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Biometric gun safes are one of the more controversial gun safe styles on the market today. These safes range from a cheap knock-off locking mechanism to much more expensive style locks that are reliable and a great alternative to traditional ones. These locks are usually in the form of a fingerprint scanner placed directly on the keypad that is used as a backup to the scanner.
If you are hunting for a cheap biometric safe, I would steer clear of that decision and opt for an electronic keypad or a mechanical lock safe. Why? Because the failure rate and quality of these lower-end biometric safes tend to be prevalent, as costs are cut to keep the price lower on these models. If you are going to own a biometric safe, do it right. The last thing you need is a safe that won’t open when you need it most.
With that said, for those that want an excellent biometric lock gun safe, here are my top seven favorite gun safes that utilize a quality biometric locking mechanism!
Why should you trust me? I have been in the gun safe industry for years and have gained many unique experiences. This ranges from talking to founders of gun safe companies, direct conversations with owners of safes, and of course, my hands-on experiences with many different brands. You can learn more about me here!
At a Glance
- Editor’s Choice: Vaultek VS10i Smart Safe
- Best Full-Size: Vaultek RS Series RS500i Plus Edition
- Runner Up: Konig Home
- Best USA-Made: Liberty HDX-150
- Best Traditional Safes: Browning Pro-Steel
1. Vaultek VS10i Smart Safe
- Lock: Biometric, Keypad, Key, Nano Key, Phone
- Dimensions: 2.12" High by 10.5" Wide by 8.5" Deep
- Steel: 18-gauge
- Fire Rating: N/A
- Weight: 5.2 pounds
- Many ways to access the safe
- High-quality
- Compact sizing
- Costly
- Thinner steel
Vaultek is one of the leading pistol safe companies. While a young company, they have built some excellent products packed with great features. They may have a hefty price tag, but relying on a biometric lock in a dire situation is worth it.
I did a full hands-on review of the previous version of this safe, the VT10i specifically, and you can check out my review here. A while later, it is still one of my favorites.
In the intro, we discussed how I am not a massive fan of biometrics due to their failure rate. However, Vaultek has gotten around that by offering plenty of ways to access it, including a keypad, physical key, a nano key (sold separately), phone access, and the fingerprint scanner. The major downside to this safe is that it is only 18 gauge steel.
2. Konig Home
- Lock: Keypad, Fingerprint, RFID
- Dimensions: 2.7" High by 10" Wide by 11.6" Deep
- Steel: N/A (Aluminum)
- Fire Rating: N/A
- Weight: 5.63 pounds
- It looks high-end, and high quality
- Many ways to access the safe
- No phone access
- Anchor cable not included
The Konig Home (1.0) takes a different take on the market by offering an aluminum housing gun safe alternative. Konig has been around for quite a bit longer than Vaultek, and Konig is a quality brand with a quality product.
With the higher price tag that this safe has, again, comes higher quality locking mechanisms. Much like the safe above, the Konig has a couple of options, and the newest version addresses my main concern (with the GunBox 2.0 that I had reviewed) and includes both the keypad, RFID, phone access, and the all-in-one biometric unit to allow for some redundant options for access, instead of keeping the keypad and biometric as a separate unit.
This giant safe from Konig offers USB ports for charging devices stored inside, mountain points to mount to your dresser, and gas struts to open the safe without ever having to touch it.
Does this safe look familiar? Konig was previously known as GunBox, but rebranded, as they found their users were keeping more than just firearms in their safe. This was a significant rebrand, and I can see why they switched.
3. Konig Go
- Lock: Keypad, Fingerprint, RFID
- Dimensions: 2.15" High by 9.25" Wide by 9.5" Deep
- Steel: N/A (Aluminum)
- Fire Rating: N/A
- Weight: 2.5 pounds
- Fantastic build quality
- Reputable manufacturer
- Inexpensive, considering the features
- Very small capacity
The Konig Go (also knowns as the Junior) is the smaller (and more budget-friendly) version of the Konig Home (1.0) we talked about just above. It maintains many of the same features, such as the fingerprint scanner, keypad, and RFID, but in a smaller package.
However, it does forgo some features that the 1.0 has, as it does not include the premium gas struts that auto open the safe, the included USB ports for charging items, and mountain points.
This safe could be a fantastic option if you are on a bit more of a budget or need to save a bit of space but want an excellent smart safe.
4. Liberty HDX-150
- Lock: Fingerprint, Key
- Dimensions: 4.02" High by 14.53" Wide by 10.12" Deep
- Steel: N/A (Aluminum)
- Fire Rating: N/A
- Weight: 2.5 pounds
- Fantastic build quality
- Made in the USA
- High quality biometric lock
- Small capacity
- Not enough lock options
If you want a tried and true biometric safe from one of the world’s most giant gun safe manufacturers, don’t look any further than the Liberty HDX-150. This quick-access pistol safe has one of the best biometric locks on the market, is made from a respectable 14-gauge steel, and is compact enough to keep in a drawer, in a vehicle, or anywhere in the home; you might want it to be.
