Digital Door Lock vs Key Lock

Digital door lock vs key lock is a comparison that many people looking to secure their homes tend to make, and for good reason. Sure, technology has certainly come a long way, but what if digital door locks are too good to be true? After all, key locks have been a reliable method of security for centuries!

And yet, digital door locks are steadily growing in popularity, so why don’t we look at why? The easiest way to do that is to examine the digital door lock vs key lock to see how the former has evolved from the latter over time.  

Just want to know the answer?

The main difference between digital door locks and key lock doors is their method of unlocking. As the name suggests, a key lock is opened by a key, whereas a digital door lock has multiple methods of unlocking; ranging from PIN codes, to biometrics, to remote unlocking via app, etc. 

What are the advantages of a digital door lock?

The advantages of a digital door lock are almost too numerous to list here. Digital door locks represent a massive upgrade over conventional door locks, thanks to their sophisticated technology and the various features that they provide.

Not only does a digital door lock keep your home safe to an unprecedented degree; they also offer you complete control over who enters your home and when. Additionally, these locks come with a level of convenience that takes any second guessing out of home security, with various unlocking methods that connect to smart devices such as your smartphone.

The end result is a security system that is both incredibly effective and easy to use.

What are the advantages of a key lock?

Which isn’t to say that key locks don’t have advantages of their own. If you’re looking to reinforce a large outdoor gate, for example, you’re probably not looking for the most sophisticated technical solution. Save the PIN codes and the biometrics for your front door – for the smaller stuff, sometimes all you need is a key.

As we said before, key locks are based on a design that has been tried and tested for centuries. It might not offer the levels of security, control and convenience that a digital door lock provides, but not every room in your house needs futuristic levels of security. 

When it comes to a digital door lock vs key lock…

… there are a lot of questions that people tend to have. These questions are important, as they allow you to determine which of the two locks is going to work best for you. Most home security setups nowadays involve a combination of digital door locks and key locks for different doors, based on the levels of security they require.

So, we are going to cover these questions below, and elaborate on how you can use the answers to these questions in order to figure out the perfect security set up for you.

… which is cheaper?

Right off the bat, key locks are cheaper than digital door locks. This is because they contain less materials and none of the extra features. If you are looking to not stretch your wallet, key locks get the point.

However, you have to consider three things;

1. You get what you pay for. Digital door locks provide a wealth of security features that arguably justify their larger asking price by providing more security.
2. There is a massive price range for digital door locks, which means that there are budget options for digital door locks that are comparable to high end key locks.
3. If you end up changing your mind and switching to digital door locks down the line (which is a very real possibility), you’ll have spent more than if you just went with digital door locks in the first place.

… which is more secure?

In order to answer this question, all you have to do is ask “what does it take to break these locks?”.

To break a digital door lock, you need the following:

• A degree in software engineering
• An elaborate disguise to fool any cameras that may be connected to the lock
• Knowledge of the building, include any motion sensors that may be connected to the lock
• The expensive tools necessary to hack into a digital door lock (and bypass their various internal security measures)
• Peak physical strength and stamina, because the unlikely event in which you actually manage to break into the lock will alert the homeowner who can then alert the authorities, who will be at your location at any minute

Steady on there, Danny Ocean. Before you call an 11-man crew to break a digital door lock, let’s look at how key locks fare in this scenario.

To break a key lock, you need:

• A lockpick, or
• A blunt object

Key locks are great, but the future is most certainly now. 

… which lasts longer?

Here is another instance in which the key lock gets a point, as they have a much longer lifespan than digital door locks which; in their current incarnation, last about half a decade before needing maintenance or replacement.

However, digital door locks are easy to install, making the act of replacing them a minor inconvenience at best. Not to mention that, as the technology improves, digital door locks will increase their lifespan anyway. Ultimately, you have to decide on whether compromising significantly on security is worth a little less maintenance.

Keep in mind that half a decade is still five whole years of heightened home security. 

… which is easier to install?

The answer… is neither! Seriously, there’s a myth that digital door locks are hard to install, as if you’re going to be assembling all of the various parts yourself. However, this is seriously just a myth. Digital door locks were designed with user friendliness in mind, and that extends to them being easy to install.

Not only do digital door locks come with installation manuals that are easy to follow, you can hire someone to install a digital door lock for you. The same can be said for the installation of key locks. Both are fairly easy to install.

… which offers more control?

Digital door locks, easily. The technology that goes into digital door locks allow you full control over so many different aspects of your home security, including;

• Specifying who gets to enter your house and when
• Which unlocking methods you want to use on your house
• Whether or not anybody knows you’re available when you’re at home
• The appearance of the lock (and how it is attached to your door)

If control is what you’re looking for, digital wins outright. You can do more with a digital door lock to optimise your home security to your tastes than you could ever hope to with a key lock.

… which is more convenient?

Another point goes to digital door locks. 

In order to open your key lock door, you need:

• A key

That’s right. If you’ve left your key somewhere, say a hearty goodbye to opening your door.

Meanwhile, in order to open a digital door lock, you can use many methods, including:

• A key
• Your phone
• A fingerprint
• A PIN code
• An NFC tag
• A keycard, etc.

What is the likelihood that you’ll have none of those on your person? Unless you’re really not welcome in your own home, you’ll be able to unlock your digital door lock. 

… which is more aesthetically pleasing?

Okay, that one is entirely subjective. However, we can make a pretty compelling case for digital door locks. After all, the best of these locks are designed by Samsung, a company that has dedicated its life to create some of the most aesthetically pleasing tech on the market. 

Their digital door locks are as well-crafted as their smartphones and smart TVs, renowned for their intricate and modern designs. Not only will they secure any door you attach them to, they’ll visually complement them as well.

Key locks, on the other hand… are just… well… they’re key locks. If you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all.

So, which of the two is better?

Remember what we said earlier? There is no real winner here. As amazing as digital door locks are, and as much as we advocate for them as the superior security device, it makes sense that you wouldn’t use them for absolutely every single door in your house.

• Key locks are better for doors that need to locked for privacy reasons (i.e. a bedroom or a bathroom)
• Digital locks are better for doors that need to be locked for security reasons (such as your front/back door – basically any entry into your house)

Digital Door Lock FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions we get regarding digital door locks. If you’re curious about getting a digital door lock, but still unsure if it’s right for you, read these questions and it’ll all make sense.

How many door locks (digital or not) do I need to protect my home?

There isn’t an exact number. If you want to find out how many locks you need to adequately protect your home, all you have to do is follow this very simple process;

1. List all of the doors in your house
2. Group them into these categories:

• Doors you don’t need to lock (like the laundry or the kitchen)
• Doors that need to be locked for privacy (the bedroom or bathroom)
• Door that need to be locked for security (entry doors into your house from outside)

From there, you can determine how many locks you need, as well as how many need to be digital door locks or key locks.

Why are there so many myths about digital door locks (and is there any truth to them at all)?

Not really, no. There are many different myths on digital door locks (e.g. they’re unreliable, not worth the cost, easy to hack, hard to install, etc.) and they’re all incredibly questionable. It’s easy to attribute the existence of these myths to a general scepticism about new technology.

However, it is safe to say that these myths are… just that. Myths.  

Where can I get a high quality digital door lock?

You can get high quality digital door locks from Digital Door Locks, a premier business partner with Samsung Group. We supply Samsung’s premium keyless door locks over three states, 400 retailers and over 100,000 happy customers. Our high quality services have resulted in a wealth of five star reviews from satisfied customers. 

Contact us if you have any questions or you would like a smart lock that will keep your home safe.