Not sure what kind of fob your building uses? You're not alone. Toronto has dozens of different fob types in circulation, from simple 125 kHz proximity fobs to advanced encrypted smart cards. This guide will help you identify your fob and understand what it takes to get it copied.
HID Proximity Fobs
HID is the world's largest access control manufacturer, and their fobs are by far the most common in Toronto condos. If you have a building fob, there's a good chance it's made by HID.
HID ProxKey III
The iconic round grey key fob that most people picture when they think “building fob.” It operates at 125 kHz, has no encryption, and is the easiest fob to copy. You'll usually see the HID logo (a small oval with “HID” inside) printed on the front. These are standard in thousands of Toronto condos, especially those built between 2000 and 2015.
Copy difficulty: Easy. Price: $35.
HID iClass
HID's higher-security product line. iClass fobs operate at 13.56 MHz and use encryption to secure access data. They come in the same form factors as ProxKey (round key fobs and credit-card-sized cards) but are typically a slightly different shade or have “iClass” printed on them. Common in newer Toronto condos and commercial offices.
Copy difficulty: Moderate. Price: $60.
HID iClass SE & SEOS
The latest generation of HID products. These use stronger encryption (AES-128) and more advanced authentication protocols. Found in premium condos and high-security commercial buildings. These cards are backwards compatible — they contain both the new SEOS credential and the legacy iClass credential. Most building readers still accept the legacy credential, which allows us to create a working copy in the vast majority of cases.
Copy difficulty: Advanced. Price: $70. In rare cases where a building has disabled legacy mode, the copy won't work — we'll tell you upfront.
AWID Fobs
AWID fobs are the second most common type in Toronto buildings. They operate at 125 kHz and look similar to HID ProxKey fobs — small, round, and typically grey or black. The main visual difference is the AWID logo on the front. These are common in apartment buildings and older condos throughout Toronto, Scarborough, and Etobicoke.
Copy difficulty: Easy. Price: $35.
Mifare Fobs
Mifare is a contactless smart card technology developed by NXP Semiconductors. It's increasingly common in Toronto's newer condo developments, particularly in buildings built after 2015.
Mifare Classic (1K and 4K)
The most widespread Mifare variant in Toronto. Mifare Classic fobs operate at 13.56 MHz and use Crypto-1 encryption. They come as key fobs or credit-card-sized cards, usually in white, blue, or clear plastic. The “1K” and “4K” refer to the memory size — 1K is most common for building access. Despite the encryption, Mifare Classic is well-understood and we copy these fobs daily.
Copy difficulty: Moderate. Price: $45.
Mifare DESFire
The more advanced Mifare variant using AES-128 encryption. Found in newer, higher-security buildings, particularly around the Square One area in Mississauga and new developments in downtown Toronto. DESFire fobs cannot currently be cloned by any third-party service due to the strength of the encryption. If your building uses DESFire, you'll need to get extra fobs through management.
Copy difficulty: Not possible. Tip: Bring it in and we'll confirm whether it's DESFire or Classic for free.
SALTO Fobs
SALTO is a European access control company whose products are popular in Toronto's premium condos and hotels. SALTO fobs operate at 13.56 MHz with proprietary encryption. They often come as slim credit-card-sized cards with the SALTO logo.
Many fob copy services claim they can't copy SALTO fobs. We can — we've invested in SALTO-compatible equipment specifically because of how common these fobs are in Toronto's condo market.
Copy difficulty: Advanced. Price: $70.
Garage Door Remotes
Garage remotes are different from RFID fobs — they use active radio frequency (RF) transmission rather than passive RFID. Common brands in Toronto include KeyScan, ICT, DKS MicroClik, Linear, and LiftMaster.
Some garage systems use a combination of RFID tap and button press. In these cases, the remote contains both an RFID chip (for tap access) and an RF transmitter (for the button). We can clone both components.
Copy difficulty: Varies. Price: From $90.
Other Fob Types
iButton
iButtons look like small metallic discs or cylinders — completely different from typical plastic fobs. They use contact-based data transfer (you press the metal disc against the reader rather than tapping). Common in some older apartment buildings and commercial properties.
Indala & Schlage
Less common but still found in some Toronto buildings. Indala fobs operate at 125 kHz with a proprietary format. Schlage fobs come in various configurations including the 9691T model common in some commercial buildings. We copy both.
IoProx
IoProx fobs use a proprietary 125 kHz format and are found in many Toronto and GTA commercial buildings. Standard copy, $35. Note: Kantech's newer SSF format cannot be cloned.
How to Identify Your Fob
The easiest way to identify your fob is to look for a manufacturer's logo — HID, AWID, SALTO, etc. If there's no visible logo, don't worry. You can text or WhatsApp us a photo and we'll identify it for you, or simply bring it in. Our equipment can automatically detect the fob type in seconds.
Quick Reference Table
| Fob Type | Frequency | Encrypted | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| HID ProxKey | 125 kHz | No | $35 |
| AWID | 125 kHz | No | $35 |
| IoProx | 125 kHz | No | $35 |
| Mifare Classic | 13.56 MHz | Yes | $45 |
| HID iClass | 13.56 MHz | Yes | $60 |
| HID iClass SE | 13.56 MHz | Yes | $70 |
| SALTO | 13.56 MHz | Yes | $70 |
| Mifare DESFire | 13.56 MHz | Yes (AES) | Not copyable |
| Garage Remote | Various RF | Varies | $90+ |
Not Sure? We'll Figure It Out
If you still can't identify your fob, don't worry — that's literally our job. Bring it to FobTO in North York and we'll identify it, check compatibility, and have your copy ready in under a minute. No appointment needed, and the compatibility check is always free.