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We’ve added info about battery drain issues with our pick, the Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro WiFi , as well as a company response and what to do if your lock is affected.
Smart locks take a routine, sometimes tedious daily ritual—entering or leaving your home—and make it far more convenient, far more secure, and a little more fun.
Most smart locks are either a deadbolt replacement or a deadbolt adapter (which replaces the thumb turn with a motorized one).
We strongly prefer deadbolt replacements, and in that category we recommend the Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro Wi-Fi, a small, attractive, easy-to-learn smart lock that you can trigger in multiple ways, including by fingerprint or keypad.
If you can’t or don’t want to replace your entire lock, the Wyze Lock offers sturdy, reliable hardware and software, and it’s as smart as or smarter than many competing locks yet about half the price.
For doors with a single hole and no deadbolt, the Ultraloq Latch 5 Fingerprint smart lever lock is sturdy and shares most of the features of our top pick.
You can find two types of deadbolt smart locks—a full replacement, or an adapter for an existing deadbolt—as well as doorknob replacements.
Choose a smart lock based on how you want to unlock it: with a code, an app, a fingerprint, or geofencing (which uses your phone’s location).
If you can use a screwdriver and a smartphone app, installing a smart deadbolt takes 15 minutes plus 10 to configure its settings.
Every smart lock has a companion app, but Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, and Google Assistant let you control locks and other devices all in one app.
This compact, versatile, and quiet smart lock’s top feature is a fast (though sometimes faulty) fingerprint reader, and its rubber number keys will please most anyone.
Compatibility: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant
The Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro WiFi is a versatile smart lock with precision hardware and a pleasing low-profile design. This model has Wi-Fi built in, so it doesn’t require a plug-in Bluetooth bridge like our previous pick, the Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro. You can unlock the U-Bolt Pro WiFi six different ways, including with a numerical code, using an app, through a physical keyway, and—the pièce de résistance—via fingerprint.
We found the feel and function of the lock’s number buttons to be superior to pecking numbers on the glass touchscreen of many keypad models. That said, the fingerprint ID remains our preferred way to unlock it (even if that feature is sometimes finicky). No matter which method you use to trigger the U-Bolt Pro WiFi, it responds quickly. It also has a comparatively quiet mechanism, and from an aesthetic perspective we like that it’s small and unobtrusive. We encountered a few issues during setup and recently have experienced battery drain issues that the company has confirmed (see Flaws but not dealbreakers), but none of those hiccups prevent us from recommending it.
If you can’t find this model, and if you don’t mind having to use Ultraloq’s plug-in Bridge to connect your smart lock to your Wi-Fi network, the original Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro is a perfectly great substitute and is less expensive, too (see Other good smart locks).
Runner-up Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi DeadboltA Wi-Fi deadbolt replacement for Apple HomeKit This easy-to-install, sharp-looking Schlage model works flawlessly and is the first lock to support Apple Home Key.Buying Options$301 from Amazon $339 from Build.com
This easy-to-install, sharp-looking Schlage model works flawlessly and is the first lock to support Apple Home Key.
Compatibility: Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant
If you want a keypad smart lock that works with Apple HomeKit, The Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt is an updated version of our previous also-great pick, the Schlage Encode Smart WiFi Deadbolt. Beyond modest cosmetic updates, this revamped model gives you the ability to unlock it by holding your iPhone or Apple Watch nearby, through Apple’s Home Key feature. Of the many locks we’ve tested, the Encode Plus is one of the easiest smart locks to install and one of the simplest models to use. We tend to prefer the tactile feel of keypads like the Encode Plus’s keypad over that of a glass touchscreen, and that feature makes this lock less fussy to use, so it’s a good choice for rental properties—especially as it’s an extra-tough commercial-grade lock and has a built-in alarm. If this model is backordered, our previous choice, the Schlage Encode Smart WiFi Deadbolt, remains a good option, though it lacks Apple Home Key support.
For anyone who wants to keep an existing keyway, the Wyze Lock is fast and quiet. It also has a built-in sensor to detect when your door is ajar and comes with a tiny plug-in Wi-Fi adapter.
Compatibility: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant
If you are a renter and not allowed to change your locks, or if you simply don’t want to change yours for any reason, the Wyze Lock is a low-cost yet full-featured model that connects easily to an existing deadbolt. The hardware installs quickly, and in our testing it consistently worked well and was whisper-quiet. The package includes a tiny puck-like plug-in Wi-Fi adapter to enable remote access and smartphone notifications. The Wyze Lock offers some impressive features, such as a built-in door sensor that alerts you via a chime and a smartphone notification when someone has left the door open or ajar. Wyze also sells the Wyze Lock Keypad, a small brick with number buttons that connects wirelessly to the Wyze Lock so you can trigger the lock without relying on an app or geolocation. In our tests the keypad has worked flawlessly, so we recommend it as an upgrade.
Without the addition of the keypad, the Wyze Lock requires that you use an app to unlock it—which for everyday use isn’t much more convenient than using a key—or you have to enable geofencing, a system that uses your phone’s location to determine where you are and then lock or unlock the door automatically. Geofencing may work fine for some owners, but we worry about the innate security risk of accidental triggers. Additionally, some owners of the Wyze Lock report that auto-unlocking doesn’t work consistently, sometimes forcing them to rely on the app instead.
This keypad smart lock replaces a doorknob—not a deadbolt—with an accessibility-friendly lever handle, and it has a fingerprint reader to make unlocking speedy.
