The best smart locks in 2024, tried and tested

If you’ve ever struggled to pull out your key from the bottom of your handbag while juggling groceries and kids, worried about how the pet sitter is going to get in while you’re on vacation or rushed home from work to let in houseguests, then you’ll no doubt understand how a smart lock can make your life a whole lot more convenient. These smart home gadgets aren’t just for houses either as they’re compatible with the front door of any residence, including apartments and condos, as well as things like sheds or outbuildings.

We spent several months testing 14 of the latest smart locks to find those that perform the best. Whether you’re looking for an affordable and basic smart lock or a top-of-the-line do-everything model, we’ve got you covered. Here are the two best smart locks for your home.

Best smart lock: Yale Assure Lock 2

The Yale Assure Lock 2 is a full-featured replacement lock with a modular design that lets you buy exactly what you need to get the sort of access you want. Building on the same core unit, you can choose between keypad or touchscreen and keyed and keyless models, and whatever flavor of smart home connectivity suits your setup. It works well, it’s simple to install and it’s simple to upgrade to meet changing smart home standards.

What else did we like about the Yale Assure Lock 2? Well, to be worth the money, a smart lock needs to make life simpler than a plain old lock and key, letting you manage access to your home for you, your family, your houseguests and whoever else you invite over, and the Yale Assure Lock 2 delivers. Yale’s system allowed us to provide permanent or temporary access using geofencing, codes and remote control more easily than any other lock we tested.

You can easily grant codes to anyone you need using the Yale Access app. We set up access for our family and our cat sitter right from our Apple Watch but you can also use your phone and set up everything or control everything via the Apple Home app, even over Bluetooth.

Through the Yale Access app, we added our son to our lock (he had to download and set up the app on his phone) and could grant him PIN access using a code. Granting unique codes lets you see in the app’s history log just who came and went — no need to loan out extra keys or worry about getting them back. We used that for our cat sitter and set up a Smart Alert to notify us when she used the lock. That way we knew what time the cats were last fed, so they couldn’t pretend they were starving when we got home.

If you use the Wi-Fi module, you can integrate with Amazon Alexa or Google Home and get full remote access using any of the big three smart home platforms. Z-Wave and Matter Smart models are slated to be available soon, so you should be able to make the lock work with almost any smart home system.

We tested the keyless, touchscreen-equipped base unit, along with the Wi-Fi smart module. Installation was simple — you scan a QR code to open a tutorial that walks you through the setup process with detailed info and videos. We didn’t have as smooth an experience with other locks, and setting up the Yale Assure Lock 2 was much easier and faster. The smart module attaches to the lock’s interior right above the battery and connects to our home Wi-Fi without any issues.

You can also set the Yale Assure Lock 2 to auto-unlock based on your phone’s location, so you don’t have to have anything in hand to open the door. A “Door Sense” feature can monitor when the door is open or closed and will auto-lock after a set time (or alert you that it cannot). Smart Alerts can also be set to notify you when specific users have accessed the lock.

Unique, timed codes can be shared, making this an easy way to give guest access which is great for a rental property. You’ll also see a log of who came and went so you’ll know if the cat sitter showed up or if the kids got home from school.

We tried out a keyless model, but if you opt for a keyless lock you won’t need to worry about the battery running out — a set of prongs on the bottom lets you recharge the lock enough to get access using a 9V battery.

So, was there anything we didn’t like? Yes. While the Yale Assure Lock 2 has almost all the features we look for in a smart look, there were a few things we didn’t like. For one, it doesn’t offer a fingerprint scanner, which some other smart locks do and we enjoyed using it as an alternative. The backlit touchscreen keypad was responsive, but tapping the right spot to turn on the backlight took a few tries.

While the Wi-Fi module worked with the Apple and Google platforms, we did have some initial difficulty connecting it to Alexa; it took a couple of tries and didn’t always connect quickly. Response to voice commands via an Amazon smart speaker was wonky.

Lastly, Door Sense is a great feature in theory but frustrating in practice. Understandably, there’s no way for the lock to close the door on its own. But if it kicks on when the door is open, it simply locks the door while it’s open, which isn’t helpful even if you know about it.

The Assure Lock 2 is more flexible and updatable than most of the competition. And if you don’t need all the features, you don’t have to pay for them. It’s cheaper and more future-proof than the similarly designed Schlage Encode Plus. The Yale Assure Lock 2 also has a sleeker and less cumbersome look (it comes in black, bronze and satin nickel finishes, though no brushed chrome) than some of the bulkier locks we tested, so it’ll integrate with your decor as easily as it will with your smart home devices.

