Owning a gun gives you a sense of security for you and your family. However, it also comes with a big responsibility - how to keep it safe from the wrong hands!
If you’re here, you’re looking for a safe that protects your guns from unauthorized use, fire, and burglary that doesn’t break the budget. While there are always compromises when saving money, we’ll review and survey the best options under $500.
Here's a quick overview of top 10 best gun safes under 500:
Best Quick-Access Safe | Pros | Cons | Rating | Price |
Verifi Smart.Safe. S6000 Biometric Gun Safe | - Highly-responsive fingerprint scanner for easy access - Auto-lock feature - Comes with LED night light - Can save up to 40 fingerprints - FSD approved | - A little bit noisy when accessed - The interior of the safe is not padded | 4.6/5 | $325 |
V-Line Quick Access Keyless Long Gun Safe | - SIMPLEX push button mechanical lock feature - Designed with two additional locks - No need for batteries - Clamshell design is pry-resistant - Lightweight for easy mounting - Comes with pre-drilled holes for easy anchoring | - Lightweight, anchoring the safe is critical | 4.5/5 | $392.20 |
Best for Renters | Pros | Cons | Rating | Price |
Snapsafe Under Bed Safe 75400 | - Features both manual and digital access - Comes with a sturdy 5-foot cable - Designed with a large slide-out drawer - Discreet design compared to other safes - Door is pry-resistant - Interior is designed with soft lining materials to prevent scratches | - Not fireproof or waterproof - Loud key sound | 4/5 | $254.99 |
Stealth Defense Vault Dv652 Under Bed Gun Safe | - Designed for easy access - Electronic lock is U>L type 1 and ESL% rated - Audible feedback can easily disabled for safe access during intrusion | - The packaging of the safe is not great | 3.7/5 | $457 |
Best for Long Guns | Pros | Cons | Rating | Price |
Stack-On 16-Gun Convertible Double Door Safe | Durable - Spacious interior with adjustable shelves - California DOJ approved - Molded barrel rests doesn’t easily deteriorate | - No water or fire protection | 3.9/5 | $469 |
Barska Quick Access Biometric Rifle Safe | - Quick access features - Comes with backup batteries and keys - Ideal for keeping guns away from children | - No water or fire protection | 3.8/5 | $499.97 |
Homegear Large 5 Rifle Electronic Gun Safe | - Comes with back-up keys - Offers 1 year warranty - Constructed with heavy-duty steel - Large storage capacity - CE and RoHS certified | - No fire protection - Anchors are not user-friendly - Keypad is not ideal for people with big fingers | 3.7/5 | $279.99 |
Best for Handguns | Pros | Cons | Rating | Price |
Sentrysafe Quick Access Biometric Gun Safe | - Comes with biometric lock using a fingerprint scanner - Allows single-hand access - Has an override key - At-the-ready pistol presentation | - Needs four non-rechargeable batteries - You have to “wake up” its scanner before using | 4.3/5 | $219.37 |
Gunvault Sv500 Speedvault Handgun Safe | - Offers 2 override keys - Comes with interior lighting - Fast and highly-responsive biometric lock - Offers various mounting options - Can save up to 20 fingerprints | - Can be a little bit noisy when accessed - Powered with batteries | 4.2/5 | $250 |
First Alert 2087df Gun Safe | - Waterproof - Fire-resistant for up to one hour - Comes with override keys - Designed with concealed hinges - Pry-resistant - Designed with 4 live locking steel bolts as protection for forced entries | - Storage capacity is limited - Not ideal for storing rifles and long guns - Some customer experienced damaged keypads in few months - Packaging is not good as some customers received damaged items - Safe weighs 83 pounds which is a bit heavy | 3.2/5 | $278.95 |
And here's a quick overview of this post:
Why You Need A Gun Safe
- Prevent accidents at home
- Protection from fire
- Protection from thieves
- Gun storage laws
Critical Budget Gun Safe Features
- Size and Weight
- Locking Mechanism
- Security Features, Working Time and Fire Rating
- Durability
- Locking Bolts
- Design and Color
- Removable rack and shelves
- Consider the Safe Specifications
Facts You Should Know Before Buying the Best Gun Safe
- Where to Keep Your Gun Safe
- Quality vs. Price
- Why an Anchored Gun Safe Is Better
- Does the brand of gun safe matter?
Best Value Gun Safe - Our Top 10 Favorites
- Best Quick-Access Safe
- Best for Renters
- Best for Long Guns
- Best for Handguns
Wrapping It Up
Why You Need A Gun Safe
Guns can protect you and your family from criminals and also just be fun to shoot. But failing to secure them in a safe can bring more harm than good.
Guns can cause accidents at home when young children get access to your weapons and play with it. Or a criminal could steal your gun and use it against you or to other people to commit crimes. You don’t want that!
If you’re thinking about owning a gun, consider the following reasons why it is extremely important to invest a quality gun safe:
Prevent accidents at home
Protection from fire
Protection from thieves
Gun storage laws
Critical Budget Gun Safe Features
So you’ve finally decided to get a gun safe to keep your guns and other valuables in a safe place. The next question is - how do you know if you’re getting the right gun safe? What are the features you need to consider when buying the best gun safe?
Here are the features you should look for in a gun safe:
Size and Weight
The first thing that you would consider before buying a gun safe is how much space do you need for your weapons. Do you have guns or rifles (or both)? Are you planning to store other valuables aside from guns? How much space do you have for your gun safe?
And of course, heavier gun safes are better. But it entirely depends, again, on the location of your house where you want to install your gun safe. If you want to get a bigger and heavier gun safe, make sure that you have enough space as well as strong support to hold your gun safe in place.
Locking Mechanism
Security Features, Working Time and Fire Rating
Durability
Locking Bolts
Design and Color
Removable rack and shelves
Consider the Safe Specifications
Aside from being fire-resistant and waterproof, you should also look into other specifications of the gun safe. One of the specifications to look at is the UL RSC or underwriters Laboratories residential security container rating. This means that the safe is tested and proven that it cannot be easily opened within 5 minutes using tools like pry bars and power tools.
And lastly, consider a gun safe which is resistant to drilling by choosing the one made of 10 or 8 gauge steel plate.
Facts You Should Know Before Buying the Best Gun Safe
Where to Keep Your Gun Safe
Most first time owners struggle in finding the perfect spot to keep their gun safe. The truth is, there is no particular answer for this since it will greatly depend on your preferences, the interior of your house, and other varying factors.
Just keep in mind that when choosing a location to store your gun safe, it should not be an obvious spot. Always prioritize security but at the same time ease of access when emergencies arise.
Quality vs. Price
Why an Anchored Gun Safe Is Better
Does the brand of gun safe matter?
Best Value Gun Safe - Our Top 10 Favorites
Best Quick-Access Safe
Verifi Smart.Safe. S6000 Biometric Gun Safe
Rating: 4.6/5 Price: $325

