10 Best Gun Safes Under 500 [Our FAVORITE PICKS for 2021]

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Sentrysafe Quick Access Biometric Gun Safe

Rating: 4.3/5 Price: $219.37

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!

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.