Compatibility: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant
Most front doors have a deadbolt in addition to a doorknob or lever, but for those who don’t have a deadbolt on their door, we recommend the Ultraloq Latch 5 Fingerprint smart lever lock. It’s a full replacement for a doorknob or lever, and like our top pick, the Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro WiFi, it has a keypad, a fingerprint reader, a hidden physical keyway, and built-in Wi-Fi connectivity for remote access via an app. The Latch 5 is substantially chunkier than any of our other picks, and the touchscreen isn’t as responsive or comfortable to use as other picks’ keypads. Still, the fingerprint reader works well and quickly, the lock mechanism issues a brief and quiet whir, the lock is simple to manage through its app, and because it’s lever-based it’s especially helpful for anyone who has mobility issues, such as difficulty turning a knob.
This compact, versatile, and quiet smart lock’s top feature is a fast (though sometimes faulty) fingerprint reader, and its rubber number keys will please most anyone.
This easy-to-install, sharp-looking Schlage model works flawlessly and is the first lock to support Apple Home Key.
For anyone who wants to keep an existing keyway, the Wyze Lock is fast and quiet. It also has a built-in sensor to detect when your door is ajar and comes with a tiny plug-in Wi-Fi adapter.
This keypad smart lock replaces a doorknob—not a deadbolt—with an accessibility-friendly lever handle, and it has a fingerprint reader to make unlocking speedy.
I’ve been testing smart locks, as well as a wide range of other smart-home devices, since 2015. As a reporter and editor, I’ve been covering technology and trends for two decades at a number of national print and online publications. I’ve lost count of the number of smart devices installed in my home, but it’s around three dozen. None of them work perfectly all of the time.
Smart locks are both the most useful and, at least theoretically, the most potentially risky smart devices you can install at home. In the plus column, they make entering and leaving your home far more convenient by freeing you from having to carry keys (and in some cases a smartphone, too). Most make it possible to securely grant access to your home—not only to family and friends but also to renters, tradespeople, and even mail carriers or package-delivery workers. We’ve found that smart locks that feature a keypad are especially useful, making life more flexible and even safer for a household with kids who are too young to have smartphones.
Smart locks don’t need to be connected with other smart devices to be useful, but should you want to do that, you can link them up using a single smartphone app so that it’s easier to access and control all your devices. Your options include popular smart platforms such as Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, and Samsung SmartThings. Once you’ve configured your lock on your smart platform, you might use it to tell one or more other devices to turn on or off, or perhaps even to trigger a string of automated actions—for instance, having your front lights turn off and your heat or AC kick on whenever you arrive home and unlock the door.
Here are a few ways in which a smart lock might be a useful addition to your home:
Smart locks, especially keypad models, are perfectly suited for rental-property and vacation-home owners such as Airbnb hosts, who have to deal with frequent key exchanges (in fact, with some locks, Airbnb now offers to automate the code creation for guests). Similarly, smart locks can be a useful tool for small-business owners who want to keep an eye on who might be coming and going through their doors when they aren’t around.
One especially important buying tip: If your door has a mortise lock, with the latch and bolt in an integrated unit, or a door handle and latch that are a single unit, none of the smart locks we recommend will fit. In most of these cases, to accommodate a new smart lock, you need to replace that integrated unit with a standalone doorknob or lever and possibly a deadbolt—and all that extra work and hardware may end up being cost-prohibitive.
You’ll find two main categories of DIY smart locks. The first is a complete replacement, which requires removing your existing deadbolt or doorknob assembly and installing all-new hardware. The second variety is a deadbolt adapter, an add-on device that replaces the interior thumb turn of your door’s existing deadbolt but not the deadbolt mechanism itself.
We looked for locks that offer the best balance of convenience, security, and useful smarts while requiring as little technical complexity, ongoing management, or troubleshooting as possible. You can set up and manage almost all smart locks by using a companion smartphone app, and some smart locks can integrate with smart-home platforms and controllers such as Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, or Samsung SmartThings. Most smart locks can trigger other smart devices as well as automated actions such as turning lights on or off or changing the mode of a thermostat. In the past, many smart locks relied on a plug-in bridge or gateway, a device that would relay communications from the lock to your smartphone via your home Wi-Fi network. Such a connection allows you to control or manage your lock remotely. Our top two picks have Wi-Fi built in, which makes setup modestly less complicated and also means having to deal with one fewer device.
All of the smart locks we tested can integrate somewhat with other smart devices, though not as much as other smart-home gadgets due to security concerns. For example, if you have an Alexa-compatible smart thermostat or light switches, you can set them up to adjust whenever you unlock your front door. In contrast, you may not be able to use a voice command to unlock a smart lock unless you first speak a PIN code.
To aid in our selection process, we consulted professional reviews from sites such as PCMag, Reviewed, and Tom’s Guide, as well as owner feedback on Amazon and other retailer sites, though our results are based chiefly on our own testing. Based on our research, we gathered our current lineup of picks, plus two brand-new models, and ran intensive real-world tests for the latest update to this guide.
In the many thousands of hours we’ve spent testing and using smart locks in everyday life since 2015, we’ve had only a few incidents where things went pear-shaped: Three locks have had batteries die (two warned us in advance but one did not), one lock needed to be restarted but finally responded to a voice command, and one lock became permanently disabled due to a faulty software update. So although mechanical quality and proper installation of a lock are absolutely critical factors, our focus in testing continues to be on the experience of using these devices, most especially their consistency, reliability, and ease of use.
We continue to keep our current picks installed and in everyday use whenever possible, and we replace them with new test models as necessary for at least a week, in most cases for several weeks or even months. During that time we use the locks during everyday activity. But we also methodically trigger the locks up close using our smartphone via Bluetooth, as well as over our home Wi-Fi network, and then we do so again remotely by connecting via cellular signal. Our regimen has included countless entrances and exits, and the experiences of a family of users, including two kids.
