Ajax Keypad Comparison: KeyPad, Plus, TouchScreen & Outdoor

Last updated: 9 June 2026 · Netview CCTV, Leicester · Trade desk 01163 800 838

The keypad is the part of an Ajax system the customer touches every single day, so picking the wrong one is the fastest way to generate a callback. This installer guide is an Ajax keypad comparison across the whole Jeweller wireless range — KeyPad, KeyPad Plus, KeyPad TouchScreen and KeyPad Outdoor — with the specs, RFID options and IP ratings that actually decide which unit goes on the wall. Every model below is UK trade stock at Netview with same-day dispatch.

Ajax keypad comparison KeyPad Plus TouchScreen Outdoor — The four Ajax Jeweller keypads Netview stocks for trade — KeyPad, KeyPad Plus, KeyPad TouchScreen and KeyPad Outdoor.

At a glance

KeyPad Jeweller — entry capacitive touch keypad, code-only, no RFID. Best for budget domestic arm/disarm indoors.
KeyPad Plus Jeweller — adds a DESFire RFID reader for Pass cards and Tag fobs, plus longer battery life. The sensible default for most homes.
KeyPad TouchScreen Jeweller — 5-inch IPS touchscreen with proximity wake and RFID. The premium indoor interface for high-end and commercial jobs.
KeyPad Outdoor Jeweller — IP66 / IK08, Pass, Tag, Bluetooth smartphone and codes. The only keypad to mount at the gate or front door.
All four pair to an Ajax hub over Jeweller, are EN 50131 Grade 2, and ship in white, black or (Outdoor) graphite.

Which Ajax keypad should I fit? The quick answer

Fit the KeyPad Plus for the typical monitored home, the KeyPad TouchScreen where the client wants a premium indoor interface, and the KeyPad Outdoor whenever the arming point is at a gate, porch or anywhere exposed to weather. Reserve the basic KeyPad Jeweller for code-only budget jobs where tag access is not needed. Every model is a two-way Jeweller device, so it reports tamper, low battery and jamming back to the hub like any other Ajax peripheral (Ajax KeyPad specs).

Ajax keypad comparison table

The table below is the fast spec comparison installers ask for most. Figures are taken from Ajax's own technical specification pages.

Feature	KeyPad	KeyPad Plus	KeyPad TouchScreen	KeyPad Outdoor
Interface	Capacitive touch + LED	Capacitive touch + LED	5″ IPS touchscreen	Capacitive touch + LED
RFID reader	No	Yes (DESFire Pass/Tag)	Yes (DESFire Pass/Tag)	Yes (DESFire EV1/EV2/EV3)
Smartphone (Bluetooth)	No	No	No	Yes (BLE 4.2+)
Indoor / outdoor	Indoor	Indoor	Indoor	Outdoor & indoor (IP66 / IK08)
Battery	4 × AAA, up to 2 yrs	4 × AAA, up to 3.5 yrs	6 × AA, up to 1.5 yrs	2 × CR123A, up to 3 yrs
External power option	No	No	Yes (10.5–14 V)	Yes (10.5–14 V, up to 1 A)
Security grade	EN 50131 Grade 2	EN 50131 Grade 2	EN 50131 Grade 2	EN 50131 Grade 2
Netview SKU	22676 (white) / 22672 (black)	26101 (white) / 26100 (black)	58455 (white) / 58454 (black)	99967 (white) / 99968 (black) / 99969 (graphite)

What is an Ajax keypad and how does it pair?

An Ajax keypad is a wall-mounted arming station that switches the system between Armed, Disarmed and Night modes and pairs to the hub over the two-way Jeweller radio protocol at 868 MHz. Every keypad in the range supports up to a 5,500 ft (around 1,700 m) open-space radio range to the hub or a ReX range extender, uses frequency hopping to resist jamming, and reports communication loss after roughly 36 seconds (Ajax KeyPad specs). Because the keypad is a fully supervised Jeweller device, the hub flags a missing keypad as a fault rather than silently losing the arming point — which is exactly what you want on a monitored system. Every Ajax keypad needs a compatible hub such as the Hub 2 or Hub 2 Plus; see our Ajax Hub 2 vs Hub 2 Plus guide for the control-panel choice.

KeyPad Jeweller: the code-only entry option

The Ajax KeyPad Jeweller is the budget choice: a capacitive touch keypad with LED mode indication, code-only access and a configurable function button that can fire a panic alarm or mute interconnected fire detectors. It runs on four pre-installed AAA batteries for up to two years, supports up to 200 user codes plus duress codes (the ceiling depends on the hub model), and locks out for 3–180 minutes after three wrong codes in a minute (Ajax KeyPad specs). It has no RFID reader, so if the customer wants tag or card access you need the KeyPad Plus instead. Fit the basic KeyPad indoors where a PIN on the wall is all the job needs — it is also available in black.

Ajax keypad range four models compared by use case — Match the keypad to the job — code-only indoors, RFID for homes, touchscreen for premium, IP66 for the gate.

KeyPad Plus Jeweller: RFID and longer battery life

The Ajax KeyPad Plus Jeweller is the model most installers should quote by default. It keeps the capacitive touch layout of the basic KeyPad but adds a contactless reader for Ajax Pass cards and Tag key fobs using virtually unclonable DESFire chips on the ISO 14443 standard with 128-bit encryption (Ajax KeyPad Plus). Tag access is faster than a PIN, harder to share informally, and removes the “forgotten code” callback. Battery life also improves to up to 3.5 years on four AAA cells — or up to 4.5 years with the card reader switched off. Stock the white 26101 or black 26100, and add a pack of Ajax Tags for the handover.

