Original SafeWise safety & security research featured in:
Why you can trust SafeWise
products considered
250+
research hours in 25+ in-home tests
10k+
years of combined experience
176+
homes and people protected
10M+
For over 11 years, SafeWise experts have conducted independent research and testing to create unbiased, human reviews. Learn how we test and review.
5 min readWith 20+ years in tech journalism, Alina blends safety expertise with her passion for simplifying technology. Alina is also trained as a first responder and worked as a volunteer firefighter.
Whether you’re being followed, or just have an uneasy feeling, having a self-defense tool in your hand can make you feel a little safer. Keeping a safety device on your keychain is an easy way to be sure your self-defense device goes wherever you do.
After extensive research, we found some of the best self-defense keychains on the market to fit a variety of needs.
Best self-defense keychains
- : Best keychain pepper spray
- : Best Kubotan
- : Best personal alarm
- : Best keychain knife
- : Best keychain stun gun
Compare the best self-defense keychains
Product | Best for | Price | Ease of use
 | Close contact defense | Color choices | Learn more | |
 Safely Sidekick | Best keychain pepper spray | $79.99 |  Yes | Yes | Yes | View on Safely | Read review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best Kubotan | $19.95 |  No | Yes | Yes | View on Amazon | Read review | |
 She's Birdie | Best personal alarm | $29.95 | Yes | No | Yes | View on Amazon | Read review |
 StatGear Samurai Micro | Best keychain knife | $19.98 | No | Yes | Yes | View on Amazon | Read review |
 Vipertek VTS-989 | Best keychain stun gun | $30.99 | Yes | Yes | No | View on Amazon | Read review |
Amazon Disclaimer: *Amazon.com price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.
Video: Pepper spray, personal alarms, and safety apps
Subscribe to our YouTube channel and learn how to protect your home, loved ones, and belongings.
1. Safely Sidekick: Best keychain pepper spray
Best keychain pepper spray
The Safely Sidekick sets itself apart from other pepper sprays because it's more than just a pepper spray. It’s an all-in-one safety tool tailored specifically for women, by women. Instead of buying a bunch of different safety devices, you can just buy the Sidekick. It combines five essential safety features: pepper spray, a bright flashlight, a loud alarm, a secure grip, and a keychain/glass breaker.
Pros
Alarm
Bright flashlight
10-foot spray range and up to 25 bursts 
Cons
A little bulky Safely Sidekick also sprays 10 feet. You can stay far away from your target while spraying, giving you more time to escape.
Check out our other top picks for pepper sprays and read our full Safely review.
"I've never felt more confident. The Sidekick has everything I feel comfortable carrying with me to protect myself. It all fits in my hand, and I'm so impressed with how lightweight it is. I take it with me on my solo walks, and I feel confident and prepared for anything. I also love that my safely pepper spray and practice spray fit in the device too! For anyone that can relate to feeling uneasy in everyday, normal situations, you NEED this device!"- Meagan D., Safely Sidekick customer
2. MUNIO Kubotan Personal Safety Keychain: Best Kubotan keychain
Best Kubotan
Kubotan keychains are basically non-lethal blunt objects that you use in a stabbing motion towards your attacker. While there are many styles, we found the MUNIO Kubotan Personal Safety Keychain the most practical.
Pros
Easy to grip
Safe to carry
Comes in many colors and patterns Cons
Requires close contact While the MUNIO doesn’t look like much, this little gadget can do major damage. We watched some videos of it hacking into a raw chicken and a watermelon and it was, umm, disturbing.
Since it’s blunt, you don’t have to worry about this personal defense device harming others unintentionally. And with its easy-to-grip shape and larger size, it’s a better alternative to holding your house key between your fingers as you stroll through a parking garage or walk home at night.
Check out our top picks for other self-defense products.
3. She’s Birdie: Best personal alarm
Best personal alarm
She's Birdie
$29.95
*Amazon.com price as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. Read full disclaimer.
She’s Birdie is our pick for the best keychain personal alarm. It packs a bright strobe LED light and a 130db alarm to scare someone away and attract attention.