In each companion app, we explore the available settings and preferences—such as turning audio signals or LED lights on and off, as well as enabling auto-lock and auto-unlock functions when applicable—and we take note of the speed, reliability, and usefulness of the notifications and the ease of adding and managing access codes. Our tests include the use of companion apps on both iOS and Android smartphones where applicable, though we perform all long-term testing with an iPhone 13.
In assessing the physical hardware, we take a close look at the ease of installation and the quality of the materials used for the various components. We also consider the physical robustness of each lock and, where applicable, the keyway (see the section immediately below for more on this topic).
Wirecutter takes security and privacy issues seriously and, as much as possible, investigates how the companies whose products we recommend deal with customer data. As part of our vetting process, we research all of the security and data-privacy practices behind our picks. We also reach out to all the companies that produce our top picks and ask them to respond to an extensive questionnaire to confirm issues that we think should be of primary concern for any potential buyer (for the full results, see Security and privacy: How our picks compare).
Some people assume that connecting a front door lock to the internet necessarily adds a new way for thieves to infiltrate the home, and that a smart lock is fundamentally more vulnerable than a standard door lock.
Our view is that while it’s technically possible for a smart lock to be exploited electronically, the likelihood is probably quite small. In fact, over eight years of closely reporting on and testing these devices, we have yet to find a single case of a smart lock being electronically exploited in the real world—only in labs or at hacker conventions. We think the reason is straightforward: There simply aren’t too many home burglars around who are interested in, or capable of, implementing a sophisticated electronic hack, and they would rather rely on the most popular manner of breaking into a door: by force, using something like a trusty crowbar or screwdriver. And in comparison with having a “dumb” lock, should a burglar attempt to break in through a door equipped with a smart lock, the homeowner is in fact better off. For instance, all of our picks can send a notification whenever the lock is triggered, and further, the Schlage Encode Plus has a built-in impact alarm. As a result, we’ve concluded that a home is more secure with a smart lock.
The smart locks we recommend are as safe as or safer than their mechanical counterparts (which, for instance, can’t alert you when your front door is unlocked or opened).
Similarly, we had at one point begun attempting to foil our test group of locks by using lock-picking tools as an unofficial component of our testing regimen, and we were surprised to find how relatively easy it was to successfully open a number of locks, including a few that we’ve recommended. However, after some reflection and a look at FBI burglary statistics, we’ve determined that, as with the logic regarding electronic hacks, lock-picking attempts—wait for it—simply aren’t a realistic threat to homeowners. Most residential burglars break down doors or merely enter through unlocked doors. Burglars don’t have the time (or skills) to fiddle with lock picks. (For more on this topic, see “It’s Ridiculously Easy to Pick Some Smart Deadbolts, But We Aren’t Alarmed.”)
Until recently, deadbolt locks have been graded by ANSI and BHMA (the American National Standards Institute and the Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association) on their ability to withstand brute-force entry attempts—namely, smashing—with a grade of 1 to 3. For deadbolts, Grade 1 is the top ranking, reserved for a commercial-use lock with a 1-inch-thick latch bolt that can endure 10 strikes of 75 pounds and a million open/close cycles. A Grade 2 lock is considered closer to residential level, with a bolt that is 0.625-inch thick and able to withstand five strikes of 75 pounds and 800,000 cycles. In 2021 BHMA launched a new system for residential locks that grades deadbolts from A to C in three categories—security, durability and finish—with the top grade being AAA. The smart locks we recommend are as safe as or safer than their mechanical counterparts (which, for instance, can’t alert you when your front door is unlocked or opened). The Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro WiFi is rated ANSI Grade 1. The Schlage Encode Plus, the first lock to adopt the new BHMA standard, is rated AAA. Since the Wyze Lock relies on your existing deadbolt, it has no grade or ranking of its own. The Ultraloq Latch 5 Fingerprint is in the process of ANSI and BHMA grading.
A major security consideration with smart locks is whether to enable auto-lock and auto-unlock, features found on all our picks. These features trigger the lock based on your location (a technology also known as geofencing) via some combination of Bluetooth, cellular signal, GPS, and Wi-Fi. Having your door automatically trigger as you walk up to it is the essence of convenience, but it puts you at risk of an accidental trigger that leaves your front door open to anyone. Some models come with a little magnet, which you install near the lock, to determine when the door is closed or open, ensuring that you don’t lock the deadbolt when the door is left ajar (the Wyze Lock has this sensing built in). Another option for some locks is to use geofencing as a trigger, which requires that you confirm the unlock signal on your phone before it can activate, a far more secure but also less convenient approach.
In our testing over the past few years, we’ve had multiple instances of locks auto-unlocking when they shouldn’t have—both when we were home and away (the worst case was late at night, when we were at home and in bed). More recent testing has shown greatly improved accuracy in this regard, but overall we believe that carte blanche geofence triggering is essentially risky, most especially for city dwellers, who are more susceptible to an opportunistic thief (who may be in the vicinity when a door is accidentally unlocked). If you live in a suburban or rural location, the risks are more of a personal judgment call.
Overall, the companies behind our picks have very good security and privacy policies. They all require you to create a login in order to use the smart features, they all encrypt those credentials when they store the data in the cloud, and none of them share your personal data or location info with third parties—that is, unless you opt to do so by integrating your lock with a platform like Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Among our picks, only the Wyze Lock offers the ability to use two-factor authentication, a system we recommend that requires you to enter a special PIN code before changing the lock settings and is a generally good method of keeping your devices secure.
Wirecutter continues to test all of its picks, a process that includes keeping track of app, firmware, and policy updates as well as hardware and software incidents. Should any privacy or security issues be found with any of our picks, we’ll report them here and, if necessary, update or alter our recommendations.
This compact, versatile, and quiet smart lock’s top feature is a fast (though sometimes faulty) fingerprint reader, and its rubber number keys will please most anyone.
