According to Garrett Lovejoy, VP of product management for US Smart Residential, smart home integration is one of the most useful smart lock features. “As an extension of home access convenience, smart locks also help you automate your whole home,” says Lovejoy. “When your lock integrates with other smart home platforms, you can set up routines for arrivals and departures. For example, when you leave and lock the door, you can automatically turn off your lights, activate your Roomba to clean the floor, lower your thermostat, and more.” We examined dozens of smart locks and weighed factors like access methods, app functionality, and security features to come up with the best options for various situations and circumstances. Our number one recommendation, the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock, uses your existing lock hardware for an easy, seamless installation, ties into a best-in-class companion app, and doesn’t require a hub for smart home integration. Here are the best smart locks. The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock is our top recommendation because it uses your existing deadbolt hardware and offers wide smart home compatibility. This lock doesn’t provide any physical unlocking options other than your existing key, but it does have a proximity unlock feature that activates whenever your connected phone or Apple Watch gets within range. August also sells a compatible wireless keypad if you want to add an additional unlocking method. Despite being relatively small, this lock has built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity. It’s able to connect to your local wireless network without the need for a bridge or hub, which facilitates smart home integration. Alexa and Google Assistant setup is fairly seamless, but HomeKit relies on a Bluetooth Low Energy connection to the Apple device you use as a hub. If you don’t have that device within Bluetooth Low Energy range of the lock, you won’t be able to use it with HomeKit. This lock has a companion app that allows you to operate it both locally and remotely and offers security with biometrics. That means you can use your phone’s fingerprint sensor or face recognition for added security. The app also lets you generate codes to provide access to guests, although your guests will need to download the August app to take advantage of that. The app and lock can keep track of up to 220 different codes, each of which can be set to expire at a set time and date and only allow access at specific times. Price at time of publish: $207 This lock offers other impressive hardware for a device at this price point, including an ergonomic fingerprint sensor and a touchscreen anti-peep keypad. You’ll find the fingerprint sensor located conveniently on the door handle, where you’ll touch it naturally, and it uses machine learning to improve accuracy and speed up recognition over time to as little as 0.3 seconds. The keypad buttons have fixed positions, but you can enter random digits before and after the actual code, which prevents any onlookers from seeing your code and using it later. Price at time of publish: $110 This lock includes a Zigbee bridge that connects it to your home network, so you can operate it remotely via the companion app. The app can also alert you if someone leaves the door open, as the Wyze Lock knows whether your door is open or shut without the need for any additional sensors. Since it uses your existing deadbolt, it doesn’t have any option to unlock via a keypad or fingerprint sensor, but adding a keypad is possible. Wyze sells an optional wireless keypad that’s compatible with this lock, but that does represent an additional cost. Price at time of publish: $130 This lock includes a Wi-Fi Connect bridge, which allows it to connect to the Wi-Fi network in your rental. The bridge can’t provide a Wi-Fi connection if it isn’t close to both your lock and the router, so connection and setup can be finicky. Excess interference can also cause connectivity problems, but you can’t automate code generation and create codes remotely through the app without a Wi-Fi connection. Connecting the Wi-Fi bridge also enables smart home integration with Google Home, Alexa, and HomeKit. Voice controls allow you to lock, unlock, and check the status of the lock through Siri, Google Assistant, and Alexa, although unlocking requires you to say your PIN out loud. Price at time of publish: $259 The Lock Bolt’s companion app can lock and unlock your door when you’re within range, generate up to 20 temporary entry codes, and check the locking and unlocking history. This lock lacks Wi-Fi and any option to add that functionality through a hub, which also means you can’t unlock your door remotely. However, the app is capable of generating temporary codes on an emergency basis. In the event that someone gets locked out or you need to grant remote access, you can generate one of these codes and text it to the person who needs to get in. Price at time of publish: $80 In addition to the touchpad, you can operate the Secure Pro via its 3D fingerprint scanner and the Lockly app, and it includes a Wi-Fi hub to enable smart home voice controls. The hub needs to be no more than 10 to 15 feet from the lock and your router, so you will need a Wi-Fi extender if that isn’t possible. The fingerprint scanner can store up to 99 fingerprints and uses a capacitive sensor. This 3D sensor is more secure and less likely to register a false negative than locks that use optical sensors, but it isn’t corrosion-resistant, which can be an issue in some environments. Price at time of publish: $300 This lock has built-in Wi-Fi, so it doesn’t need a hub. You can extend the battery life by connecting through your Apple TV or HomePod Mini if you’re using HomeKit. In addition to HomeKit, the lock works with both Alexa and Google Assistant. The tap-to-unlock feature is limited to Apple devices that support Apple Home Key, so it’s difficult to justify the high price tag if you’re an Android user or your smart home doesn’t use HomeKit. Android users might find a better fit with the regular Schlage Encode that has all of the same features without HomeKit compatibility. Price at time of publish: $489 This lock replaces your deadbolt with an attractive keypad, so there’s no option to unlock it with a physical key. The app provides an advanced warning when the batteries are getting low, though, and you can also power it up temporarily with a 9-volt battery if the batteries die when you’re away. The keypad is slick and modern-looking and available in a few different finishes to match your decor. As an added security feature, you can disable the keypad and only allow unlocking via the app. Price at time of publish: $259 Price at time of publish: $151 The amount of trouble you run into during installation depends largely on the type of lock you have and the kind of smart lock you choose to replace it with. To make things easy, make sure you buy the same type of lock that you’re replacing. For example, if you’re replacing a single-cylinder deadbolt, buy a smart lock that’s compatible with a single-cylinder deadbolt. If you’re replacing a latch or mortise lock, buy a latch or mortise smart lock.
