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Ways to open a Tesla from iPhone and Apple Watch
Tesla’s own app, the companion apps and the Bluetooth key apps, side by side: which doors each one lists, whether it needs your Tesla account, Apple Watch support and what it costs.
Last checked 10 November 2026 against developer pages, App Store listings and Tesla’s documentation
Short answer
Tesla’s own app is free: a Bluetooth phone key, lock and unlock, frunk, trunk and charge port, Unlatch Door for the driver door on Model 3 and Model Y, and an Apple Watch app. Third-party apps each add something specific. Tessie and Stats add data, automations and remote control, with your Tesla account and a subscription. Bluetooth key apps such as Watchla, B-KEY, SexyKey, TSLA Keyfob, CyberKey and Handlefree work nearby, mostly without a Tesla login, and differ in which doors they list, Watch support and price.
Disclosure: We make Handlefree. Every fact about another app links to its developer’s page or App Store listing.
Built into your Tesla, free
Every Tesla with a phone key already gives you these, at no extra cost. They need the Tesla app and your Tesla account.
| Way in | What it does | Needs |
|---|---|---|
| Phone key (Tesla app) | Locks and unlocks over Bluetooth as you walk up; you choose all doors or only the driver’s door | Every Tesla except 2012–2020 Model S and 2015–2020 Model X |
| Unlatch Door (Tesla app) | Pops the driver door open when you are next to the car | Documented in the Model 3 and Model Y manuals |
| Tesla Shortcuts actions | Lock, unlock, frunk, trunk, charge port and more; a door action for Model X | Tesla app 4.24 or later (Aug 2023, as reported by MacRumors) |
| Tesla Apple Watch app | Watch key, lock and unlock, frunk, trunk, charge port, climate | watchOS 11, Apple Watch Series 6, SE 2 or Ultra or newer, car software 2024.44.25 or later |
| Key card and key fob | Card: tap the reader. Fob: buttons, and passive entry within about 2 m | Up to 19 keys per car, including up to 4 fobs |
Tesla documents Unlatch Door for the driver door. We found no Tesla document describing passenger or rear-door unlatch from the app, a Shortcut or the Watch on Model 3 and Model Y; that doesn’t prove it can’t, so check your own app. More detail: Tesla on Apple Watch · Tesla Siri Shortcuts · phone key vs key card
Full Tesla companion apps
These replace or extend the Tesla app with data, remote control and automations. They sign in to your Tesla account.
| App | Price | Tesla sign-in | Connection | Doors and closures listed | Apple Watch | Siri and Shortcuts | Last developer update |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tessie | $6.99 a month, $69.99 a year or $199.99 lifetime (Tessie’s site, US). German App Store from €7.99 a month. | Yes | Internet through Tessie’s servers, plus a Bluetooth phone and Watch key | Bluetooth “controls” are not itemised by door on Tessie’s pages | Yes; works on its own over Wi-Fi or cellular, plus a Bluetooth Watch key | Yes | 1 Nov 2026 |
| Stats | $9.99 a month, $100 a year or $249.99 lifetime (US App Store); €9.99, €100 or €299.99 in Germany | Yes, Tesla sign-in | Tesla’s official API (internet) | Driver door “Auto Unlatch” with the Apple Watch, per the developer’s site | Yes | Siri Shortcuts (climate, charge port), per the listing | 1 Oct 2026 |
Bluetooth key apps that open doors
These apps pair their own key with your car, like a second phone key, and talk to it over Bluetooth. Most need no Tesla account. They differ in which doors they list, Watch support and price.
| App | Price | Tesla sign-in | Connection | Doors and closures listed | Apple Watch | Siri and Shortcuts | Last developer update |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Watchla | Subscription: $0.99 a week, $1.99 a month or $17.99 a year (Germany €0.99, €1.99, €19.99) | The FAQ says you sign in with Tesla or a Tesla token | Bluetooth only, per the latest release notes | “All doors”, subject to vehicle compatibility, per the listing | Yes, on its own after setup on iPhone | Siri Shortcuts | 5 Jun 2025 |
| B-KEY | Free on iPhone; the standalone Watch plan runs from $0.99 a month to $7.99 once (Germany up to €8.99) | No | Bluetooth only | Opens and closes “doors” without naming which; frunk, trunk and charge port | Yes, on its own with the paid Watch plan | Siri and Control Center | 23 Jun 2026 |
| SexyKey | $6.99 once (Germany €7.99), in-app | No | Bluetooth only | Pops the driver door as you approach; passenger and rear doors; trunk | Not in this app; the developer’s separate Watch app (TCat) was last updated in Dec 2023 | Yes, per the release notes | 28 May 2026 |
| TSLA Keyfob | $6.99 once (Germany €7.99), in-app, Family Sharing | No | Bluetooth only | Opens or closes “doors, depending on model and equipment”; frunk, trunk, charge port | Yes, on its own | Siri and Shortcuts | 2 Nov 2026 |
| CyberKey | $0.99 download (Germany €0.99) | No | Bluetooth; the listing says no network permission | Pops open four doors; frunk, trunk and charge port | Listed for Apple Watch | Not mentioned | 24 Jun 2025 |
| Handlefree | Free; Pro €19.99 once (US $19.99), Family Sharing | No; you pair with your key card | Bluetooth only | Driver door free; each passenger and rear door, frunk, trunk and charge port with Pro | With Pro, through your nearby iPhone | Siri, Shortcuts, Action Button and Control Center (iOS 18+) | 8 Nov 2026 |
Also on the App Store: B-KEY Pro (from the B-KEY developer, adds an optional cloud mode with your Tesla account, by subscription) and Watch key apps such as XIAOTE, Key for Tesla and Keyla, whose listings don’t mention opening doors.
