Secure Your Home With Our Favorite Smart Locks (2024)

We researched smart locks from manufacturers like August, Schlage, Yale, Aqara, and others, evaluating each for ease of installation and use, reliable performance, weather resistance, smart home capability, and security ratings provided by organizations like the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association (BHMA), to identify the best options for every situation.

“These systems also tend to be family-friendly, eliminating a busy parent’s worry of keeping track of keys or having to entrust younger children or teenagers to keep ahold of a physical key,” stresses Garrett Lovejoy, vice president of product management for Yale US Smart Residential. Remote access lets you unlock the door from anywhere if someone has forgotten their key, and alternate access methods like keypads and biometric fingerprint sensors can come in handy.

Smart locks need to be more convenient than regular locks, while also remaining just as reliable, which is why the Yale Assure Lock 2 is our best overall. The Assure Lock 2 provides multiple ways to lock and unlock your door (including a physical key), an app for monitoring and activating the lock remotely, and the sort of reliability that we expect from a mature product line that’s gone through several iterations and improvements over the years.

At its core, the Yale Assure Lock 2 is a strong and secure lock. It has an ANSI/BHMA Grade 2 certification, which is the second strongest on our list (and suitable for both commercial and residential use). If you want something stronger, the Schlage Encode Wi-Fi (our best for Alexa pick) and Ultraloq Smart Lock U-Bolt Pro (our best deadbolt pick) both have ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 certifications.

As a smart lock, the Yale Assure Lock 2 really shines. It supports Alexa, Google Home, and HomeKit (with some caveats), along with Samsung SmartThings. Alexa and Google Home integration works without any issues, and you can use voice commands to lock and unlock your door (with a code required for unlocking).

HomeKit integration works well too, but you'll need an Apple TV or HomePod speaker to act as a hub, and it needs to be within Bluetooth range of the lock, so you may need to move things around. This version of the lock doesn’t support HomeKey, but you can pay extra for the Yale Assure Lock 2 Plus, which removes the physical key found in this version of the Assure Lock 2 and adds HomeKey support. The Aquara U100 Plus (our best matter supported pick) and Schlage Encode Plus (our best for Apple HomeKit users pick) both support HomeKey too.

This lock also has a keypad and a responsive fingerprint sensor as alternate ways to unlock your door, along with an app that enables monitoring and control even when you aren’t at home. You can create unrestricted access codes for your family, and restricted guest access codes with the app, and monitor when each code is used to see who is accessing your house. The app can also provide notifications when the lock is activated and you aren’t home.

What are ANSI and BHMA grades?

Quality locks are awarded an ANSI or BHMA Grade of 1, 2, or 3. (ANSI and BHMA are used interchangeably in this context, so you may see one, the other, or both). These numbers are based on their performance on various tests administered by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association (BHMA). Grade 1 locks are rated to provide the highest level of security, Grade 2 provides intermediate security, and Grade 3 provides basic security. BHMA also uses letters. C is good, B is better, and A is the best. The bestBHMA Grade is AAA.

This smart lock from Hornbill includes nearly all of the features we look for in a smart lock at a significantly lower price than the competition, which is why it’s our pick for best value. It has a touchscreen keypad and physical lock, Bluetooth connectivity, and comes with a Wi-Fi gateway for smart home integration through Alexa and Google Home.

Bluetooth smart locks like the Wyze Lock Bolt (our best bluetooth pick) can be found for under $100, but Wi-Fi smart locks (and smart locks that include a Wi-Fi gate) are typically much more expensive. The Hornbill Smart Lock has an MSRP that’s nearly $200 less than the Schlage Encode Wi-Fi (our best for Alexa pick), and it includes many of the same features—voice controls through your Alexa smart speaker, remote operation and monitoring through the connected phone app, and guest codes for temporary access.

As a lower cost option, this smart lock does have a few issues that you may or may not be able to overlook. For example, it doesn’t have an ANSI or BHMA security grade, so we aren’t sure how strong the physical lock is.