Best value smart lock: Wyze Lock Bolt

If you want keyless door entry but don’t want to spend a lot of money, the Bluetooth-only Wyze Lock Bolt is the best value lock we tested. You get multiple options for unlocking the door — using the app, punching in a code on the backlit keypad or using a fingerprint reader — a surprise at this price, especially one that works as reliably as it does.

So, what did we like about the Wyze Lock Bolt? Although it lacks some of the features of a more expensive device like the Yale Assure Lock 2 or the Schlage Encode Plus, we think the affordable Wyze Lock Bolt looks pretty good on the door. It provides most of the features you need, including guest access, temporary codes, auto lock and a lock history so you know who has come in and out and if there were any failed attempts.

Detailed instructions made installing the Wyze Lock Bolt easy, and we completed it in 15 minutes. The matte black unit isn’t as slick-looking as the Yale Assure Lock 2 or other pricier models, but it isn’t overly clunky either.

Using the lock was simple — it behaved as expected, locking and unlocking without fail — and the fingerprint scanner was responsive. If you prefer to use a code, type it in and tap the Unlock button. You only need to tap the Lock button to lock the door, too. An auto-lock feature can be set to always lock after a certain amount of time, so you never have to worry about whether you forgot to lock the door.

The Wyze app stores up to 50 different fingerprints so everyone in the household can use it, as well as anyone you trust enough to give open access to. For temporary guest access for our cat sitter, we assigned a unique code that worked only for the specific dates we would be out of town.

Wyze says the four included AA batteries should last about a year. Although it warns you when the battery is running low, there’s a fail-safe method in case you find yourself locked out because of a dead battery. There’s a USB-C port hidden on the bottom of the exterior to charge it up enough to unlock the door.

Those things aside, there were several things we didn’t like. While this affordable lock is feature-rich, it is missing some features you get with more expensive locks with Wi-Fi connectivity, such as remote access. It can’t interact with Alexa or Google, so there’s no voice control. There’s no geofencing for auto unlocking, and since it isn’t networked, even if you use other Wyze smart home products, it won’t integrate with them, although they share the same app. Also, because it can’t tell whether the door is open or closed (as the Yale Assure Lock 2 can), the Wyze Lock Bolt might lock itself when the front door is left open for a reason.

The bottom line is that the Wyze Lock Bolt is a budget-priced smart lock with many advanced features, including a keypad and a reliable fingerprint scanner for those households that want both. Without Wi-Fi, it isn’t as “smart” as some of the competition, but it’s got enough features to make managing access to your home easier.

How we tested

First, we researched the top smart lock brands and found a large number of smart locks to choose from. We then selected our 14 testing candidates based on features we wanted to test. We used them all on a residential front door over several months.

What to look for in a smart lock

Smart locks all do one basic thing: let you lock and unlock your door using an app on your phone or via integration with your smart home system over your network or remotely. How they do it varies quite a bit. Here are three things to consider to help you choose the best smart lock for your home.

Connectivity

Your smart lock needs to connect to something — your smartphone or your home network — in order to communicate commands.

Most of the locks we tested used Bluetooth, one of the easiest ways to connect. Bluetooth uses very little power, so the batteries in Bluetooth-only locks can last a very long time (most last a year). On the other hand, it doesn’t have as long a range as Wi-Fi and since Bluetooth-only locks don’t connect to your network, they don’t offer remote control possibilities — to control a Bluetooth-only lock, you’ll need to be home (so no generating custom codes for surprise guests while you’re at the office) and, even when you are home, you’ll need to be close — ideally no more than 30 feet away from the lock — when using the app.

More advanced locks connect to your home network via Wi-Fi so you can access them remotely wherever you are. Networking also means they can connect with other smart devices you may already have in the home, whether that means Alexa, Google Assistant, a home security system or a dedicated smart home device. We were pleasantly shocked the first time we set an alarm using our Echo Dot and Alexa let us know our front door was unlocked. And yes, Alexa offered to lock it for us without us having to get out of bed. A minor downside of a Wi-Fi-enabled unit is that it will use more battery power, so you may need to replace your lock’s batteries more frequently.

If you invest in a Wi-Fi smart lock, ensure you buy one that works with the ecosystem you already use. Most of the more expensive locks work with either Amazon Echo and Google Assistant and only a few, like the Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro Wi-Fi, also include support for Samsung SmartThings. Some, like the Yale Assure Lock 2, Level and Schlage Encode Plus, also offer Apple HomeKit support.