Unlocking and Locking Options
Smart locks come with a wide variety of unlocking and locking options, but they all offer some type of remote control access. Wireless options include Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Z-Wave. Bluetooth is good for local access, while Wi-Fi and Z-Wave let the lock hook into your internet connection so you can check its status and activate it from a companion app on your phone even when you aren’t at home. In addition to locking and unlocking via the app, some smart locks integrate into your smart home system. Depending on the model, you may be able to lock and unlock with voice commands or just lock it. Some companion apps can also generate key codes. Smart locks typically retain a physical key option, but that isn’t always the case. Other physical locking and unlocking options include touchscreens, keypads, and fingerprint sensors.
Security and Privacy Features
Many smart locks have security grades from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) or the Builder’s Hardware Manufacturers Association (BHMA), which is an easy way to tell how secure one is at a glance. “It is important to make sure you purchase a smart lock that has an ANSI BHMA certification or retrofits onto your already certified lock,” recommends Lovejoy. “These certifications help you know that your lock has been tested for physical security and durability.” Some smart locks have other security risks you can mitigate. “One feature is the keypad, whether digital or physical,” says Conti. “People tend to keep the same pin or access code on their locks for extended periods of time, which can lead to worn buttons or fingerprints only on specific numbers, making it easier for unwanted visitors to guess an access code.” Smart locks that randomize the position of the numbers on the keypad or let you enter random digits before and after your code help prevent anyone from learning your code. Geofencing and auto-lock can also increase the security of a lock by automatically locking the door when you leave and unlocking it when you get home based on the proximity of your phone or another device or by locking after a specific amount of time. The unlocking feature is for convenience, but the locking part provides a bit of extra security since you don’t need to worry about forgetting to lock your door.
Why Trust The Spruce?
This article was written by Jeremy Laukkonen, a freelance writer and product tester for The Spruce. His home is secured by a smart lock that shuts off the lights and adjusts the thermostat whenever he leaves; plus, he has over a decade of experience reviewing electronics for outlets like Lifewire and Digital Trends in addition to The Spruce. Another important smart lock feature is that many of these locks let you check your lock or even operate it remotely. “If you want to be able to check your home while traveling or at the office, make sure your lock can connect to Wi-Fi so you can operate and have visibility over your front door from anywhere,” suggests Lovejoy. “This connectivity also makes it easy for you to give access to guests or service people should you not be at home.” Most smart lock batteries last about a year, but they can go for anywhere between a few months to a few years, depending on usage and the type and number of batteries in the lock. Look for a lock with low power consumption and a lot of battery capacity if you value not having to change the batteries often. If you’re worried about the batteries going dead, consider a smart lock that has a physical key to fall back on. Another great option is to select a lock that lets you plug in a USB-C power bank or a 9-volt battery for temporary power. Keypads can pose a security risk, but some smart locks include features that help reduce the risk of someone getting your code. One method is through a randomized button system, where the keypad displays the numbers in a randomized position each time, so no onlookers are able to tell what your code is. Another method allows you to enter randomized digits before and after your code to hide the actual code. Fingerprint sensors are another convenient feature that can create a security hole. “While this can be a very beneficial feature, some may also recognize either lifted fingerprints or copies,” warns Conti. “It’s always important to make sure any fingerprint reading device or software will only accept true authentic fingerprints.” To close this security vulnerability, Conti suggests sticking to smart locks with 3D fingerprint sensors that will only accept truly authentic fingerprints. The app that controls the smart lock is also a potential issue, especially if you don’t password-protect your phone. “One security concern is ensuring your phone/app is safeguarded,” says Lovejoy. “Just like you’d need to secure your financial data if your phone is lost or stolen, you need to make sure you’re covered with home access.” To mitigate this risk, Lovejoy suggests looking at the smart lock companion app to see if it has a lost phone feature and offers facial or fingerprint matching to operate the lock. Laukkonen contacted Jim Conti, vice president of sales, pro channel, from Lockly, and Garrett Lovejoy, VP of product management from US Smart Residential, a division of ASSA ABLOY, to receive their expert opinions on smart lock features, security concerns, installation, and use. With Conti and Lovejoy’s expert insights in mind, Laukkonen prioritized factors like app functionality, advanced security features, and control options to find the best smart locks for a variety of circumstances.
