPass check-in at the gate
4.8★
App Store rating, from 9,268 ratings
30 days
Or less to go live, for most properties
Why Communities Switch

Two Kinds of Visitor Management Systems

The real choice isn't between brand names. It's between two kinds of systems. One depends on failure-prone gatehouse hardware. The other is software-first, running in the cloud on a simple tablet.

Hardware-Dependent

The hidden cost stack

  • An aging gatehouse PC on an OS that's no longer supported
  • An on-site server in a closet generating IT tickets
  • Expensive kiosks and scanners that break and need repair
  • Check-in stalls the moment the internet drops

Software-First

Gate Sentry

  • Runs on standard tablets and phones, with no gatehouse PC or server
  • Works with your existing gates, and most properties are live in 30 days or less
  • 3-second SentryPass scans and searchable digital logs
  • Guards keep checking in visitors offline, and logs sync when the internet returns

Eliminating the hardware footprint means no gatehouse PC, server, or kiosks to repair, and guard check-in keeps running during internet outages. Communities average 90% user adoption. Read the full 2026 comparison →

Built for Gated Communities

Gated Community Visitor Management for Every Role

One tablet for guards, one app for residents, and one portal for admins. No desktop computers, no scanners.

For Residents

Resident App for Managing Gate Access

With 90% user adoption, residents manage guests and vendors from the Gate Sentry app or web portal, at home or on the go.

Pre-clear your own guests. No more calls to the gate.
  • Digital passes: send guests and vendors a SentryPass by text or email.
  • Permanent or temporary guests: keep regular visitors on your list, or add someone for a short visit.
  • Arrival alerts: get a push notification and email when your guest checks in.
  • Entry logs: see who came in and when.
  • Household bans: block someone from visiting your home.
  • Event guest lists: upload a list for a party, and guards check guests in.
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Gate Sentry resident app and web portal for managing gated community visitor access

For Visitors

Fast Guest Check-In with SentryPass

Guests and vendors arrive with a SentryPass, so guards check them in quickly.

Verified in seconds with a SentryPass on their phone.
  • SentryPass: a scannable pass sent by text or email.
  • Apple Wallet: the pass pops up on their phone as they approach the gate.
  • No pass? Guards look them up by resident name, address, vendor company, or license plate.
  • Permanent guests: regular visitors are always on the list.
SentryPass mobile visitor pass for gated community gate entry

For Security

Security Guard Tablet for Gated Community Gates

Gate Sentry replaces clipboards, scanners, and gatehouse PCs with one portable tablet.

Check-ins keep running offline and sync when the internet returns.
  • Scan or search: scan a SentryPass or look up any arrival in seconds.
  • Ban alerts: the tablet flags anyone on a property or household ban list.
  • Optional ID capture: record a visitor's ID when your property requires it.
  • Optional resident calls: call a home directly from a cellular tablet.
  • Guard training: a certification course gets new guards up to speed.
Watch Software Videos
Gate Sentry security guard tablet checking in a visitor at a gated community gate

For Admins

HOA and Property Manager Dashboard

Property managers and HOA boards get full visibility from the Gate Sentry web portal.

Pull a board-ready entry log for any date in seconds.
  • Resident management: add or remove residents in seconds.
  • Ban list: ban a visitor, company, or vehicle across the whole property.
  • Searchable entry logs: filter and search every visit.
  • Reporting: see security performance, busiest gate times, and visitor volume.
  • Parking passes: email passes to residents for their visitors.
  • Broadcasts: send property-wide messages by app push notification and email.
Gate Sentry admin dashboard and reporting for gated community property managers

See Gate Sentry Running at a Gated Community Gate

Watch short, real-world demos of how residents, visitors, guards, and admins use Gate Sentry every day, and exactly what entry looks like at a staffed community gate.

