If you need a reliable bedside safe for your handguns, I'm here to help you make the best choice on your next purchase. I tested and ranked the 10 most popular options for the money.
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 Biometric Safe with an Auto-Open Lid
Top-rated: 1,714 ratings | 259 answered questions
Credit: Amazon.com
Highlight: Easily portable. EXTERIOR DIMENSIONS: 11.5” x 9” x 2.625”. INTERIOR DIMENSIONS: 11” x 5.75” x 2".
Helpful review: "I found this safe after seeing it on Hickok45's YouTube channel. I was looking for a quick access safe, as we have an 8-month old daughter now who's starting to crawl and attempting to stand on her own. So we can't just leave our firearms out any longer.
Originally I was considering the SpeedVault Biometric, but then I saw this one which isn't bulky and heavy, and (unlike the SpeedVault) doesn't have to be fastened to something.
One feature immediately different is that this Vaultek, in addition to its fingerprint reader, has also a keypad, Bluetooth and keyed entry, where the SpeedVault (and many others) remove one of those options when they go biometric. It was important to have another option other than just the fingerprint reader, in case it were to fail in an emergency. That's why this one fit the bill.
It also allows you to store 2 administrators and 20 unique fingerprints in the safe biometric memory. I like that it's practically silent when opening, where others make a loud clank. I also love the inside LED light feature, whose brightness can be adjusted via the Vaultek Apple/Android app.
You can also use the app for other features, such as opening the safe, tamper alerts, fingerprint management, complete history log, and battery usage indicator, all via Bluetooth from the unit.
The unit itself still has ways to show most of these, but it's nice having the app on the phone. I bought the black unit because it blends in well almost anywhere, but they also offer white and camouflage, as well as some other colors. The safe comes with everything you need including the lithium ion battery, charger, cable that plugs into the side of the unit, mounting screws, security cable, screwdriver, etc...
Since my intention in purchasing a quick access vault/safe is not only to have it quickly accessed, but also to prevent our daughter or visitors to our home (including children), this is by far the best option on the market. I have nothing negative to say about it at this time. Even the packaging and presentation were super nice.
So, if you want a quick access nightstand safe, which can also perform as a travel safe, to keep guns or other valuables locked up but accessible, I'd highly recommend this one. Really guys, if you're leaving your guns sitting around the house or in/on your nightstand, this is what you need." — Aaron & Breane Dooley
Get it from Amazon now: $269.99 & FREE Returns
3. ONNAIS Biometric Pistol Safe with Large 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 Slider Safe with Rechargeable Li-ion 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.
MY NEIGHBOR'S REVIEW:
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, heavy and well-made.
The online instructions were better than the print, which had some errors. Even so, it didn't take very long to set up. I have to be a little careful putting my Taurus PT 92 in (with Pacmayr grips) because if the gun isn't sitting just right, it will cause the door to jam. Very happy with this purchase!
Just installed this safe in my truck with Vaultek's car mount kit. It wasn't an easy install and required several modifications, and it's not as sturdy as it could be as I had to put in two large spacers underneath the seat-bolt. The safe works great though and today my third slider safe is being delivered. I'm looking forward to having all three set up" — Curtis Campbell
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. Hornady RAPiD Night Guard - RFiD Wristband
Top-rated: 562 ratings | 112 answered questions
Credit: Amazon.com
Highlight: Made from 14-gauge steel.
Helpful review: "All the features of the safe itself are really great. I thought it was odd that the instructions say several times not to store a loaded firearm in it. Uh... Really?
RFID:
It's very easy to program the RFID keys, though it didn't come with a rubber wristband as advertised. It did come with a rubber sleeve that you can put on your own watch band. It also comes with 2 stick-on hard "chips" that remind me of the center part of a poker chip. A little thicker than a credit card, but hard and inflexible. You're supposed to stick them onto the back of your cell phone. This won't work for me because I have a skin on my phone and my phone chargers are wireless. It also has a tear-drop shaped tag for your key ring. So 4 total RFID "keys".
