9 Best Biometric Gun Safes – Expert Guide

Firearms are hot-ticket items for burglaries because they retain value. Plus, they are easily transported, and unfortunately, can be used to commit other crimes. Roughly 75% of the yearly estimate of stolen firearms occur during burglaries. In addition, the remaining 25% occur during other property crimes. When combined with preventable firearms accidents, you have a good reason to secure your firearms.

Enter the Biometric Gun Safe

Biometric safes are pretty cool, especially if they work well. It’s best gun safe you can open with one finger, which is essential in an emergency. However, don’t distract yourself with features alone. You also need to think carefully about what kind of biometric gun safe you’re buying.

A biometric gun safe (or any gun safe) is an investment into the safety and security of yourself, your family, and your firearms. To save you the pain of going through each one, I’ve picked out my 9 favorites and outlined their features.

Best Budget Buy	RPNB Biometric Quick Access Gun Safe	Steel construction: includes a durable black rocky finish and a professional-looking design LED light indicator: for quick and accurate access Multi-access: 20 fingerprints can be set Batteries not included: bought separately	$98 Shop NowClick to read my review
	Sentry Safe QAP1BE	Affordable: $160 is a great mid-market price for this safe’s feature set Mountable: can be sensibly secured to the wall or heavy furniture for added security Multiple access: you can program 4 fingerprints, which is usually enough to cover an average sized family It’s on the smaller size: (9.7 x 6.7 x 2.2 inches for storage) which makes it suitable only for one handgun Battery operated: not uncommon but does not include rechargeable batteries or a plug; still, you can use long lasting Alkaline AA batteries.	$191 Shop NowClick to read my review
	VAULTEK VT201	Mountable: great for a drawer, wall or bedside table Steel Construction: 16 gauge and also powder coated to prevent corrosion Multiple access: store up to 20 fingerprints Reports of children gaining unauthorized access with their finger print – although unlikely, check The safe can be compromised if dropped repeatedly at an angle	$289 Shop NowClick to read my review
	GunVault Minivault GV1000C-STD	Multiple access: can program 20 fingerprints Steel construction: competitive for the price US made Battery life: standard AAs will not last long, an Alkaline alternative may yield better results	$109 Shop NowClick to read my review
	BARSKA AX11224 Biometric Safe	Mountable: includes strong mountable hardware Multiple access points: 120 different fingerprints (unlikely you’d ever need so many!) Quick entry: fingerprint scans in ~2 seconds for quick access Non-rechargeable batteries: includes a internal backup but still relies on AA batteries Limited access points: only fingerprint and emergency key	$244 Shop NowClick to read my review
	BARSKA AX11652 Large Biometric Gun Cabinet	Space: fits 3-4 rifles/long guns and various accessories and handguns Fingerprint reliability: excellent customer feedback Lightweight: for this size, it’s remarkably lightweight and can be installed with relative ease More expensive: it’s good value but it’s more on the expensive side	$629 Shop NowClick to read my review
	Viking Security VS-20BLX	Multiple handgun storage: it’s nice and roomy Removable shelf: convenient for accessories and ammo Multiple users: biometric reader can store 32 fingerprints Some reports of electronics failure: equally we have spoken to many happy customers but do your research	$159 Shop NowClick to read my review
	Awesafe Biometric Safe	Strong and sturdy: the construction for this price is excellent Internal LED lighting: nice touch for night time access Multiple users: biometric reader can store 20 fingerprints Reports of a defective latch mechanism Some reports of defective fingerprint reading (always check)	$129 Shop NowClick to read my review
	GunVault Speedvault SVB500	Fast-access design: for speed of draw, this is the most efficient design encountered Concealability: safe can be concealed creatively in a home or office environment either mounted or unmounted Warranty: 17 year limited warranty in case of defects Reports of safe being easily compromised with blunt force	$138 Shop NowClick to read my review

A biometric gun safe typically has all the features of a conventional gun safe – a set of keys, reinforced metal construction, possibly a wall mount. The difference is that you can program your fingerprint into the safe. Just scan your finger and you’re in.

The main advantage of a biometric gun safe is that you don’t need any keys to get into the safe. This can be crucial in an emergency as well as provide everyday convenience.

There is a spectrum of biometric gun safes out there, from around $120 to $600.

Most of the factors that you should consider when choosing a biometric safe follow the same lines as any regular safe. These include size, construction, and mounting, for example. You could do well to read one of our many guides on how to choose the best gun safe as background.

However, as far as biometric gun safes go, you must also consider the following other factors:

Storage

This is pretty obvious but you’ll get surprised how many people get this wrong! Before getting a gun safe, you need to answer two questions to yourself.

Firstly, most of the biometric gun safes on the market are small and designed for one or maybe two handguns and some valuables. There are larger options too and I have included the BARSKA large biometric gun cabinet which can also store multiple rifles.

Check your dimensions (this also includes any additional attachments you want to have on your gun) before you commit to buy.

Secondly, where do you want to store the biometric gun safe? Whether you want to mount it on the wall or a mobile safe for security on the go, always check your priorities.

Durability

We’ve written about this elsewhere on Sniper Country when discussing safes (for example, our best hand safe guide). You need to consider the safe’s construction.

A good safe will be made out of reinforced metal and have anti-prying features to deter unauthorized entry. Additionally, you don’t want to get locked out! Ensuring you have multiple access points may sound counter-intuitive. However, you at the very least want to have emergency key access in case the biometrics fail.