Schlage and the Level Lock+ support the new Apple HomeKey protocol, which lets you unlock your door with a tap via NFC using your iPhone or Apple Watch, and is a super-convenient way for Apple households to go about sharing access with trusted individuals.

Since these devices aren’t cheap, you’ll likely want to think about future-proofing your purchase. Matter, a new smart home connectivity standard, has been in the works for years and should be rolling out soon. Apple, Amazon, Google and Samsung, among others, have made commitments to the standard to solve the issue of smart home devices not talking to each other and to make it easier for the home user. Once devices appear, Matter should provide a standard protocol for smart home devices to talk to each other regardless of who manufactured them.

Replacement or retrofit?

Do you rent or own your home? Smart locks come in two varieties: those that replace your entire lock and those that work on top of your existing hardware.

Most likely, if you rent, you’ll need a retrofit lock such as the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock or Wyze Lock Bolt. These attach to your current lock, on the inside, where they work like a miniature robotic hand that turns your deadbolt. This means you won’t need to replace anything, rekey your current lock, or have to negotiate with your landlord.

Most of the locks we tested replace an existing deadbolt and door hardware. It’s a straightforward install and most include good directions for installation. On average, it took about 20 minutes to take off an old lock and install a new one on our front door.

When you swap out the deadbolt on a lock with a key, you’ll likely get new keys to distribute to the family. The Kwikset Halo was one of our favorites because it comes with a device to rekey your new lock so you can use your existing keys.

If you do go this route, consider the design of the new door hardware. Locks like Schlage offer two designs: a traditional style and a more contemporary style. Most of the others come in just one style. The finish is important as well. Most smart locks come in matte silver or black, but only a few come in a gold or polished brass finish, which can be an issue for some (like us) who live in an HOA that requires a certain color hardware.

Access types

While every lock we tested lets you lock and unlock the door using your phone, via a mobile app, geofencing or NFC, you should also consider whether you want to use a numerical keypad or fingerprint scanner as your secondary form of access. Also, many keypad-only locks don’t use apps, but those aren’t technically “smart” locks.

Some people prefer a keypad lock to provide access codes for guests who have time limits that can be revoked. This is a great option for those who rent out their homes or people with young children who don’t use smartphones yet.

For whole family access, fingerprint scanners are fast, worked well in our testing and were easy to set up. Some locks allow up to 50 fingerprints to be stored, so you can add frequent guests or visitors, but you can’t control access remotely (or create time-limited access) like you can with a keypad code. The user will also have to download the lock’s respective app to use the fingerprint access, which can be problematic if you’re dealing with guests or family who aren’t tech-savvy. Another downside is that if you live in areas with cold temperatures, you have to remove your gloves to use a fingerprint scanner.

Other smart locks we tested

The Yale Assure Lock 2 Touch Smart Lock took everything that impressed us about its predecessor (and our pick for best smart lock), the Yale Assure Lock 2, and added a fingerprint scanner to the touchscreen keypad, making it a lock we highly recommend for anyone wanting a biometric fingerprint option.

Options are what makes this Bluetooth-connected smart lock so appealing. When we chose the Yale Assure Lock 2 as our pick for best smart lock, it was because we were impressed with its sleek, modular design; options for keyed or keyless entry; and the ability to easily upgrade it (via Wi-Fi or Z-Wave modules) as your smart home needs change.

The updated Yale Assure Lock 2 Touch adds a fingerprint reader to the touchscreen, giving you even more options for entry. (You can also use auto-unlock which connects to your phone’s Bluetooth to unlock the door as you come near.) While some prefer a keypad lock to simplify sharing unique access codes with guests or workers with specific time limits, others, like parents with younger children who don’t have smartphones, find it reassuring to know their kids can always get in. (The Yale app recognizes up to 20 fingerprints.) Having both options makes this a great choice for users who want fingerprint access as well as the shareable features of a touchscreen.

Like the original Yale Assure Lock 2, adding a Wi-Fi module lets you control the lock remotely when you’re not at home or with your voice, using Alexa and Google Home. You can use Siri or the Apple Home app as well. A Z-Wave module is now available in a keyed or key-free version but alas, still no Thread or Matter updates.

While we think the Yale Assure Lock 2 Touch Smart Lock is the right pick for users who want additional fingerprint access, the Yale Assure Lock 2 still retains the title of best smart lock in this review because of its appeal to most users and its lower price.

Though it has no fingerprint scanner, no keypad version (only touchscreen) and no physical key option, the Yale Assure Lock 2 Plus is still a great-looking, sleek, touchscreen smart lock that is easy to use and is very reliable, unlocking each time we tapped our iPhone or Apple Watch to it.

