After deciding on the type, size, and price range of the safe, you will need to choose between two options: a safe with a mechanical lock or a safe with an electronic lock. Some might think that an electronic safe is the best choice in 100% of cases since it is more modern, but it is not that simple, and the choice of the lock type is influenced by several factors, not just modernity.
Each of these types of locks has its advantages and disadvantages, which will also help you make your choice.
Where do you plan to install the safe? If you plan to install the safe in a room that is not heated, is constantly or periodically cold, and has high humidity, then it is better to choose a safe with a mechanical lock. Why? Because electronics can squeak under the influence of cold and humidity, and batteries discharge much faster in the cold than in a well-heated room. Safes with a mechanical lock are much more suitable, for example, for garages and basements, as their operation is not affected by changes in temperature and humidity.
If the safe is to be installed in a well-heated room with a dusty environment, such as a carpentry workshop or a product warehouse, then the best choice would be a safe with an electronic lock, as these safes do not have a keyhole through which dust can enter the safe. (Of course, in such cases, you can alternatively choose a mechanical safe with a mechanical code lock.)
How many users will the safe have? If the safe will be used by one or two people, both a mechanical and an electronic safe are good options. Just keep in mind that if you choose a mechanical safe, you will have to carry the key with you or find a very good hiding place for it. Here you should consider that mechanical safes are available not only with keys but also with mechanical code locks.
If several people will be using the safe, then a safe with an electronic lock is a good option, as when adding a new person to the circle of users, you will only need to inform them of the code, and when excluding someone from the list of users, you will only need to change the code. It should be noted that there are also electronic safes that can be opened not with a code, but with a fingerprint scanner.
How tech-savvy are you? If the safe will be used by someone who is not very tech-savvy, then the answer is a mechanical safe with a key. By choosing a safe with a mechanical lock, you won’t have to worry about replacing batteries, remembering the code, or changing the code—you will only need to keep the key carefully and remember where it is hidden. However, the situation changes slightly if a mechanical safe with a mechanical code lock is chosen.
If remembering the code does not bother you at all and you have no issues with periodically replacing batteries, then the answer is an electronic safe. By choosing an electronic safe, you won’t have to hide the key, and you will have more opportunities to share access to the safe. Additionally, if necessary, you can simply change the code and limit access to the safe to one person.
We hope this article will significantly ease your choice!