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Best Overall
Vaultek DS2i Smart Station
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Summary
An advanced gun safe that has plenty of storage, an internal light, multiple entry methods, and other great features.
Best Budget
SentrySafe Quick Access Gun Safe
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Summary
SentrySafe provides name recognition you can trust at a price that won’t break the bank for the average person.
Best Portable
Vaultek LifePod 2.0
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Summary
The Vaultek LifePod 2.0 is proof that big things really do come in small packages.
Gun safety is essential for each and every gun owner, and one of the best ways to secure your firearms while providing easy access is a biometric gun safe. Designed to open only for your fingerprint(s) or those of other designated users, biometric safes allows you to quickly and effortlessly access your guns literally with the touch of a finger, all while keeping any unauthorized people at bay.
The ability to access your firearms rapidly is the biggest advantage of a biometric safe as compared to a standard gun safe
. But traditional methods of entry are still an option with many of these high-tech models. Any biometric safe that’s worth anything also has one or more backup entry methods. These range from keypad combinations to traditional key locks. Dive in and explore the best biometric gun safes on the market.
Best Overall: Vaultek DS2i Smart Station
Best for Rifles: Vaultek RS500i
Best Budget: SentrySafe Quick Access Gun Safe
Best Portable: Vaultek LifePod 2.0
Best for Car: Onnais Security Safe
How I Picked The Best Biometric Gun Safes
I own multiple gun safes myself and know dozens upon dozens of people who have different models that were chosen because of needs that differ from my own. As a result, I’ve seen, used, and had the reasoning behind a purchase explained to me for countless different biometric gun safes on the market. Aside from the companies mentioned specifically in this list, it’s worth mentioning that Awesafe, BARSKA, and Viking also make solid options for biometric gun safe needs. When it comes down to picking which one is right for me, I evaluate products using the following criteria:
Reliability: How good are the biometrics and the backup access should I need to get into it another way?
Capacity: Am I looking to store just one gun by the bed, or multiple guns and other items that also need to be kept secure?
Security: Does this safe provide the adequate level of security that I need in order to feel confident in trusting it to do the job?
Cost: Are the features and benefits of this biometric gun safe in line with the price?
The Best Biometric Gun Safes: Reviews & Recommendations
Best Overall: Vaultek DS2i Smart Station
Best Overall
Specs
Wireless phone charger
Bluetooth safety management
Multi-purpose
Pros
Four different entry methods
Can fit two handguns (1 full-size, 1 compact)
Overall design makes it blend into the room
Mounting plates can be used on top of or underneath furniture
Cons
Expensive
Heavy (weighs almost ten pounds)
The Vaultek DS2i Smart Station is, without a doubt, the most advanced biometric gun safe on the market. In addition to being able to store 20 different fingerprints for access, it also allows for manual entry and safety management from your phone with an app. Speaking of your phone, it’s got a built-in wireless charger on the top. Internal storage space is ample, allowing for up to two handguns and other assorted essentials. The real alarm clock face plate also tells you the internal temperature and humidity for extra safety and security of the items within. Plus, since it looks like an overbuilt alarm clock, it doesn’t immediately scream “gun safe.” This is a great option for anyone who wants to keep a handgun at bedside for defense, but also wants their firearm to be secure.
Best for Rifles: Vaultek RS500i
Best for Rifles
Specs
Oversized biometric scanner
WiFi-enabled
Made from 14-gauge carbon steel
Four solid steel locking bolts, interior hinges, anti-pry bars, and impact detection
Pros
Can program up to 20 different unique fingerprints
Lighted keypad and hidden keyhole for backup entry options
Comes with an accessory kit
Rechargeable Lithium-ion battery pack
Cons
Steep price may be out of reach for some people
The Vaultek RS500i is the Goldilocks of their rifle-sized safes, right in the middle of their size lineup. With modular configuration options to fit your specific needs, this safe will hold 5-7 rifles and 6-8 handguns, depending on your particular setup. There’s even room for a dehumidifier if you so choose. (Check out our roundup of best gun safe dehumidifiers
and read some good advice to keep your guns from getting rusty
.)
When authorized access is granted, the door opens automatically on springs to provide immediate access to the automatically lighted interior of the safe. Equipped with WiFi, the safe can alert you to impact detection and other access attempts. You can also access the safe’s information via website and smartphone app, ensuring that you always know exactly what’s going on with the security of your weapons. The safe’s technology is powered by a rechargeable Lithium-ion battery, which is included.
Best Budget: SentrySafe Quick Access Gun Safe
Best Budget
Specs
Pre-installed interior lighting
Made of steel and able to be bolted down
Uses commonly available AA batteries
Pros
California DOJ Certified for firearm storage and protection
Override key access in case of biometric failure
Can be purchased at big box stores
Cons
Small, only large enough for one pistol and a spare mag
Lacks features of more expensive offerings
Provides only basic security
SentrySafe has been making safes for almost 100 years, so they know what they’re doing. If you’re looking for an inexpensive way to protect a handgun yet still have immediate access, then the SentrySafe Quick Access Gun Safe is a solid option. This smaller safe will fit just about anywhere, while offering rapid access and security for your handgun.
Made of pry-resistant steel and featuring an automatic opening with a compression strut for quiet access, this biometric safe provides access with a fingerprint or keypad, plus backup key access. Inside, the safe’s high compression foam will help keep your gun secure from sliding around if the safe gets jostled around, and the built-in lights will ensure that you can see what you’re doing even in the dead of night.