KeyPad TouchScreen Jeweller: the premium indoor interface

The Ajax KeyPad TouchScreen Jeweller is the flagship indoor keypad, built around a 5-inch IPS touch display that shows system status, groups and rooms instead of a bank of LEDs. A built-in proximity sensor wakes the screen as a hand approaches, and a light sensor dims the backlight so it is bright by day and unobtrusive at night (Ajax KeyPad TouchScreen). It reads the same DESFire Pass cards and Tag fobs as the KeyPad Plus. The trade-off is power draw: it runs on six AA batteries for up to 1.5 years, so on busy sites wire it to an optional 10.5–14 V external supply with the batteries as backup. Choose the TouchScreen for showpiece installs, larger homes and commercial receptions in white 58455 or black 58454.

KeyPad Outdoor Jeweller: the only weatherproof option

The Ajax KeyPad Outdoor Jeweller is the only keypad in the range rated for outdoor mounting, with an IP66 / IK08 enclosure that handles rain, dust and impact at a gate, porch or external door. It is also the most flexible on access: codes, Ajax Pass cards, Tag fobs and Bluetooth smartphone authentication (BLE 4.2 and later), so a user can disarm from their phone without touching the keypad (Ajax KeyPad Outdoor specs). It adds two-factor arming — present a card then enter a code — and a panic function button. Power is two CR123A cells for up to three years, with an optional 10.5–14 V external supply. Stock it in white, black or graphite to match the building.

Codes, tags and smartphones: which access method?

Match the access method to the user, not just the budget. A PIN code is universal and works on every keypad, but it is the easiest credential to share and the one customers forget — fine for a single-user home, weak for staff turnover. Pass cards and Tag fobs (KeyPad Plus, TouchScreen and Outdoor) are fast, hard to clone thanks to DESFire encryption, and easy to revoke when a member of staff leaves. Bluetooth smartphone disarm (KeyPad Outdoor only) is the most convenient for the user and leaves nothing to lose. On commercial sites, spec card or fob access and keep PINs for occasional or contractor use, with duress codes set up for lone-worker scenarios.

Hub kits with a keypad: the fastest way to quote

For straightforward jobs, an Ajax hub kit puts a working system — including a keypad — on the wall in one box. The Ajax Hub 2 Kit 3 pairs a Hub 2 with two PIRs, a door contact, a KeyPad and indoor and outdoor sirens, so you have an armable system from a single SKU and add detectors as needed. Kits price faster and stock-pick faster than loose components — see our Ajax StarterKit installer guide for the full breakdown, and the Ajax MotionProtect vs Pyronix KX comparison when you are choosing the PIRs to pair with the keypad.

How to choose an Ajax keypad in four steps — Four questions that point you straight at the right Ajax keypad.

How to choose: 4-step spec workflow

Work through four questions and the right Ajax keypad falls out:

Location — mounted outside or at a gate? KeyPad Outdoor (IP66). Indoors only? Any of the other three.
Access method — needs tag or card access? KeyPad Plus, TouchScreen or Outdoor. Code-only is fine? Basic KeyPad.
Interface — wants a premium screen with status and groups? KeyPad TouchScreen. LED indication is enough? KeyPad Plus.
Power — high-traffic site? Wire the TouchScreen or Outdoor to external power with battery backup; low-traffic stays on batteries.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between Ajax KeyPad and KeyPad Plus?

The KeyPad Plus adds a contactless DESFire RFID reader for Ajax Pass cards and Tag fobs, and offers longer battery life (up to 3.5 years versus up to 2 years). The basic KeyPad is code-only with no reader. Both are indoor Jeweller keypads with capacitive touch and a function button.

Can an Ajax keypad be used outdoors?

Only the Ajax KeyPad Outdoor Jeweller is rated for outdoor use, with an IP66 / IK08 enclosure. The KeyPad, KeyPad Plus and KeyPad TouchScreen are all designed for indoor installation only.

Does the Ajax KeyPad TouchScreen support tags?

Yes. The KeyPad TouchScreen reads Ajax Pass cards and Tag key fobs using DESFire technology, the same contactless system as the KeyPad Plus, alongside its 5-inch touchscreen and PIN access.

Which Ajax hubs work with these keypads?

All four keypads pair over Jeweller to any current Ajax hub, including the Hub 2, Hub 2 (4G) and Hub 2 Plus. The number of user and duress codes available depends on the hub model. See our Ajax Hub 2 vs Hub 2 Plus guide for the control-panel choice.

Can you disarm an Ajax keypad with a smartphone?

Yes, on the KeyPad Outdoor Jeweller. It supports Bluetooth (BLE 4.2 and later) smartphone authentication, so a user with the Ajax app can disarm at the keypad without a code, card or fob. The indoor keypads use codes and RFID only.

Are Ajax keypads Grade 2 certified?

Yes. The KeyPad, KeyPad Plus, KeyPad TouchScreen and KeyPad Outdoor are all certified to EN 50131 Security Grade 2, making them suitable for the great majority of UK domestic and light-commercial insurance-specified intruder systems.

Order Ajax keypads from Netview

Netview is a UK trade supplier of the full Ajax range, holding stock of the KeyPad, KeyPad Plus, KeyPad TouchScreen and KeyPad Outdoor in white, black and graphite for same-day dispatch. Need help speccing the right keypad and hub for a job? Call the trade desk on 01163 800 838 or browse the brands we stock.

Trade desk: 01163 800 838 · netviewcctv.co.uk

Sources: Ajax KeyPad Jeweller specifications; Ajax KeyPad Plus; Ajax KeyPad TouchScreen; Ajax KeyPad Outdoor Jeweller specifications. Specifications correct at time of publication; confirm against current Ajax documentation for compliance-critical jobs.