This is all backed up by a manufacturer offering an excellent warranty and experience. If you want to avoid taking much of a risk on your next gun safe, Liberty is always a good bet.
The major downside to this safe is that it maintains a high price point but only offers a few of the same features, such as RFID, phone access, monitoring, and more, that the other safes above offer. That said, its 14 gauge steel should make up for that.
5. Vaultek MXi
- Lock: Biometric, Phone, Keypad, Portable button, Backup key
- Dimensions: 15” High by 11.6" Wide by 11.5" Deep
- Steel: 14 gauge (12 gauge door)
- Fire Rating: N/A
- Weight: 32 pounds
- Many lock options to choose from
- Larger pistol safe
- Modular interior
- Alerts for tampering, humidity and temperature
- Extremely expensive for the capacity
If you liked the Vaultek VS10i that we discussed at the top of this article, but wished it held eight firearms rather than just one (or maybe two), then the MX series will be the best bet for you. The MX Series is a high-capacity, modular security pistol safe that integrates a best-in-class biometric lock and a uniquely designed interior.
The durable 14-gauge steel exterior gives you a sense of security and can also ensure a sense of safety for your belongings. It also has a small display showing you things like the humidity, temperature inside the safe, battery life, and more, all on the safe itself.
Of course, you can also use their app to see all this and more at once. Vaultek is one of my favorite companies, and they are pushing the bounds of what a gun safe can be right now (make sure to check out the RS500i I will be talking about lower in this list).
6. Vaultek RS Series RS500i Plus Edition
- Lock: Biometric, Keypad, Key, Phone Access
- Dimensions: 54" High by 14" Wide by 11.7" Deep
- Fire Rating: None
- Steel Gauge: 14 gauge
- Weight: 93 pounds
- Many lock options to choose from
- Built-in tamper alerts and hygrometer
- Customizable interior
- Thinner steel
- Extremely expensive for its size
Yes, I know; throughout this article, I have pounded the name Vaultek into your head. However, they are a fantastic biometric-safe company. With the RS500i (smaller RS200i and bigger RS800i), they took everything they created in the smaller pistol safes and made a full-size safe for full-size firearms.
The RS500i (and variants) offers many features outside of just storage (which utilizes a modular design for complete customization), as you can access it via your phone, fingerprint, nano-key, keypad, and physical key. It also can monitor things like temperature, humidity, and if it is being tampered with, and will let you know on the safe, but also your phone when it needs attention for one of those things.
Back to the safe’s interior, it offers interior lighting, an auto-opening door, and a louvered rear of the safe, where you can choose what accessories work (or don’t) for you and your gear. If you are on a budget and need to store many items, this may not be for you as its price per square inch of storage is relatively high.
7. Browning Pro-Steel
- Origin: Domestic & Import
- Founded: 1878
- Owner: Herstal Group
- Warranty: 5-Year
Browning is the only other full-size gun safe brand (other than Vaultek) I recommend looking into. They offer some excellent options around locking mechanisms, and their biometric lock is among the best. You can add the biometric lock to any of their USA-made gun safes.
These traditional style gun safes offer plenty of steel, ranging from 12 gauge and up, and can be completely customized to your liking (steel gauge, paint, locks, and more). Of course, this comes at a price, as the USA-made gun safes from Browning can get quite expensive depending on what you choose for them.
What to think about when buying a biometric gun safe?
1. Size and Capacity
Before you go too far into buying any gun safe, consider what size and capacity you need. You will want to consider how many firearms you have now and how many you plan on buying in the next few years.
Thankfully, most people who want biometric locks are looking at pistol safes, which can be replaced easily if you want something different and more prominent. However, if you are looking for that full-size safe, you might want to buy bigger than you think you will need, as you likely will fill it right up.
2. Locking mechanism
Biometric safes are known to be one of the least reliable lock styles (which is why many people buy Simplex-style safes). So ensuring your biometric lock is one of the best out there will get you the most reliable option.
Unfortunately, you must spend plenty of money to get those better locks, which is why all the safes on this list are relatively expensive. That is just the name of the game.
3. Brand reputation
Going back to a reliable locking mechanism, you also will want a reputable brand. Biometric locks introduce an electronic component that may need to be warrantied, and having a good brand like Vaultek, Liberty, Browning, or Konig behind it makes all the difference when you need them.
4. Where are you going to put it?
Think about where you are putting the safe. Are you putting it on your nightstand? You won’t want a giant safe. Are you putting it in the closet or the basement? You can get a larger safe without being in the way.
5. Price point
Plan on spending more than you think you will regarding price points on biometric safes. To get a good lock, you must pay the money to keep yourself safe when accessing it. If you opt for a low-end biometric safe, you ask for trouble. Most have an electronic lock-only option if you don’t need a biometric lock.
Frequently Asked Questions
Conclusion
Biometric gun safes are a complex topic in the gun safe industry, as you are trying to walk that line of capability with the need for something that will open every time and whenever you need it to.
The safes above are some of the best quality biometric gun safes on the market today, and you should do great with any of these options at your home!
