A fingerprint gun safe provides quick and easy access to your pistol while keeping it secured. I've tested the most popular options on Amazon, and here are my top picks along with hands-on reviews.
FYI, Prices and ratings are accurate as of time of writing.
1. VAULTEK Smart Station - Biometric Smart Safe with Built-in Wireless Phone Charger
Top-rated: 2,441 ratings | 103 answered questions
Credit: Amazon.com
Highlight: LED backlit HD fingerprint scanner.
Helpful review: "For years I’ve followed Vaultek, as well as the products they’ve brought to market. This smart safe was a bit pricey for me, so I was skeptical about it. But then I finally bit the bullet and purchased it, and can report back that it’s really fantastic and worth the money.
- The safe came well-packaged. Trust me, you’re going to love the packaging.
- The setup is straightforward and clear. Following the instructions for fingerprinting was a breeze. I had no issues setting the combination or fingerprints.
- The quality is excellent. This is a very solid product. It’s really sturdy, very well-built and easy to use.
- The Bluetooth and biometric features are top tier.
- The phone charger works flawlessly. Just place it on top.
- With the extra USB, my watch charger is now also part of the system.
- It will hold most handguns. For instance, it can comfortably hold 2 Glocks. It can also hold my Sig 365 XL with Holosun optics and two 17 R clips with some extra room.
- Clock will set the correct time when the phone is placed on the charger.
- Opens swift for immediate entry.
- Incredibly quiet.
- Interior lighting is beautiful.
- The app has amazing features.
The advertisement does not do justice here. It's much better and advanced than argued. There are so many options featured with the safe: sound or no sound, lights or no lights… I know it sounds funny, but I feel that having such a neat product on my nightstand really upgraded my lifestyle. I love this safe so much, I want to buy another one.
BOTTOM LINE:
Don’t buy a lesser safe to save a bit of money. This Vaultek really does worth every penny. They offer great customer service and excellent follow-up, so I'll be buying the Vaultek MXi as well based on this experience. Good Job, Vaultek!" — David P. McGillivray
Get it from Amazon now: $479.99 & FREE Returns
2. VAULTEK VS10i - Interactive Smartphone Experience
Top-rated: 1,724 ratings | 255 answered questions
Credit: Amazon.com
Highlight: Included rechargeable lithium-ion battery provides power up to 6 months.
Helpful review: "I just purchased the Vaultek biometric pistol gun safe, and I am very impressed. The first thing you’ll notice is the first class product packaging. I can’t throw that box out. This pistol safe is solid and extremely well built. The product’s user manual is clearly written and easy to understand. Neat that you can’t even screw up putting the included lithium battery in.
This Vaultek safe automatically detects battery polarity, so you can install in either direction and it works. The keys work fine. Again, clear instructions made programming the biometric fingerprints easy. And – they do work extremely well.
Likewise, programming the five number keypad was a snap. This pistol safe is really built well, and the included steel cable should be good for traveling. The door is spring loaded and opens more like a quality jewelry box than a jack-in-the-box.
If you want a good safe to SAFELY and securely store your pistol with reliably quick access when needed you will not be disappointed with the Vaultek VT20i.
One more point I’d like to make:. If you are one of the many people who like traveling in an RV, you have probably found that there isn’t really much of a secure place in an RV to store valuables like passports, extra cash, and your wife’s expensive earrings. Depending on where you visit, you may even want to put a pistol in there! With a little ingenuity you can incorporate a steel mounting plate to solidly attach the pistol safe to a solid bed stand or closet wall. If your wife has lots of jewelry, you'd better buy the Vaultek PRO VT. Vaultek has a mounting plate for that one.
A FEW POINTS FROM A FRIEND:
- The fingerprint reader is easy to program and very accurate. It only takes one second to open the safe. You get two administrator prints, one 4-8 digit keypad administrator combination, and, of course, two keys.
- There is more than enough room for a sub-compact firearm and three 10-round magazines.
- The Bluetooth app feature is very simplistic and gives you the ability to identify a fingerprint if you have guest users. In my case... my wife. The app also allows you to view if it has detected when it was last opened, how it was opened, and which fingerprint, if applicable.
- You may also turn off the beeping when it is opened; however, the unlatching is just as loud. I don't expect to use the app often.
- The safe itself is very sturdy and solid. It is heavier than I expected. It is not fireproof, nor water/moisture proof. If you keep it in a humid house, plan on using one or two silica gel or other solid desiccant product to reduce humidity.
- The inside bottom surface has a thin layer of foam, and a slightly thicker layer of egg-crate foam. The inner surface of the lid has a thin layer of foam.
