Most workplace analytics tools tell you what was scheduled. Calendar data shows which rooms were booked. Desk reservation platforms show which seats were claimed. But scheduled activity and actual activity are rarely the same thing, and the gap between them is where real estate budgets get wasted.
Occupancy sensors measure what actually happens in a physical space, from how many people showed up, to how long they stayed, to which areas went unused. That data becomes the basis for decisions about lease renewals, floor consolidation, furniture layouts, and operational budgets.
The challenge is that occupancy sensing platforms differ in meaningful ways. The underlying detection technology determines both the richness of the data and the privacy implications. Connectivity and installation requirements shape how fast you can deploy and at what cost. And the platform's approach to data access, whether it prioritizes its own dashboard or lets data flow freely into external systems, affects how much operational value you can extract.
This guide looks at five occupancy sensing platforms that workplace teams should consider in 2026: Butlr, VergeSense, XY Sense, Avuity, and Density.
Butlr uses thermal sensing to detect occupancy, reading heat patterns emitted by people rather than relying on cameras, device signals, or any form of visual capture. Because the sensors operate entirely on thermal data, they are physically incapable of collecting personally identifiable information. That privacy guarantee is built into the hardware, not toggled through a settings panel.
This hardware-level constraint opens up deployment in spaces that most competitors cannot serve, including restrooms, wellness rooms, healthcare environments, and other areas where camera-based or device-tracking solutions would face legal or employee-relations pushback.
Butlr sensors detect presence, count individuals, track movement patterns, and measure dwell time, delivering 95% accuracy according to the company. The sensors mount with adhesive, need no electrician, and connect via wired, wireless, or cellular networks, which keeps deployment timelines short even across multi-building portfolios.
Data is surfaced through an API-first architecture that pushes occupancy insights into workplace management tools, building management systems, energy platforms, and cleaning orchestration workflows.
Pros:
Privacy handled at the sensor level, not through policy, eliminating compliance friction
Fast, non-technical installation
API-first model integrates data with external systems by default
Supports deployment in sensitive spaces that camera-based platforms cannot reach
Cons:
Requires a sales conversation for pricing
Less visual context than camera-based options (deliberate design choice for privacy)
| Specification | Description |
| Sensing Technology | Thermal imaging (heat patterns only) |
| Deployment Scope | Full-building, including privacy-sensitive areas |
| Connectivity | Wired, wireless, or cellular |
| Installation | Self-install with adhesive; no electrician; weeks to deploy |
| Data Privacy | No PII by hardware design; cannot capture images or biometrics |
| Integration Model | API-first with webhooks; designed for external platform integration |
| Security Standards | SOC 2 Type II; TLS 1.2 and AES256 encryption |
Pricing: Custom pricing available upon request.
VergeSense combines camera-based sensors with a corporate real estate analytics platform. The sensors use computer vision to measure occupancy in targeted spaces like conference rooms, open collaboration zones, and high-traffic areas. That data feeds into VergeSense's planning tools, which include utilization benchmarks, space planning models, and portfolio-level reporting.
Beyond raw data, VergeSense offers advisory and managed services for teams that want strategic guidance on how to act on their occupancy insights. API access ships with the standard pricing tier, so teams can extract data for use in their own BI tools or workplace platforms without upgrading.
Pros:
Combines sensing with strategic planning tools in a single platform
Advisory services provide hands-on support for real estate decision-making
API access at the standard tier keeps data portable without extra cost
Cons:
Camera-based technology introduces privacy considerations requiring stakeholder alignment, particularly outside the US
Designed for targeted deployment in high-value spaces rather than full floor coverage, which may leave utilization gaps
| Specification | Description |
| Sensing Technology | Camera with computer vision |
| Deployment Scope | Selective high-value spaces |
| Connectivity | Battery-powered, wireless, magnetic mount |
| Installation | Magnetic snap-on; phased rollout approach |
| Data Privacy | Privacy-safe by policy; camera sensing may need legal/IT review |
| Integration Model | API accessible; analytics platform is the primary experience |
| Security Standards | SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001 |
Pricing: Custom pricing available upon request.
XY Sense takes a coordinate-based approach to occupancy measurement. Its ceiling-mounted sensors map the XY positions of individuals relative to the sensor, generating spatial data about where people are within a room and how different zones are being used, all without capturing images or identifying anyone.
The platform offers three sensor modes to cover different space types, including area sensing for open floor plans, entry/exit counting for doorways, and presence detection for smaller rooms. An air quality monitoring integration adds environmental data alongside occupancy metrics. Data routes through XY Sense's analytics platform, with API and webhook options for teams that need data in external systems.
