Even locksmiths have their own version of an eternal derby – combination locks vs. master locks. The rivalry between keyless and key-operated locks as two fundamentally different security systems is older than most of today’s padlock experts and it won’t go away anytime soon.
Making a good choice between these two options is crucial for security management.
With that in mind, we’ve compiled a list of main differences between combination and master locks based on four key criteria – besides security as the most important one, we’ve tested them for durability, convenience, and ease of access as well. Here’s what we’ve learned.
In case you’re not sure which is which, the main difference between a combination and master lock is that the first cannot be unlocked without the right code, while the second comes with a keyhole and a key. The code to a keyless lock is usually a sequence of numbers or symbols.
And thereby lies the first advantage of combination locks.
Not only can keys be stolen or lost but they can also be replaced and duplicated. Also, you don’t really need a key to unlock a master lock, as keyholes provide a physical entry point that can be accessed using simple burglary techniques. That’s impossible with keyless locks.