- If you will be carrying it around, you may want to buy a layer of foam with removable cubes or similar to "shape" indents for your firearm and magazines. Mine sits stationary... the only reason I have it is because of our grandson.
- It is CA and TSA approved if you need either of those ratings. The exterior bottom surface has four thin anti-skid pads." — Dave Rauschenberg
Get it from Amazon now: $269.99 & FREE Returns
3. ONNAIS - Large and Clear Buttons
Top-rated: 4,550 ratings | 76 answered questions
Credit: Amazon.com
Highlight: The fingerprint lock can store up to 30 user fingerprints for access by multiple users.
Helpful review: "This safe is made for a bedside or nightstand application. It does come with a security tether, made out of cabling and covered in rubber or flexible plastic. The tether wraps around the bed frame or something and then feeds into itself, like a lariat or a noose. The other end has a steel pawl (the only word I can think to call it) that slips into a groove on the body of the safe when the lid is opened.
LID AND LOCK:
The lid is secure with a strong hook and latch mechanism and shuts and secures easily. The locking mechanism is pretty cool, and the combo/biometric lock system is very handy. With the key lock, if you are like me, and an old, worn-out boot, the electronics to get into the safe make me a little suspicious, but hide or secure the key, and you are easier than a padlock.
CODE VS. FINGERPRINT:
Setting the electronic code is very simple; opening the battery door takes longer than entering the code. The safe comes with a quick setup guide, is easy to read and understand, and even has pictures. Set the code, hit the OK button, then repeat and it is done. The biometric is just about as easy. Place your fingers; the safe does not care how many or which ones are on the reader six times, and the safe will give the signal, and your super handy biomechanical lock is set. Multiple people can enter fingerprints, so all the adults and none of the kids can use it. If the code access worries you, you can turn off the electronics and use the key, then no one can guess the code; that is up to you.
INTERIOR:
The interior of the safe is padded, thinly padded, with open-cell foam, so if you live in a humid area like Florida, you will want to save the desiccant packet from your next Amazon shipment and throw it in there to keep the pistol nice and shiny. If this safe is shaken or the gun inside gets some damage, it will have to be seriously shaken or dropped to damage the gun.
WEIGHT:
The weight of this little safe is excellent; it weighs about two pounds or less and is easy to move around. The weight reduction does come at a price of steel thickness for protection. If a bad guy has time to yank on this safe, they can eventually pull the pawl out of the back, use a small crowbar, and bend the lid out of place to get inside. Dedicated crooks will stop at nothing, except honest work, to get to your valuables; this is more about keeping your hands off a dangerous item when it is not in use.
SIZE:
The little safe has a lot of room, especially with the top-opening lid. It will easily fit the entire EDC package to keep it safe and tidy. The safe is big enough to fit full-sized pistols; my 1911 fits without issues. The 1911 and two spare mags, my wallet, watch, cell phone, and a checkbook- if we still use them- would all tuck away safely. If you want to keep all of this by the door and not by the bedside, this safe will surface mount with two holes in the bottom for screws to the shelf, or the wall may work; the stuff may fall out when opened as a wall-mounted unit.
ALL IN ALL:
Now, the fun part. Would I recommend this safe? Yes! Without hesitation, I am ordering more of these and giving them to family members to keep things safe from little hands. I am also fitting one in the drawer at the office to make sure no one sees or needs to know that business, even if it hides a hip flask for PST conference room recovery. Would I buy another one or twenty-two? Yes! I alluded to this already, but the money spent on this safe is worth every penny. Unless you need this to protect things in a fire, then this will not be the answer. Place this safe in the firebox or fireproof filing cabinet, and now your stuff is kept secret and safe from the rest of the crew and the fire if it ever comes." — Gary Anderson
Get it from Amazon now: $89.99 & FREE Returns
4. VAULTEK Smart - Drop-Down with Rechargeable Battery
Top-rated: 419 ratings
Credit: Amazon.com
Highlight: Can hold max firearm length of 8.875” + a spare magazine.
Helpful review: "It's a tight squeeze, but it does manage to fit an full sized HK USP 45 Tactical with a flat plate magazine, despite it being 5.9" at it's tallest. Since there are few handguns larger than the USP Tactical, this safe is more than adequate for the vast majority of handguns.
I also have the smaller VT10i with the biometric sensor and find that the Slider biometrics is much more accurate/responsive, likely due to the larger sensor. It can detect the fingerprint no matter the angle you apply your finger. I've also added the same fingers multiple times to increase readability. The app and web dashboards are incredibly slick, allows you to delete fingerprints or disable/activate different fingerprints on the fly. It immediately notifies you if the safe has been opened, tampered with, failed authentication, really anything that can happen to the safe.