The app also can also mis-report the status of the lock (showing it’s locked when it isn’t), so you still need to physically check the lock when you want to be absolutely sure it’s locked. That issue can be somewhat minimized by ensuring that the door and lock are properly aligned so that it always locks instead of hitting the strike plate. That’s a problem you can run into with any smart lock, which is why alignment is so important, but other locks don’t report that they’re locked when it happens.

The Wyze Lock Bolt, which has a BHMA Grade of 3, is a basic smart lock that uses Bluetooth but not Wi-Fi, so we recommend it to anyone who wants useful app-based features without the complication of Wi-Fi. There’s no physical key, but it does have an accurate fingerprint scanner and a keypad for backup access if you don’t have your phone with you. If you do have your phone, you can lock and unlock it using the phone app as long as you’re inside Bluetooth range (about 30 feet).

We like that this smart lock provides basic smart functionality without any complications. The fingerprint scanner works well, and the keypad includes an anti-peep function that lets you add extra digits before and after your actual code.

The Wyze app allows you to connect to the lock via Bluetooth to check its status, lock and unlock, generate guest codes, and check the lock and unlock history. By providing a unique code to each guest, you can track who used the lock and when (including failed code entry attempts, which may clue you in that someone was trying to enter your house without permission). The app also lets you enable auto-lock, which is a feature that automatically locks the door after a preset amount of time.

The Ultraloq Smart Lock U-Bolt Pro is our favorite deadbolt replacement because it has an exceptionally strong physical lock cylinder, weatherproof construction, and a lot of alternate ways to lock and unlock. It doesn’t support any smart home connectivity without a separate bridge, but built-in Bluetooth lets you control it from your phone and even set up temporary guest access.

This smart lock has a very strong physical lock at its core, with an ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 certification. That’s the highest grade on our list (tied with the Schlage Encode and Encode Plus that we recommend for Alexa and HomeKit support respectively).

The physical lock cylinder is hidden well, so all you see when you look at the lock is the keypad and fingerprint sensor. The fingerprint sensor can be a little troublesome if your fingers are too wet or dry, but you can always use one of the other unlocking methods when that happens.

In addition to the physical key, keypad, and fingerprint sensor, you can also operate this lock with the connected phone app, proximity to your phone, and a shake-to-open feature Ultraloq calls Magic Shake. The proximity unlock is based on a Bluetooth connection to your phone, and Magic Shake works the same way but you need to deliberately shake your phone from right to left for the door to unlock.

The only real issue with this smart lock is that it doesn’t have any smart home connectivity out of the box. You can use it with Alexa and Google Home if you add a hub, but not HomeKit. If you’re a HomeKit user, then we recommend the Schlage Encode Plus (our best for HomeKit pick).

The August Home Smart Lock + Connect is ideal for renters, but we also recommend it for anyone who wants a smart lock that’s easy to install and doesn’t leave any external signs that there’s a smart lock in use. This lock installs in place of the interior part of your deadbolt, so it doesn’t require any drilling and doesn’t leave any marks when you remove it. It has all the most important smart lock features though, including app control, compatibility with both Alexa and Google Home, and the option to set up temporary guest access.

This smart lock is fairly easy to install, because you don’t need to replace the entire lock—just the interior part. That means a renter can remove the interior part of their deadbolt and store it somewhere safe, install this lock, and then reverse the process later when it’s time to move out. Since the exterior part of the deadbolt remains in place, nobody can tell you have a smart lock from the outside, and you can still use your existing keys to lock and unlock the door.

The only real downside to this smart lock is that it doesn’t have a keypad for keyless entry. You can buy an August Smart Home keypad separately if you want that functionality, but otherwise you’re limited to locking and unlocking with the phone app. The phone app also lets you set up temporary guest access and check the status of the lock.

You may find that you don’t need a keypad, because the auto-unlock feature unlocks the door automatically when you approach with a paired Bluetooth phone. Automatic locking is also available, which will lock the door after a specific amount of time (30 seconds to 30 minutes) after you close it.

