This article was machine-translated from French and is being reviewed. Prices are in Algerian dinars excl. VAT.
For a badge, fingerprint or code access control, choose based on the people who enter and the location. The code requires nothing to carry, but it is shared. The badge is easy to distribute, but can be lent or lost. Fingerprint and face do not lend, but require a well‑read finger or face. In workshops or outdoors, prefer a waterproof keypad. In offices, prefer fingerprint or face.
In short
- Code: nothing to carry, but it is shared. Badge: you know who enters, but the card can be lent, lost and, at 125 kHz, easily copied. Fingerprint or face: the person is their own key.
- In a workshop or outdoors (dust, gloves, rain), choose a waterproof keypad with badge reader. In an office, choose fingerprint or face.
- The ZKTeco MK‑V ID keypad costs 9,000 DA HT in the store. Fingerprint or face time clocks cost more: see the price table.
Access control by badge, fingerprint or code: the comparison
| Criterion | Code | Badge (card, bracelet) | Fingerprint or face |
|---|---|---|---|
| Security | Low if the code circulates | Average: the card can be lent or copied; 125 kHz cards are easiest to copy. | Higher: the person must be present |
| Comfort | Nothing to carry, a code to remember | One gesture; the card can be forgotten | Nothing to carry; a finger or face to present |
| Terminal cost | Low | Low | Higher |
| Cost per user | None | One card per person | None |
| Loss or sharing | Easy sharing; no loss | Loss, loan, theft | No loans allowed |
| Workshop or outdoors | Good, with a waterproof model | Good, with a waterproof reader | Dirty, wet or damaged fingers: possible rejections |
What really changes from one mode to another
The code
No card required. A code is communicated, guessed or observed. If everyone uses the same code, the history does not show who entered. The code is suitable for a technical room or service access. Change it when someone leaves.
The badge
You know who enters, and you can revoke access for a single person without affecting others. Lost and lent cards must be managed. In store, in stock as of 06/11/2026: the 125 kHz RFID PVC card at 65 DA HT, the silicone RFID bracelet at 150 DA HT and the Mifare 4K 13.56 MHz PVC card, displayed at 150 DA HT. The file for the latter states “200 per box”: ask in store if the price is per unit or per box.
Two card families exist:
- 125 kHz (EM type, TK4100 chip in store). The card number is read without encryption. A standard duplicator can copy it, so it is suitable for low‑voltage access, not a sensitive area.
- 13.56 MHz (Mifare). Harder to copy. Mifare Classic cards, including the 4K, have known flaws. For a sensitive location, request a newer DESFire card and verify the reader supports it.
The MK‑V keypad exists in two versions: ID, which reads 125 kHz cards, and IC, which reads Mifare 13.56 MHz cards. A reader normally only reads the family it is designed for: choose cards that match the reader.
Fingerprint and face
The person is their own key: no card to lose, no code to hand over. Limits: a very dry, wet, damaged or dirty finger may be misread, and a face can depend on lighting. These devices process biometric data: inform staff and limit access to the data. See biometric time clock, choose and install.
Which mode for the site
- Workshop, construction site, warehouse: dirty hands, gloves, dust. Choose a badge or a code on a waterproof reader.
- Offices and SMEs: choose fingerprint or face if you want to know who came and when. Choose a badge if staff changes often.
- Building lobby: a keypad or a badge. With the badge, you can remove a resident’s access when they leave.
- Outdoor entry: a weather‑proof model like the MK‑V. Its shop name indicates IP66. An indoor fingerprint or facial terminal is usually intended for inside use: read its datasheet.
- Sensitive location: card then code, if the terminal offers that mode. A stolen card is no longer enough.
Whatever the mode, exit must remain possible. On a door used for evacuation, you must be able to leave without a badge, code, or power: see electromagnetic lock or latch.
ZKTeco terminals and their prices
Asloitech.com store price as of 06/11/2026, subject to availability. The three time clocks were not listed in the store inventory: their prices are approximate figures from our quotes (median, then minimum to maximum).
| Terminal | Mode | Price (DA HT) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water‑proof Digicode MK-V ID | Code and 125 kHz card | 9 000 | Store, in stock |
| Water‑proof Digicode MK-V IC | Mifare code and card | 12 500 | Store, out of stock |
| Time clock K40 | Fingerprint | 21 000 (18 000 à 21 000) | Quote |
| Time clock K50 Pro | Fingerprint, time‑in/out and access | 21 000 (19 000 à 25 000) | Quote |
| Time clock SenseFace 2A | Face | 25 000 (24 000 à 34 500) | Quote |
These three time clocks have no datasheet in the shop record. Ask us for the available version and its verification modes: according to the manufacturer, these models may also read a card or code.
For 20 people, the MK-V ID with 20 cards at 65 DA HT costs 9,000 + 20 × 65 = 9,000 + 1,300 = 10,300 DA HT. The K50 Pro costs 21,000 DA HT (median of quotes), no card supplied. These totals exclude the lock, power supply and installation: see the price of an access control for a door.
Frequently asked questions
Can badge and code be combined?
Yes, if the terminal has a keypad and a card reader. The MK‑V has both. The metal keypad series from ZKTeco that includes it offers the “card then code” mode: check this in configuration.
What to do with a lost badge?
Delete the card in the terminal and issue a new one: 65 DA HT for a PVC RFID 125 kHz card. With a shared code, change the code for everyone.
Does the fingerprint work with damaged hands?
Not always. For manual trades, choose the badge, or test the fingerprint or face on site before ordering.
To choose the appropriate mode for your site, request a visit via our page access control and time clock or browse the access control shop.