If you’re looking for the best USB fingerprint scanner, then you probably have either too many passwords to remember, or you are just a privacy freak, like me. Nowadays almost everything we interact to is connected in some way or another and protecting your privacy seems to be getting gradually harder.

The best solution to protect yourself from hackers is to use a different password on every website, but how many passwords are enough before you start forgetting them? Writing them on paper would negate the whole point because of which you did it in the first place. If you want the best protection, you need to consider buying the best USB fingerprint scanner.

But how do I find the best fingerprint reader for my laptop?

Whether you want to get a more natural, more convenient way to login or you have some vital information, such as business emails, that you want to protect — you need to be looking for the best possible security. Accuracy is also essential, you would want to access your files faster and improve the safety even further. Some scanners even come with a special cheating detection system. As long as it is compatible with your device, you can be sure that you are on the right track.

Another great feature that you should be looking for is durability. You wouldn’t want to accidentally break your new USB fingerprint scanner, right? Given everything that you have to consider, the task of finding the gadget in the vast variety that is available today might turn out to be very tiresome and time-consuming. To help you with your search, I present to you the top five best USB fingerprint scanners that I’ve used in 2018:

# Image Brand Price
1 Verifi $65
2 PQI $30
3 Kensington $38
4 iDOO $28
5 Idem $25

 

1. Verifi P2000

  • Silicon slide sensor
  • Metal Casing
  • Windows 7, 8, 10 and Windows Hello
  • Comes with Roboform Free Edition password manager
  • CD included (Quick Start guide and drivers)

If you are dealing with business files, then you must get the best possible security. The Verifi P2000 is not only in the middle price range but is also one of the most durable, accurate and fast. Its metal casing provides excellent protection for the fragile silicon slide sensor.

The P2000 works with Windows 7, 8, 10 and Windows Hello. Inside the package, you will find a CD which includes a free edition of the Roboform password manager, a quick start guide, and drivers to get your gadget hooked and running. Overall, this is the best choice for both professional and non-professional purposes.

2. PQI Mini USB fingerprint scanner

  • Recognizes fingerprint within 0.15 seconds
  • Unique website login (for Chrome and IE)
  • Windows 7, 8, 10 and Windows Hello
  • File encryption feature
  • 360-degree all-round detectable pad
  • Up to 10 fingerprints

A great alternative, a definitely a much more compact one would be the PQI mini USB fingerprint scanner. This device comes with a unique website login feature that works correctly with Chrome and IE. It allows you to seamlessly login in any website with just the tap of your finger. Not only that, the 360-degree all-round detectable pad makes it more accurate.

If you are worried about speeds, then this is the choice for you. With just 0.15 seconds of fingerprint recognition time — the PQI mini USB fingerprint scanner is one of the fastest available on the market right now. It also allows you to store up to 10 fingerprints, comes with special file encryption and supports Windows 7, 8, 10 and Windows Hello.

3. Kensington VeriMark

  • Superior biometric performance and 360° readability
  • Anti-spoofing protection
  • Supports any USB-A port
  • Windows 7, 8, 10 and Windows Hello
  • FIDO U2F Certified

The Kensington VeriMark offers a superior biometric performance and a 360-degree readability thanks to the advanced fingerprint scanning technology. Not only is accurate, but it is also fast and has very good security. An anti-spoofing protection system makes sure that nobody will ever fake your fingerprint.

The VeriMark supports Windows 7, 8, 10 and Windows Hello. The device is FIDO U2F certified, which means that you can use it on Google, Dropbox, GitHub and Facebook with the FIDO second-factor authentication, although you need Google Chrome to use it.

4. iDOO Mini USB Fingerprint Scanner

  • Windows 7, 8, 10 and Windows Hello
  • Unique file encryption
  • Less than 0.15 seconds recognition time
  • FPS Security Key software

A slightly cheaper alternative would be the iDOO mini USB fingerprint scanner. It is made to work perfectly with Windows 7, 8, 10 and Windows Hello and comes with a unique file encryption function. This will ensure that your files are as safe as possible. The fingerprint recognition speed is 0.15 seconds and in combination with the FPS Security Key software, using this device is easy and convenient.

5. Idem FCC BioScan

  • 14mm-wide fingerprint sensor touchpad
  • Windows 10 only (no Enterprise)
  • 360-degree readability
  • FCC certified
  • 10 Fingerprints support
  • US local customer support
  • 1-year warranty

The Idem FCC BioScan comes with a 14mm-wide fingerprint sensor touchpad that has 360-degree readability. It is not only accurate but also FCC certified. If you install the optional software, you will have access to file encryption and one-touch website login. 10 different fingerprints are supported so you and your family or colleagues can take advantage of the increased security. The only downside is that the device supports only Windows 10. It comes with 1-year warranty and US local customer support.