Which one fits you?
- You only lock, unlock and open the driver door
- Tesla’s own app is free and does this. On Model 3 and Model Y, Unlatch Door pops the driver door when you stand next to the car.
- You want data, remote control and automations
- Tessie and Stats are built for that: battery and charging data, automations and control over the internet. Both need your Tesla account and a subscription or a lifetime price.
- You want an Apple Watch key that works without your iPhone
- Tesla doesn’t say whether its Watch key needs the iPhone. Watchla, B-KEY (paid Watch plan) and TSLA Keyfob list a Watch app that works on its own, and Tessie’s Watch app works over Wi-Fi or cellular. Handlefree’s Watch control goes through your iPhone, so keep it nearby.
- You want doors to open as you walk up
- SexyKey lists a driver door that pops open as you approach. Handlefree never opens anything on its own; every door waits for your press.
- You want one press for a specific door, without an account or subscription
- That’s what Handlefree is for: the Action Button, Siri, a Shortcut or Control Center opens the door you chose. The driver door is free; Pro is €19.99 once with a 7-day free trial.
Where Handlefree doesn’t fit
We make Handlefree, so here are its limits in the same plain terms:
- No internet remote control. Handlefree works only within Bluetooth range of the car.
- No battery, charging or trip data, no climate controls and no automations.
- Nothing opens automatically as you approach; you press for each door.
- The Apple Watch control needs your iPhone nearby, and needs Pro.
- Not for 2012–2020 Model S or 2015–2020 Model X, which have no phone key. On a 2022 Model S, an owner reports the door buttons present the handle instead of opening the door.
What is documented for each model is in Handlefree compatibility.
Before you install any third-party key app
- Tesla’s manual says it does not support third-party apps contacting the car. That applies to every app on this page except Tesla’s own, Handlefree included.
- If your phone key starts acting up, Tesla’s troubleshooting list asks you to remove third-party Tesla apps from the phone while you test. Phone key not working
- Apps that pair their own key add an entry to your car’s key list (up to 19 keys). Remove keys you no longer use under Controls > Locks.
- Always keep a working key card with you.
How we compared
We make Handlefree. Everything about the other apps comes from the developer’s own site or App Store listing, read on 10 November 2026, and links there. We did not test competitors in a car. Prices are from the US and German App Store or the developer’s site and can change at any time. Ratings are left out because they change daily.
Spotted something out of date? Write to support@onekapisch.com and we’ll correct it.
Questions
Can the Tesla app open the passenger door?
Tesla documents Unlatch Door for the driver door on Model 3 and Model Y, when you are next to the car. We found no Tesla document describing passenger-door unlatch from the app. Bluetooth key apps such as Handlefree (with Pro), SexyKey and Watchla list passenger doors.
Which Tesla apps have no subscription?
The Tesla app is free. SexyKey and TSLA Keyfob sell a one-time unlock, CyberKey is a paid download, B-KEY offers a permanent Watch plan, and Handlefree’s driver door is free with Pro at €19.99 once. Tessie and Stats also offer lifetime prices next to their subscriptions.
Do I need to give these apps my Tesla account?
Tessie and Stats sign in to your Tesla account; Watchla’s FAQ asks you to sign in with Tesla or a Tesla token. B-KEY, SexyKey, TSLA Keyfob, CyberKey and Handlefree say they need no Tesla account and work over Bluetooth.
Can an Apple Watch open my Tesla without the iPhone?
Tesla doesn’t say whether its Watch key needs the iPhone. Watchla, B-KEY (paid Watch plan), TSLA Keyfob and Tessie describe Watch use on its own. Handlefree’s Watch control works through your nearby iPhone.
Does Tesla approve third-party key apps?
No. Tesla’s manual says it does not support third-party apps contacting the car, and that includes Handlefree. Keep your key card with you and remove a third-party app if your phone key misbehaves.
What is the best Tesla app for iPhone?
It depends on the job. For everyday locking and the driver door, Tesla’s free app is enough. For data and remote control, look at Tessie or Stats. For opening a specific door with one press, no account and no subscription, that is what we built Handlefree for.
Sources
- Tesla: vehicle keys (archived 17 Feb 2026)
- Tesla: Apple Watch (archived 7 Jun 2026)
- Tesla Model Y manual: mobile app (archived 10 Jul 2026)
- MacRumors: Tesla app adds Shortcuts actions (21 Aug 2023)
- Tessie: pricing
- Tessie: phone and Watch key
- Tessie: Shortcuts
- Stats
- Stats on the App Store
- Watchla FAQ
- Watchla on the App Store
- B-KEY
- B-KEY on the App Store
- SexyKey
- SexyKey on the App Store
- TSLA Keyfob on the App Store
- CyberKey on the App Store
Handlefree is independent and not affiliated with Tesla, Inc. Other app names belong to their owners. Features depend on model, hardware, software and plan; check the linked source before you buy.
