Smart locks might not have made any substantial advancements to the actual mechanics of a deadbolt, but they’ve certainly changed the way we interact with them. With motorized deadbolts and built-in connectivity with your home network or phone, smart locks allow you to lock and unlock your door remotely using an app, and a lot of them can sync with voice assistants, home automation platforms and home security systems, too. They can be a big help if someone needs to drop something off while you’re out of the house, if you have houseguests or renters who need access to your home, or if you can’t seem to remember whether you locked the door on your way to work in the morning.
The features that define the best smart lock for your home will differ depending on the door in question and the people who walk through it. Smart locks that can be retrofitted to the traditional lock instead of replacing the existing deadbolt are a must-have for some people, especially apartment-dwellers. Others will care more about user codes that they can share with houseguests, or extra features like fingerprint scanners, auto-locking and unlocking or compatibility with Apple HomeKit.
We’ve tested a wide number of smart locks over the years, including some of the most recent models to hit the market in 2022. Our favorites of the bunch are listed below, and we’ll update this page regularly as our testing continues.
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Our long-running smart lock champ, the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock includes a retrofit August lock and a DoorSense open-close sensor to upgrade your existing deadbolt or other lock. Wi-Fi comes built in with this version of the lock, so you won’t need to pay extra for August’s plug-in Wi-Fi Connect bridge to enable remote access with a smartphone app, or to sync up with Alexa, Google Assistant or Siri (August supports all three, which is terrific).
On top of that, the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock is 45% smaller than previous August models, and it offers a good mix of features in the well-designed August app. That includes unlimited user access, auto-locking and unlocking, and a log of every action that happens at your front door. If you purchase August’s wireless keypad accessory for $60, you can add coded entry into the mix, too.
The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock is a capable, easy-to-install smart lock, a reliable performer in our tests, all of which earned it an Editors’ Choice award here on CNET. Available in silver or matte-black for $230 or less (as of writing this, you can snag it for $190 on Amazon), it’s easily one of the best smart lock options on the market.
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August’s third-gen Smart Lock and Connect bundle comes with a DoorSense open-close sensor and the August Connect plug-in Wi-Fi bridge. The low-profile, retrofit design means you won’t need to replace your existing deadbolt lock and installation is easy, offering convenience for renters who might not be able to switch the existing deadbolt out at all.
With that August Connect Wi-Fi bridge pairing the lock with your home network, this version of the August lock is compatible with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa for voice control, and you’ll find the same great remote access features in the August mobile app. About the only August feature that you don’t get here is compatibility with Apple HomeKit (sorry, Siri). Available in silver or dark gray for as little as $185, it’s the first smart lock I’d recommend if you live in an apartment and don’t want to remove your existing lock.
Editor’s note: In August 2020, PCMag and Bitdefender released a report alleging that August and Yale Android apps when working with Connect modules were vulnerable to a hack during setup mode that could give away Wi-Fi credentials. In August’s latest response to CNET, it states, “If the Connect’s firmware is up-to-date and the user’s August Android app is up-to-date, their device will not be vulnerable to the original attack even if the unit enters into setup mode.”
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If you’re renting out your place using a service like AirBNB, then a smart lock makes a ton of sense to make it easy for guests to get in. My recommendation would be to get a smart lock that supports coded entry — just give your guests a code that only works for the duration of their stay, and they’ll be able to get in and out without needing to use a key or download an app.
The coded smart lock I like the best is the Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro. With physical buttons that work regardless of the weather (or whether or not the user is wearing gloves), it’s about as foolproof as coded locks get. It features one of my favorite smart lock designs, with a built-in fingerprint sensor and a sneaky front face that flips down to reveal the keyhole. Plus, the lock’s built-in Wi-Fi radio was a top performer in my range tests, which might make it an especially good pick for a door that’s a couple of rooms away from your router. You can sync it with Alexa or Google Assistant for voice controls, too, though Apple HomeKit isn’t supported.
The U-Bolt Pro comes in a variety of models — I like the newest version tested and pictured here, with the fingerprint scanner, an open/closed door sensor, and built-in Wi-Fi for remote access on your phone and compatibility with Alexa and Google, but it’s a bit expensive at $280. Fortunately, you can save some money by going with an identical-looking Bluetooth model that ditches the open/closed sensor and uses an external, plug-in Wi-Fi bridge for a total of $179. Don’t care about the fingerprint sensor? You can ditch that too, bringing the price all the way down to $149.
