Your efforts to make a smart home don't have to be limited to the indoors. In addition to home security cameras, you can beef up your home security and your house's overall smarts with a few strategically placed smart locks.
These smart locks may take a little more work to install than a smart light bulb or a smart home speaker, but they can offer some serious convenience and peace of mind. Smart locks often replace the deadbolt in your door, giving you a new lock that's not just smart but also strong. Once installed, they can offer any number of features depending on the model.
Some smart locks let you lock and unlock remotely, or check to see if you remembered to shut and lock the door on your way out of the house. Some will let you unlock them with your smartphone, a fingerprint, a code, or a key. If you're really crafty, you could even potentially find a way to pair it with a home security camera with facial recognition to automate unlocking when your camera recognizes you. With all these features in mind, have a look at our top picks and see if any look right for your home.
TL;DR – These are the Best Smart Locks:
- August Wi-Fi Smart Lock
- August Smart Lock
- Schlage Encode Smart WiFi Deadbolt
- Nest x Yale Lock
- Level Touch
- Lockly Secure Plus Smart Lock
- Yale Assure Lever
- Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro
- eufy Security Smart Lock
1. August Wi-Fi Smart Lock
Best Smart Lock
The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock is simple and highly effective. You don’t have to jump through any wild hoops to get it up and running. In fact, you can leave most of your current deadbolt in place, only replacing the interior portion of the bolt housing with the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock. That’ll save you a lot of time and effort with installation, and it’ll let you continue to use your existing keys with the lock.
The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock connects directly to your Wi-Fi, so you don’t need to purchase a separate bridge to get it up and running or to unlock all of its features. Once it’s set up, you’ll be able to control the lock remotely and even see whether the door is open or closed and locked or unlocked. You can have the door automatically lock when you leave and unlock when you come home. And, if you have regular guests, you can provide them with scheduled or temporary access.
2. August Smart Lock
Best Budget Smart Lock
The August Smart Lock certainly comes at a more modest price, just $150 (or less with some of the discounts we’ve seen recently), but it’s still a feature-rich smart lock that’ll let you add plenty of modern convenience to your doors. The August Smart Lock can replace your doors existing, single-cylinder deadbolt.
Without a special Connect Wi-Fi Bridge, the August Smart Lock still provides the simplicity of automatically unlocking via a Bluetooth connection to your phone when you get close to the door and automatically locking behind you. You also still have the capability of creating temporary keys for visitors and using your phone to manually control the lock. By adding the Connect Wi-Fi Bridge, you get remote control over the lock, and you can get activity notifications to know when the door has been locked and unlocked. August’s Door Sense can also allow you to confirm that your door is actually fully shut with the deadbolt engaged.
3. Schlage Encode Smart WiFi Deadbolt
Best Smart Lock for Alexa
Amazon’s Alexa smart ecosystem is robust and feature-rich, and the Schlage Encode is all ready to jump into that ecosystem. This Schlage Encode brings a multi-tiered approach to the smart lock while also coming at a high-value price. The Schlage Encode has a couple different housing options to suit your style, and it installs simply in place of an existing deadbolt.
The lock doesn’t require a special hub, connecting instead directly to your home Wi-Fi network. Once connected, you can control it using the Schlage Home app or the Key by Amazon app. This will give you remote control over the lock and let you set up access for guests. You can also set it up with the Amazon Cloud Cam to manage Amazon deliveries that can be set inside your door rather than out on your stoop. The Schlage Encode has some backup smarts, including the option to use a code to unlock or even simply a key if the Wi-Fi goes out or the battery dies, though the lock will warn you in advance if the battery is getting low.
4. Nest x Yale Lock
Best Foolproof Smart Lock
If you’re more of a Google Assistant fan, then the Nest x Yale Lock is for you. This smart lock is intelligent inside and out, with that elegant, minimalist design and clever features that make it foolproof. If you’re one to lose your key constantly or forget to change batteries on your electronic devices often, this is a match made in heaven.
