Brivo vs Avigilon Alta (Openpath) for Bay Area Properties: An Installer's Comparison

What Brivo and Avigilon Alta each are

Brivo Access is a cloud-based access control solution whose editions sheet lists Standard, Professional and Enterprise editions. Brivo's control panels page lists compact controllers for up to 2 doors, a single-door Ethernet controller, and modular panels for up to 30 doors. Brivo Smart Readers come in mullion, single-gang and single-gang keypad versions.

Avigilon Alta is Avigilon's cloud-native access control platform. Avigilon lists Core Series Smart Hubs for up to 4, 8 or 16 readers and a Single Door Controller for up to 2 entries. Readers include Smart Readers in standard and mullion models (OP-R2-STND, OP-R2-MULL) and the Video Intercom Reader Pro.

The Openpath name still appears in Avigilon's documents.

Elwin Security installs, configures and supports Brivo access control systems for commercial, multifamily and mixed-use properties. For how an access platform fits an apartment building, seemultifamily security systems and apartment access control systems.

Brivo and Avigilon Alta, side by side

Wiring: what a retrofit can reuse

Brivo's ACS6100 takes 2 readers on its controller board and up to 30 with 14 expansion door boards. The Brivo Access data sheet lists OSDP and Wiegand standard compliant readers alongside Brivo's own. The installation guide's wire table allows 500 ft for an OSDP reader run, 250 ft on 22 AWG reader cable and 500 ft on 18 AWG.

Avigilon readers and hubs talk RS-485. The installation guide lists wire types in order of preference, shielded CAT6A first, with 300 ft on CAT6 or 500 ft if two pairs carry power. It also says legacy wiring (unshielded and straight through, often 22-6) can result in slower connections and dropped packets, and that switching GND and VIN with +B and -A on the ACU and readers can remedy it.

Third-party Wiegand readers have a path on Alta too. They wire to the Smart Reader's pigtail or to any I/O pair on the hub. The guide also describes placing an Alta ACU between Openpath readers and a legacy panel to add mobile credentials.

Panel placement differs. A Brivo chassis goes within 100 ft of its transformer and within 500 ft of each strike or latch, and its Ethernet run is 328 ft on Cat5e or greater. An Alta Smart Hub must be plugged into a grounded 3-prong outlet.

If the building already runs Mercury panels, Avigilon's Core connects to an MP1501 or LP1501 for 8 entries and to an MP1502, MP2500, LP1502 or LP2500 for 32. Brivo's editions sheet lists Mercury Solutions, and its Access data sheet lists "Brivo ACS100 Mercury LP/MP Series" among control panels supported with limited functionality.

For what a cable run and a controller location add to a job, see commercial low-voltage security wiring and our guide to adding access control to an existing door.

Internet outages and cellular backup

Both platforms keep deciding at the door when the internet drops. A Brivo ACS6100 holds up to 250,000 credentials and 60,000 events offline, and Brivo's panel page says panels enforce local rules and synchronize activity once connectivity is restored. Brivo's installation guide lists a UL 294 restriction for the B-ACS6000-MBE/MBS and B-ACS6000v2MBE/MBS control panels: the Ethernet port is for supplemental use only, and the unit will continue to operate standalone if the network connection is interrupted.

Avigilon's Access Control Core stores all cloud configuration locally so it stays functional in an internet outage. The Alta Access fact sheet says local storage preserves configurations and logged events for up to 60 days, then syncs back to the cloud.

Brivo's ACS6100 data sheet lists Ethernet and/or Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n for host communication, with cellular supported through a separate optional Cellular Network Module. Avigilon's Core datasheet lists a 10/100/1000 baseT Ethernet port for connection to the access control cloud service, and its installation guide says the Single Door Controller also supports Wi-Fi connections.