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If compatibility with Apple HomeKit and the Siri voice controls that come with it is a must-have for your smart lock, the bad news is that you’ll find fewer options than you’ll see with other platforms. The good news is that you’ve still got some great locks to choose from — and among them, I’d recommend starting with the Level Lock.
Available for $200 in your choice of four finishes, the Level Lock costs a little less than other HomeKit locks, and it features a clever design that packs all of the electronics into the deadbolt inside your door. That means that you won’t have a bulky thumbturn on the inside of your door or a gadgety-looking keyhole on the outside, and it also means that the Level Lock is about as quiet as smart locks get, since the motor that turns the deadbolt sits inside your door.
The Level Lock uses Bluetooth to pair with your phone, and a unique range-boosting feature worked well in our tests and allowed me to reliably control the lock from a couple of rooms away, which is something other Bluetooth locks couldn’t do. Pair it with a HomeKit hub like the Apple TV or the HomePod Mini, and you’ll be able to control it from anywhere (same goes for Alexa users — just pair it with an Echo device or another Amazon gadget that doubles as an Amazon Sidewalk bridge). There’s no Google Assistant support, but that’s really about all this smart lock is missing.
If you want to spend a little less, you could consider the Level Bolt, which offers the exact same features and the exact same hardware pictured above without the thumbturn and keyhole that go on the inside and outside of your door. Instead, that model works with your existing hardware, and that means it costs a little less at $151. On the flipside, there’s also a new Level Lock Touch Edition that adds a capacitive lock exterior that unlocks as soon as a registered user touches it — it’s expensive at $329, but we’ll update this post once we’ve tested it out to let you know if we think it’s worth the splurge.
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If you’re ready to upgrade to a smart lock, but you aren’t crazy about the idea of spending $200 or more, then the Wyze Lock might be just what you’re looking for. Available for just $130, you’ll get built-in Bluetooth for pairing with your phone at close range plus a plug-in Wi-Fi hub for connecting from afar or connecting via Alexa or Google Assistant. If you’re interested in coded entry, you can add a wireless keypad accessory into the mix for an extra $30.
With a retrofit design, the Wyze Lock works with your existing deadbolt and key. It’s admittedly plain-looking on the inside of your door, but it’s easy to install and it worked well in our tests, making it a great budget pick.
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I’m not sure that I’d want to go totally keyless at my front door, but if you’re ready to ditch that door key for good, then the Yale Assure SL belongs right at the top of your list. The small, sleek design doesn’t have a keyhole at all — instead, you’ll let yourself in using a touchscreen keypad that comes in a variety of finishes that look good on nearly every door. If the batteries ever run out, you can hold a 9V battery against a set of nodes on the bottom of the lock to give it enough juice to let you in.
Shop around, and you’ll find a variety of Yale Assure models with different kinds of connectivity and different price points. The base model costs $179, but it doesn’t feature any smarts at all — you need to purchase and install the Yale Access Upgrade kit which includes an August Connect Wi-Fi bridge for well over $100 in order to control the lock from your phone or to pair it with a voice assistant. That’s a bad value, so instead, go with the Yale Assure lock that already has Wi-Fi built in — that model doesn’t need any extra hub hardware, and it costs about $250. Another version features a Z-Wave radio instead of Wi-Fi for $230 — it might be worth considering if your home already has a Z-Wave hub that can communicate with it.
Editor’s note: In August 2020, PCMag and Bitdefender released a report alleging that August and Yale Android apps when working with Connect modules were vulnerable to a hack during setup mode that could give away Wi-Fi credentials. In August’s latest response to CNET, it states, “If the Connect’s firmware is up-to-date and the user’s August Android app is up-to-date, their device will not be vulnerable to the original attack even if the unit enters into setup mode.”
Read our Yale Assure Lock SL Key Free Touchscreen Deadbolt review.
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Other smart locks we’ve tested
In our search for the best smart lock, these are some of the other products we’ve tried out:
The Kwikset Halo Touch is a no-frills fingerprint lock with built-in Wi-Fi and support for Alexa or Google Assistant.
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Nest Yale Lock: Nest and Yale partnered up for a Google-centric smart lock with a touch keypad. This Nest app smart door lock has the good looks of Yale’s earlier models, but it isn’t quite as capable as other keyless locks when it comes to smart home integration.
Array by Hampton Connected Door Lock: This lock has solar-powered battery backup and built-in Wi-Fi, but it’s expensive and doesn’t have the option to work with HomeKit or Google Assistant yet.
