Best Smart Locks of 2023

After comparing prices, security ratings, customer reviews, and ease of use to choose the most secure electronic locks, the August Wi-Fi tops the list of the best smart locks for homes. It has the easiest installation and complements smart home systems nicely.

If you like smart locks with keypads (the August Wi-Fi's optional keypad sells separately) or that unlock with a fingerprint scanner, you might prefer our other smart lock picks. Some locks prioritize hands-free convenience, while others are high-grade security picks that put protection first.

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We love August as the best door lock because it's packed with features. The lock's secure built-in Wi-Fi connection means you can control it through the August Home app. It's a bit pricier than previous versions, but it doesn't need a hub. That means faster installation and one less device in your outlets.

August's app is one of the easiest we've ever used and helps set the standard for what you should expect from a smart lock app—even competitor apps use layouts similar to August's. We especially love the guest access tools, detailed activity reports, and low battery alerts. It also has an excellent geofencing feature that unlocks your door automatically as you approach.

Although the lock works over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, the app automatically chooses the best connection for your needs. It uses Bluetooth if you're within range at home and Wi-Fi when you're not. We love this feature because it maximizes your battery life by turning off the power-hungry Wi-Fi when it's unnecessary. It was fun seeing this in action during testing.

You can expect August Wi-Fi to last three to six months on a set of batteries, so energy-saving features make a real difference. This is a relatively short battery life compared to Schlage Connect and Lockly Secure Pro's 12-month batteries, but it's long enough that you don't need new batteries every month.

The August electronic lock design works with the existing lock and keys you already have, so it took us just minutes to get up and running. This electric door lock may not work with every existing deadbolt model, so make sure yours is compatible before investing.

August is one of the best smart locks to integrate into a smart home because it's compatible with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, Samsung SmartThings, and IFTTT. This compatibility unlocks more possibilities for voice control and automations than you'll see with brands like Wyze and Lockly. It even works with Airbnb, so you can manage guest access for short-term rentals.

August Wi-Fi doesn't have a security rating, unlike Ultraloq and Schlage, because it retrofits your deadbolt and isn't a deadbolt itself. Pair it with these top lock choices for the best security.

Learn more about August locks in our full August smart lock review.

While Ultraloq lacks the HomeKit compatibility of August, it works with every other major smart home platform like Alexa and Google voice assistants, IFTTT, and SmartThings. (There's even a Z-Wave version of the lock if you prefer.)

You can set up almost endless automations with your lock and other smart devices. For example, set your front door to lock automatically when your smart porch light turns on.

The Ultraloq lock is super durable and has an ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 Certification. That means this keyless lock comes with the highest security rating available for any lock—the Schlage Connect is the only other lock among our top picks with this rating.

It also allows you to hide your code within a stream of numbers if someone looks over your shoulder. So if your code was 4432, you could tap in 44320134, and the door would still unlock. The longer code would be harder for someone behind you to memorize, and you'd still be able to get into your house. While this is a cool feature, we preferred the speed of the fingerprint reader for unlocking doors during testing.

There's open-door detection so the lock can track when the door's ajar, which is super helpful if your kids often forget to close it all the way.

Unfortunately, it has two drawbacks. It looks . . . weird. Not everyone will go for such an unconventional design that may not blend in with the decor, but there's a certain charm helping Ultraloq—and its excellent smart features—grow on us. Ultraloq is also more expensive than the August Wi-Fi and many other smart locks—especially if you go for the Wi-Fi version.

Still, we think the Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro Wi-Fi is an excellent runner-up to the August Wi-Fi since it brings an integrated keypad and fingerprint sensor into the mix—even if it's a bit pricier overall. Plus, the Grade 1 security rating means it can take a beating to protect your home.

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We love that Wyze Lock batteries aren't too needy. During testing, we found it could go for months without needing a fresh set of batteries. That's rare for most smart lock brands. (Wyze says the lock can last up to six months, which is closely aligns with our results.)

This smart lock comes with remote access via an included Wi-Fi bridge, so you don't need to sacrifice the flexibility of pricier models like August and Ultraloq to share guest access. There's a keypad accessory for around $25 if you want an option for letting guests in without the Wyze app.