FEATURES:
It's really easy to program the time. And the spring is strong, so when you operate the drawer, it pops open enough to grab and go. It's so strong, that the unit moves if there is not enough friction on the surface you have it set on. So naturally, I don't want to be constantly re-adjusting the unit, so I took advantage of the mounting holes on the bottom.
ISSUES:
Here is where my problem comes in. I just wanted to run a couple of wood screws down into my nightstand. There's no template provided, so you have to make your own. Time-waster. Then you drill out the pilot holes and hope for the best. There's no room at all inside if you have big meaty hands like I do. It was very hard to screw from inside the unit. I could have drilled and run the bolts from underneath, but then my drawer wouldn't operate. And I'm not trying to secure it from being stolen, that's what the cable that comes with it is for. I just want to anchor it so it doesn't move every time I use it.
ALL IN ALL:
The security "leash" cable is nice and will allow you to secure the unit to your bed frame or whatever, but it's not quite long enough. You'd think that since they went to all the trouble of making it look like a clock radio, it could actually be... oh I don't know... A clock radio? An alarm clock? Do I have to do everything myself? LOL.
HOWEVER, HERE’S MY NEIGHBOR’S REVIEW:
I placed my order on Sunday and it arrived Monday afternoon!! This product is fairly heavy and very sturdy. It was easy to set up. 9you need 3 AAA batteries.) There are 5 ways to access it and I was able to activate all of them quite quickly. The only way to get into this safe is via one of those accesses. I tried using other items to open the drawer but nothing worked and that was very reassuring to me. The numbers on the clock are very bright red, I hope to try to dim them somehow. As of this moment, I would recommend this seller and this product.
AND A FEW WORDS FROM A FRIEND:
I am very impressed with this safe. I know that there is a different vendor that offers similar protection. But the fact that this offers a clock similar to an alarm clock or even a DVD player or some other type of electronic device. I have had people in the room who did not know that the clock was a safe for my weapons. I was able to put a compact 9mm and 22 compact in the vault with 2 mags each and some assorted papers. I am very impressed with the options that they provide to include for use, a key fob, and combo electronically accessible or a barrel key. Setting the combo was a bit confusing for me but apparently following the directions is not confusing." — Christopher A. Phillips
Get it from Amazon now: $250.30 & FREE Returns
7. AINIRO Biometric Gun Safe for Pistols
Top-rated: 825 ratings | 92 answered questions
Credit: Amazon.com
Highlight: Comes with a fireproof documents bag.
Helpful review: "Really impressed with what has been included and built for this price point. This safe has the ability to hold TWO full size pistols with some room still for extra smaller stuff, was not expecting that but it was a very nice surprise. Interior is padded well to keep your valuables safe and fit and finish is what you would expect for a product of this build. Works perfectly for what I need it to do. Packaging was solid, secure and very detailed instructions were included. This might have been the easiest safe to program and get my fingerprints entered. Entire process only took a few minutes and the fingerprint response time have been 100% accurate and FAST. Overall, this is a solid built safe with minimum gaps for resisting quick prying. Decent thickness in metal or a safe of this size and comes with 2 keys. Internal spring for opening the lid is snappy and feels solid open and closed. Inside has ample room for my Comped P10c and Sp01 leaving some room on the sides and about 1" of room on top for any mags or other items. Using and setting the pin was a breeze and one of the fastest to set up. The biometric fingerprint works great. You can put this under a night stand, end table, car or just about anywhere. Get it." — M.T.