Pros:
Spatial coordinate data delivers richer insight than simple headcounts without the privacy implications of cameras
Multiple sensor modes allow teams to configure hardware by space type
Environmental monitoring adds a complementary data layer
Cons:
Typically deployed in partial or sampled coverage, which can create blind spots
Managing multiple sensor types adds procurement and planning complexity
Privacy governance steps may still be needed despite the camera-free approach
| Specification | Description |
| Sensing Technology | Ceiling-mounted sensors capturing XY coordinate data |
| Deployment Scope | Open areas, meeting rooms, entry points, and small spaces |
| Connectivity | Wired and wireless |
| Installation | Ceiling-mounted; often deployed as partial or sampled coverage |
| Data Privacy | No images; coordinate data only |
| Integration Model | API and webhooks available; analytics platform is the main interface |
| Security Standards | ISO 27001 |
Pricing: Custom pricing available upon request.
Avuity is a space utilization platform focused on helping corporate real estate teams measure and optimize office usage. Its sensors use AI and machine learning to capture occupancy counts and environmental conditions (temperature, humidity, light, and noise) without relying on cameras. The company also offers IR sensors for teams that want to run short-term utilization studies before committing to permanent hardware.
The platform is primarily used to inform portfolio rightsizing, layout optimization, and facilities operations like HVAC scheduling and cleaning workflows. Avuity's sensors improve their accuracy over time as the ML models learn from accumulated deployment data.
Pros:
Camera-free sensing keeps the privacy conversation simple
Environmental sensors bundled with occupancy hardware consolidate two data streams into one device
ML-driven accuracy improvements mean the system gets better the longer it runs
IR sensors offer a low-commitment entry point for short-term studies
Cons:
Focused on room- and zone-level presence rather than granular movement or dwell-time data
Limited, platform-centric integration options may restrict data portability
No SOC 2 or ISO 27001 certification, which can slow procurement at enterprise organizations
| Specification | Description |
| Sensing Technology | Camera-free AI/ML-based sensing; IR sensors for short-term studies |
| Deployment Scope | Room- and zone-level, ceiling-mounted |
| Connectivity | Wireless (battery + 2.4 GHz gateway) or wired (PoE) |
| Installation | Wireless sensors need no cabling; wired option for permanent setups |
| Data Privacy | Camera-free; no PII collected |
| Integration Model | Platform-centric; data primarily accessed through Avuity's analytics |
| Security Standards | Not publicly listed (no SOC 2 or ISO 27001) |
Pricing: Custom pricing available upon request.
Density offers a dual-technology approach to occupancy sensing, pairing depth sensors for open areas and doorways with 60GHz radar for smaller rooms and individual desks. The radar sensor is designed to be self-installed, lowering the setup barrier for teams that want to start small. The depth sensors, by contrast, require professional installation with power and network cabling.
Data from both sensor types flows into Density's analytics platform, which provides utilization dashboards, capacity planning tools, and occupancy trend reports. An API is available for data extraction, though the product experience is centered on Density's own interface. The company also provides advisory services including professional site planning and workplace strategy support.
Pros:
Self-installable radar sensor makes it easy to pilot in smaller spaces
Larger coverage per depth sensor reduces total hardware volume in open areas
Advisory services offer strategic support for portfolio decisions
Cons:
Depth sensors require professional installation with electricians and network cabling, increasing cost and timeline
Radar-based sensing may face scrutiny in regions sensitive to RF-based tracking
Integration into external tools is not a core focus
| Specification | Description |
| Sensing Technology | Depth sensing and 60GHz radar |
| Deployment Scope | Open areas, doorways, meeting rooms, phone booths, desks |
| Connectivity | Wired (depth sensors); powered WiFi (radar) |
| Installation | Radar is self-installable; depth sensors need professional install |
| Data Privacy | No video or facial recognition; radar may face RF tracking concerns |
| Integration Model | API available; analytics platform is the primary interface |
| Security Standards | TLS 1.2, AES256 encryption |
Pricing: Sensors start at $149/unit. Software from $8/unit/month for rooms, $2.50/unit/month for desks (billed annually).
The right choice depends on which tradeoffs matter most for your organization.
Butlr: Best for teams that need full-building, privacy-safe coverage with fast deployment and open integration into existing workplace systems.
VergeSense: Best for corporate real estate teams that want occupancy data bundled with strategic planning tools and advisory support.
XY Sense: Best for teams that want spatial granularity beyond basic headcounts without relying on camera-based technology.
Avuity: Best for organizations that want combined occupancy and environmental sensing in a camera-free package, especially those starting with short-term studies.
Density: Best for teams that want a mix of self-install and professional-grade sensors and are comfortable with a platform-centric data experience.
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