There’s no question about it—this is the lock you want if you’re looking for a smart lock that supports Matter (an open source smart home standard that promises to allow devices from different smart home ecosystems to interact). The kit we recommend comes with a hub that enables Matter (and Alexa, Google Home, Zigbee, etc) connectivity, so it’s ready to go right out of the box. It also works with HomeKit (including HomeKey support), as long as you have an Apple TV or HomePod to act as a hub.

We love almost everything about this feature-rich smart lock and can imagine a future where it becomes our best overall recommendation, but it isn’t there yet. The Matter integration works very well—just locate the E1 hub in the Aquara app to get the Matter code, and then use that with whatever Matter home assistant or system you have to get everything connected.

The issue is that there are too many reports of the whole lock freezing up and requiring a reboot for us to recommend it to anyone who isn’t specifically looking for Matter support. It does have a backup physical key behind a hidden panel, so we recommend carrying that with you just in case. The lock can be powered up via USB-C if the battery dies while it’s locked and you’re outside, but the only way to reboot it when it freezes is to open it up and disconnect the battery (which you need to be inside to do).

Aside from the excellent Matter support, this lock also has a responsive and accurate fingerprint sensor, a keypad, and physical near field communication (NFC) tags for easy unlocking. It also includes a full suite of app controls. The app lets you lock and unlock remotely, set temporary guest codes, and access useful features like automatic locking. The backup physical lock hasn’t been officially certified, but Aquara states that they built it to BHMA Level 3 standards.

The Schlage Encode is our favorite smart lock to use with Alexa because it works with Alexa right out of the box (as long as you have at least one Echo smart speaker), with all the standard functionality plus some nice extras. It has Wi-Fi built in so you don’t need a hub, and it includes three access modes—a touchscreen keypad, traditional lock cylinder, and app control. You can also use Alexa to lock and unlock the door, with a code required to unlock for security reasons.

All of Schlage’s smart locks work with Alexa, but this one doesn’t require any extra hardware. As long as you have an Echo device, you can use Alexa to unlock some useful voice commands and other features. The most important is that you can lock your doors by saying, “Alexa, lock the door.” You can also unlock the door the same way, but you need to set up and provide a code for that to work. Alexa will also let you know whether or not the door is locked if you ask. It doesn’t have geofencing though, so you may want to check out the Yale Assure Lock 2 (our best overall recommendation) if you’re looking for that feature along with Alexa support.

In addition to voice commands, this lock also works with Alexa routines. For example, you could set a routine to turn off all the lights in your house, shut off other connected devices, and lock your doors, when you issue a custom command. You can also set up Alexa to monitor the battery life in the lock and automatically order new batteries. This lock does have battery life issues (like most Wi-Fi smart locks), so we like the option to have fresh batteries arrive exactly when they’re needed.

Aside from the strong Alexa integration, this is also a very secure lock. The physical lock cylinder has a BHMA Grade 1 certification, which is stronger than most residential locks. It doesn’t have a weatherproof rating though, which isn’t ideal. Schlage does provide a three year warranty for the electronic components alongside a limited lifetime warranty for the mechanical parts, which eliminates some of the concern about not having ratings for protection against dust and water intrusion.

If Apple’s HomeKit is your smart home ecosystem of choice, we recommend the Schlage Encode Plus. It has everything the Schlage Encode (our best for Alexa pick) has, plus seamless HomeKit integration complete with support for Apple HomeKey. We like the responsive touchscreen keypad and secure backup lock cylinder (BHMA Grade 1, tied for the highest on our list), but HomeKit support is the main reason to choose this lock over any other option.

To get the most out of this smart lock, you need to have a device that’s capable of acting as a HomeHub (an Apple TV or HomePod, including the HomePod Mini). That isn’t a huge issue since this smart lock is specifically for HomeKit users, but Apple users who don’t already use HomeKit for anything will need to buy and set up a HomeHub device in order to use the HomeKey feature. Without a HomeHub, you can still use the well-designed Schlage app to operate the lock remotely, monitor its status, and set up temporary access codes.