The ACS6100R-E includes one 12 VDC 14 Ah standby battery and the ACS6100L-E includes two. Avigilon recommends a backup battery without requiring one. Its sizing example: a hub with four readers and locks draws about 2 A at 24 V, so 3 hours takes two 12 V 6 Ah batteries in series.

Credentials for residents and visitors

Brivo Smart Readers support encrypted Brivo mobile credentials, encrypted smart cards (13.56 MHz) and legacy proximity cards (125kHz). Brivo's data sheet says the Bluetooth reader and the Mobile Pass app open doors even in locations with no wireless connectivity. Mobile Passes come with each edition: 5 with Standard, 500 with Professional and 1000 with Enterprise, and additional Mobile Passes can be added to any edition.

Brivo's credentials page adds Apple Wallet and Google Wallet, MIFARE DESFire EV3 smart cards, PINs for shared spaces and short-term access, and dual-technology cards for a gradual migration. The Brivo Door Station combines a reader, audio and video at visitor entrances.

Avigilon Alta lists mobile credentials, Wave to Unlock, DESFire keycards and fobs, building keys in Apple Wallet, and digital guest passes from the Alta Open app. Its credentials page says the system works with existing MIFARE RFID and proximity cards, and License Plate credentials open gates in gated communities and parking areas.

Avigilon's Video Intercom Reader Pro provides live video, two-way audio and smart call routing, with a 5 MP built-in camera, PoE connectivity and a mullion design.

For phones versus fobs for residents, see mobile credential access control and card reader and key fob access control.

What each one costs

Brivo's editions sheet lists Standard, Professional and Enterprise editions by administrators, Mobile Passes and data retention. Avigilon's quote page says "Get your free quote."

What the published plans do fix is scope. Brivo Standard includes 10 administrators, 5 Mobile Passes and 1 year of data retention; Professional 30, 500 and 2 years; Enterprise unlimited administrators, 1000 Mobile Passes and 3 years. The editions sheet lists API integrations and Identity Connector as add-ons, and Brivo Wallet Pass as an add-on on all three editions.

Ask both quotes to show the subscription on its own line, with the edition or plan, the number of mobile credentials included and the renewal term.

Our guide to what access control costs per door covers the install side and what a quote should list.

Support, updates and warranty

Its Access data sheet lists automatic updates to the platform and to Brivo control panels, and the ACS6100 data sheet lists remote firmware updates.

Avigilon's Access Control Core datasheet lists a lifetime limited warranty and points to avigilon.com/support/warranty. Ask each vendor for warranty terms in writing with the quote.

Which one fits your property

Count the doors per panel location first: a Brivo ACS6100 controller board grows to 30 readers through door boards chained on a CAN bus up to 1,500 ft. An Avigilon Access Control Core runs 16 entries on Avigilon boards or 32 on a Mercury MP1502, MP2500, LP1502 or LP2500. Avigilon lists Smart Hubs for up to 4, 8 or 16 readers.

If the entry has no wired internet, Brivo's ACS6100 data sheet lists a separate optional Cellular Network Module. Avigilon's Core datasheet lists a 10/100/1000 baseT Ethernet port for connection to the access control cloud service.

If you are keeping readers, match the protocol. Brivo's Access data sheet lists OSDP and Wiegand standard compliant readers. Alta runs its own readers over RS-485 and takes a third-party Wiegand reader through the Smart Reader pigtail or an I/O pair. Avigilon's Core connects to an MP1501 or LP1501 for up to 8 entries and to an MP1502, MP2500, LP1502 or LP2500 for up to 32.

Bring these to the site walk:

• A door list with the reader and lock on each door today, and the cable type behind each reader: CAT6, 22/6 or 18 AWG.
• Where the panels will live, the distance to the nearest outlet and network drop, and whether there is internet at the gate.
• How many administrators and mobile credentials you need, since Brivo sets both by edition.
• Whether the entry needs video and two-way audio, which Avigilon covers with the Video Intercom Reader Pro and Brivo with the Door Station.

Questions about Brivo and Avigilon Alta