This is our best fingerprint Padlock review. With so many of our modern appliances being connected via the internet, it almost seems quaint to have a product like a fingerprint lock that doesn’t need anything more than a fingerprint. Yet, these locks are just that simple. Many brands allow you to create multiple fingerprint files, so you can give access to everyone in the whole family. Or everyone in the band, or on the swim team, etc.
Our Top Picks:
- Our Top Pick For Indoors – MEGAFEIS Smart Padlock available on Amazon
- Runner Up Pick For Indoors – Pothunder Smart Padlock available on Amazon
- Top Pick For Outside Use – Prezlock Smart Padlock available on Walmart and Amazon
- Runner Up Pick For Outside Use – Master Lock Smart Padlock available on Walmart and Amazon
- Honorable Mention – eGeeTouch Smart Padlock available on Walmart and Amazon
But, as with most things in life, “smart” padlocks have their good features and they’re not so good features. There can be a great level of convenience when you don’t have to worry about forgetting a combination or fumble for a key. Just using your finger or an app on your smartphone to open the lock can be quicker and easier and maybe even safer since you don’t have to potentially stand outside a building trying to get a lock open.
But there are factors you’ll need to know and keep in mind. While these types of locks provide a great alternative to more traditional style locks, they have their cons too.
In our review of the best fingerprint padlocks, we’ll show you are 5 top picks and the pros and cons of each. By the end of our review, you should be ready to determine which lock will work best for your application.
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Table Of Contents
- The Best Fingerprint Padlock
- Our Top Pick For Indoors – MEGAFEIS Smart Padlock
- Runner Up Pick For Indoors – Pothunder Smart Padlock
- Top Pick For Outside Use – Prezlock Smart Padlock
- Runner Up Pick For Outside Use – Master Lock Smart Padlock
- Honorable Mention – eGeeTouch Smart Padlock
- Our Buying Guide
- The Bottom Line
The Best Fingerprint Padlock?
There are different sizes, features and uses for the many types of smart locks on the market today. Here is our top picks for each category of smart padlock as well as the good and bad about that particular lock.
Top Pick For Indoors – MEGAFEIS Smart Padlock
Available on Amazon
The MEGAFEIS Smart Padlock is our top pick for use indoors and at school or a gym lockers because it uses a biometric fingerprint scanner to unlock it. You can, if you’re able to use your phone during school hours, use the MEGAFEIS app on your phone to confirm your identity. It’s also relatively inexpensive to purchase.
PROS
- The battery life is very long and can potentially last as long as 6 months or 2,500 unlocks.
- IT’s a small, and not very heavy so you can easily carry it with you
- Charges via a standard USB charger
- Useful tutorial video no how to set up fingerprints via the app
- Can support multiple fingerprints
- CONS
- Some users report that the scanner doesn’t work well when hands are dirty or wet
- No form of backup like a key. So if your lock battery dies, you can access your locker
Overall Thoughts On The MEGAFEIS Smart Padlock
The MEGAFEIS smart padlock is a good choice when an indoor smart lock is needed. It’s fast and easy to open which is why we think it’s good in school applications when time between classes is limited. Our concern is with charging. This may not be an easy thing to do with a school or gym locker.
\Runner Up Pick For Indoors – Pothunder Smart Padlock
Available on Amazon
The Pothunder Fingerprint Padlock is our runner up for an indoor / school smart padlock. Similar in size and as high quality as Megafeis, the Pothunder padlock has more options to unlock and lock it. Pothunder allows you to use either your finger or your linked smartphone app. It’s also similar in battery life – as much as 6 months or 2,000 unlocks (slightly fewer).
PROS
- Ability to unlock with your finger or phone
- USB for charging
- Multiple color options
- CONS
- Only supports 15 fingerprints
- Some user complain battery life varies greatly
- App is reliant on a good connection
- Reports of difficulty with app: crashes often, hard to register
Overall Thoughts On The Pothunder Smart Padlock
The Pothunder Smart Padlock is a good option for indoor use. It offers fewer fingerprint records, which for most people won’t be that big of an issue. We like that it has an app backup so you can open it remotely if needed. May not be quite as reliable based on our research as the MEGAFEIS smart fingerprint padlock above.
