ideniKey Review: The AI key blank identification app every locksmith needs in 2026

Identifying unknown key blanks used to mean flipping through dog-eared Ilco books or making educated guesses. ideniKey by CLK Supplies changes that entirely — just snap two photos and let AI do the rest. Here's everything you need to know.

If you work with locks and keys, you already know the pain: a customer walks in with an obscure key, no markings, no brand name — just a worn-down blank that could be any one of thousands of profiles. Veteran locksmiths might recognize it on sight. Newer technicians spend precious minutes hunting through catalogs. And sometimes, even the pros get stumped.

That's exactly the problem ideniKey was built to solve. Developed by PJ Slauson, owner of CLK Supplies, ideniKey is an AI-powered mobile application that identifies key blanks in seconds using nothing more than your smartphone camera. Since launching in summer 2024, it has attracted more than 15,000 downloads and won the ALOA New Product Showcase — making it one of the most talked-about innovations in the locksmith industry in years.

What is ideniKey?

ideniKey is a mobile key blank identification app available for both iOS (iPhone and iPad) and Android. It uses advanced AI image recognition technology to analyze photos of an unidentified key blank and match them against a comprehensive, ever-growing database — returning the top five closest matches within seconds.

The app was born out of real-world frustration. Slauson had spent years helping his own staff identify keys that customers sent in as photos. "I'd spend so many evenings just trying to memorize profiles and part numbers in the Ilco key blank book," he has said. After years of development, that obsession became a patent-pending AI system that any locksmith can access from their pocket.

Note: ideniKey does not include restricted or high-security key blanks — a deliberate decision by CLK Supplies to protect the integrity of those keyway systems.

How does ideniKey work?

The identification process is refreshingly simple. Here's the exact workflow:

1. Open the ideniKey app and tap "Find a Key" from the main menu.

2. Place the key flat and vertical on any surface, head pointing up. Hold your phone about one foot away, pinch to zoom in until the key fills 50–90% of the screen.

3. Take a clear, sharp photo of the first side. Avoid using the flash — it obscures the key's detail cuts.

4. Flip the key and photograph the second side. Both sides are required for accurate identification.

5. Tap "Find This Key." The AI analyzes both images and returns the top five closest-matching key blanks in seconds.

6. Browse the results, confirm the match, and tap the CLK Supplies button to order directly through the app.

The decision to show five results rather than one is a key design choice. Many imported keys sold at big-box hardware stores don't conform to any standard manufacturer specification. In practice, several blanks may be interchangeable in the same lock. By surfacing multiple close matches, ideniKey ensures that even if you don't stock the top result, you likely have something on your key wall that will work.

Key features at a glance

AI image matching: Patent-pending AI analyzes both sides of the key against thousands of profiles in the database.

Top 5 results: Always returns five closest matches — critical for generic and imported keys with no exact spec.

Direct ordering: One-tap link to buy identified blanks from CLK Supplies, with 360° product images.

Growing database: New key blanks added regularly in batches of ~100. Goal is 6,000–8,000 total keys.

Save & share: Save identified blanks to a personal collection or share results with colleagues.

Rebuilt camera UI: On-screen alignment guides, smarter autofocus, and improved lighting — rolled out in 2025.

Feedback loop: "Key not found?" button lets users submit missing blanks to help expand the database.

iOS & Android: Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play. Rated 4.5 stars on the App Store.

How much does ideniKey cost?

ideniKey launched free during its promotional debut period. It is now offered as an annual subscription at $24/year — making it one of the most affordable professional tools available to locksmiths. The subscription includes unlimited scans, full database access, AI matching with top 5 results, direct CLK Supplies ordering, and ongoing updates as new key blanks are added.

To put that in perspective: $24 a year is roughly the price of a single key blank book — except ideniKey never goes out of date and doesn't require memorization. For a working locksmith shop identifying even a handful of mystery keys per month, the time savings alone justify the cost many times over.

Latest updates (2025–2026)

CLK Supplies has been actively improving ideniKey since launch. The most significant update — rolled out through 2025 — was a complete overhaul of the user experience. The menus and navigation were streamlined for fewer taps, the camera was rebuilt from the ground up with on-screen alignment guides and improved autofocus, and the overall processing speed was improved for faster results. 

The database itself continues to grow rapidly, with new key blanks added in regular batches. CLK Supplies has set a development milestone of 6,000 to 8,000 keys before expanding to major new feature categories — meaning the current phase is all about depth and accuracy. Any key identified in ideniKey is confirmed to be in stock at CLK Supplies, so there's no frustration of finding the blank only to discover it's unavailable.

Tips for getting the best results

A few habits make a meaningful difference in identification accuracy. Always keep the key vertical with the head at the top — the wrong orientation prevents the AI from processing the image correctly. Skip the camera flash; shadows from the flash obscure the very cuts and grooves the AI is reading. If the key is on a keyring, remove it if you can — it's possible to photograph on the ring, but isolated keys are faster and more reliable. And if the first scan misses, try again with fresh photos in better light before assuming the key isn't in the database.

Final verdict

IdeniKey is a rare app that genuinely earns its place in a professional toolkit. At $24/year, with an AI-powered database covering thousands of key blanks, instant ordering integration, and continuous updates, it's arguably the best value tool available to working locksmiths today. Whether you're a seasoned pro facing an unusual blank or a new technician still building your key knowledge, ideniKey delivers real, time-saving results.

Download ideniKey on the Apple App Store or Google Play, or learn more at clksupplies.com.