Compatibility: Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant
The Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro was our previous top pick, and the newer Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro WiFi is even better—it’s the closest we’ve come to finding The One. It has lovely precision-made hardware, it offers multiple ways to get into your home quickly (including by fingerprint), and its motor is whisper-quiet. And it’s just the right size and style to look at home on any door. We did encounter a tedious but ultimately minor software-setup issue, some flakiness when we tried controlling it with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, and we know some users have issues with the fingerprint scanner in cold weather (see Flaws but not dealbreakers). More recently we have encountered issues with battery life that company says it is aware of (see below). Yet the U-Bolt Pro WiFi’s pluses so outweigh those minuses that we still heartily recommend it to anyone. If you don’t mind having to use Ultraloq’s plug-in Bridge to connect your smart lock to your Wi-Fi network, the standard U-Bolt Pro is still a perfectly great substitute (see Other good smart locks).
The U-Bolt Pro WiFi’s number buttons encircle a fingerprint reader in the center; the front face pulls down to reveal a hidden keyway, a clever design move. The thumb-turn housing is thinner than that of most of the other models we tested. Installation of the lock hardware is on a par with the experience for other locks we tested and involves fully removing your existing deadbolt to replace it with the U-Bolt Pro WiFi.
The companion app walks you through the setup process and then lets you manage users and codes in a straightforward way, without fuss or confusion. In our tests, we found that using the app to control the lock and create codes—both while we were standing in front of the lock and when we were away from home—was quick and easily understandable to anyone who had ever used a smartphone app.
Technically, the U-Bolt Pro WiFi provides six methods of triggering the lock (including shaking your phone when you’re in front of it). However, the most useful methods—and, we think, the most likely to be used—are touching the fingerprint scanner and typing in a PIN code on the keypad. The setup process for scanning a fingerprint will be familiar to anyone who has done it with a smartphone: Guided by the app, you repeatedly place, adjust, and reposition your finger over the scanner until it is satisfied, and you can store two fingerprints per user. Then, when you arrive home, you push your finger onto the reader, and in half a second or so a ring around the scanner lights up green, and the lock opens with a gentle whir (or the ring turns red, which means you have to rescan). The fingerprint scanner is improved in this model, and even though it periodically slips up and requires a rescan or sometimes resorting to typing in a code, it works really well outside of a few specific and predictable circumstances (see Flaws but not dealbreakers).
To use a code, you enter your unique PIN and push the Ultraloq logo. Should you want to obscure your code from a potential onlooker, you can choose to add a random series of numbers before or after your actual PIN code, and the lock is smart enough to recognize it regardless.
Since the U-Bolt Pro WiFi connects to your home internet network, you can access it remotely via the U-tec app, but you can also opt to link your account to Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant and then use either of those apps (and the associated voice commands) to lock, unlock, or check the status of your door. Note that as a security measure, you need to create a PIN that you have to say aloud if you attempt to unlock your door using a voice command. You can also opt to include the lock in Routines, automated actions—such as turning on your lights or having music play—that you set up to occur when the lock is triggered.
If you aren’t interested in using a smart lock to trigger or automate other smart devices via Apple HomeKit (or if you’re content with the Alexa or Google Assistant ecosystem), the U-Bolt Pro WiFi is the smart lock to get. It’s the model I’ve kept on my front door for long-term testing.
The U-tec app provides a battery status in the settings, and the lock is supposed to send a notification and also alert you via flashing lights and warning beeps when it’s time to swap batteries, but we recently had the lock fail without warning due to low batteries. A customer support representative confirmed that this is an ongoing issue with some locks and that a firmware update to correct the problem is in the works. As a temporary workaround, the representative recommended changing batteries if you experience abnormal performance from the lock, such as failing to auto-lock, partial jams, and similar issues.
Although the fingerprint scanner works very well, it takes some getting used to; you have to figure out the right amount of pressure to use, as well as how long to leave your finger on the pad. In our tests we discovered some circumstances in which the fingerprint would typically fail, including when a finger was wet, oily, or especially dirty, but also in cold weather, when skin might be too dry.
Since encountering a few setup issues during installation in January of 2022 the lock worked reliably until Feb of 2023. Since then we began suffering extremely short battery life of about a week or two, despite trying an array of batteries including ones branded by the company itself. In ongoing communication with a company representative, they state that this particular issue is known but extremely rare—U-tec claims it affects less than .1% of devices—and they are still investigating whether it is a firmware or hardware issue (if it is firmware it should be fixed in an update). Should anyone experience the same battery drain the company says it will replace the lock free of charge, even if it is out of warranty.
This easy-to-install, sharp-looking Schlage model works flawlessly and is the first lock to support Apple Home Key.
Compatibility: Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant
If you’re looking for a low-profile, no-fuss lock with a foolproof keypad and the ability to connect to Wi-Fi without requiring a plug-in adapter, we like the Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt. The Encode Plus is an upgrade to our previous also-great pick, the Schlage Encode, and in addition to some cosmetic refinement, the new version includes support for Apple HomeKit and Apple Home Key, a way to unlock your door simply by holding your iPhone nearby. The Encode Plus, like the Encode, is remarkably simple to install, its hardware is robust, and its keypad numbers have a textured surface and give ever so slightly as you press them. It also has a built-in alarm, a soul-shattering shriek powerful enough to rouse the deceased, which you can arm to trigger if someone attempts to bust the lock or rams the door itself. The Schlage Encode is nearly identical and less expensive, and it remains a great substitute if you don’t need Apple Home Key functionality (see Other good smart locks).