Trending review: "I received the Ainiro safe. The safe was packaged nicely. It was wrapped in foam and then inserted into a foam case. Everything was neatly packed inside the safe. I read through the instructions and set up the code as well as the finger print. It was straight forward and was a really simple task. You are able to store 1 code, however you can store many fingerprints. I ended up mounting the safe inside of a night table next to my bed. I would recommend this safe to any family, friends or anyone looking for a mid level secured safe. 10/10 box and packaging 10/10 set up 10/10 quality of product. Thanks!" — George Bao
Reassuring review: "I'm impressed. Great price point and value. Fingerprint reader has never failed to open the box (dry hands or wet). I use this in a night stand. I have saved my thumb & fore finger on both hands and my wife's fore finger print...there is still a lot of memory left for other prints if desired. Not sure how long it would take to access with a crow bar, but I'm more concerned with immediate access for me and keeping little people away from a .357. And it does that very well." — JWM
Most-discussed review: "Fits a Glock 19 with Surefire X300 in a T.Rex Arms sidecar 2.0 perfectly (I imagine the 1.0 wouldn’t fit because it doesn’t have the hinge that allows it to fold a little)! I love that there are multiple ways to access the safe, but the rfid card is my favorite; the finger print reader is pretty solid but sometimes doesn’t work if your fingers are dirty. Also the safe has voice prompts such as “validation failed” which I’m not a huge fan of, but it’s a fairly minor issue. Overall it’s a great little safe for the money, and I’d recommend it as compact travel safe, car safe, or even night stand safe to store your carry gun." — Matthew Q.
Favorite review: "This safe is surprisingly good for the price. Couldn’t ask for more. Excellent size! Compact enough for a bedside drawer and still enough room for a compact and subcompact pistol. My first biometric safe and the finger print scanner works better than some of the more expensive biometric safes I’ve tried. Also love that there is a silent mode for the number pad. Overall great quality safe that allows you to keep your pistol next to you at night while keeping small children out. Love it!" — DerekBoro
Get it from Amazon now: $129.99 & FREE Returns
8. HOLEWOR Portable Safe for Handguns
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
9. KAER Biometric Fingerprint Safe For Extra-Quick Access
Top-rated: 312 ratings | 28 answered questions
Credit: Amazon.com
Highlight: In addition to the biometric option, you have a keypad lock and 2 spare keys to ensure you always have access to your firearm.
Helpful review: "If you have young children in your home and you also own a gun, you need a safe like this one from Kaer to ensure that your children won't accidentally pick up your gun. Although this safe is ideal for storing a handgun, you could also use it to store other small weapons or even valuables such as jewelry or documents. It is very heavy and sturdy, but also very thin. Because of this, you could carry it in your car and hide it under your seat if you choose. But most people would probably keep this next to their bed or maybe in a drawer in a nightstand. If you're using it to store a handgun, you want to be sure it is close to you while you're sleeping at night, so that if your family is in danger you can quickly access it. There are 3 ways to open the safe. You can use your fingerprint, which is the best way if you need to open it in the dark. You can also use the keypad, by programming a number that you can remember. The last way is to use one of the 2 keys that are included with the safe. Since this would be an easy way for a child to open it, I suggest that you hide the keys somewhere far away from the safe and only use the keys if the other 2 methods are not working for some reason. The safe requires 4 AA batteries to power the fingerprint and keypad locks, so be sure to test it often so you know when the batteries need to be replaced." — Ernest Stalnaker
Trending review: "A solid built gun safe with minimum gaps for resisting quick prying. Pretty thick metal for a small safe such as this. Comes with 2 keys for the lock. With these types of keys, makes the safe pick resistant (not pick proof). Has an internal hinge and gas shock for raising the lid. Take caution and the lids springs open and the edges are sharp and pointed. Inside has ample room for a Glock 43 (9mm), Glock 33 (.357 sig) leaving about 2ins on each side and on top (with the mag about 1/2in from the bottom. A full size Springfield Arms .357 fits nicely. Comes with egg crate foam cushion to protect from scratches. There's also a light inside that's helps in the dark. Using and setting the pin was a breeze and you can also silence the beeps. The biometric fingerprint works but wasn't working on a consistent basis for me, so I'll stick with the pin. You can put this under a night stand, end table, coffee table or just about anywhere. There are 2 holes on the bottom for mounting. A great option to locking up your firearm keeping in from ending up in the wrong hands." — Stuart R.
