Guides · 2026-10-08 · 4 min
Keypad or key fob: which entry system fits your door
How the two compare for a shop, a studio or a small apartment building.
Keypads
A keypad lock needs a code and nothing else. There is nothing to lose, and sharing access is as easy as sharing a number. The trade-off is that codes get passed around and are hard to track back to a person. On many keypads, changing the code means telling everyone the new one.
Fobs and cards
A fob or card system gives each person a unique token. If one is lost or someone leaves, you cancel that token and nothing else changes. That makes fobs a better match for buildings and offices with many users and regular turnover.
The cost is higher at the start, since the door needs a reader, a controller, power and a lock or strike to actually release it.
How to pick
A few people, one door, little turnover: a keypad is usually enough. Many users, several doors or a need to cancel access quickly: choose fobs. In both cases, make sure the door has a safe way out and a manual override if the power fails.
From Montrose Locksmith, a mobile locksmith and intercom company based in East Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Questions about your door or entry system? (929) 249-5806.