The Encode Plus is smaller than its Schlage forebears (though not as small as the Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro WiFi), and it installs quickly. Because it has Wi-Fi built in, it connects directly to your home network and can send notifications when it is triggered or if someone attempts to kick in your door. In our tests of the original Encode lock, the batteries lasted for months without fail, and the same should be true for the Encode Plus (we’ll report back here if that isn’t the case).
To use the Encode Plus with Apple HomeKit, which requires an iPhone or Apple Watch, you can use the Apple Home app. Once you set that up, you can go into the settings to enable Home Key. The idea behind this feature is that instead of inputting a code, you simply hold your iPhone or Apple Watch toward the top of the keypad, and the door unlocks automatically. It took us a minute to figure out the proper positioning, but using Home Key is indeed faster than typing on a keypad, if speed matters to you. As an added measure of security, you can opt to require that your iPhone or Apple Watch be unlocked in order to trigger the lock, though that makes little practical sense—at that point, you’re likely to be better served by simply typing in a four-digit passcode on the lock.
If you prefer not to use the Encode Plus with a third-party smart platform like HomeKit, Alexa, or Google Assistant, the Schlage Home app can send notifications when the Encode Plus locks or unlocks, and you can use that app to add lock codes or alter existing codes. With those basic skills, the Encode Plus (or the older Encode) is the best choice as a simple but smart gatekeeper for a vacation home or rental property, especially as it’s the one smart lock we’ve tested that needs no explanation for anyone to figure out: Just enter your code, and it opens. Simply press the padlock button to lock it when you leave.
Compared with the whisper-quiet U-Bolt Pro WiFi, the Encode Plus makes a noisy whirring sound when triggered, though not so loud that it’s likely to wake the neighbors.
For anyone who wants to keep an existing keyway, the Wyze Lock is fast and quiet. It also has a built-in sensor to detect when your door is ajar and comes with a tiny plug-in Wi-Fi adapter.
Compatibility: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant
The Wyze Lock is as good a smart-home bargain as we’ve seen. It offers sturdy and precise hardware, a unique built-in door sensor, and a tiny Wi-Fi adapter, yet it’s about half the price of our top pick and runner-up pick. The Wyze Lock isn’t a deadbolt replacement; instead it attaches to your existing keyway, and all its smart bits are tucked into the deadbolt housing, a slim metal unit with a thumb turn. Since it has neither a keypad nor a fingerprint reader, to unlock your door you need to access the companion app on your smartphone or enable geofencing via the auto-unlock mode to trigger when you arrive home—the latter of which presents a potential security risk if the lock misfires. Wyze offers a keypad accessory that connects via Bluetooth, which works really well, but if you want to use a keypad on your smart lock every day, we recommend opting instead for one of our other picks, as with those models you have fewer batteries or wireless connections to worry about. One shortcoming we’ve noticed in long-term testing: The Wyze Lock has a particularly brief battery life of just two or three months. You do get plenty of advance warning in the app, but compared with other smart locks, this model chews up batteries. Still, depending on your needs and how you plan to use your smart lock, the Wyze Lock may be an ideal option if you occasionally need remote access to a lock or want to go keyless.
Like the popular August line of smart locks, the Wyze Lock is a conversion model that adds smarts to traditional mechanical deadbolts. Installation is easy enough, though it requires both a regular-size screwdriver and a mini Phillips-head screwdriver (which is annoying to discover mid-installation). Once you’ve secured the lock to your door, you pair it to the Wyze app and then plug in and pair the included Wi-Fi adapter, which acts as the wireless go-between for your smartphone and lock when you aren’t within close proximity. In our tests, setup was delightfully hiccup-free, with the mechanical and app components all connecting seamlessly.
What makes the Wyze Lock a standout is its built-in proximity sensing, which indicates whether the door is properly shut or has been left ajar or fully open. That feature allows you to enable smartphone alerts so that you’ll know if someone leaves the door open accidentally. You can also have the lock set off its internal chime if the door stays open for too long, which can be useful (or aggravating if you are the spouse of a writer and product reviewer and you just want to open the door to let in some fresh air).
Currently the Wyze Lock works with its companion app but can also pair with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, both of which let you use voice commands to lock the door; you can also use voice commands via either platform to unlock the door, but as an added security measure the lock requires you to create and use a spoken PIN code for that purpose.
Wyze turns on a few optional features by default that you should be aware of. For instance, the Wyze Lock is set to auto-lock a few seconds after you unlock and then open and shut the door, something we discovered after popping outside for a minute, hearing a whir, and then turning around to realize we were locked out of our house—in contrast with locks that have a keypad, with an adapter model you can get locked out if you don’t have your smartphone on you at all times. Wyze also turns on the open-door alarm, which my spouse alerted me to when the lock began beeping maddeningly because she had left the back door open.
The Wyze Lock’s auto-unlock feature makes it more useful but also potentially more risky depending on where you live, and we’ve seen several early reports of owners having their door unlock at unwanted times—but also having it fail to unlock, which means needing to access a phone, open the app, and then trigger the lock (or just use a key). This is a problem shared by every smart lock we’ve tested that has an auto-unlock feature, and we think it has a lot to do with the instability of wireless and GPS signals, which these locks rely on to detect when a device owner is in range. Our thinking has been that, depending on your environment, the actual security risk may be negligible, especially if the lock is set to auto-lock after a short period. For some people, especially those who live in urban environments, the risk is not worth taking, so opting for another smart lock may be the best route.
This keypad smart lock replaces a doorknob—not a deadbolt—with an accessibility-friendly lever handle, and it has a fingerprint reader to make unlocking speedy.