Kwikset Halo Touch: The Halo Touch is a simple, straightforward fingerprint lock that costs $234. With built-in Wi-Fi, there’s no need for any additional hub hardware — just install it, pair it with your home network, and you’ll be all set. It was a strong performer in our tests, with a snappy, responsive fingerprint scanner and a relatively quiet design, and it supports voice controls via Alexa or Google Assistant (no HomeKit support, though). If it were me buying, I’d try to catch it on sale for less than $200, but this is definitely a smart lock worth considering if you want fingerprint access at your front door.
Kwikset Kevo Bluetooth Deadbolt: Kwikset’s second-gen Kevo is a good Bluetooth smart lock and a simple answer to smartening your door if you don’t need remote control access. If you do, you’ll need to purchase the Kevo Plus connect module. You can use the mobile app or the key fob for keyless door entry.
The Lockly Flex Touch is a Bluetooth smart lock with a built-in fingerprint scanner, but you’ll need to pay an extra $80 for the plug-in Wi-Fi hub that lets you control it from anywhere or pair it with a voice assistant.
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Lockly Flex Touch: An understated fingerprint lock, the Flex Touch looks like a standard deadbolt on the outside, apart from the small fingerprint sensor that dangles underneath. That fingerprint sensor worked great when we tested it out, but the interior part of the lock is made of faux-stainless-steel plastic that feels a bit cheap to the touch. In addition to that, you’ll need to buy an overpriced $80 plug-in Wi-Fi hub if you want to control the lock via your phone from beyond Bluetooth range.
Schlage Encode Wi-Fi Deadbolt: We liked the Encode’s simplicity when we tested it out — with built-in Wi-Fi, there’s no need for any extra hub hardware, meaning you can pair it with your home network and with Alexa or Google Assistant for voice controls as soon as you install it. It’s also compatible with Amazon Key, in case you’re interested in in-home delivery drop-offs. On top of that, it’s a really nice-looking smart lock, with a classy touchpad for coded entry and a variety of elegant finishes. It doesn’t support Apple HomeKit, though, and it’s difficult to find it on sale for less than $250, which makes it hard to recommend.
Schlage Sense Bluetooth Deadbolt: Schlage’s Sense smart lock is affordable, but clunky and not as simple to set up as its Encode sibling. You’ll also need a Schlage lock Wi-Fi adapter to connect with Google Assistant or Alexa.
Eufy Smart Lock Touch with Wi-Fi: At a retail price of $260, Eufy’s sleek-looking, finger-scanning smart lock is too expensive for us to recommend outright, but it performed well when we tested it out, apart from a few minor hiccups during setup. With both a fingerprint scanner and a touchpad for coded entry, it’s about as versatile as smart locks get, but it’s probably more than most people need.
Smart lock FAQs
Here are the answers to some of the most common questions about smart locks. If you have any others, feel free to email me from my author page (just click the little orange envelope).
How secure are smart locks?
Smart locks from major developers, like Yale and Schlage, are reliable security devices — but only if you use them correctly. In the same way a lock three feet from a key hidden under a doormat isn’t very secure, a smart lock with the PIN 1-2-3-4 won’t be very secure. Smart locks can even be more secure than conventional locks, since keys are easier to lose than, say, your fingers, if you’re using a fingerprint lock.
Why are smart locks so expensive?
Like most smart home tech, smart locks are getting more affordable all the time — but that doesn’t mean they’re cheap. Between the conventional hardware (which often includes a deadbolt and other parts of the lock mechanism), the “smart” hardware (which includes computer chips and various kinds of radios) and the software (which includes digital security measures like encryption), a lot goes into a smart lock. So finding one for under a hundred bucks, which isn’t unusual these days, is actually a solid deal.
Can smart locks be hacked?
Smart locks, like any Wi-Fi-connected device, can be hacked. But as long as you’re finding smart locks from reliable developers, the communications that would allow a hacker to trigger the lock should be thoroughly encrypted — making hacking pretty difficult. It’s important to keep in mind, too, that robberies are often crimes of convenience. So unless you live on a totally secure compound, protecting one-of-a-kind jewels, an unlocked window or an open garage door is a more likely point of entry than your theoretically hackable smart lock.
While smart lock hacking isn’t much of a risk to your individual home’s security thanks to encryption, that doesn’t mean smart locks pose no risks. Battery-powered smart locks can lead to problems in the long run if you’re not diligent about keeping them powered. Smart lock hacking can also pose a larger societal problem when unsecured smart home gadgets are hacked en masse to carry out distributed denial-of-service attacks against internet-dependent institutions, such as banks. You can mitigate risks like those by setting strong passwords for the apps that control your smart home, and by using security-minded features like two-factor authentication.