Best Portable: Vaultek LifePod 2.0
Best Portable
Specs
Battery life of one year
Water-resistant, floats, and is airtight
Removable tray for modular configuration
Pros
TSA approved
Can fit two full-sized pistols
Lighted interior
Cons
Runs on a 9-volt battery instead of something that’s rechargeable
If you want the best in portable protection, this is it. The Vaultek LifePod 2.0 improves on the already fantastic design of the original LifePod. It’s water-resistant, floats, and airtight. Bigger than the original version but still small enough to toss in a backpack, you can now store two full-sized pistols in this portable biometric safe.
Weighing just over three pounds, it won’t draw any unnecessary attention to your bag because it seems unusually heavy. With the increased size of the LifePod 2.0, you now have the option to store any other essential EDC gear you might need in the removable tray and the interior lid organizer. Wallet, keys, knives, passport, you name it. Use the included security cable to lock the unit down someplace, like a hotel room, when it isn’t traveling with you, and rest assured that you’ve got the best portable biometric gun safe on the market.
Best for Car: Onnais Security Safe
Best for Car
Specs
Stores up to 30 finger prints
Includes key and numeric backups
Steel cable to secure in a vehicle
Pros
Simple, compact design
Portable for use outside a vehicle
Affordable
Cons
Only enough room for two handguns
For anyone who spends a lot of time on the road, or simply for that cross-country camping trip, it’s equally important to keep your firearms secure. This simple safe will do it while simultaneously offering quick and easy access in the unfortunate event you need to use it. It stores up to 30 fingerprints, so everyone who can use a gun is covered to use it. Use the included heavy steel cable to securely lock this one down to your car seat or some other part of an RV. Most smash-and-grab thieves aren’t going to take the time to try and cut it loose. This safe also includes two backup entry methods in the form of keys and a five-digit numeric keypad to ensure you are never locked out of access.
What to Consider When Choosing a Biometric Gun Safe
Just like trying to choose one of the more traditional gun safes, the process of buying a biometric gun safe can also be daunting because of the myriad options on the market. Obviously, the final decision is up to you, but here are some of the things you should think about before buying a biometric gun safe:
Storage Needs
How many guns and accessories do you plan on keeping in this safe? Is it just for a nightstand gun and therefore only needs to hold one gun and a spare magazine? Or are you looking to store multiple guns—even including rifles and shotguns—and use it as your primary safe?
Size and Weight
Is this biometric gun safe going to be mobile? That is, will it be going with you from place to place? If so, you want to make sure that you’re balancing the storage needs with the size and weight of the unit when it comes to portability concerns.
Backup Entry
Technology is great, but it’s also fallible. You absolutely need a backup way to get into your safe should the biometric option be unavailable. It could be because the power source has failed, or perhaps your hands are dirty and the sensor is unable to read your prints. Regardless of the reason for the failure, you have to be able to get into the safe via a secondary option.
Price
Money is always on everyone’s mind, especially when it comes to gun safes. Typically, a gun safe of any kind and size is viewed as an investment, and you want to get the best return from your initial investment. It’s important to remember, though, that a higher price doesn’t always equal higher quality. Obviously, the size of the safe plays a big role in its cost, so be sure you know what your storage needs are before committing to a purchase. (Go back and read the first bullet point again!)
If you decide that a more traditional safe is right for you, take a look at our roundup of best gun safes
. And remember, gun safety is everyone’s responsibility. Review our gun safety rules
, as well the National Shooting Sports Foundation’s guidelines
.
FAQs
Q: Are fingerprint safes reliable?
Yes, fingerprint safes are reliable. Thousands of people use them each and every day, trusting their lives to the fingerprint safe’s reliability. The technology is very good and it works exactly as it should—most of the time. Technology can and will fail, just like anything. That’s why fingerprint safes have reliable backup entry methods to ensure that you’re never completely locked out of your safe. Of course, that’s a worst-case scenario and it is something that only happens very rarely. For the vast majority of gun owners, they will never have an issue with their fingerprint safe for the entire time they use it.
Q: How much does a biometric gun safe cost?
The cost of a biometric gun safe varies widely depending on the exact make and model and what kind of features it offers. They can be had for as little as a couple of hundred bucks or as much as a few thousand dollars. Your budget is the only limit to what kind of biometric gun safe you can get.
Q: Are biometric gun safes worth it?
This is a very subjective question, but in general, yes, biometric gun safes are worth it. They provide the best of both worlds when it comes to gun safety: peace of mind knowing that unauthorized persons can’t get to your guns, balanced with the fact that you as the gun owner can get to your guns in an instant due to the biometric technology. Plus, with the different varieties of backup entry, you don’t have to worry about being locked out from your guns should the technology fail at a crucial moment.
Best Biometric Gun Safes: Final Thoughts
Best Overall: Vaultek DS2i Smart Station
Best for Rifles: Vaultek RS500i
Best Budget: SentrySafe Quick Access Gun Safe
Best Portable: Vaultek LifePod 2.0
Best for Car: Onnais Security Safe
Biometric gun safes are more than just a cool gimmick. For anyone interested in defense, they are the fastest way possible to access your firearms in an emergency. The whole idea behind these safes is that you aren’t fumbling around with keys or a combination. You get instant access with the touch of a finger.
The Vultek DS2i Smart Station was an obvious choice for best overall in that regard because it unobtrusively hides a handgun in plain sight next to a bedside table in case something goes bump in the night. The fact that it will charge your phone and tell the time is just some bonus functionality while keeping your firearms secure from children and thieves.
Why Trust Us
For more than 125 years, Field & Stream has been providing readers with honest and authentic coverage of outdoor gear. Our writers and editors eat, sleep, and breathe the outdoors, and that passion comes through in our product reviews. You can count on F&S to keep you up to date on the best new gear. And when we write about a product—whether it’s a bass lure or a backpack—we cover the good and the bad, so you know exactly what to expect before you decide to make a purchase.