Get it from Amazon now: $89.99 & FREE Returns
10. MAXSafes Auto-Open Gun Safety Device for 2 Guns
Top-rated: 299 ratings
Credit: Amazon.com
Highlight: Quick access using the rapid backlit keypad, spare key or biometric fingerprint scanner.
Helpful review: "The MAXSafes Pro biometrics vein recognition lock handgun safe has proven to be a high-quality gun safe that is exactly as advertised. It operates faultlessly. I am impressed with the vein recognition lock; it is quick and easy. It is failsafe as long as you follow the directions; put your finger in all the way and down flat, not bent or on its side. The button and manual key lock also work as stated. The quality is top-notch, and the finish rugged and looks excellent, and it is well built and sturdy. I have had it going on a month and it has worked flawlessly. I commented on their website similar to the above info and added I would have liked a Security Cable included and they replied back that they were sending me one. I'm glad I disregarded the few negative comments as operator error or worse. And the shipping was quicker than I expected. I recommend this company and their product very highly. Look no further, you won't be disappointed." — R.B.
Trending review: "I use this to keep my S&W M&P9 2.0 with light and red dot and one magazine. Plenty of room. The key access works great and the code is easy to set. The fingerprint reader works well but you must position your finger exactly the same every time which means it will not unlock unless the your finger position is the same as when you set it. I would recommend this safe for gun owners." — D. Porrey
Reassuring review: "This is a great little pistol safe, among the best available in my research. It seems far more reliable than finger print access safes, but you can’t count on it 100% of the time. Sometimes it will repeatedly reject the same finger inserted in the same way. That can still be acceptable if you have set up a numeric code as back up that you can insert quickly - if vein recognition fails. The safe is rugged, roomy and looks good. It has screw holes on the bottom to affix to anything sturdy. Customer service from the seller is outstanding and they try to help and do the right thing." — Dr. Jay
Most-discussed review: "I ordered the MAXSafes' Gun Safe with Super Biometric Finger Vein Recognition and there was an issue with the lid coming open too fast and hard. The safe quality, and associated features were and are outstanding. I reached out and was able to get a replacement (because of the opening lid / top opening to fast and hard) and it was delivered to our home in two days. The replacement safe worked like a charm to include the opening of the lid / top. We love this safe and intend to by more for jewelry etc.. We will also upgrade to bigger safe from MAXSafes once out gun collection grows. Great quality, great price, and a lifetime warranty equals me coming back time and time again when I need a great and outstanding gun safe to meet our needs." — C.C.
Favorite review: "My dad always had a pistol gun safe/vault with a fingerprint reader, but just like my old fingerprint logon laptop, it’s finicky. Any new scrapes, dirt, etc. or if it’s not *perfectly* aligned, you’re swiping your finger over and over and getting locked out. When it comes to accessing a gun, reliability’s important. I’ve wanted to get some kind of mini safe for a while, but have been waiting for a better keyless entry method. Vein recognition technology intrigued me, and since it has PIN and key access as well, I figured I’d try it out. It was easy enough to configure with the quick start guide. It opens quickly and reliably, with a hydraulic shock lift. Since the marketing materials claim it works with damaged skin, debris, water, etc. I made sure to try it out. My guns aren’t safe queens, they’re handled rough and put through the paces. Any piece of hardware I get relating to my guns needs to be as durable. Dunked my finger in water, dragged it in dirt, and tried it multiple times each way – worked every time. As long as you put your finger in straight and hold it down against the surface, it seems like it will definitely function in adverse conditions. Function’s what it’s all about, but the form is also fantastic. Love the rugged yet professional look. Even the box it comes in gives off a high-end feel." — Brown L.