Pros:
- Highly-responsive fingerprint scanner for easy access
- Auto-lock feature
- Comes with LED night light
- Can save up to 40 fingerprints
- FSD approved
Cons:
- A little bit noisy when accessed
- The interior of the safe is not padded
One of the many best features of Verifi Smart.Safe is its advanced silicon fingerprint sensor that comes with a 3D technology. Since it is FBI-approved, it is highly-reliable and secure without any doubt!
The safe is made of solid steel for strength. It has a size of 17.4 x 16.1 x 7.9 inches and weighs 30 pounds, which makes it easier to mount to the wall or floor. It is battery-powered and features a self-diagnostic system so that you will get notified when you need to change the batteries or if there are any electronics-related problems. If the batteries die before you can change them, a backup key is provided.
Some people can also be absent-minded, and that’s why this safe is designed with an auto-lock feature in case you forget to close it (you will also be notified immediately). This will save your weapons from unauthorized access especially curious young children. And if someone tries to tamper with the safe, it is automatically logged with timestamps (including the use of backup key) to help you keep track.
V-Line Quick Access Keyless Long Gun Safe
Rating: 4.5/5 Price: $392.20

Pros:
- SIMPLEX push button mechanical lock feature
- Designed with two additional locks
- No need for batteries
- Clamshell design is pry-resistant
- Lightweight for easy mounting
- Comes with pre-drilled holes for easy anchoring
Cons:
- Lightweight, anchoring the safe is critical
When size and weight matters to you, then the V-Line safe is the ideal option. The slim and lightweight construction makes it look compact and easy to mount. But take note that since it is lightweight, it can easily be moved or taken away by thieves. So anchoring it to a wall (or behind a door) is a must. Otherwise, you’re risking your valuables as an easy target for burglars.
Other features which I believe are worth considering include SIMPLEX mechanical lock feature that comes with 5 push buttons for reliability and quick access. And if you want an added security, you can level up by using the two additional locks.
Lastly, the V-Line Quick Access safe doesn’t need batteries to operate so you won’t have to worry about dying batteries, especially during emergencies.
Best for Renters
Snapsafe Under Bed Safe 75400
Rating: 4/5 Price: $254.99