Once added to the Apple Home app, the key appears in the wallet of family members or others who share the app. And like the Yale Assure Lock 2 Touch, sharing access with friends and guests was simple through the Yale Access app. We could give them full entry access or a revocable keypad code to use during certain times and dates.

For those who rely on Apple devices to power their home (and can live without the key backup and the fingerprint scanner), the Yale Assure Lock 2 Plus is the right choice. If you use an Apple Watch, it’s liberating to leave your house for a walk without your phone and gain access simply by tapping or coming close to the lock. And in cold weather, there’s no need to take your gloves off to scan your fingerprint or tap the touchscreen.

Adding the Wi-Fi module for remote access will cost you more, and you need an Apple HomePod (or mini) or Apple TV set up as a home hub to enable remote access.

The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock is small, unobtrusive and works reliably. While no one looking at your door’s exterior knows it’s there, the lock on the inside of the door gives you smart features like remote access to let someone in or lock your door while you’re not home. The auto-unlock feature (using our phone’s location) worked flawlessly, and an auto-lock feature (with Door Sense) let us know whether our door was open or closed.

If you purchase the additional optional keypad, you can share permanent, scheduled, or temporary access with friends, dog walkers and guests. We preferred this to the basic Wyze Lock, which lets you share unique codes but doesn’t let you create temporary codes.

With the built-in Wi-Fi, we could connect our Alexa device and lock the door using our voice. It also supports Google Assistant and Samsung SmartThings. Most smart locks at this price work only with Alexa and Google. In addition, since it has HomeKit integration, Apple users can lock and unlock the door using an Apple Watch and Siri voice control.

August says the two CR123 batteries will last three to six months, a shorter life span than you’ll get from Kwikset, Schlage and Yale Assure Lock 2 locks, which run on four AA batteries. However, since we couldn’t test the life span of either type of battery, it’s also important to note that relying on Wi-Fi, which this lock does, does tend to drain the battery faster, decreasing the battery life. You’ll get notifications from the app when the battery level hits 25%, but, unfortunately, you can’t check the level in the app.

The lock itself has a small, round, compact design, making it look just like any other door lock, and it comes in a silver or black finish. It doesn’t look large and clunky on the door’s interior either, as other replacement locks like Kwikset and Schlage do. The app is user-friendly, and the installation instructions are clear.

The Eufy Security Video Smart Lock has a fingerprint sensor and a keypad, plus it works with Google and Alexa smart speakers. You can also access the house using the Eufy app or a regular key.

We found the 2K video quality and experience to be much better than with the more expensive Lockly Vision Elite, and the Eufy lock has features such as linger detection, which lets you know someone is at the door but they haven’t pressed the doorbell yet. The fingerprint sensor is also in a better location, on the front as opposed to on the side of the lock.

You may want to keep in mind that, even though the video is stored locally on an SD card, there have been reports that thumbnail photos from Eufy security cameras have been uploaded to their cloud servers, even when cloud services were disabled in the app. We’ll update when we know more, but if this concerns you, you may want to hold off getting a Eufy security camera until the appropriate fixes have been widely distributed.

The Kwikset Halo Touch Smart Lock has a fingerprint scanner and a keyway, and you can add up to 50 users. But there’s no keypad. So to share temporary access with others, you need to invite them to download the app and then create an account to use the app controls to gain entry. If your guest is tech-challenged or doesn’t keep their phone charged, you might want to stick to a smart lock with a keypad.

The Kwikset Halo Touch Smart Lock comes in two stylish designs: contemporary (in matte black or satin nickel) or a more traditional design, with curved, softer edges (in satin nickel or Venetian bronze). However, if you live in an HOA that requires a certain color of hardware on your door, note that it’s not available in polished brass or matte gold.

Unlike a true smart lock, the Kwikset SmartCode Electronic Deadbolt adds a 10-button numeric keypad (or touchscreen, depending on which version you get) with a designated lock button to a standard deadbolt, making for a simple and effective solution.

You can create up to 50 permanent codes and 10 temporary codes at a time (you do all of the programming on the keypad itself).

The SmartCode proved its worth when we went away for a weekend and our elderly neighbor came to feed our cats. She gets nervous about depending on technology and is worried about not getting inside. We created a code for her to use and after we tried it together, she found it straightforward to use and had no issues all weekend. Once she entered the code, the door automatically unlocked and the “lock button” flashed green.

Kwikset makes two versions of the SmartCode electronic lock: the SmartCode 260 which has physical buttons and the SmartCode 270 which has a touchscreen. Both are available in traditional or contemporary styles and nickel or bronze finishes. Both come with Kwikset’s easy rekey tool, which lets you easily reset the lock.