Top Pick For Outdoor Use The Prezlock Fingerprint Padlock With Key Backup
Available on Walmart and Amazon
The Prezlock Fingerprint Padlock with backup is our top overall pick for outdoor use. It’s water and rust resistant and durably built. It uses a fingerprint, of course, for it’s primary unlocking method but also has an included key for another layer of dependability.
PROS
- You don’t need to use your phone, so you don’t have to worry about a signal
- You have a key for backup opening which is a really smart design
- Made of durably metal alloy with a hardened boron steel shackle.
- The lock comes with a Double Ball Roller locking mechanism
- USB C Charging
CONS
- No low battery warning light
- Some users complained of fast battery drain
- Some people claimed to have issues with the reliability of the fingerprint scanner
Overall Thoughts On the Prezlock Fingerprint Padlock
The Prezlock is top notch in its weather and rust resistance as well as it’s sturdy build. What we have concerns on, though, is the short life of the battery and the possible issues with the scanning mechanism. The backup key is a great back up though.
Runner Up Pick For Outside Use – Master Lock Smart Padlock
Available on Walmart and Amazon
The Master Lock Padlock is in a tie for the best lock for outside use. It comes with it’s Master Lock Vault Home app which provides remote locking and added functionality. Built for harsh weather and with two different app options for locking or unlocking, it provides a lot of feature in this price range.
PROS
- Several unlocking methods available
- The 4401 series battery can last up to 5 years
- With WiFi you can remotely unlock the padlock from virtually anywhere
- If the main battery dies, you can use a 9 volt batter and essentially jump start the lock
Cons
- Again, complaints of batteries that drain too quickly
- Some issues with the app crashing
Overall Thoughts On the Master Lock Smart Padlock
Master Lock is one of the best known names when it comes to padlocks. This company has built a long reputation on making quality locks. This lock is no different. Built to last for many years and to withstand harsh weather conditions this is a good lock to use outside to protect your property. But, as with all smart locks, it’s prone to potential problems both with app reliability as well as battery unpredictability.
Honorable Mention – eGeeTouch Smart Padlock
Available on Walmart and Amazon
This 4th generation smart padlock comes with an option for use inside. Heavy duty metal body combined with several options for unlocking the lock, it even has NFC key fobs, makes this a great alternative to the other locks mentioned. However, use caution if considering this for outdoor use as it has had some reported issues with extremely cold or wet conditions. If it’s being used outside but in a slightly protected area, these issues shouldn’t be a problem. But if you’re planning on using it where it won’t have any shelter from extreme cold or rain, it might not be your best choice for outdoor use.
PROS
- You can use up to 20 key fobs – perfect if you’re using it for securing a building that many people need to be able to access
- Up to 7,000 lock and unlock cycles per a single battery charge
CONS
- Can be susceptible to failure if exposed to too extreme weather conditions
- Users have reported diminished battery life in extreme weather conditions.
- Some may have privacy concerns with the geolocation requirement for app use
Overall Thought On the eGeeTouch Smart Padlock
A great option for indoor use, but be careful if you want to use it outside. In more temperate areas, or areas where the lock will be somewhat sheltered from extreme cold and wet conditions, it works well. But if you want to use it in an area where it will be exposed to a lot of rain or snow and/ or really cold temperatures it may not be the best option. It is good, though, from the standpoint that up to 20 people can have a key fob and open the lock. This is a great feature if you have a large crew that needs to access a storage building, for example.
Our Buying Guide
A smart lock can be a great way to keep your belongings and property secure. It offer convenience and even remote access which can be very helpful in some situations. But, it’s not a perfect solution.
Here are a few things to keep in mind when looking for the best fingerprint padlock:
Battery Life: Since charging these locks is challenging: it’s easy from the standpoint you can just hook the lock up to the included USB cable, but if your lock is on a locker at school or on a storage building, having something to charge the lock with is not always going to be easy. That’s why you should take into consideration the battery life before you purchase a lock.
Durability for Outdoors:
If you’ll be using your lock indoors, this obviously isn’t a big issue. However, using a lock outdoors, especially in an unprotected location where it will be exposed to wind, rain and extreme temperatures, requires a lock that is built to withstand those extremes. Hardened construction materials will be the difference between a dependable lock and a lock that doesn’t do it’s job and gets turned into a paperweight.