Updated review: "This safe works perfect! It is much heavier than other handgun safes in this size and price range. Someone complained in reviews that the vein recognition does not work sometimes, I think they may use it like traditional biometric fingerprint safe. Actually, if one reads the instructions, it is called Finger Vein Recognition. We should make sure to put our finger all the way into the scanner, never bend or twist during scanning process. You also can set up a six digit code, and 2 keys are provided that will open the box. When you open the box a nice blue light illuminates for about 30 seconds. Great value, supreme quality. I love it." — Jay Austin
Get it from Amazon now: $119.99 & FREE Returns
11. BILLCONCH Biometric Gun Safe for 2 Pistols
Top-rated: 1,706 ratings | 143 answered questions
Credit: Amazon.com
Highlight: Top of the line biometric chips and Bluetooth capability. Ideal for pistols, cash and other valuable items.
Helpful review: "I purchased this gun safe after hearing about another accident on the news involving a child and a loaded gun. I feel like you hear about these news stories multiple times a year and this is a completely avoidable accident. I have a plastic gun case with a lock that was given with my gun when I bought it but I decided I wanted something a little more heavy duty. I let my fingers do some research on Google and this is the gun safe I ended up purchasing. I personally like the size a lot. I store two guns in mine but it’s perfect for just one as well. It’s a great size to keep on a shelf or under a bed. As with most things , as long as you read the directions , set up is easy. I also followed some of the notes on the Amazon product page itself to make sure I did it 100 % correct the first time. Of course, there is a regular key should you need it. Now the fingerprint scanner is waaaaaayyyy more fun than the key though so if you like James Bond as much as I do or your techy then this added feature will be just as attractive to you as it was to me. The case is jet black and very sleek looking. This is a great option for securing one or two guns and I really enjoyed the extra safety feature of the finger print scanner and app. I also feel like for such a high tech useful gun safe it’s very affordable." — Katie
Trending review: "Got this safe for a sub compact gun that I have, as we all know one gun leads to another and another where I ended up with 2 full size handgun both 5” barrel pistols and they fit inside the box even though it says it can only fit 2 small guns but clearly not the case. Glad it’s still able to serve its purpose and keep my guns safe from my little kids, it is kinda heavy and no handles or easy way of picking it up for kids. Plus the weight of loaded guns is almost impossible for a little kid to pick up and drop. The light is bright enough although if you have 2 guns like I do one of the guns does block some light but none the less you’ll still be able to make out your guns at night. The fingerprint scanner works well hasn’t acted dumb and denied my thumbprint. Love that you get 4 options of opening your safe although 99% of the time I just press my thumb on the pad and opens. Make sure you reset the number code and the fingerprint code, it’ll accept any finger print from the factory unless you reset it and put in your finger print. For those of you like myself who choose to skip through the manual. I like it, it is serving it’s purpose and for now this safe will do but I will be needing something bigger in a few months." — L.Y.
Reassuring review: "This safe fits perfectly in a standard bedside drawer and has plenty of room for one full size handgun or two compacts. [Glock 19 fits for me easily] It can be opened directly with a swipe via the app or you can use the app to set the amount of prints you want for the fingerprint reader. I recommend watching the setup video on youtube for this and then uploading the app before you setup to make it easier and trouble free. Total time to load app, set prints, and have it gun ready is about 10 minutes. If you are the primary for this my protip would be to pick your dominant thumb and take prints from different angles (register as users up to 32) so that it will always recognize. I found that when it was in the drawer the angle I would place my thumb wouldn't register to open due to the different angle to access. [I did an extra print of my thumb upside down to correct this.] Shipped on time and is as shown in the pics. Blue interior light is great for seeing contents at night. Uses rechargeable battery and the charge left shows on the app as well so you will never try to open a dead battery box which invariably will happen when you don't need it to. For the amount of features to price I don't believe there is a safe out there that can beat this." — Rico Petrini
