Kwikset Lock vs Defiant Lock: What’s the Difference?

Choosing the right door lock is the security of your home and business. Both Kwikset Locks and Defiant Locks are among the reputable lock brands that have contributed to keeping countless homes safe. But there are differences between even the best brands, and in today’s guide, we’ll explore in detail the differences between Kwikset locks and Defiant locks. If you’re wondering which door lock to buy, read on to learn more.

1. What is Kwikset

The Kwikset Company was founded in 1946 as a lock manufacturing company in California by Adolf Schoepe and Karl Rhinehart. The name Kwikset is derived from the first lock the company produced, and it also pioneered the then-revolutionary tubular lock design, which was relatively quick to install. It laid the foundation for today’s brilliant achievements. Its parent company is Spectrum Brands, but is currently being acquired by Assa Abloy.

Kwikset offers a wide range of residential and commercial locks such as door locks, handle sets, smart locks, and electronic locks. Kwikset smart locks can provide the most suitable solutions in different scenarios, bringing innovation to your life experience. Additionally, Kwikset was the first lock manufacturer to offer SmartKey technology, which allows homeowners to duplicate and re-replace their door locks in a fraction of the time. For more than seventy years, Kwikset has served millions of homes and is a brand people can trust.

2. What is Defiant

Defiant is a mysterious brand because you can’t find much information about it on the internet, but again, a huge number of Americans install Defiant locks. As Defiant is one of only 3 brands of locks that Home Depot sells, you go to Home Depot’s website instead of searching directly for Defiant’s official website.

Defiant provides standard residential locks and related hardware accessories, Defiant locks are actually produced exclusively for Home Depot by the Taiwanese manufacturer “Taiwan Fuxing Industrial Co., Ltd.” and have been producing them for nearly 25 years. Defiant locks are chosen by millions of people because they are affordable and offer you a decent low-cost solution. Defiant locks are backed by The Home Depot’s lifetime warranty, and while a warranty protects you from wear and tear, it doesn’t necessarily mean the lock is safe.

3. Kwikset Lock vs. Defiant Lock

Below we will compare Kwikset locks and Defiant locks from the following eight aspects.

1) Kwikset Lock vs. Defiant Lock: Products

First, let’s compare the Kwikset lock and Defiant lock product types.

#1. Kwikset Products

Kwikset offers a wide range of products including door lock accessories and smart locks.

• Smart Locks: There are many types of smart locks designed to take care of the security of you and your family.
• Door lock accessories: Hardware door lock accessories are designed to quickly find suitable parts when your door lock fails to ensure the normal operation of the door lock.
• Door lock smart system: The door lock smart system includes keyless entry, remote access, and smart home compatibility.

#2. Defiant Products

Compared with Kwikset, its products are very single. Defiant offers a variety of affordable door locks designed for DIYers and homeowners. Their product line includes door locks, handle kits, and smart locks.

• Door Locks: Defiant offers a standard range of residential locks including single and double-sided door locks, 3 types of door handles (2 different designs for passage, bathroom, and entry), and residential keypad locks.
• Door Lock System: Compared to Kwikset, Defiant’s door lock system is very limited.

Finally, Defiant locks share the same type of keyway as the Kwikset brand, which means Defiant keys will fit on Kwikset locks and vice versa. If all the locks on your house are Kwikset locks, you can still buy Defiant locks and match them to your current house keys.

If you want to install a smart lock for your Airbnb rental, we recommend that you consider a Kwikset door lock. Because of the versatility of the Kwikset door lock system, you can save time and cost. It fits perfectly as an Airbnb smart lock.

2) Kwikset Lock vs. Defiant Lock: Security

From a security point of view, they are both very good, but there is always a small gap.

#1. Security of Kwikset lock

Kwikset lock offers multiple security features to maximize home security. Compared with Defiant lock, Kwikset lock incorporates more technical costs in the door lock system, such as keyless entry, remote control, alarm function, SmartKey Security, SecureScreen, etc.

• KEYLESS ENTRY: Keyless entry means you no longer have to carry your keys with you when you leave the house. So your keys are hard to lose or duplicate. This adds security over traditional door locks.
• Remote control: You can check the status of your door lock in real-time through your smartphone and manually lock or unlock the door remotely. Eliminate the risk of burglars entering the house.
• Alarm function: When someone tries to forcibly pry open your door lock, an alarm will sound to remind you, allowing you to take preventive measures in time.
• SmartKey Security: The SmartKey Security line allows you to replace the lock key yourself, which is very useful if the key is lost or stolen. Additionally, the SmartKey Security Series features BumpGuard technology, which prevents lock bumping, a popular technique used by thieves to open traditional locks.
• SecureScreen: SecureScreen technology prevents code detection and fingerprint contamination on the smart lock. Prevent your password from being guessed by thieves.