Pros:
- Features both manual and digital access
- Comes with a sturdy 5-foot cable
- Designed with a large slide-out drawer
- Discreet design compared to other safes
- Door is pry-resistant
- Interior is designed with soft lining materials to prevent scratches
Cons:
- Not fireproof or waterproof
- Loud key sound
The Snapsafe 75400 is probably the best option for those living in a small apartment or for someone who prefers a discreet option to store their guns. Since it only measures 48 x 7 x 24 inches, it doesn’t take much space in your home yet can fit up to five rifles.
The pre-drilled holes provide ease for installing especially for new owners who don't want a lot of hassle. Since it is constructed with 14-gauge heavy-duty steel which makes it 148 pounds heavy, it makes it difficult for any random people to get unauthorized access to your guns.
The large slide-out drawer pulls out smoothly, making it easy for you to access your weapons as the need arises. You have two options to access the safe - using a digital lock if you’re a techie (which can be programmed with two passcodes and option for 3 to 8 digit access codes) or a traditional key if you like the old school approach.
Stealth Defense Vault Dv652 Under Bed Gun Safe
Rating: 3.7/5 Price: $457

Pros:
- Designed for easy access
- Electronic lock is U>L type 1 and ESL% rated
- Audible feedback can easily disabled for safe access during intrusion
Cons:
- The packaging of the safe is not great
The Stealth Defense Vault Dv652 is the ideal safe for bedrooms. One of the best locations to put this safe is under the bed which allows you easy access in case of intrusion during nighttime. The safe is best for storing shotguns with its interior size of 3 3/8 x 43 1/4 x 13 inches (external dimension 6x 52 x 14 inches) without the need to occupy too much space inside the room.
Its electronic lock is reliable and among the easiest to access in its category since it is ESL% rated. And when it comes to security, you can easily disable its audible feedback so you can access the safe easily during a break-in. And since it is designed with a 15-minute lockout feature, you are at peace knowing that no intruders or any random people will have the enough time to guess the combination up to 4 times.
Perhaps the only flaw of this safe is that the packaging is not that great. I would recommend the Snapsafe 75400 instead if you like a portable gun safe with better packaging and overall reviews.
Best for Long Guns
Stack-On 16-Gun Convertible Double Door Safe
Rating: 3.9/5 Price: $469

Pros:
- Durable
- Spacious interior with adjustable shelves
- California DOJ approved
- Molded barrel rests doesn’t easily deteriorate
Cons:
- No water or fire protection
If you are a gun collector, then this durable and large gun safe is the best bet. It comes with a spacious interior with shelves that are adjustable so that you can easily organize and store more guns or rifles as needed. The cabinet can hold a maximum of 15 rifles without the shelves inside and its compartment can store up to eight guns.
The budget-friendly large safe comes with a welded steel box and a three-point locking system for strength and highest-level of security. Stack-On also features pre-drilled holes and other hardware parts so that you can easily attach it to the wall or floor.
Overall, Stack-On offers flexibility for storage, durability, a nice green epoxy finish, and sturdy construction that would last for years.
Barska Quick Access Biometric Rifle Safe
Rating: 3.8/5 Price: $499.97

Pros:
- Quick access features
- Comes with backup batteries and keys
- Ideal for keeping guns away from children
Cons:
- No water or fire protection
One thing that every new gun owner would want is the convenience and user-friendly features. If this matters to you, then I would suggest you give the Barska Quick Access Biometric Rifle Safe a try. This gun safe is well-known for its highly-reliable and advanced fingerprint technology, promising you the utmost level of protection for your guns and other valuables. In fact, you can store up to 120 different fingerprints to allow multiple access.
Barska comes with adjustable four-position barrel rest as well as removable storage shell so you can easily organize your rifles and other valuables. The gun safe is constructed with three locking deadbolts made of solid steel for an added security and strength that would last for years.
Overall, the Barska Quick Access Biometric Rifle Safe is a reliable safe and is one of the best when it comes to budget-friendly options.
Homegear Large 5 Rifle Electronic Gun Safe
Rating: 3.7/5 Price: $279.99

Pros:
- Comes with back-up keys
- Offers 1 year warranty
- Constructed with heavy-duty steel
- Large storage capacity
- CE and RoHS certified
Cons:
- No fire protection
- Anchors are not user-friendly
- Keypad is not ideal for people with big fingers
Another gun safe which we believe is worth in this list is the Homegear Large 5 Rifle Electronic Gun Safe. With its features and sturdy construction at a price below $500, this safe is great for anyone looking for quality on a tight-budget.
Homegear offers an internal space of 13.4 X 9.5 X 49.2 inches that can fit up to 5 rifles or other smaller guns. Another great thing which I love about this safe is that it comes with two locks for added security. A separate lockbox is also included on top of the unit so that you can have another option to secure your valuables.
Perhaps the only problem with this safe is that the keypad is not user-friendly for people with big fingers. The digits on the keypad are too close to each other which might cause you to miss hitting the correct numbers, especially during stressful situations where every second matters. If you want a more user-friendly safe keypad, then I would recommend the Stack-On or Barska instead.
Best for Handguns
Sentrysafe Quick Access Biometric Gun Safe
Rating: 4.3/5 Price: $219.37

