Getting Started

You can use OpenReception by hosting it yourself or using the managed service, which also supports the future availability of OpenReception.

Self-Hosted

The community version of OpenReception can be self-hosted. We’ve added a guide with recommendations on deployment in our public respository.

Managed Hosting

Managed Hosting for OpenReception appointment booking comes with the following benefits:

• You focus on your actual tasks while we are taking care of the stability and security of your calendar server.
• You are supporting the ongoing development of OpenReception. Although it’s OpenSource it still needs people with the time to work on it to keep it a thing.
• Expert Personal Support via E-Mail and Phone available.
• Later: Premium Features are available in Premium plans.
• Management Features are available for larger organizations.

More information and prices are available on open-reception.com.

Premium & Management Features

OpenReception is a free OpenSource software. As of now you can use all of the features in the self-hosted version.

In the future there will be Premium-Features that are only available on Managed Hosting from open-reception.com.

Management Features are only available if you are Self-Hosting or are on our medical care unit plans from open-reception.com.

Throughout this documentation we will be labeling Premium Features and Management Features, so you know how you can get access to them.

Passkeys

For secure encryption, OpenReception requires you to use Passkeys, which support the Pseudo-Random-Function extension (PRF). You can implement them using Software or Hardware Passkeys. For the best usability we recommend using passkeys with biometric authentification.

Caution

Only Passkeys that support the Pseudo-Random-Function extension (PRF) are compatible with OpenReception.

Note

PRF Passkeys on Windows are only supported on Windows 11, release 25H2 (build 26200.7840+) or newer. This update was released in February 2026. Older builds of Windows do not support PRF Passkeys.

Key	Supported	Type	Notes
1Password 🇨🇦	✅	Software	Great usability with biometrics, syncs across devices
Apple Keychain 🇺🇸	✅	Software	Great usability with biometrics, syncs across Apple devices
Bitwarden 🇺🇸	❌	Software	Does not support PRF
Dashlane 🇺🇸	❌	Software	Does not support PRF
NitroKey 3A Mini 🇩🇪	✅	Hardware USB-A	Usability ok
Windows Hello 🇺🇸	✅	Software	Great usability with biometrics
Yubico Yubikey Bio 🇸🇪🇺🇸	✅	Hardware USB-C	Great usability
Yubico Yubikey 5C 🇸🇪🇺🇸	✅	Hardware USB-C	Usability ok
Yubico Yubikey 5 🇸🇪🇺🇸	✅	Hardware USB-A	Usability ok

Recommendations

We recommend using a passkey that fits your every-day needs for quickly unlocking OpenReception.

Use one passkey for every staff member/ workstation accessing OpenReception. Each staff member/ workstation will need to register with their own e-mail address.

Additionally we recommend using a hardware passkey for backup access, if you have lost access to your primary passkey. Place it in a safe place, so you can use it in case of emergency. If you have lost all your passkeys, you will lose access to appointments.

In the near future you will be able to register multiple passkeys for each staff member.