Also, most of the products from these brands follow a “pin mechanism”. For example, Kwikset’s lock has 6 pins. As far as locking techniques go, it’s a little more difficult. A typical ordinary lock contains 5 cylinders. Although Kwikset uses a 6-cylinder system, its mechanism is not much different from a 5-cylinder system. Here they added another extra cylinder for a longer key stop. This key stop is difficult to open with a fake key or wire.

#2. Security of Defiant lock

Compared to Kwikset lock, Defiant lock only provides basic security, which can provide a minimum level of security for homes and businesses. Defiant lock’s security features include one-touch locking and remote access, among others.

• One-key lock: One-key lock means that the Defiant smart lock can be connected to your smartphone, and you only need to click the lock button on the phone to realize the one-key lock function.
• Remote access: Like the one-touch lock feature, remote access also requires a smartphone connection. It can help you manage door lock status remotely.

The defiant lock’s deadbolt and handle set are made of hardened steel and have a 5-pin cylinder that resists drilling and prying.

But if we see other types of locks, such as electric locks or smart locks, they follow almost the same mechanism except for certain functions. For example, Kwikset offers 3 different locking modes. Automatically lock channels, and disable channels. Defiant offers this as well, but on top of that, they also offer security keys that can handle advanced crash scenarios.

3) Kwikset Lock vs. Defiant Lock: Install

From a large perspective, smart locks that are easy to install are currently available on the market. Kwikset locks and Defiant locks are no exception, and their smart locks are also easy to install. But if we talk about classic locks like “deadbolt” or “knob” locks, they are different.

Kwikset lock installation: Kwikset lock is developed with full consideration of user-friendliness, When you buy Kwikset lock, you will not only get the door lock and its accessories but also get the installation manual and installation video. If you want to DIY door lock manually, you can refer to the installation guide.

Installation of Defiant lock: The installation of Defiant lock usually only requires some simple tools. But if you’re not buying a smart lock, you may need a professional installer.

Although they are almost similar to the installation process, Kwikset is somewhat ahead of Defiant. By reading their instruction guide, you can install your lock in a few steps. For Defiant door locks, it’s a little more difficult. However, changing the lock is pretty easy if you just know how to use a screwdriver or something similar.

4) Kwikset Lock vs. Defiant Lock: Durability

Each type of door lock is made of high-quality raw materials, which is the most basic guarantee for manufacturers to customers. But even with the same raw material, the durability of individual locks can vary, and that’s due to the mechanism, and the way Kwikset builds its product is different from the way Defiant builds its product.

Kwikset lock durability: In general, a Kwikset lock can easily last 7 to 8 years.

Defiant lock durability: However, Kwikset locks can last up to 10 years with normal use. This happens not because of the raw materials they use. This happens because of the way the brand controls the overall quality of the product.

5) Kwikset Lock vs. Defiant Lock: Cost

Prices for Kwikset, Defiant locks may vary depending on type, features, and quality. But in general, each lock has an approximate price range.

Cost of Kwikset lock: The price of a Kwikset lock is usually higher than that of a Defiant lock because the function and technology of Kwikset lock will be more advanced than Defiant lock.

Cost of Defiant Lock: Defiant Lock has always focused on affordable solutions, so for most Defiant locks, its price is affordable.

However, there are some high-end electronics that cost quite a bit more than others. For example, if you were to buy a cylinder deadbolt lock from Kwikset for about $16, the same Defiant lock might cost about $14. Also, when you buy high-end products, the profit is obvious. For example, if you look at Defiant’s smart door lock, it sells for $250, but you can buy the same type of lock from Kwikset for $100.

So, for low-end products, Defiant offers better prices, but for high-end products, Kwikset offers reasonable prices. But most importantly, you must know that the cost depends on many factors.

6) Kwikset Lock vs. Defiant Lock: Apps

App for Kwikset lock: Kwikset has developed an app specifically to control the Kwikset lock. However, according to different models of Kwikset lock, Kwikset has developed different applications. For example, the Premis app, Kevo app, and Halo app. Install the “Kwikset Smart Lock App” from Google Play or the App Store by searching for “Kwikset”.

• Kwikset Premis App: With the Kwikset Premis App you can control the Premis range of door locks. You can enjoy using Siri voice commands, manage up to 30 customizable user codes, and create a schedule to only allow access to your home at certain times you designate. You can also view lock activity, receive lock status notifications, and turn on safety mode from the Premis app.
• Kwikset Kevo App: With the Kwikset Kevo App, you can control the Kevo range of door locks. Enable touch unlocking, remote access, real-time monitoring, and electronic key sharing with friends and family.
• Kwikset Halo App: With the Kwikset Halo App, you can control the Halo range of door locks. It can help you achieve remote control and real-time monitoring of door locks. It is compatible with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa for voice control.