The only thing the app cannot do over WiFi is open the safe remotely, which I imagine is a security issue and honestly probably for the best. However while the WiFi features are neat, it's pretty extraneous to the actual function of the safe. None the less, you can tell from just about every aspect of the safe design that a lot of thought and care went into it. If cost is no object, this is hands down the best smart gun safe on the market.
A FEW WORDS FROM A FRIEND:
After shopping for a while on handgun safes, I decided on the VAULTEK. This safe is absolutely amazing. Packaged with care, protective plastics and all that. It’s super easy to set up, and the steel construction is very rugged.
The keypad lights up when your hand comes near it, so it can be easily read in the dark. A huge plus for me is that it uses a standard 18650 Lithium Ion battery, so if it ends up croaking in future years, you know you’ll be able to find a replacement easily.
The drawer slides completely open when the correct code is input, and there’s a nice LED light so you don’t have to fumble in the middle of the night. Great product!" — Nick Anderson
Get it from Amazon now: $369.99 & FREE Returns
5. RPNB Drop Down - Carbon Knight Series
Top-rated: 373 ratings
Credit: Amazon.com
Highlight: Expertly crafted using sturdy steel construction.
Helpful review: "IThe seller is on point. Super fast shipping. Superb packing. Quality and beautiful presentation from RPNB. The RPNB safe is of a very high quality. Crafted product and works superbly. The only flaw was the rubber feet had come loose from the bottom. I figure that was because of the very high temperatures we have been having. I put them back on and they stuck. The drawer opens smoothly and every time. The fingerprints must be registered at different angles if you're not going to use the exact same angle every time. The RPNB company should be commended for this product. This is an initial preview after receiving and testing the unit for 45 minutes after receiving. If something comes up negative I will review again. If you see nothing further all is well.
MY NEIGHBOR’S REVIEW:
I have been shopping around for a while to seek a gun safe that could easily hide next to my bed. I want it to be safe but at the same time easy to reach. It has a locker with passcode/fingerprint option, which could automatically open in a second with a ready to pull and shot position. There is an option to manually open it with a key, the key lock seems tough, so others won't reach my gun easily. Plus it's a heavy metal case, which could also prevent others from opening it by force. It also has enough space for one pistol with an extra bullet or magazine. The G-17 fits it well. Maybe the only two cons: It could be over the budget to some people, get it when it's on sale, AND it does not open very quietly, but I guess this is the tradeoff if you wanna it open quickly.
A FEW WORDS FROM A FRIEND:
have been looking for a nightstand drop down or slider safe for some time. Most on the market could not accommodate my pistol with a mounted red dot. This one fits the bill. I was also worried about the fingerprint reader not always recognizing my print, but I have been surprised how accurate it read. I did take the advice to have it read my prints at different angles while setting it up. Looks pretty well made. It is heavy, which is good. So my only con is that when it opens, it is a bit loud. So only time will tell how it performs in the long run." — Trent Bailey
Get it from Amazon now: $199.00 & FREE Returns
6. HOLEWOR - Most Popular Portable Safe
Top-rated: 112 ratings | 30 answered questions
Credit: Amazon.com
Highlight: LCD Display of time, temperature and humidity.
Helpful review: "I purchased this safe as a gun safe for my sub-compact pistol. I have 2 young children who need to be safe not only from intruders, but also from the dangers of a firearm in the wrong hands (mainly their own).
Build Quality: Consistent with what I read in other reviews, this safe is hefty. It's made of thick metal, and I have no concerns that there is any easy way in (aside from the 3 entry methods: code, fingerprint, or key). This will work perfectly to keep my children out and also anyone quickly rummaging through my house if I were not home from easily accessing my firearm.
Setup: I have yet to look at the instruction manual. Based solely on the reviews I read/watched prior to purchase, I did a full setup of my prints, setting a new code, and silencing the safe in under 5 minutes (easily). Couldn't be easier.