The Nest x Yale Lock is keyless so you won’t have to worry about losing those keys or getting them copied without your permission ever again. It does have three ways for access – via the Nest app, with a passcode, and through voice control (only for locking). It’s also tamper-resistant – that is, you will immediately get alerted as soon as someone tries to get in without the right access code.
Finally, if you ignore the battery low and battery critical warnings, and end up with a dead device, you can actually hold a 9V alkaline battery to the terminals at the bottom to quickly charge the device with a 9V battery to unlock it. It’s a temporary fix, but one that will get you inside to do a proper battery change.
Our only gripes about this smart lock are that it only works with Google Assistant, and it needs Nest Connect or Nest Guard for remote access through the Nest app. However, if you’re already invested in Nest devices or Google Home, then it’s the perfect smart lock for you.
5. Level Touch
Best Smart Lock for Apple HomeKit
Many smart locks can add some serious bulk onto your door, but the Level Touch boasts being the smallest smart lock ever made. And, it just takes one look to see that it's significantly more compact than the competition. There's no big keypad or chunky housing to hold several large batteries. Instead, the Level Touch is about the same size as you'd get from a typical deadbolt, and it's powered by a single CR2 battery that fits within the bolt itself and can last for up to a year.
With the Level Touch, you'll be able to unlock your door with just a tap on the metal housing. You can also unlock the door with programmable key cards, traditional keys, and the Level Home app. You can also create special access for guests. You can go even further with an Apple HomeKit hub, which adds support for automation, voice controls through Siri, remote control of the lock when you're away from home, and notifications of lock activity.
6. Lockly Secure Plus Smart Lock
Best Smart Lock with a Fingerprint Reader
Fingerprint login and access are all the rage these days, with more and more laptops offering the capability, which we must admit is a pretty nifty one. If you’re looking for the same feature for your front door or your office, make sure to take a look at Lockly Secure Plus Smart Lock first. Not only is it among the most highly rated fingerprint smart locks out there, but it’s also among the best smart locks (period).
It boasts many of the bells and whistles that the other top smart locks feature, including locking/unlocking through your phone, access alerts, one-touch lock, and access codes that work even when the device is not connected to your Wifi. At the same time, it brings a few of its own extras to the table: namely, a high-quality capacitive fingerprint sensor that can store up to 99 unique fingerprints, and the At Home Safe Mode that lets you disable the touchscreen from the inside so no one else can come in.
If you want remote access, bear in mind that you will need the Secure Link Wi-Fi Hub, and it isn’t cheap at $80. That on top of the cost of the smart lock might burn a hole in your pocket if you’re on a budget. Fingerprint readers don’t exactly come cheap, at least not right now, so that’s to be expected.
7. Yale Assure Lever
Best Smart Door Level
A lot of smart locks just replace the deadbolt of your door, but that might not work for everyone, and you may not want to have to add the cost of a whole new door just to smarten up your security. So, if you don't have a deadbolt and need a smart lock that can replace your existing doorknob/lock combo, the Yale Assure Lever is it.
This smart lock provides a ton of flexibility. It's easy to lock and unlock from the inside with a simple twist. You can also set it up to automatically lock behind you. On the outside, you'll have a 10 digit keypad for entering the access code. But, you don't have to have just one access code. You can set up individual access codes to keep track of who's coming, and you can provide guests with their code that you can then revoke after their visit. With the Yale Assure Lever connected to your Wi-Fi, you can also control it remotely or have smart assistants lock and unlock it. In a pinch, you can also unlock the door with a key, but that shouldn't be a worry as the lock can alert you when the batteries are getting low.
8. Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro
Most Versatile Smart Lock
When it comes to versatile access, the Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro Bluetooth Smart Deadbolt is unrivaled. It boasts six ways of access: through your phone via the U-Tec app, with Auto Unlock, using the Anti-Peep keypad, with your fingerprint, by shaking your phone, and with a mechanical key. That’s a lot of flexibility in terms of giving people access.
It’s tamper-proof, with its Anti-Peep keypad that allows you to punch in a random number of digits with your correct passcode embedded, as well as dual data encryption for the fingerprint ID. It’s foolproof, with an external battery you can use when you’re locked out. And, it also has IFTTT integration, which syncs it to your other smart home devices.