Compatibility: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant
For single-hole doors that don’t have a deadbolt, we recommend the Ultraloq Latch 5 Fingerprint smart lever lock, which is almost identical to our top pick in function. You can unlock it using your favorite of four methods: using a code, a fingerprint, a traditional key, or the companion app (including using an Apple Watch). Since it has Wi-Fi built in, you can also trigger and administer the lock remotely and get specific notifications when the lock is accessed or if someone attempts to break in. A similar model, the Ultraloq Latch 5 NFC, works the same but removes the fingerprint scanner in favor of an NFC reader, which allows you to tap an Android smartphone or one of the two included keychain dongles to trigger the lock.
The Latch 5 replaces the entire doorknob/lever mechanism, and we suspect that its oversize dimensions are likely to make it a nonstarter for some people. If you aren’t put off by its huskiness, the Latch 5 is a wonderful tool. Installation is simple enough in any standard-size door, and you need only a screwdriver or drill with a Phillips-head tip and five or so minutes. Once you’ve installed it, you pair it with the U-tec companion app, where you then get a prompt to create an admin code. When adding users, you can specify what level of access they have—Admin, Normal or Temporary—and give them a personalized PIN code. If they happen to be present, you can also scan their thumbprint, which they can then use to unlock the door.
The fingerprint scanner works really well, and the lock triggers quietly and instantly. Unlike deadbolt locks, which have a physical bolt that extends and retracts, when this style of lock is triggered, it enables the lever handle to engage the latch; if the lock isn’t triggered, the lever handle can move up and down but doesn’t engage the latch. One noteworthy facet of using a smart lock of this style versus a deadbolt is that it always auto-locks, as it automatically disables the outside lever shortly after you unlock it. This happens because, unlike a deadbolt, which has a thumb turn, this style of smart lock offers no way to manually lock it from inside the door. You can adjust how long the delay is, from seconds to minutes, or you can fully disable it by going into the app and changing the lock mode to being always unlocked.
The touchscreen isn’t as nice to use as the buttons on our top pick—first you have to wake the screen by placing a few fingers or your palm on it, which isn’t onerous but is occasionally a tedious first step when you’re in a rush. When we used the app to remotely trigger the lock, the response time varied, from a few seconds to sometimes 10 or 15 seconds or more. The fingerprint method is definitely the way to go if you are able to place a finger on the scanner, which is directly above where the thumb goes when a hand is grasping the lever. If you’re worried about potential security risks, your fingerprint scan remains on the device and never goes to the cloud, and the scan data is encrypted.
In our testing, the only hitch came after we had successfully set up the lock. We attempted to install a pair of firmware updates, but one failed and ended up making the device unusable. We reached out to Ultraloq through the normal customer support hotline—without revealing that we were journalists—and within five minutes we were connected to a technician who confirmed that the device was definitely bricked. The service rep then began the process of sending us a warranty replacement. Though we are of course disappointed that the device failed, it’s important to understand that such failures are a possibility with any device, especially pieces of tech, and to us, the company’s laudable customer service response is an important consideration for any buyer. In this case, the customer support was functionally perfect, which relieved any concerns we had. We received the replacement model from the company and successfully set it up, and we’ve had no issues with the lock since. (In the past, readers have complained about Ultraloq customer service, and the company has acknowledged those shortcomings and taken steps to improve. On the day of our call, the technician said that just a quarter of the call representatives were working due to the remaining effects of the pandemic and suggested that the company’s revamped email-based or chat customer service would be a faster option in most cases.)
We also tested the Ultraloq Latch 5 NFC, which is similar to the Fingerprint model in looks and function but has an NFC reader instead of a fingerprint scanner. To trigger the lock, you can hold up one of the two included NFC keychain dongles, and it unlocks instantly, or if you have an Android smartphone, you can simply tap it against the lock. You can also use a code, a key, or an app on a smartphone or Apple Watch. Though the Fingerprint model provides a more streamlined experience, the ability to use NFC could be a good option (superior to typing in a code or digging around in a pocket for a keychain) for households with young children or for anyone who has mobility issues or vision loss.
Though we’re confident that the Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro WiFi is the best pick for most people, many of the other models we’ve tested would be fine choices depending on your needs, preferences, and budget. Note that unlike with our current picks, we don’t continuously long-term test the following models.
If you want the best but like to save a few bucks: Our previous, long-standing top pick, the Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro, is essentially identical to our new top pick except that it requires the use of the plug-in Ultraloq Bridge to enable remote access as well as support for Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. In long-term testing, we’ve found that the newer Pro WiFi model has a far more reliable fingerprint sensor, and that this model seems to suffer from seasonal flakiness during winter months. If that doesn’t bug you, this model is a bargain.
If you want a keypad and don’t need HomeKit support: The Schlage Encode WiFi Smart Lock, a previous also-great pick, resembles and works the same as the newer Encode Plus except that it lacks Apple HomeKit and Home Key support. If you don’t need those features, it’s a terrific option.
If Home Key and aesthetics matter most to you: The Level Lock+ (which joins the Level Bolt and the Level Lock Touch Edition in that company’s lineup) is very nearly a work of industrial art. Its components are precision-engineered, clever, and truly unique. Unlike other deadbolt-replacement smart locks, this model’s smart guts and mechanisms live completely inside your door, so in appearance it’s a completely ordinary deadbolt. For those homeowners who have aesthetic concerns about beeps and bloops and keypads and LED lights, that is a strong selling point. You can trigger the Level Lock+ a number of ways, including by touch, but the real value in our view is that it supports Apple Home Key, which lets you hold your iPhone or Apple Watch up to its face to trigger the lock at any time. (If you are using it any other way, you’re bound to run into issues.) But a few overarching limitations prevent us from making it a pick. Home Key is available only to Apple iPhone owners, for starters. At $330, the Lock+ is expensive. On top of that, it functions only if you have a key card, smartphone, or Apple Watch on your person at all times (unless you choose to carry a physical key), and sharing access with others requires their downloading and installing an app. If you have kids or other household members who have no devices or have only non-recent Apple devices, they can’t unlock the door in any way other than with a physical key. If those aren’t concerns for you, the Lock+ is a lovely smart lock, and the addition of Home Key makes it far more reliable and friendly to use.
