“Free” software.
Expensive payments.
Updated
OpenUnit charges $0/mo for software and takes 2.9% + 30¢ on every tenant payment. That processing fee is how they fund the entire company. For a facility processing $40,000/mo, that's ~$1,190/mo flowing through their system. Brynlock is $0.50/unit/month for software and passes Stripe through at cost, so your processing fees are the same whether you use us or go direct.
At 150 units, Brynlock's software line is $75/month regardless of how much you process. OpenUnit's $0 software fee still comes wrapped in a 2.9% + 30¢ cut of every tenant payment, so the real comparison is processing volume, not the sticker price.
Plus: 50-state lien compliance, eSign, autopay, SMS reminders, Noke, DoorKing, and OpenTech CIA gate integration, SiteLink CSV import, and US-based support. OpenUnit has none of these.
Data portability is guaranteed in writing, so your records don't stay locked to a platform. Review our security controls before switching processors.
No credit card required · No annual contract · Cancel anytime
per month, flat, not percentage-based
processing markup
published rates, no middleman
state lien engine included
Is free self-storage software really free?
OpenUnit's processing rates look standard. With Brynlock, those same rates go to Stripe, not a middleman. The $0.50/unit/mo buys you software, lien tracking, and migration tools that OpenUnit doesn't offer.
50 units
But without a lien engine, gate integration, or CSV import
100 units
At this volume, $75/mo for lien + gates + support pays for itself in one prevented lien mistake
200 units
$150/mo gap, but no processing markup, and your data exports any time
The honest answer: if all you need is basic unit management and payment collection, OpenUnit costs less. But if you need lien compliance, gate integration, SiteLink migration tools, or US-based support, the per-unit software fee buys real operational value.
Brynlock vs. OpenUnit
Feature depth, data ownership, and operational support.
| Feature | Brynlock | OpenUnit |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly software cost | $0.50/unit/mo (min $25/mo) | $0/mo (free) |
| Processing markup | 0%, Stripe at-cost pass-through | 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction (their revenue model) |
| True all-in cost (100 units, $40k/mo payments) | $75/mo software + ~$1,190 Stripe at-cost = ~$1,265/mo | $0 + ~$1,190 processing = ~$1,190/mo |
| True all-in cost (200 units, $80k/mo payments) | $150/mo software + ~$2,350 Stripe at-cost = ~$2,500/mo | $0 + ~$2,350 processing = ~$2,350/mo |
| Processing and data portability | Stripe at published rates, no markup; records export as CSV any time (per-operator payouts in preview) | Processing flows through OpenUnit; card data stays with them |
| 50-state lien compliance | All 50 states, correct citations, included | Not available |
| eSign leases | Built in, IP + timestamp audit trail | Not available |
| Autopay | Included: Stripe, charges 1st of month | Not available |
| SMS overdue reminders | Included: Twilio, TCPA compliant | Not available |
| Gate integration | Noke, DoorKing, OpenTech CIA live · PTI in development | Not available |
| SiteLink CSV import | Auto-detection + mapping | Not available |
| Support | US-based, email within one business day | Limited (small team) |
| Revenue alignment | Software fee: same price whether you process $10k or $100k | Processing fee: the more you earn, the more they earn |
Pay for software. Not for processing.
$0.50/unit/mo gets you the full platform: lien engine, gate integration, migration tools, and US-based support. Stripe at published rates, no markup. Your data exports in one click.
60-day money-back guarantee. No credit card. No contract.
Questions about OpenUnit vs. Brynlock
OpenUnit has no monthly software fee. However, their entire revenue comes from payment processing: 2.9% + 30¢ per card transaction. For a facility processing $40,000/mo in tenant payments, that's ~$1,190/mo in processing fees. Brynlock charges $0.50/unit/mo for software (minimum $25/mo) and passes Stripe processing at cost with zero markup.
OpenUnit's business model is built entirely on payment processing revenue. Every tenant payment flows through their processing, and the margin on those transactions funds the company. The more your facility collects, the more OpenUnit earns.
Because OpenUnit processes payments through its own system, your payment history and customer card data stay with OpenUnit when you leave. With Brynlock, tenant, unit, lease, and payment records export as CSV in one click at any time. Processing runs on Stripe at published rates with no markup; per-operator Stripe payouts are in preview today, so tenant payments settle to Brynlock’s platform account until they ship.
Yes. Brynlock includes lien notice templates with correct statute citations for all 50 states, with notice dates auto-calculated for 49 states plus DC. This is part of the plan, not an add-on.
Yes. Export your data from OpenUnit and import it into Brynlock through the column mapper. Units, tenants, and leases come across; balances and payment history stay in OpenUnit. The other consideration is tenant payment methods: tenants re-enter card details through a Brynlock payment link, which is easy to distribute.
Switching from OpenUnit to Brynlock is mostly a data export and a payment re-enrollment, not a rebuild. Your unit and tenant records import from an OpenUnit export in about an hour, while payment methods need a fresh start since OpenUnit processes through its own system. Brynlock generates payment links you can send to tenants so they can re-enter card details on their own, which is usually the only step that needs tenant participation instead of just backend setup.
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