Of course, it also has all the features that its rivals have, including the ability to create temporary access codes, send activity logs and notifications, and remote access. All those features for less than $200 – you’re certainly getting a bargain.
9. eufy Security Smart Lock
Best Front Door Smart Lock
Anker's eufy brand has made inroads into many areas of the smart home market with quality products that come at affordable price points, and the eufy Security Smart Lock aims to fit right at the front line of your smart home as a solid addition to your front door. This smart lock is a simple affair, designed to work with lever-handle doors with a separate deadbolt, but adds smart features for just over $100.
The lock relies on Bluetooth for its smarts, automatically unlocking when you get near, and locking itself behind you as well. It can even keep a log of who's come and gone. If your phone is dead or you need to let a guest in, the door also features a number pad for unlocking via pin. The housing is designed to withstand the weather of just about any region with an IPX3 rating and the ability to function down to -22 degrees and up to 158 degrees Fahrenheit. Four AA batteries power the unit, but if it ever runs out of charge and you don't have your keys handy, it can be powered by a portable charger (something Anker happens to make a ton of) over micro USB in a pinch.
How to choose the best smart lock for you
Although the best smart locks generally have the same fundamental features like a keypad and some level of smart home integration, they somewhat differ in extra features and how they do certain things. For example, while most smart locks on this list only offer the auto lock function when you’re leaving the house, only a couple offer the auto unlock.
Choosing the best smart lock for you, therefore, not only depends on how robust, reliable and secure it is. You must also consider its feature set and make sure that it’s right for your needs.
Cost
Smart locks are always going to be more expensive than traditional locks. However, some of these smart locks are cheaper than others without compromising on features and performance. In fact, some of the most feature-rich locks on this list are actually surprisingly affordable.
Consider the cost of installation as well. Most smart locks are easy enough to install yourself, and they come with tutorial videos on how to do it. However, there might be some that are trickier to install, and you might need a bit of professional help, which will only increase the cost.
In addition, check whether or not you need a bridge or a hub to connect it to your existing smart home system and to have remote access. You may have to pay a bit more for that benefit.
Battery power
Most smart locks use four AA batteries, which makes them easy to replace. You must, however, consider how long those batteries last. Some smart locks promise up to 19 months of battery life, while others consume those batteries within three months. It just depends on how power efficient the smart lock is designed.
Power failure backup
Many people think that smart locks stop working when there’s power or network outage. The truth is smart locks can function independently without smart home integration and WiFi connection. As long as you’re within Bluetooth range, these smart locks will let you have access. Smart home integration is mostly just for convenience and remote access – so you can tell Alexa to lock the door because you don’t want to get out of bed, for example, or so that you can open the door for a friend from your phone while you’re at work.
They are also battery-powered so they’re not reliant on your home electricity. However, it’s when those batteries run out of juice before you get a chance to replace them that’s a common cause for concern. The keyless smart locks often let you use an external battery (whether that’s a 9V battery or a USB power bank) to give them enough juice for you to unlock them, go inside and replace the battery. Others still have the manual key access available in case of emergency.
Smart home integration
While smart locks do offer smart home integration, there are quite a few of them that don’t exactly make it easy. Typically, you can’t just pair them with your Amazon Echo directly without the need for an additional step or accessory. Some don’t, but many others will require a hub or a bridge.
In addition, they might not even be compatible with the smart home ecosystem you’re using. There are quite a few, for example, that aren’t compatible with Apple’s HomeKit. Others are not compatible with the Z-Wave system. On the other hand, a handful of smart locks work particularly best with HomeKit, IFTTT or SmartThings.
If smart home integration is very important to you, you must do your research to make sure that the smart lock you pick is compatible with your existing smart home system.
Michelle Rae Uy is a freelance tech and travel writer, part-time production editor, and a full-time traveler from Los Angeles, California. She currently splits her time between Los Angeles, London and the rest of the world. Follow her on Instagram @straywithRae.