HomeKey implementation is flawless, which is the main reason we recommend this lock for HomeKit users. If you have a compatible iPhone or Apple Watch, you can set up HomeKey to automatically unlock the door by holding your phone or watch near the door. For extra security, you can set it to require Face ID or a passcode. You can also set it to automatically lock the door when you leave. This takes care of the lack of geofencing, which is the one glaring flaw in the Schlage Encode.

The Eufy Security Video Smart Lock E330 is a three-in-one solution that we recommend if you don’t already have a wireless doorbell or doorbell camera on your front door, or if you’d prefer to have everything bundled into one device that’s controlled through a single intuitive app. It includes five different unlocking methods (including a fast and accurate fingerprint sensor), a high definition camera, doorbell, and a large 10,000 mAh battery to power everything.

This is a three-in-one device that works well as a doorbell, smart lock, and security camera, but the camera is especially impressive. We like the E330 because the 2K HD camera records high quality footage both during the day and at night, and there’s no monthly subscription. The catch is that your videos are stored on an SD card instead of the cloud, but that does give you complete control over managing and storing any important videos.

The app gives you real time access to the camera, so you can check who is at the door and act accordingly. It includes some useful features, like two way communication, and the option to send a pre-recorded message instead of talking directly to your visitor.

This BHMA-certified smart lock includes a keypad, fingerprint sensor, and a hidden lock cylinder for access via physical key as an emergency backup. You can also lock and unlock it using the phone app whether you’re at home or not, and through voice commands if you have a connected Alexa or Google Home smart speaker. You can also create temporary guest codes that you can set to expire automatically.

Final Verdict

The Yale Assure Lock 2 is our best overall recommendation, because it features robust support for Alexa, Google Home, and HomeKit, along with a useful app, and multiple ways to activate the lock (including a BHMA Grade 2 physical lock). If you don’t need to monitor and control your lock when you aren’t home, the Wyze Lock Bolt (our best Bluetooth pick) provides reliable app control over Bluetooth for a much lower cost.

The August Home Smart Lock (our best for renters pick) is one of the easier smart locks to install, because you leave the exterior lock cylinder and the deadbolt hardware in place. Installation involved removing the interior deadbolt lever, replacing it with a base plate, and then snapping the August Home Smart Lock to the base plate. It works for renters because you can remove it later without leaving any marks, but also takes less work to install than most of our recommendations.

Replacing a lock is more complicated than retrofitting, but it’s still straightforward. According to Garrett Lovejoy of Yale US Smart Residential, “If the holes in your doors are already drilled, the installation process is as simple as changing the deadbolt."

The industry standard that smart locks use is 128-bit AES encryption, which is a very strong method of encryption that makes it very difficult (nearly impossible) to intercept and decipher lock codes or gain unauthorized access to your smart lock.

Smart locks with Wi-Fi are vulnerable if someone gains unauthorized access to your Wi-Fi network, so it’s important to password protect your Wi-Fi network using a password and encryption. Smart locks without Wi-Fi, like the Wyze Lock Bolt (our best Bluetooth pick) are less exposed, but Wi-Fi locks are secure if your network uses a strong password.

Geofencing is a convenience and security feature that locks your door automatically when you leave and unlocks it when you get home without the need to enter a code or use the app on your phone. It usually works through a Bluetooth connection, with the door locking when the connection is lost and then unlocking when the connection is reestablished. The Yale Assure Lock 2 (our best overall pick) includes geofencing but calls it Auto-Unlock.

In addition to traditional geofencing, Apple users should look into HomeKey. Instead of relying solely on the location of your phone, HomeKey uses near field communication (NFC) technology to unlock a compatible smart lock by tapping your iPhone or Apple Watch. Several of our recommendations include HomeKey support, like the Schlage Encode Plus (our best for Apple HomeKit users pick) and Aqara U100 Plus (our best matter supported pick).