Wyze's geofencing capabilities are nifty too. Like August Wi-Fi, this lock uses your phone's location to lock/unlock doors accordingly. So when it senses that you're heading up the steps to your front porch with your hands full of groceries, it will unlock hands-free. You can turn this feature off if you'd like.

The only real downside is that the lock is a bulky box. It's not pretty, but it gets the job done. The Wyze Lock is a retrofit-style smart lock like August Wi-Fi, so you can keep your existing deadbolt and keys—making it useful for renters. This also means there's no ANSI/BHMA rating, and it's only as strong as the deadbolt you use.

The Wyze Lock is an excellent smart lock for folks on a tight budget. While it doesn't match the sleek designs of competitors like August and Level, Wyze is easy to install and works with Alexa and Google smart home devices.

The Schlage smart lock works with Ring Alarm Systems thanks to its Z-Wave capabilities. When you arm your security system, the doors can lock automatically.

It's not just Ring—the Schlage Connect is compatible with most Z-Wave hubs, like SmartThings, Ezlo, and Abode. Depending on the smart hub, you'll also unlock Alexa, Google, and IFTTT integrations. There's even a Zigbee version that works with the latest Amazon Echo.

This keypad door lock also has its own little alarm system built in. If someone tries to tamper with the lock or force the door open, it'll sound an alarm. Plus, it's strong. Like the Schlage Encode and Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro, Schlage Connect has an ANSI Grade 1 security rating.

While the Connect is easy to install, users report trouble with smart home device connection and getting the codes to work correctly. You may need to google some how-to videos since the instructions aren't very clear. We recommend using this lock with a smart home hub to make programming easier using a mobile app with step-by-step connection instructions.

We think the Schlage Connect is one of the best smart locks to integrate into a smart home system because it's durable, and its Z-Wave radio uses significantly less energy than Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Plus, it's an attractive alternative for folks who don't like the design of the Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro. Still, the smart hub requirement makes it more suitable for enthusiasts than beginners.

You can also disable the keypad with a small switch on the back of the lock indoors. This is a useful feature for guests to prevent other codes from working, though it doesn't disable the mobile app or fingerprint sensor access. The off switch for the keypad always turns back on when the door unlocks, so there's less chance for a guest to lock themself out when leaving.

Lockly placed the fingerprint sensor on the side of the lock, which feels a little more natural than the front-facing sensor on the Ultraloq. We like that it can store up to 99 fingerprints because the lock tops out at just 18 access codes using the keypad. (Most competitors can store at least 50 codes.)

This smart lock has the weakest smart home compatibility among our top picks. While it supports Alexa and Google, it accepts only voice commands for the latter. You can't control the lock from the Google Home app. We'd like to see Lockly improve the smart home functionality since it feels like an afterthought.

During testing, the Lockly app worked well until it didn't. We had no problems the first few days, but we had to restart the Lockly Wi-Fi hub at least once after losing access to the lock in the mobile app.

On the whole, we think the Lockly Secure Pro offers some innovative security features, but its hit-or-miss mobile app and weak smart home compatibility sometimes hold it back.

The Yale Assure Lock SL (about $309) has a slick keyless touchscreen and one of the best mobile apps. (The Yale Access app is basically a reskin of the August Home app—the brands are sibling companies.) It's not as easy to set up as the August smart lock, but we love the integrated touchscreen and excellent smart home compatibility. It's our top pick for the best Airbnb smart lock.

Read our Yale smart lock review to learn more about the Yale Assure Lock SL.

Kwikset is one of the most well-known names in home locks. The Kwikset Aura Bluetooth lock (about $149) combines a conventional keypad lock with high-tech functionality. Aura uses Bluetooth to connect to your smartphone, so you can lock and unlock your door with the Kwikset app—you can control it only when you're close to the lock. It's disappointing that there's no remote access.

Despite the trusted brand name, the Aura smart device isn't a customer favorite—though it fares better than other Kwikset smart locks, like the Kwikset Halo. This smart deadbolt has quite a few customer reviews complaining about the lock quality. Reliability, slow response time, and glitches with the app are among the top concerns.