Most-discussed review: "Definitely a good quality safe! Can easily hold a couple firearms or personal belongings/value items. The pin code access with the fingerprint reader work flawlessly and are very simple to setup following the instructions. Doesn’t take long at all for the box to unlock which is great! Also pretty impressed by the app and reliability of it, haven’t had any issues (you can unlock the safe from the app). The LED light on the inside is bright enough to light up the box to see what you’re accessing at night, so far the battery seems to be holding up pretty well too! For the price, you can’t go wrong, you’re really getting a good quality safe that’s a must when you need to secure your firearms in the house due to children. Couldn’t be more pleased with this purchase, thinking of getting a second one!" — Frank
Favorite review: "So I already had a small gun safe I have been using but it was not a biometric safe. It worked ok but the more I though about it, the more I realized that if I woke up in the middle of the night and needed to access it, I wasn’t sure if I was going to remember the code, or if it would be as fast as I need it to be in the dark, so I knew it was time to upgrade. This safe is strong, secure, and so easy to use. After setting up my finger print, it’s as easy as a swipe and your in. This safe has plenty of room and it’s very well built. It’s just the upgrade I needed and gets rid of any concern I had with my non biometric safe. Great buy, and if you don’t have one, get one! Especially if you have kids in the house." — Chris Martin
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12. Awesafe Gun Safe with Fingerprint Identification
Top-rated: 12,877 ratings | 14 answered questions
Credit: Amazon.com
Highlight: For added convenience, this compact gun safe is lightweight, for use whether you’re home or on the go. It's easy to conceal under car seats, in spare tire wells, between mattresses and other out-of-the-way locations.
Helpful review: "There is nothing to dislike, for me or my wife, about our two safes we just bought. Yup, we got a "his and hers" and are SO glad we did. This thing gives us the security we need, to keep our guns handy and safe from anyone else that might want to access them. I can feel good about keeping our mags loaded in the weapons and bullets chambered and still have them secured. I love the ease of access, with the fingerprint reader, which gives me instant access to our weapons. The code and backup keys are also awesome. The key feature is especially good, since batteries die, at some point, and if you don't pay attention to the low battery warning LED, and your batteries go dead, you still have access to your safes, though it will take you slightly longer to gain access to your firearms. The inside is roomy enough for my full-size pistol and a few mags. You could, also, fit a couple smaller firearms in there. It's roomy and I love the blue LED that comes on when you open it, so that you can easily see your goods inside when you have to open it in the pitch-black of night. The light is indirect, so it doesn't blind you, but gives light to the firearm so you can easily see and grab it on the fly. The keypad buttons light up when you touch them, so you can see what you're doing if you're using your keypad. I also like that the fingerprint reader allows you to set two fingerprints, per person, so that you can throw your finger up there and have it work, even if you put the thing at a different angle than you had it the night before. Anyway, great product, especially for the price and what you get. Highly recommend this for anyone looking for a bedside (or anywhere, really) handgun safe. We bought two and might have to buy more so that we can have them bolted into our vehicles, for the rare occasion we have to leave them in the vehicles." — Darren Lyda
Trending review: "Nothing to complain about with this quick-access gun safe. The materials used, the fingerprint pad, the quick opening mechanism, blue night light, foam padded interior, and size - all great!!! For me the safe fits perfectly inside of one of my desk drawers which is a huge plus. I was able to secure it in the drawer with the mounting holes located on the underside so it doesn't slide around. It's large enough for two smaller pistols but I opted to purchase a second one for another drawer so as not to clutter up each compartment. I've had my first one for over a month, and so far with many repeated openings it hasn't failed me yet. Having the fingerprint pad, key pad, and key lock is nice - but the fingerprint pad is where the counts when you need it quick. You do need to make sure you place your finger in the same spot and at the same angle each time. Practice often so you're not having to fumble with it in the event of an emergency. Only gripe is that the first safe I received opens very quietly, while the second has a bit of mechanical noise to it upon opening. It's not loud but it is noticeable compared to the first. All-in-all I would certainly recommend the safe." — Chad Weisbrodt
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13. SentrySafe Biometric Gun Safe with Interior Light
Top-rated: 4,127 ratings
Credit: Amazon.com
Highlight: Gun safe is equipped with an improved gas strut for long-lasting performance. Ideal for use as a bedside gun safe.
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