The Level Lock+ Connect gives you multiple ways to access your home. We could use a physical key, the Level app or just a touch of the capacitive surface of the physical lock. You also get programmable NFC key cards, which is great for kids who don’t yet have a smartphone or watch.

It was easy to create timed access for a guest and to revoke it at any time. If you prefer giving guests access using a unique code, you’ll need to buy the optional Level keypad.

The Level Lock+ Connect is a replacement lock, but once installed (which we did in 20 minutes), it looks nothing like a smart lock. Both the interior and exterior hardware are sleek and small, the design incorporates the battery (it uses a watch battery) and all the smarts are inside the lock, not in a clunky module that sits on your door. It comes in satin nickel and black finishes only, so if you live in an HOA that requires gold hardware, you may not be able to use it.

What makes this lock so easy for Apple households is that, once you add HomeKey to your Wallet, you can share it instantly with other family members; there’s no need to repeat the setup. We used the auto-unlock feature that unlocked the deadbolt as we approached the door, and we never had to have our phone out. However, if you want to control the lock remotely, you need to have an Apple Home Hub such as a Home Pod or an Apple TV.

The Level Lock+ Connect is a compelling lock for Apple users who want an easy-to-use, aesthetically pleasing design and don’t mind paying top dollar.

The Lockly Vision Elite is an expensive smart lock, with a built-in video camera doorbell and a fingerprint sensor, a keypad, a traditional key slot and app-controlled access. It’s also solar-powered so you’ll never have to change the battery or worry about battery life. The Vision Elite, like most devices that perform two tasks, doesn’t perform both tasks at the same level; in this case, the lock portion is much better than the video doorbell.

The integration was great; when someone rang our doorbell, a video screen popped up on our phone to show us who was there, and we could have a two-way conversation or open the door lock. But the motion detection isn’t great, and the resolution is 1080p, lower than the more affordable Eufy’s 2K resolution.

The Lockly requires you to install its hub to your router; the lock then communicates directly with this rather than broadcasting over your network. The company claims this keeps your stored video more secure, but it’s another hoop to jump through during installation.

If you have an all-Apple household, the Encode Plus is worth a look. This touchscreen lock does add HomeKey NFC support (which the Yale Assure Lock 2 skips) along with HomeKit. Apple users can tap their iPhone or Apple watch for easy entry. It also has built-in Wi-Fi, so there’s no need for any modules or hubs, and it integrates with Alexa and Google Home.

And while it’s more expensive than the Yale Assure Lock 2, the full features and choice of modern or traditional design are a compelling reason to get one, especially for Apple households.

Like the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock, the SwitchBot Smart Lock is designed to fit right over your existing door lock, so you aren’t making changes to your door. Installation is fussier than with the August lock, and the adhesive-mounted black plastic housing is clunky looking. Once mounted, the SwitchBot Smart Lock works well but has limited features.

On its own, it can only connect to the app via Bluetooth. You need to purchase the additional Hub Mini if you want to add Wi-Fi, and if you want a key-free experience, then you’ll need to buy the separate keypad or the Keypad Touch that adds a fingerprint reader and the ability to share codes with guests. Overall, it’s not too expensive, and it’s nice that you only need to buy what you need. But once you add on all the extras, we think the beautifully designed August Wi-Fi Smart Lock is worth paying a little more.

The Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro Wi-Fi has a backlit numerical keypad and a fingerprint scanner, along with other compelling features like built-in Wi-Fi, temporary guest access, and smart auto lock and unlock with a door sensor. However, we had some issues with the fingerprint reliability. And while it integrates with Google and Alexa, there’s no support for Apple HomeKit.

We found the installation and setup more difficult than the Yale Assure Lock 2 and Schlage locks, and the app instructions weren’t as clear as some of the other locks we tried. The design lets everyone know you have a smart lock installed, and the backlit keys are difficult to see in the dark, so you have to punch in a number to get the keypad to light up.

The Wyze Lock gives you many of the features of a smart lock, such as auto open and auto lock, remote access (using your phone’s location), Alexa and Google voice control and the ability to use your existing key.

However, you’ll also need to plug the included Gateway into an electrical outlet near the lock, while Wi-Fi is built into the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock. You can share unique codes with guests but can’t limit them to specific times as you can with the August lock. So, if that matters to you, you should spend the extra money for the August lock or buy the optional wireless backlit keypad for the Wyze Lock. Keep in mind you’ll have to install it on a wall outside of your door, which might not be an option for renters.

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