Lock Compatibility · TTLock / Tuya ecosystems
TTLock & smart locks-Compatible Hotel Key Cards
Running app-based smart locks across hostels, aparthotels or rental portfolios? Most read standard MIFARE Classic® 1K cards — and branded cards beat handing guests a bare white card.
TTLock- and Tuya-ecosystem smart locks have swept through hostels, serviced apartments and short-term rental portfolios: affordable hardware, app management, PIN codes — and an "add IC card" function that most operators underuse.
The IC cards these ecosystems enroll are overwhelmingly MIFARE Classic® 1K (S50). A smaller set of models also carries a 125 kHz reader that enrolls T5577 cards. Branded, printed cards enrolled through your app give long-stay guests and cleaners a professional credential — at hostel-friendly prices and MOQs.
Which chip does TTLock & smart locks read?
Commonly used pairings by generation. Individual properties can differ — the final chip is always confirmed with free test samples in your own doors before production.
| Lock generation | Card / chip | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| TTLock app locks with IC card slot | MIFARE Classic® 1K (S50) | Enrolled via the app’s "add IC card" flow |
| Tuya-ecosystem smart locks | MIFARE Classic® 1K (S50) | Same enrollment pattern as TTLock |
| Models with 125 kHz reader | T5577 (LF) | Check your spec sheet; less common |
| Keypad-only models | — | No card reader; consider fobs on compatible models instead |
What we supply for TTLock & smart locks properties
- MIFARE Classic® 1K cards from just 100 pcs — sized for small portfolios
- T5577 cards for 125 kHz models
- Key fobs on the same chips for long-stay guests and staff
- Simple template-based artwork service if you have only a logo
How verification works
- 1
Identify your lock
Find the brand and model on the lock’s inside plate or battery cover, ask your installer, or simply photograph a working key card (both sides) and the lock.
- 2
We match the chip
Send the details to sales@cardotel.com or through the form. We identify the chip your generation reads and assemble free test samples with the matching candidates.
- 3
Your doors decide
Encode the samples on site exactly as you do today. Only after your locks confirm the reads do we print the full run — zero compatibility gambles.
TTLock & smart locks key card questions
Will your cards enroll in the TTLock app?
If your lock has an IC card function it almost certainly enrolls MIFARE Classic® 1K cards — which is exactly what we supply. We recommend the free sample pack first: enroll a sample through your app, confirm, then order the print run.
What is the minimum order for a small hostel or Airbnb portfolio?
From 100 cards. Small operators often split one design across properties, using the write-on sleeve or a numbering scheme to tell units apart.
Card or fob for smart locks — which is better?
Cards are cheaper, print your brand large, and fit wallets; fobs survive keyrings and backpacks better. Many operators issue cards to guests and fobs to cleaners — both enroll the same way.
Our locks are keypad-only. Any options?
Keypad-only models have no reader, so no card can work. If card access matters, TTLock-ecosystem models with IC readers are inexpensive — and your existing app manages both.
Start your order
Need key cards that just work at check-in?
Send your lock brand and quantity — you will get a factory-direct quote and a free sample pack to test in your own locks before you commit.