Locking / Unlocking Methods:
Another consideration is how the lock operates. Some locks above use only a fingerprint while others require an app to lock or unlock. For example, with the Prezlock we reviewed above you just need your fingerprint. But with other padlocks such as the Megafeis you need to scan your fingerprint while connected to the app via Bluetooth. The Pothunder lock can be used both ways, with your fingerprint or using the app with Bluetooth.
When considering what lock to get, make note of the type of unlocking method. If you’re relying on a Bluetooth or Wi-Fi style locking mechanism, make sure you’ll have good reception where ever you choose to use the lock.
Biometric Padlock With Key Override
This is the ultimate in security. Biometric padlocks are great. You don’t need to worry about forgetting the combination. However, the big question is what happens if it stops working? Will I have to resort to cutting the lock to get into my shed or retrieve my belongings from a locker? In most cases, yes, you may have to do exactly that if your fingerprint lock stops working.
But, if you have a biometric padlock with a key override, you are set. You get the best of both worlds: the ease of using your fingerprint to unlock your lock and the peace of mind of having an alternative method of opening your lock if it stops functioning.
Advantages of A Biometric Fingerprint Padlock
Ease of use. No keys or combinations to keep track of.
No worry about losing the keys or combination and having to cut the lock off altogether
Tracking who is accessing the lock
Grand access to as many people as needed. Some locks allow you to add up to 100 unique fingerprint files
FAQ’s
How Expensive Are Fingerprint Padlocks?
Well, it depends on the features you want. Some are fairly pricey, while others are less expensive. For the most part, these biometric padlock with key backup locks will cost more. There are a lot of options available so there is a price range that can go up to $100+ but the average is probably around $50.
How Safe Are Smart Padlocks?
They are very safe, it some ways safer than a traditional combination lock where you might be tempted to write the combination down somewhere to remember it, or a key lock where the key can get lost. Most smart padlocks comes with multiple layers of security beyond just your fingerprint, features such as random PIN creation, along with smartphone apps.
Which Fingerprint Padlock Is Best?
That depends on a few features such as:
- Where will you be using the lock, inside or outside? If outside, you’ll need a lock that can withstand the harsh outdoor elements.
- On the other hand, if you’re using your lock inside, these locks work great. Many of them come with backup keys, phone apps, and other ways to lock and unlock the padlock remotely.
- Also, you can provide multiple users the access codes so if you have a crew that needs to access supplies or a shed, this is a good option.
What Are Some Disadvantages of Fingerprint Padlocks?
The biggest potential disadvantage to these types of locks is if you want to use them outside. Outside locks are made to be weatherproof, but even that may not be enough to protect it from extreme cold or wet conditions. Even in an outdoor environment though, you can potentially use a fingerprint padlock.
It really all comes down to location. If you live in and extremely cold or rainy climate and the lock will be on an outside door with no roof overhand and no cover, this probably isn’t a great option for you. But, if you live in a milder climate and / or the lock will be tucked away from the worst of the weather or will have a protective cover, it is a great option. Especially, like I said above, if you need a lock that can be used my multiple people. Some of these fingerprint padlocks allows as many as 100 unique users.
The Best Fingerprint Padlock Review – The Bottom Line
Smart locks are great – they are easy to unlock, no keys needed or combinations to remember. But, they also have some drawbacks. No matter how good the brand of lock, some may have issues with battery life. And those that rely on a smartphone app to open are dependent on you having a good connection with your phone.
The ideal place to use a smart lock, in our opinion, is in an indoor location, or a very well protected outdoor location that isn’t exposed to a lot of rain or really extreme temperatures.
Utilizing this innovative technology can provide great benefits, as long as you are familiar with the potential downsides, and actively work around them (not using your fingerprint lock in the rain, for example) you benefit from the ease of use and avoid the potential problems.
Our Top Picks:
- Our Top Pick For Indoors – MEGAFEIS Smart Padlock available on Amazon
- Runner Up Pick For Indoors – Pothunder Smart Padlock available on Amazon
- Top Pick For Outside Use – Prezlock Smart Padlock available on Walmart and Amazon
- Runner Up Pick For Outside Use – Master Lock Smart Padlock available on Walmart and Amazon
- Honorable Mention – eGeeTouch Smart Padlock available on Walmart and Amazon