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Top 9 Biometric Gun Safes

RPNB Biometric Quick Access Gun Safe 

This safe provides security where you need it most. You can also store handguns, ammo, cash, and even your valuables there. 

With its 500 DPI semiconductor biometric fingerprint sensor, this gun safe can store up to 20 unique fingerprints. It also includes a 3.2-foot high-tensile fastening cable that you can use to secure the safe in almost any location. Additionally, the steel black rough finish and an LED light indicator for quick and simple access are also excellent touches.

For long-lasting use, the safe requires 4 AAA Alkaline batteries which the company does not include in the package. However, you can get this quick access gun safe for only $98. Yup! It’s one of the most valuable options on our list, and GGD backs it up with a one-year warranty. I don’t think you’ll be able to resist that deal!

Sentry Safe QAP1BE

For the home, you can’t do much better than this Sentry Safe at this price (around $192). It also covers a lot of bases. Moreover, Sentry built this safe for quick access, and many users keep it close to their bed, mounted to the wall, or in a drawer. In short, I like it.

The fingerprint takes about a second to respond, so no delays there. It’s also good for a domestic, low-risk situation where no one is likely to try to break into it. I’m a fan.

VAULTEK VT201

This safe’s features aren’t a million miles away from the Sentry Safe above. It’s actually a similar design, although a little smaller. However, it is more sophisticated. Instead of only being able to store 4 fingerprints, you can store up to 20. It also has a rechargeable lithium-ion battery which lasts for four months on a 2.5-hour charge reliably. Moreover, Vaultek built this safe with stronger steel (16 gauge).

It goes a step further, however. It includes a mobile application that enables you to monitor the safe. Furthemore, you can also unlock the safe remotely, review battery life, and review a log of when someone else opened the safe.

That’s not to say that anyone can connect their mobile device to your safe – you need to verify the Bluetooth pairing with your fingerprint.

GunVault Minivault GV1000C-STD

First up, this biometric gun safe is one of our cheapest (you can pick it up for around $110). It follows the same pattern – mountable, good for domestic situations, and compact. Like the VAULTEK, it can handle 20 fingerprints. However, its battery life leaves a lot to be desired. It takes AA batteries, which is a shame because, with a direct power supply, this would be a good, no thrills gun safe. Overall, it’s the perfect size for a pistol and a few mags.

BARSKA AX11224 Biometric Safe

The BARSKA is a little more on the expensive end ($245). However, it’s a trooper – it’s solidly built and weighs in significantly higher than the previous three gun safes we’ve looked at. There also have been reports of this safe surviving aggressive burglaries and even a house fire.

It’s on the larger side so you can store multiple handguns and include clips and ammo with ease. For instance, my buddy has one of these installed in his wardrobe and he hasn’t any problems. Lastly, one of my favorite features is the additional battery pack.

BARSKA AX11652 Large Biometric Gun Cabinet

This is similar to the previous BARSKA in everything but size – this is for rifle storage and has internal dimensions of 11.5 x 11.5 x 53 inches. In other words, three or four rifles (five at a push) and a handful of pistols. Moreover, it includes shelves for accessories and a 3-point steel deadbolt locking system.

It gives you space without being unreasonably heavy – at ~120 pounds you can quite easily store your guns in the upper storeys of your home. The fingerprint takes about 2-3 seconds to compute.

Viking Security VS-20BLX

Stores several pistols and features a removable shelf. Viking Security has a reputation for robust manufacturing. However, be wary of some reports of electronic failure. It ticks a lot of boxes otherwise: multiple access points, multiple fingerprints (32) and it can be bolted down. It’s not overpriced ($150) but you may be better off with some of the other alternatives listed above.

Awesafe Biometric Safe

Compares most easily to the Sentry Safe above. This is an excellent safe – it’s heavy-duty, easy to use, and very easy to set up. I particularly like the internal LED lights that automatically turn on when you open the safe. Like the Sentry, you have a keypad, physical keys, and a biometric reader. It’s fast access.

There were some customers who had problems with the spring-action of the door but customer care happily sent out replacement units. It’s a great bit of kit for the money ($129).

However, like other biometric safes, there have been reports of children gaining access with their fingerprints. Check and put it out of reach of young children.

GunVault Speedvault SVB500

The design is unique, designed to store one pistol and enable ease of access. The gun comes out semi-ready, with its grip accessible once opened. It features foam lining, an interior LED, a 9-volt battery (beats the AAs), and mounting. It fulfills the same range of features similar to others in this price range (~$120-140).

The design also enables better concealment (i.e. round the back of a bedside table, down the side of a bed frame), which will be appealing to some buyers. You can fit a handgun and a couple of extra magazines in there.

Conclusion

These biometric gun safes can offer a good degree of protection and security for your firearm. They can also give peace of mind with their ready-access design and ability to be mounted discretely in a domestic setting, particularly the bedroom.

However, it is important to remember that all gun safes can be compromised and they should not be relied upon as the primary source of security for your firearms, particularly if your main motive is to restrict their access to children.

Having said that, there are some offerings in the mid-tier price range that deliver value. Now, if you are opting for an affordable yet efficient safe. Then I recommend the RPNB Biometric Quick Access Gun Safe. Let me know what you think, whether you own any of these safes and if there’s any I’ve missed out on.

You might also like to read:

• Beginner Firearm Safety, From Safe Storage to Safe Shooting
• Choosing the best Handgun Safe in 2021
• Best Gun Safes & Cabinets