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FAQ

Gated Community Visitor Management FAQs

What is the best visitor management system for a gated community?
For gated communities with on-site security, the best visitor management system is tablet-based software that lets guards check in visitors, scan digital passes, and log every entry from one device. Gate Sentry is built for this. It replaces paper logs and desktop computers, works with your existing gates, and gives residents and HOA boards real-time entry records.
What is the best access control software for a gated community without on-site security?
For gated communities without guards, the best fit is Sentry Solo, Gate Sentry's access control software for unmanned gates, doors, elevators, and amenities. Residents open entrances with VirtualKey, guests tap SoloPass, and vendors scan the SentrySign QR code to enter a VirtualKeypad code. See Sentry Solo for self-service gated communities.
Can we use Gate Sentry at our guardhouse and Sentry Solo at back gates and amenities?
Yes. Many gated communities run both: Gate Sentry at the staffed main gate, and Sentry Solo at unmanned back gates, pedestrian gates, and amenities like the pool, gym, or clubhouse. Guests receive one link with a SentryPass for the guardhouse and a SoloPass to tap open unmanned entrances, and vendors get a SentryPass plus a VirtualKeypad code. Residents use one Gate Sentry app for everything, including VirtualKey to open back gates and amenities, and administrators manage both systems, amenity schedules, and entry logs from one dashboard. If the guardhouse isn't staffed overnight, guests can use SoloPass and vendors can use VirtualKeypad codes during those hours.
Does Gate Sentry work with our existing gates and guardhouse?
Yes. Gate Sentry is software that runs on a tablet, so it works with the gates and entry systems your community already has. There are no callboxes, keypads, or new wiring to install, and nothing to rip out.
How do residents send a visitor pass at a gated community?
Residents add a guest from the Gate Sentry app or web portal, and the guest receives a digital SentryPass by text or email. The pass saves to Apple Wallet and pops up on the guest's phone as they approach the gate. The guard scans it, and the visitor is checked in within seconds.
What happens if a visitor isn't on the guest list?
The guard searches Gate Sentry by resident name, address, vendor company, or license plate. If the visitor still isn't found, guards at properties that use tablet calling can call the resident directly from the tablet to confirm the visit.
Can a gated community stop banned visitors at the gate?
Yes. Administrators can ban a guest, vendor, or entire company from the whole property, and residents can ban someone from their household. When a banned visitor arrives, the Gate Sentry tablet alerts the guard.
What happens at the gate during an internet outage?
The Gate Sentry tablet keeps working offline, so guards keep checking in visitors when the connection drops, and logged check-ins sync automatically once service returns.
How long does it take a gated community to switch to Gate Sentry?
Most communities go live in 30 days or less. The team handles a white-glove transfer of your resident and guest data, configures your access rules, and trains residents, guards, and administrators before go-live.
Expertise-Driven

Built by Experience. Designed for Your Community.

Gate Sentry was founded by Michael Rendon, a former HOA board president, together with a team of former board presidents, property managers, and security experts. They lived the frustrations of outdated visitor management firsthand, then built a solution tailored to how gated communities really work today.

Former HOA Board Presidents

We know what communities need: secure, easy-to-use visitor management that works for residents and staff alike.

Experienced Security Team

Every security task runs on one tablet, with no desktop PCs or scanners. Guards verify guests, scan mobile passes, and see live visitor logs.

Built-In Guard Certification

Guards complete a certified officer training course, and managers track each officer's progress, so staff are verified and accountable from day one.

Property Manager Insight

Admins get centralized logs, simple resident tools, robust dashboards, and property-wide broadcasts by push and email.

Field-Tested in Communities

Every feature has been tested and refined in real communities since our first launch in 2015, built for reliability where it counts.

Testimonials

What Gated Communities Say

Customer Stories
4.8 App Store · 9,268 ratings 4.7 Google Play · 914 reviews
HOA
"I'm the president of our HOA, and we switched to Gate Sentry after having issues with our previous system. It's been a big improvement. Residents can add their own guests, and we have a much better idea of who's coming into the neighborhood. The guards seem to like it too, which was important to us."
HOA Board President - Michael Thompson
Resident
"We've had Gate Sentry for a couple of years now and I really like it. I can add people to my list whenever I need to, and I get a notification when they come through the gate. It's especially helpful with deliveries or when we have someone coming to work on the house. Never really had any issues with it."
Community Resident - Jennifer Collins
Management
"We manage a pretty busy gated community, so there's always someone coming in for something. The biggest improvement has been how easy it is to look up visitors and make changes when residents call the office. We used to spend a lot more time dealing with access questions. It's made things easier on our end."
Community Association Manager - Sarah Mitchell
Security
"I've worked with a few different systems, and this one is pretty straightforward. The guards can pull up visitors quickly, and we can see if someone has been here before. That's a big help when you have cars lined up at the entrance. New officers usually pick it up pretty fast too."
Security Supervisor - David Reynolds
HOA
"We looked at several options before deciding on Gate Sentry. Our main concern was finding something that would be easy for residents to use without creating more work for our security staff. So far it's worked out well. We've had very few complaints, which is saying something for an HOA."
HOA Board Member - Patricia Williams
Resident
"Honestly, my favorite thing is being able to add someone to my guest list without having to call anyone. We have a cleaning lady who comes every week, so I just have her set up permanently. For other people, I can put in specific dates. The notifications are nice too because I know when someone's arrived."
Community Resident - Robert Hayes
Management
"We've been using Gate Sentry at our property for a while now. We have quite a few vendors coming through during the week, and keeping track of everyone used to be a challenge. It's much easier now to see who's been on the property and make changes to access when needed. We've also had good experiences with their support team."
Community General Manager - Amanda Foster
Get Started

See Gate Sentry at Your Community's Gate

Schedule a demo and we'll show you Gate Sentry configured for your community, from the guardhouse to the resident app and the admin dashboard.

30 days or less to go liveEliminates hardwareWhite-glove setup

No callboxes, keypads, or fob readers to buy, white-glove data transfer, and the guard tablet keeps working if the internet goes down.

Unmanned back gates or amenities too? See Sentry Solo for self-service access.

Request Your Gated Community Demo

Tell us about your community and we'll be in touch within one business day.