Sound: When I received my safe, the first thing I did after putting batteries into it was hold down "1" for a few seconds to silence the safe. Even when silenced, you can still hear a fairly quiet mechanical release of the locking mechanism when opening with the fingerprint scanner or the code. The key entry just has the "click" that any spring loaded item that is released should be expected to have (due to surfaces of multiple components changing how they are interacting). All the sounds I hear are what should be expected, and give me confidence in the quality, rather than concern or a feeling that it is "too loud," etc. If an intruder were close enough to hear this, they would already know you are there, and sound would not be a concern. These noises only occur when the safe OPENS, meaning you now have access to your means of protection, so things are about to get loud anyway. (It's still very quiet, just addressing the nay-sayers, if any exist)
Key Entry: Key feels solid, slides in super easy due to the rectangular shape with grooves rather than being a jagged edged key. As I said, it is the quietest method of entry (even when the safe is silenced). This being said, I plan to hide the keys pretty well and do not intend to use the key except if I fail to keep up on the batteries. Keeping a key nearby is asking for trouble with kids IMO.
Code: Code was easy to setup. As some have said, if you choose a shorter code (I did 4 digits for now), it will make it clear when an incorrect 4 digit code is entered--so someone will not needlessly try to guess 8 digit passwords. Unless someone has extended access to the safe, I don't see this ever being an issue--and if you are concerned about someone with regular access continually trying to enter, it may be a good idea to have a longer code, or more likely--not keep a firearm in the house.
Fingerprint scanner: I set up all 10 of my prints super fast. I only did one per finger. When placed square-on like when I registered, there is almost never a time when it fails. Registering multiple angles/areas of the fingers I will actually use is something I will probably do in the future (rather than including my pinkies, which is super awkward to even setup, much less use in a real life scenario. I haven't tried tons of unregistered fingerprints. I am curious to know if unregistered fingerprints have a failure rate (opening the safe). If this is a concern you have and you expect people to regularly try to open your safe that shouldn't, you can just not setup any fingerprints and rely on the other methods (or not keep a firearm, if there is cause for concern).
Battery life: I haven't had it long enough to speak to battery life, but the batteries I put in it are not high quality, and I haven't had any issues yet. I plan to monitor battery life and then setup a regular replacement schedule based on how quickly it seems to get low, rather than letting them get close to dying before replacing every time.
Space: This safe easily fit my 2 sub-compact pistols with an extra mag each and a kydex holster. I since sold one of the pistols, but its a large safe, I believe it would be hard to find 2 (modern) pistols of any size that would not fit in this safe together. The foam on bottom and sides protects your firearms from scratches. The foam on the bottom is easily lifted to anchor the safe to another surface. You can also remove it, line the bottom of the safe with cash, place the foam back on top and still have room for your firearm(s). The safe has plenty of height to allow for this.
Customer service has already reached out to me, and seems like they will be phenomenal if any issues do arise. Super pleased with this purchase. 5/5 all day." — Jon
Get it from Amazon now: $99.99 & FREE Returns
7. MAXSafes - Best for Two Guns
Top-rated: 316 ratings
Credit: Amazon.com
Highlight: Unconditional one year warranty.
Helpful review: "I will start by saying the value of this safe is excellent. It appears well built and I could not find any visible flaws. It came very well packaged. The buttons are large and the biometric feature works very well.
I was actually very surprised at how well the fingerprint reader worked to open the safe. I was also pleased it stores up to 50 different finger prints. The inside of the safe is spacious and it is lined with nice padded material. It locks securely and positively and it springs open very well.
So if you are looking to have a quick access safe which will keep a firearm safe from children at an inexpensive cost then this will do the trick. If you want more features and a more secure safe, AND are willing to spend 2 to 3 times as much, buy a Vaultek.
A FEW WORDS FROM A FRIEND:
I needed a safe for my bedroom, so I did my research and thought this safe would be the best choice. I couldn't be happier with my selection. The lid opens quickly with no excess jump. AND the biometric technology is amazing and works every time, even with wet or dirty fingers. It also has a physical key and button code for alternative options to open the safe. The pry-resistant key lock is much better than other regular key locks. There is even a number laser printed on the lock, which can be used to request extra keys if needed. They also added an emergency power outlet, which is a great back up if needed. And, the security cable and Leather pad are an extra bonus to this safe. MAXSafes really went all out on this safe and I am sure you will be very pleased." — Eric Brown
Get it from Amazon now: $179.99 & FREE Returns
8. KAER - Best Car Vehicle Safe
Top-rated: 312 ratings | 28 answered questions
Credit: Amazon.com
Highlight: Reliable high-strength locking mechanism.