Pros
Strobe light
Stylish design
Charitable support for women's safety Cons
Only scares attackers This personal alarm has a pretty, gold carabiner for easily latching it onto your keychain. It also comes in a variety of trendy colors like lemon, indigo, coral, charcoal, and aqua.
Not only does Birdie helps you be safe, it also gives 5% of its profits to organizations that support women’s safety charities.
Check out our other top picks for personal self-defense alarms.
4. StatGear Samurai Micro: Best keychain knife
Best keychain knife
StatGear Samurai Micro
$19.98
*Amazon.com price as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. Read full disclaimer.
The StatGear Samurai Micro is the best keychain knifewe found. It combines a beautiful design with handy features.
Pros
Includes pocket clip
Offers easy-open design
Provides sturdy construction Cons
Narrow handle We love that this self-defense knife looks like a little samurai sword. This pocket knife’s blade is made from durable 440C stainless steel. It is also easy to open with one hand and has a pocket clip if you decide you don’t want it on your keychain.
The handle is a little narrow, which can be a good and a bad thing. Its size makes it easily fit into your pocket, but it also makes it a little harder to get a good grip.
Check out our other top picks for self-defense knives.
5. Vipertek VTS-989: Best keychain stun gun
Best keychain stun gun
The Vipertek VTS-989 may seem a little big for a keychain, but it’s super light. Plus, it’s one of the best stun guns on the market.
Pros
No-slip grip
No disarming feature
Safety switch Cons
Too large for most pockets What makes it a great stun gun? It has a grooved handle to prevent it from slipping easily from your grip. It also has side tasers that will shock someone if they try to take it from you. The built-in safety switch and flashlight add another layer of protection.
Check out our other picks for top stun guns.
Final word
Which top self-defense keychain you choose really depends on your own personal preferences:
- If you want to stay as far away from your potential attacker as possible or have physical limitations, then go with the Safely Sidekick or the She’s Birdie safety alarm.
- If you’re afraid of accidentally spraying or shocking yourself, you’re better off with She’s Birdie, MUNIO Kubotan Personal Safety Keychain, or StatGear Samurai Micro.
- If you want a non-violent way to protect yourself, She’s Birdie is the best call.
- If you want something with the best chance of disabling an attacker so you have time to run, then Safely Sidekick or Vipertek VTS-989 are better options.
FAQ
It all depends on the type of keychain weapon and the situation. To increase your odds, take a self-defense class. These are often offered for free or for a small fee at local community centers. Try googling “self-defense classes near me” or use Thumbtack’s self-defense class search tool.
Maybe. If the self-defense weapon is shaped like brass knuckles (known as plastic knuckle dusters) it could be illegal (even the cat self-defense keychains). To be sure, call your local police station to learn about your area’s laws.
It depends on what makes you feel more comfortable. If spraying someone with pepper spray feels like a good way to accidentally blind yourself, stick with a self-defense tool like a taser or personal alarm. On the other hand, if you don’t want to get close to a potential attacker during a dangerous situation, pepper spray may be the better option.
We couldn’t find any laws against them. To be sure, call your local police department to learn about any laws in your area.
Image: SafeWise
To pick the best personal self-defense keychains, we used our decades of safety and security experience to research devices that work well for a variety of situations. We also researched topics related to self-defense and self-defense devices to help make the best list possible.
To learn more about how we review products and services, check out our Safewise methodology page.
Related articles
Sources
- Safely, "Safely Sidekick Product Reviews." Accessed October 16, 2024.
Disclaimers
*Product prices and availability are accurate as of post date and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. Safewise.com utilizes paid Amazon links.
Certain content that appears on this site comes from Amazon. This content is provided “as is” and is subject to change or removal at any time.
Recent Articles
The Best Home Security Systems in Canada 2025
Learn about 2025's best home security systems for Canada with research from SafeWise experts. From...
Best Medical Alert Systems 2025
We researched the best medical alert systems to find reliable options that can empower you...
Best Apartment Security Systems of 2025
In 2025 we tested the best apartment security systems and cameras. They offer security solutions...
Best DIY Home Security Systems of 2025
SimpliSafe is the best DIY home security system because it's cost-efficient, effective, and easy to...