Pros:
- Comes with biometric lock using a fingerprint scanner
- Allows single-hand access
- Has an override key
- At-the-ready pistol presentation
Cons:
- Needs four non-rechargeable batteries
- You have to “wake up” its scanner before using
Sentrysafe offers a budget-friendly yet reliable gun safe to protect your valuables. It is the ideal gun safe if you’re the only one using it, making it more secured and less-complicated. It can only accept one fingerprint to ensure that only you can access your gun (and no one else). It can be powered using batteries but also comes with an override key in case the battery fails.
One of the drawbacks of Sentrysafe is that you still need to “wake up” the scanner before you can access it. In emergency cases where you could experience an adrenaline rush, accessing the gun safe with the need to “wake up” the scanner might lead to confusions, delaying your access to the weapon.
Gunvault Sv500 Speedvault Handgun Safe
Rating: 4.2/5 Price: $250

Pros:
- Offers 2 override keys
- Comes with interior lighting
- Fast and highly-responsive biometric lock
- Offers various mounting options
- Can save up to 20 fingerprints
Cons:
- Can be a little bit noisy when accessed
- Powered with batteries
If you’re on a tight budget yet want a great value for your money, consider the Gunvault Sv500 safe. The safe comes with a compact design so that it can be easily mounted anywhere in your home. It’s pry-resistant and can save up to 20 fingerprints. The biometric lock feature offers fast and convenience access right when you need your gun the most.
Gunvault Sv500 safe is battery powered which might worry some owners. What if the battery dies during an emergency? To overcome this, Gunvault is provided with 2 override keys so that you can still access your gun when the battery fails.
However, this budget-friendly safe is not perfect and it does come with some flaws. Some owners don’t like the way it makes noise when opened. After all, you want to access your gun as quietly as possible when dealing with an intruder in the middle of the night!
First Alert 2087df Gun Safe
Rating: 3.2/5 Price: $278.95

Pros:
- Waterproof
- Fire-resistant for up to one hour
- Comes with override keys
- Designed with concealed hinges
- Pry-resistant
- Designed with 4 live locking steel bolts as protection for forced entries
Cons:
- Storage capacity is limited
- Not ideal for storing rifles and long guns
- Some customer experienced damaged keypads in few months
- Packaging is not good as some customers received damaged items
- Safe weighs 83 pounds which is a bit heavy
Looking for a budget-worthy gun safe with fireproof and waterproof features? Then I highly recommend the First Alert 2087df gun safe. With its durability and sturdy construction, you are assured that your valuables are protected not only from thieves but also from fire and flood.
Its digital keypad remains functional even when it gets wet so you can still access it when needed. The keypad also comes with backlights so that you can still access your safe easily even during nighttime. A backup key offers you the convenience to access the safe when the electronics system fails.
For added security, the safe is designed with four solid door bolts. You can also organize your valuables inside with ease since its shelf is removable.
Since the safe only measures 17 x 14.7 x 19.1 inches (storage capacity at 0.94 cubic feet), it is not the ideal safe for rifles and long guns. If you have a large collection of long guns, then it is better to get the other models that offer larger storage capacity such as the Stack-On 16-Gun Convertible Double Door Safe.
Wrapping It Up
Owning a gun safe is a must for responsible gun owners. Apart from protecting your guns and other valuables, a gun safe also ensures that your weapons will not be used by the wrong hands. They will prevent accidents at home and theft.
A high quality safe can be over $1000 and will take longer to break into and protect your valuables better in a fire. But, that isn’t an option for everyone.
If you’re on a tight budget, these safes are much better than a simple trigger lock or another security device to disable your guns.
If you found our research helpful, please don’t hesitate to share this with your friends and family members!
Hi, I’m Christy, and I’m an electronics engineer by profession. I have taught in a university for 2 years while pursuing my master’s degree in cognitive radio and worked for a company to develop wireless medical devices. Currently, I’m doing research for a doctorate degree in engineering using a wireless sensor network for smart agriculture. I’ve been active in our local IoT community, IoT Cebu, where I participate in conducting talks about Arduino, Raspberry Pi, and DIY home automation using Wi-Fi and ZigBee devices.