Helpful review: "Bought this safe on a whim even when I read the bad reviews about the finger print feature. I’m glad I bought it cause it’s perfect - the finger print setting was in fact the more tricky part. Make sure you read the direction packet clearly. Once you activate the finger print setting by touching the finger pad (what the other people did, thinking they fully set their finger print), the directions tell you that you need to clear out all finger prints and repeat the process for it to open correctly with only your finger print. I had to clear out my finger print feature maybe 4 times before it worked. Other than me needing to do that multiple times, it now works 100% perfectly. If I haven’t read the reviews I honestly might not have paid attention and did it wrong just like the other people did, but that’s why you do your research and don’t blame the company for mistakes that are human made." — Alex
"Without commenting on any particular review that says this is “junk” or that any finger, or anyone’s finger for that matter, or even a cat’s paw can open the safe, I am here to say that is totally false…If you follow the instructions in section 4. Before I went step by step through the setup, I did discover that any of my finger tips would open the safe. But…carefully following the setup instructions, I am here to tell you that only MY right index finger opens the safe. I am not going to walk anyone through the instructions here, but suggest that you slow down and follow step by step on how to set up for both fingerprint and user code. It’s not difficult at all (and fingerprint seems to be the main issue in these negative reviews). After setting up the fingerprint code, I asked my wife to use all her fingers to open the safe. None of them opened it. I used all my fingers (except my right index finger), and none of them opened the safe. I will say you have to be specific when using the fingerprint ID. I can’t use the tip of my right index finger, I have to lay it flat on the sensor as that is the way I positioned my finger when I did the setup. Very often when walking by the safe in our bedroom, I will reach out and touch the finger print sensor just to be familiar with the process. It opens every time. If I fail to lay my finger flat on the sensor (as I did in the setup), it doesn’t open. So, keep in mind the position of your finger when doing the setup. I also use the four-digit code method and it works flawlessly! This is a strong and sturdy safe for pistols and easily accommodates two pistols, my 4.2 in barrel 9mm and a S&W 38." — David
Get it from Amazon now: $89.99 & FREE Returns
9. SentrySafe - Updated Scanner
Top-rated: 4,142 ratings
Credit: Amazon.com
Highlight: Improved gas strut for long-lasting performance.
Helpful review: "I was primarily interested in a quick access gun safe for my Springfield XD-S that could be placed bedside. I looked at the reviews for three of what seemed to be the most popular such gun cases and ultimately decided on the Sentry Safe Biometric Quick Access Pistol Safe, Model QAP1BE. I have grandchildren who visit frequently and I needed something that gives me quick and reliable access for personal protection at home, yet at the same time be secure from inquisitive little folks. First of all, I wanted a safe that would set on top of my bed nightstand and not be difficult to locate and open in the dark. I didn't want the hassle of having to open a nightstand drawer to access it. Besides, I would have to make sure the drawer is open wide enough to allow the top of the gun safe to open all the way. To me, storing it inside a drawer increases access time as well as makes for more noise.
The first gun safe I looked at was the GunVault. I really liked the dimensions of the safe and the fact that it was biometric and used a code as well to open it. However, the reviews were less than stellar for reliability in opening using the fingerprint so I steered away from it. Another gun safe that I reviewed was the Barska Biometric Top Opening Safe. It received better reviews as to reliability than the GunVault safe, but some reviewers still reported issues with first-time open attempts using the fingerprint. A deciding factor for me not choosing the Barska was the outside dimensions. The Barska is 14.75 by 11.25 by 5 inches. This was larger than I was wanting setting on top of my nightstand. The Sentry is smaller at 12.0 x 9.9 x 3.2. While the inside capacity of the Barska is larger than the Sentry, my XD-S and extra magazines fit nicely inside the Sentry.
The five star reviews of the Sentry convinced me to give it a try. When I received it I noticed that it was pleasingly heavy, weighing in at just over 13 pounds. The construction seemed very sturdy. It comes with predrilled holes in the bottom for screws if you choose to securely mount it, but my choice was to set it out where I could quickly and quietly reach it when needed.
To prevent the metal case from sliding and scratching the wood on my nightstand, I placed four of those clear plastic cupboard door bumpers on each corner underneath. They work great to keep it in place and prevent scratching the wood, even when the top door pops open. Unlike the other two gun safes which hold something like 30 fingerprints, the Sentry holds only four fingerprints, so my wife and I each coded in our forefinger and thumb. Once we coded them in, neither of us has had one failed attempt at opening this safe in the two weeks 2-3 weeks since we've had it. The lid pops open completely each time using the gas strut. I try it on a regular basis just to practice and also make sure it is operational. We've tested trying to open it with other fingers and found that it will only open with the coded fingerprints. Would I buy the Sentry gun safe again? Yes, definitely. Would I recommend it to a friend? Again, definitely. I am not affiliated in any way with Sentry, Barska, Gunvault or any other gun supply business." — Vaughn
Get it from Amazon now: $203.00 & FREE Returns