If you want a less expensive HomeKit model: We’ve named a few HomeKit-compatible models as picks in the past. One is the Kwikset Premis, a great, reliable device. Its hardware is large compared with that of our current picks, and it is less elegant, but it works well. Remote access requires using an Apple TV or HomePod (either the original or the HomePod mini). The Schlage Sense, another previous pick, has a terrific keypad and top-quality ANSI Grade 1 hardware, but over many years of testing, it has suffered from Bluetooth-range issues that have made it unreliable when we’re trying to connect to it remotely—despite its being within spitting distance of both our Wi-Fi beacon and an Apple TV acting as a hub. A Wi-Fi adapter, which also enables Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant compatibility, is available but removes HomeKit compatibility. Still, the Sense is a solid device and a good choice especially for rental properties.
If you prefer Nest devices: The Nest x Yale Lock is compatible only with other Nest smart devices and has a relatively large touchscreen keypad—which we like. It works reliably, has a smooth mechanism, and is easy to manage. Remote access requires using a plug-in Nest Connect unit, which is included.
If you’re a renter: The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock is nearly half the size of the company’s Smart Lock Pro. It functions almost identically but also has built-in Wi-Fi support, which enables you to connect to it remotely without having to rely on a plug-in hub. As with all other August devices, its usefulness is wholly dependent on its auto-unlock feature, which requires that you leave the vicinity of your home for several hundred feet before it can trigger. If you pop out to a neighbor’s house or the corner store, for example, it won’t work when you come back, and you’ll need to rely on your phone or smartwatch to open the door. If you live in an area where you lock the doors only at night, it may be a fine option.
If you prize convenience over guest access: The Kwikset Halo Touch is a deadbolt-replacement model with a modern-style keyway and a fingerprint reader. It’s pretty, and the fingerprint reader works well, but you can’t readily share access to your home as you can with keypad models (you’d need to register a fingerprint for every visitor). The door mechanism also sounds suspiciously like that of the relatively aged Kwikset Kevo, which is to say it’s loud and a bit pokey. Still, for everyday use it works well, and the fingerprint reader was flawless in our tests.
Aqara has announced the Smart Lock U100, which works with HomeKit and supports Apple Wallet, along with access via fingerprints, passwords, NFC cards, the Aqara app, and keys. It will also support Matter, through a compatible hub. The lock will be available in the second quarter; pricing is still to be announced.
TP-Link’s Tapo Smart Video Door Lock bundles a door lock, a doorbell, and a full-color 2K QHD outdoor security camera into one device. It will allow access through fingerprints, passwords, and face recognition, along with use of the app or voice assistants. Pricing and availability are still to be announced.
Our experience with the smart locks we’ve tested has been positive for the most part, though we should note that every smart lock we’ve ever used has had instances when it didn’t function correctly or required troubleshooting of some variety—an inevitability to be aware of when you’re choosing to install one of these devices in your home. We have yet to meet a set-it-and-forget-it smart-home device.
The Yale Assure Lock 2 is a significant update to the Assure, which has been a top pick in the past, but after considering its shortcomings, complications, and price, we concluded that it doesn’t seem like a great value. You can buy it with or without a keyway, and with a keypad or touchscreen. The $240 glass-touchscreen model we tested was a pain to use compared with our picks: We had to wake the screen first, which didn’t always happen, and it was often hard for us to tell whether a touch registered, so inadvertently mistyping the code was a distinct possibility. It comes with a replaceable Wi-Fi module installed but isn’t Matter-enabled; that support will require an $80 upgrade module.
The Wyze Lock Bolt is a keypad deadbolt-replacement model with a fingerprint reader. It’s nice looking, and it may be a good fit for some homeowners, but we don’t plan to formally test and review it because it currently lacks remote access for control and notifications. We will reconsider this model if Wyze updates it with Wi-Fi connectivity.
The August Smart Lock Pro is widely compatible, and August has consistently updated and improved its devices over time. This model, however, requires a Wi-Fi hub, so if you prefer August models, we recommend getting the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock instead.
The Eufy Smart Lock Touch E130 and Eufy Smart Lock Touch & W-Fi S230 are keypad locks with a built-in fingerprint reader. The former model doesn’t offer remote access, whereas the latter lock does, so you can control it when you aren’t home. Both have an internal housing that is the largest we’ve ever seen, as well as a similarly large external one. Although both locks work well, we prefer many of the significantly smaller options available.
Lockly has a line of smart locks, all of which have clever and thoughtful features. However, in our testing we found that none of them matched or bettered our picks, and overall they suffered from lesser design and sometimes lower-quality materials. The Lockly Secure Plus keypad lock (deadbolt version) is in many ways a great smart lock, but it seemed oversized to us, and the interior housing felt plasticky and inferior in comparison with the metal housings of our top picks. It also doesn’t provide remote access. The newer Lockly Secure Pro is available for purchase with a wireless bridge, but at $300 it’s not a good value compared with our picks. The Lockly Vision includes a built-in doorbell. Although we appreciate the cleverness involved in its engineering, a small smart lock and a separate battery-powered doorbell cam are a better and more practical option—in the package, Lockly includes a sign to instruct visitors to press the button on the lock, which to us is an acknowledgement of how the design is likely to confuse visitors. The Lockly Flex Touch has a keyway and a fingerprint reader, which makes it useful only for homes where you don’t intend to share access (unless you invite those folks over to scan their fingerprints first). In our tests it was quick and quiet, but its internal housing felt plasticky and insubstantial, and remote access to the lock requires an $80 adapter. In contrast, the Kwikset Halo Touch is a bit more expensive but has Wi-Fi built in.
