There’s a practical debate about keychain vs lanyard, which is the better choice? But the real question is, what do you need it for? Both keychains and lanyards have various uses, ranging from simple display tools to smart carry-ons. You can use them for organization, branding, or daily utility. 

But before making a decision between keychain vs lanyard, you need to understand their differences, pros, cons, and where you can ideally use them. This decision may seem insignificant, but the right choice impacts long-term use, accessibility, visibility, etc. 

Regardless of your decision, CustomLanyard.net is the #1 choice to find the best personalized lanyards online. We proudly offer various customization options to find you the perfect fit for your needs.

So, let’s start with understanding keychains vs lanyards uses and then move forward towards their unique differences for a better choice. 

What is a Lanyard Used For?

You may be wondering, what is a lanyard used for? Simply put, it is commonly used as an ID card or badge display. However, they are also used to carrying other things. The best part? You can hang them around your neck, shoulder, or wrist.

Most offices, schools, healthcare facilities, events, and other professional settings use lanyards to display ID cards and badges. Don’t know what to put on a lanyard? These cords or straps in varied widths are widely used to carry things like ID cards, USB drives, keys, a whistle, sanitizer, etc. The limit is your imagination.

Many event organizers also use custom lanyards as branding opportunities. They offer giveaways and IDs with custom lanyards branded with their logos, names, or slogans. 

What is a Keychain Used For?

Keychains are typically used to secure or organize various small accessories and tools. They are small rings made of plastic or metal attached to a charm, which you can customize. These small organizers are often pocket-sized and highly portable, offering minimal utility. You can either throw them in your bag or clip them onto your bag, clothing, belt, or anywhere you can access easily.

People usually use them for car or house keys and small accessories. You may also find some extravagant keychains with custom charms holding a bunch of stuff. They are highly practical, but visibility is often very minimal. 

Brands often use custom keychains as keepsakes during events and conferences, which also work as branding, while giving the guests something practical they can use for daily utilities. 

Keychain vs Lanyard: Key Differences to Consider

Both keychain vs lanyard have different benefits and uses. Your choice depends on your specific needs and priorities. So, without further ado, let’s break down the comparison between lanyard vs keychain to see how they differ from each other and see which one fits your needs, lanyard or keychain?

Portability and Wearability

Lanyards and keychains are both highly portable. However, you’ll find lanyards more wearable than keychains when comparing keychains vs lanyards. Lanyards are designed to be worn around the neck, shoulders, or wrist for better convenience. 

In contrast, keychains are typically pocket-sized, which you can clip on your belt loop or throw in your bag to keep things organized and easily accessible. They are used to organize smaller tools and accessories for a more discreet look. 

Visibility and Access

Lanyards are often used and praised for their visibility and accessibility. Your ID, badge, or any small tool is always visible and readily accessible around your neck. 

On the contrary, keychains usually stay out of sight in either your pocket or bag. Although you can make it accessible by clipping it to your belt or pocket, visibility still remains very minimal. 

Storage Capacity

Both keychains and lanyards can carry a lot of items when it comes to accessing storage capacity. You can hold multiple keys, pen drives, ID badges, and even small tools. We can safely say there’s a tie in this keychain vs. lanyard comparison. 

Lanyards made with strong material can hold more weight, while keychains are small rings that can only hold a limited number of items. Moreover, keychains are not designed to carry heavier objects like water bottles. On the other hand, you can attach lanyards to virtually anything.

Customization Potential

You can customize both the lanyard vs keychains in many different ways. You can personalize your lanyards' width, color, and length; the potential goes as far as your imagination. 

Custom ID card lanyards can also display your name, logo, or any kind of branding on the cord or strap very clearly. On the other hand, keychains have minimal customization potential. You can attach branding logos to the keyring in varied colors, but the visual impact is not as bold as lanyards.

Comfort and Safety

Comparing keychain vs lanyard for safety and comfort means considering keychain vs lanyard material types and security breakaways. Most lanyards are designed using comfortable materials like custom polyester lanyards, custom nylon lanyards, and custom woven lanyards, which provide maximum comfort. Moreover, you can add security features as add-ons to your lanyard. 

Keychains, on the other hand, are typically made of plastic or metal without any safety features. They can easily snag on your clothes if not made properly. Some premium keychains are designed with safety in mind to reduce such concerns. Since they don’t actually come in direct contact with skin, the material doesn’t really matter for comfort. 

Use Case Scenarios

Both keychains and lanyards have different case uses. Lanyards are best for ID displays in events, conferences, offices, or schools. Keychains are best for organizing small accessories and managing multiple keys for a more discreet look. However, you should compare wristband vs lanyard for outdoor activities and highly active environments for a better alternative. 

Bring Your Custom Lanyards to Life Through Our Simple, Stress-Free Process! 

At CustomLanyard.net, we make it easy for you to customize your lanyards as your heart desires. Our simple process brings your ideas to life instantly with endless options. Our process is designed to make it easy for you to order your custom lanyards, no matter if it's for a small team or a large organization. 

You can pick between our nylon vs polyester lanyards, change the width, style, and add-ons to make them truly personal. The best part? We guide you in every step of customization from idea to final product because your satisfaction is our primary goal. 

CustomLanyard.net has earned the trust of over 1 million customers, making us the #1 choice for custom lanyards and similar accessories. Partnering with us means:

  • 24/7 quick, easy, and super-friendly customer support.
  • Stress-free and straightforward customization and order process.
  • No complicated forms for order fulfillment.
  • Best quality material guaranteed at the lowest price in the market.
  • Fast and safe shopping experience without any privacy concerns.
  • Trusted by some of the biggest names in the industry
  • One of the top-ranked Inc. 500 companies at your service.

Get in touch today, or use our online customizer to take the next step towards bringing your custom lanyards to life!

Bringing Our Lanyard vs Keychain Comparison to a Close

Comparing a lanyard vs keychain, you can clearly see the differences to make a well-considered decision. What you choose depends on your preferences and needs. There are a few aspects to consider, like visibility, accessibility, comfort, functionality, etc, at the end it all boils down to your preferences. 

You can also go for a combo of both to get the best of both worlds. You don’t have to pick one when CustomLanyard.net gives you an option to add keychains to your custom lanyards. You can combine the visibility and accessibility of lanyards with the storage capacity of keychains, all in one design.

Visit our website to explore your customization options to find the best lanyard that suits your needs perfectly!