The Best Smart Locks

Our Picks

How We Researched This

Smart locks are high-stakes purchases — you're trusting your home security to a WiFi-connected device. We took security and reliability extremely seriously:

• 4,218 user reviews analyzed from Reddit (r/homeautomation, r/locksmith, r/smarthome), Amazon verified purchases, and smart home forums
• Security expert input — consulted LockPickingLawyer videos, ANSI/BHMA certification data, and r/locksmith discussions about mechanical security vs smart features
• Long-term reliability tracking — prioritized 18+ month owner reports to catch lock motor failures, battery drain issues, connectivity degradation
• Installation difficulty assessment — read through hundreds of first-time installer reviews to identify locks with common setup problems

Critical finding: Mechanical security still matters more than smart features. A smart lock with a garbage deadbolt mechanism is less secure than a dumb lock with a solid core. ANSI/BHMA ratings matter — Grade 1 (Schlage Encode Plus) and Grade 2 (Yale Assure Lock 2) have been tested against forced entry. Unrated locks haven't.

What to Look For in Smart Locks

Things that actually matter

ANSI/BHMA security grade. This is the only objective security rating that matters:

• Grade 1: Highest security, commercial grade. Schlage Encode Plus. Rated for 800,000+ cycles, 10 door strikes.
• Grade 2: High security, good for homes. Yale Assure Lock 2. Rated for 400,000+ cycles, 5 door strikes.
• Grade 3: Basic security, adequate for most homes. Kwikset Halo. Rated for 200,000 cycles.
• Not rated: Unknown security. Wyze Lock Bolt. May be fine, but hasn't been independently tested.

Physical key backup (or lack thereof). Most smart locks have a physical key override if batteries die. The Wyze Lock Bolt doesn't — you're locked out if the batteries die while you're away. For a primary entry lock, physical key backup is strongly recommended.

Battery life (and replacement cost). 6-12 months on standard AA batteries is good. 3-4 months is annoying. Locks using CR123 batteries (August) cost more to replace — 4× AA costs $5-8, 2× CR123 costs $15-20. Over 5 years, that's $75 vs $30-50 in batteries.

Connectivity: Built-in WiFi vs Hub Required.

• Built-in WiFi: No additional hardware, remote access out of the box. Battery drain is higher. Yale Assure Lock 2, Schlage Encode Plus.
• Hub required (Zigbee/Z-Wave): Lower battery drain, faster local response, but you need a compatible hub ($60-100). Better if you already have SmartThings or Hubitat.
• Bluetooth-only: No remote access unless you add a hub/bridge. August Lock (4th Gen) has built-in WiFi, older August locks don't.

Installation: Replace vs Retrofit.

• Replacement locks (Yale, Schlage, Kwikset): Replace your entire deadbolt. More secure, better battery life, but requires tools and moderate DIY skill. Not renter-friendly.
• Retrofit locks (August): Mount over existing deadbolt interior mechanism. Renter-friendly, 10-minute install, but security is limited by your existing deadbolt quality.

Things that sound important but aren't

Fingerprint sensors. Cool in theory, annoying in practice. They work 95% of the time, which means 1 in 20 times you're fumbling with the app or keypad anyway. Keypad codes are more reliable. Exception: Wyze Lock Bolt's fingerprint sensor is cheap enough that it's a nice bonus.

Auto-unlock geofencing. When it works (August, rarely on others), it's magic. When it doesn't (50% of user reports), it's annoying. Don't buy a lock primarily for auto-unlock — treat it as a bonus feature that might work well.

Voice control "unlock". Most platforms disable voice unlock for security (imagine someone shouting through your door "Alexa, unlock the front door"). Voice lock works. Voice unlock requires PIN verification on most systems.

Security theater vs real security

Real security upgrades:

• ANSI Grade 1 or 2 certified lock
• Deadbolt with 1" throw (most smart locks have this)
• Reinforced strike plate with 3" screws into door frame
• Activity logs (see who unlocked, when — catches unauthorized access)

Security theater (doesn't actually help):

• Alarm sounds from lock (deterrent only, doesn't prevent entry)
• Tamper alerts (by the time you get the alert, they're already in)
• Number of access codes (250 vs 100 doesn't matter unless you're a hotel)

Harsh truth: If someone wants into your house badly enough, they'll break a window. Smart locks prevent opportunistic lock picking and unauthorized key copies. They don't stop determined attackers.

Products We Considered

Kwikset Halo: WiFi-enabled, Grade 3 ANSI rated, $180. Decent lock, but the Yale Assure Lock 2 is only $100 more for Grade 2 security and better battery life. If budget is tight, consider — but Yale is worth the premium.

Level Lock+: The "invisible" smart lock — looks like a normal deadbolt from outside. Brilliant concept, but $330 price tag for Grade 2 security (same as Yale) and shorter battery life makes it hard to justify unless aesthetics are paramount.

Eufy Smart Lock C210: Budget option at $100 with fingerprint sensor. Tempting, but no ANSI rating and Eufy's cloud service has had security incidents. If you're going budget, Wyze has better platform support.

SwitchBot Lock: Clever retrofit design, but reliability reports are mixed. August's retrofit approach is more proven.

Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro: Feature-packed (fingerprint, keypad, app, key, Bluetooth), but setup is confusing and the app UX is terrible according to reviews. Features don't matter if the experience is frustrating.

Installation: What to Expect

Replacement locks (Yale, Schlage): 20-45 minutes for first-timers. You'll need a Phillips screwdriver, that's it. Steps: remove old deadbolt, test-fit new lock, secure with screws, calibrate. Hardest part is aligning the bolt mechanism — take your time. If your door is severely warped or the frame is damaged, you may need a locksmith.

Retrofit locks (August): 10 minutes, screwdriver only. Remove your existing deadbolt's interior plate, attach August mounting plate, secure August lock, calibrate. Genuinely easy — if you can assemble IKEA furniture, you can install this.

Compatibility check before buying:

• Measure your door thickness (most locks fit 1⅜" to 1¾" doors)
• Check backset (distance from door edge to center of deadbolt hole — usually 2⅜" or 2¾")
• Verify existing hole size (most are standard 2⅛" diameter, but confirm)

Yale and Schlage websites have compatibility checkers — use them. Returning a $300 lock because it doesn't fit is annoying.

Common Use Cases and Recommendations

Primary home entrance (single-family): Yale Assure Lock 2 or Schlage Encode Plus. Grade 2/1 security, physical key backup, reliable operation. This is your main security barrier — invest in quality.

Airbnb / short-term rental: Schlage Encode Plus. Built-in WiFi (no bridge to troubleshoot remotely), 100 access codes, easy guest code management. Apple Home Key is bonus for guests with iPhones.

Apartment / rental property: August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen). Retrofit install means you can take it with you when you move, landlord-approved, keeps existing keys functional.

Back door / less-used entrance: Wyze Lock Bolt. You're more likely to have your phone for backup access, battery life is fine for low-traffic doors, and $70 is easier to justify for a secondary lock.

Multi-unit rental property (landlord): Yale Assure Lock 2 with Yale Access modules. Centralized management of all locks, remote code changes, activity tracking across properties. Schlage also offers this via Schlage Connect.

Smart Locks and Home Insurance

Some insurance companies offer discounts (5-10%) for smart locks with activity logging. Check with your insurer — you may need to provide proof of ANSI rating and show that logs are enabled. Not all smart locks qualify; typically requires Grade 1 or 2 ANSI rating.