App for Defiant lock: Unfortunately, there is no associated app for Defiant lock. Unlike Kwikset, it doesn’t offer a wide range of smart locks. Defiant mainly focuses on the research and development of mechanical door locks and keypad door locks, and is committed to providing customers with preferential and low-cost solutions.

7) Kwikset Lock vs. Defiant Lock: Warranty

Generally speaking, lock brands will provide after-sales warranty service, and Kwikset lock and Defiant lock are no exception, but the biggest difference is their respective warranty years.

Warranty of Kwikset lock: Kwikset lock provides a very user-friendly warranty service, and its warranty service is divided into three types.

• Mechanical Limited Warranty: This is the warranty from the date of your purchase of a Kwikset product against mechanical defects under normal use.
• COMPLETE LIMITED WARRANTY: The surface of Kwikset products is protected by a durable finish designed to maintain the beauty and quality of Kwikset products. Kwikset warrants to the purchaser that, from the date of purchase, the surface of this product will be free from defects in material and workmanship, including tarnish, peeling, and discoloration, provided that such purchaser resides in the residential premises in which the product was originally installed (“Warranty Period “).
• Electronics Limited Warranty: Kwikset warrants to the purchaser that the Kwikset product will be free from electrical defects under normal use for a period of one (1) year from the date of purchase, provided that you reside in the residential premises in which the product was originally installed (“Warranty Period”) ).

Defiant lock’s warranty: Defiant’s warranty covers mainly the mechanical locks it manufactures. Defiant Lock offers a lifetime limited warranty on door locks and door lock components.

8) Kwikset Lock vs. Defiant Lock: Customer evaluation

We often say that the quality of a product mainly depends on the customer’s evaluation of it, so customer evaluation has become an important factor that people need to consider when shopping.

Customer Testimonials for Kwikset lock: Kwikset offers door locks in a variety of styles for customers to choose from, with many advantages such as ease of installation and high functionality. Some customers have reported durability issues with certain models. However, most customers are satisfied with their purchase and recommend the brand.

Customer evaluation of Defiant lock: Defiant lock is an economical choice, but its biggest disadvantage is that the types are limited and cannot provide customers with more choices. Many users have complained about poor quality and faulty locks, and customer service is also a common issue among Defiant customers.

Kwikset Lock vs. Defiant Lock

4. Kwikset Lock vs. Defiant Lock, Which one should you choose?

Through the above comparison, both Kwikset Lock and Defiant Lock are good brands, but how should you choose? We have some suggestions for you.

• Successful installation: First of all, after purchasing the door lock, you should consider how to install and use it successfully. At this point, you can either seek out a professional or DIY. If you prefer to DIY yourself, you can consider choosing Kwikset Lock, because it comes with a wealth of installation video tutorials.
• Save money without compromising quality: The final buying decision comes down to your preferences as well as the basic budget you’re willing to spend, product comparisons will help identify the root cause of a particular lock being more expensive than others. Sometimes it is more cost-effective to purchase a Kwikset Lock at a more expensive cost than to spend more money to repair a Defiant Lock.
• Practical Security: The level of pick resistance depends on how threatening you consider the lock-picking method to be to the area where you install the lock. As far as hardware goes, the metal should be strong and the construction should be strong. The weight of the device is a good reflection of both of these factors (the heavier the better).
• STYLISH DESIGN: Maybe you like a stylish and simple design, so if you aim for a better design, try Defiant Lock.

5. Frequently asked questions

Here are answers to frequently asked questions about Kwikset Lock and Defiant Lock.

1) Is Kwikset Lock better than Defiant Lock?

Kwikset Lock and Defiant Lock are both great brands of locks that aim to provide the most secure protection for your home. However, compared to Defiant Lock, Kwikset Lock is a trusted brand as it has been around for over seventy years and is widely recognized for its superior quality.

Although Defiant Lock is not as old as Kwikset Lock, it is cheaper than Kwikset Lock and provides basic security. So there is no one right answer, the main thing is your choice.

2) Are Kwikset and Defiant both good brands?

Yes, as we’ve been emphasizing, both Kwikset and Defiant are good brands. Although Defiant is not as popular as Kwikset, Defiant has been improving and it still has a lot of room for development. You can compare them to their popularity, but the quality of their locks is fantastic.

6. Conclusion

I hope that after these comparisons, you can have a better understanding of the differences between these two door lock brands. Although they have many differences, each brand has its own unique advantages and reasons for customers to choose. If you have more questions about choosing Kwikset Lock or Defiant Lock, please contact iLockey.