Learn more in our Kwikset smart locks review.

The Level Bolt (about $200) understands that retrofit smart locks can mess with your door's aesthetic, especially if you have a high-end deadbolt and handle. Instead of attaching to your deadbolt, Level Bolt fits inside the door's borehole, so it's invisible from the outside.

Our main beef with the Level Bolt is minimal smart home compatibility. It works with Apple HomeKit—a big plus since few smart locks do—but not with Alexa or Google. It's a first-generation effort from a new company, so it's understandable if the lock can't quite compete with veterans like August, Schlage, and Yale yet. We're keeping an eye on this one.

The Eufy Security Smart Lock Touch (about $170) is one of the market's more affordable fingerprint lock options. Unfortunately, there are no smart home integrations unless you pay extra for a Wi-Fi bridge accessory. It's also disappointing that you still need the Wi-Fi bridge to use this lock remotely, even if your Eufy security cameras and Eufy security system already use a HomeBase base station for Wi-Fi.

Learn more in our Eufy Smart Lock Review.

The Google Nest x Yale (about $279) is an excellent keyless smart lock if you love the Google Home ecosystem. It boasts some of the best customer support options of any lock on our list, including a two-year warranty. (Most competitors top out at one year.)

While we love the design and ease of use, the lock's Google exclusivity means it doesn't work with Alexa, HomeKit, or SmartThings. We recommend it for Google users, but Yale and August are better for other platforms.

The SimpliSafe Smart Lock (about $99) is a relative newcomer to the smart lock scene that gives you a keyless lock option for the SimpliSafe ecosystem. We like that it works as an extra keypad for disarming your security system. Unfortunately, it requires a SimpliSafe monitoring subscription, so it's useless to folks without a SimpliSafe system.

For a deeper look at this lock, read our SimpliSafe Smart Lock review or watch our YouTube video review.

Smart locks either retrofit an existing deadbolt to keep using your keys or replace the entire lock with a new deadbolt.

While both installation options work well for homeowners, we recommend retrofit-type smart locks for renters and folks wanting slightly easier installation. New deadbolts typically offer a bit more security through ANSI/BHMA certifications.

While the point of a smart lock is adding mobile app controls—all smart locks always have a backup option, like a key or keypad, for unlocking if the app or batteries fails.

A key is a nice low-tech option that works even when the batteries die, but a keypad offers more flexibility for guest access. (Keypads without a physical key require power from an external battery if the internal batteries die—usually through a port on the bottom of the unit.)

Smart locks may connect to your smartphone through Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or a smart home hub using Z-Wave. Here's a quick reference to demystify the jargon:

Bluetooth: Bluetooth locks use your smartphone's Bluetooth to connect to a mobile app. This type of smart door lock has a short range—usually within 100 feet or so—and requires an adapter to connect to your Wi-Fi network for remote access.

Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi locks connect directly to the internet but are typically the priciest type of smart lock. Despite their advantages for remote access, Wi-Fi locks tend to drain batteries faster than Bluetooth, Z-Wave, and Zigbee locks.

Z-Wave or Zigbee: These smart home devices use mesh networks where all the devices talk to each other. Both Z-Wave and Zigbee require a smart hub to communicate with mobile apps.

Radio frequency identification (RFID) or near-field communication (NFC): RFID locks use a key fob or card—radio waves communicate with the lock to allow entry. This is the same tech behind tap to pay. Currently, none of the locks on our list feature this technology.

The August Wi-Fi is our pick for the best smart door lock. It's easy to install, works directly with your smartphone (thanks to built-in Wi-Fi), and connects with nearly every smart device in your home automation system.

The Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro Wi-Fi is a good pick if you want a keypad door lock with a deadbolt. It offers a rigid construction that stands up to abuse and earns a Grade 1 security rating.

We pushed through all the high-tech razzle-dazzle to find the best smart and electronic keyless door locks for your home. We've tested most of the locks in our lineup and plan to fill in the gaps in future updates.

To find the best electronic door locks, we researched locks for overall security, functionality, reliability, and customer satisfaction. We considered national standards for lock security, expert ratings, and customer reviews.

Contributing writers: Rebecca Edwards, Alina Bradford

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