The Kwikset Kevo is a previous pick that we don’t recommend these days for a number of reasons, mostly because it’s outdated and unreliable. Curiously it isn’t compatible with a large variety of popular Android devices—so you can render it incompatible if you buy a new phone. (We haven’t encountered this issue with any other lock we’ve tested.)
We tested the Alfred DB1 and were largely impressed, especially with its touch-to-unlock mechanism, which worked well if not perfectly—several times we arrived home and touched the keypad, but the lock failed to unlock. It doesn’t integrate with as many smart-home platforms, its included Wi-Fi adapter is a bizarre, clunky mess, and its app is far too confusing to use for setting up PIN codes.
We were generally pleased with the performance and looks of the Yale Assure Lock Touchscreen Deadbolt (YRD226), a former alternative to a previous top pick (the YRD256). But nowadays you can find plenty of better-performing and more affordable models.
Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro WiFi: Yes.
Schlage Encode Plus: It depends: If you use HomeKit, no. If you want to use smart features with the Schlage app, Alexa, or Google Assistant, then yes. If you don’t want smart features, you can use the lock without a login but won’t be able to connect to it remotely.
Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro WiFi: No.
Wyze Lock: Yes, it is turned on by default but isn’t required.
Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro WiFi: Yes, and fingerprint images are encrypted and stored only on the device.
Ultraloq Latch 5 Fingerprint: Yes, and fingerprint images are encrypted and stored only on the device.
Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro WiFi: Optionally, for certain features like auto-unlock.
Schlage Encode Plus: Location data is recorded but not shared with third parties.
Wyze Lock: Optionally, for certain features like auto-unlock.
Ultraloq Latch 5 Fingerprint: Optionally, for certain features like auto-unlock.
Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro WiFi: No.
Schlage Encode Plus: Yes, if you choose to integrate with third-party platforms. You can opt out by emailing dataprivacy@allegion.com.
This article was edited by Jon Chase and Grant Clauser.
Yes. Because smart locks are battery-powered, not plugged into your home’s electricity, you can continue to lock or unlock them using their keypad or fingerprint reader, or, if it’s an adapter-style lock, by using your smartphone, since it connects over Bluetooth. (And just in case you’re worried, all the locks we recommend require battery changes only after several months, and they warn you far in advance before the batteries die. Deadbolt-replacement models also have exposed ports to connect a battery or attach a USB battery should their internal batteries fail unexpectedly.)
If your power outage also cuts your home internet, which is likely to be the case, you won’t be able to travel out of Bluetooth range and still be able to remotely lock or unlock your door, or receive notifications. So without power you can still use the lock, just not its smart features.
Geofencing is a tech term for a way through which smart-home devices can trigger based on your location. The gist is that when you turn on geofencing (it’s a setting often found in the app you use to set up and control your smart device), your smart devices are able to track where your smartphone is, and by extension they’ll know where you are. Using your smart device’s app, you first designate where your home is, which creates an invisible virtual “fence.” You can then have your devices activate automatically whenever you go past that fence in either direction‚ such as having your lights turn off when you leave home. It’s one of the smartest things smart devices can do. (For a more thorough look, see “Geofences Make Your Home Work Better. Here’s How.”)
Where geofencing may present some issues is that, unlike a smart light bulb or a smart plug, a smart lock is a pivotal security device. And in a half decade of testing experience, including evaluations of a few dozen locks over thousands of hours, we have never found a geofencing system that works flawlessly—to the contrary, we’ve often had a buggy experience. Sometimes a lock has triggered way too early, when we were hundreds of feet from home, or not at all, or after a long pause, with the end result being that we’ve ended up having to pull out a phone to trigger the lock anyway, which is less convenient than using a key.
As such, we’ve never relied on geofencing for personal use, and we’ve always been reluctant to recommend it as a primary method of interacting with a smart lock. Other methods are far more secure and also far more reliable. But—and it’s a big but—many people claim to use geofencing and enjoy it, so if the potential downsides (chiefly, early triggers before you’re actually home, or a failure to trigger at all) aren’t a major concern for you, geofencing may be a handy tool that allows you to make the most of a smart lock. If we lived in a rural or even suburban locale, for instance, we’d be much more inclined to consider it.
It’s possible, but currently in the US no major brands sell those combination devices, called smart mortise locks, directly to customers, and models sold abroad may not fit the dimensions of US doors. We’re constantly on the lookout, though, and we hope to be able to test and recommend such a model if they ever become available.
No, you can trigger a smart lock without having to connect it to the internet—however, if you want the sorts of features that make a lock “smart,” such as the ability to control it when you aren’t home, to receive notifications when it’s triggered, or to have it connect with other smart devices, then yes, you need to connect it to Wi-Fi. Until recently most smart locks would need to be paired with a small plug-in device (variously referred to as a bridge, hub, or gateway) that acted as the go-between, connecting the lock (via Bluetooth) with the home’s Wi-Fi network. Now you can find many models that have Wi-Fi support built-in and so can connect directly to your home Wi-Fi network without a helping hand from another device.
John R. Delaney, The Best Smart Locks for 2023, PCMag, February 23, 2023
Mike Prospero, The best smart locks in 2023, Tom’s Guide, February 28, 2023
Rick Broida, Whitson Gordon, Sarah Kovac, The Best Smart Locks of 2023, Reviewed, January 23, 2023
Jon Chase is an editor leading smart-home coverage at Wirecutter. He has been covering technology as a writer and editor since the days before mobile phones got smart. His work has been featured in various print and online publications, and on television. He currently has over 35 smart devices installed in his home. None of them work perfectly.
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