At a glance
1. Best overall
2. Best design
3. Best on a budget
4. Best premium pick
5. Best value
6. Best for Nest users
How to choose
Smart locks are a great way to protect your home as well as offer convenient access without the need for a physical key. This might be to help you while fumbling with groceries at the door, to permit entry to a dog walker or housesitter, or even if you're running an AirBnb.
There are all types of smart locks that can replace deadbolts, be added to a door easily with minimal installation, accept PIN codes, fingerprints, even remote locking, and more. Some can even work with voice assistants, while a few have their own built-in cameras.
We'd have to give the award for the best smart lock to the highly rated August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen). It has built-in Wi-Fi so you don't need a separate bridge, one of the defining features. But you'll find plenty of other great options from brands like Schlage, too.
Here, we outline some of the best smart locks you can buy based on your individual needs, and budget.
At a glance
Best overall
If you want to keep things discreet, you can't do much better than the August Wi-Fi smart lock. It's only visible from the inside of your home, plus built-in Wi-Fi means you can access it anywhere from the August app.
Best design
Available in two color options, the Schlage Encode Plus connects to Wi-Fi directly, and works well with an Apple Watch for a keyless entry. It also pairs with all the major virtual assistants for easy voice commands.
Best premium pick
This pricey smart lock makes up for some of that cost by doubling as a video doorbell to go along with the excellent digital keypad, fingerprint scanner, and key slot covered by a solar panel to keep the batteries charged.
Best on a budget
The SwitchBot Wi-Fi Smart Lock is easy to install, comes with a keypad, has up to seven ways to unlock it, and two color options to match the look of your door.
Best value
You get plenty of bang for your buck with this smart lock, which lets you create up to 250 unique codes for different users, making it perfect for AirBnb hosts, frequent travelers, and roommates.
Best for Nest users
If you're already integrated into the Google Nest ecosystem, the Nest x Yale lock is an easy way to secure your smart home with intelligent smartphone controls and tamper alerts.
Best overall
Unlike many of the other smart locks that you'll find on the market, the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock is more stealth in the installation. That's because the device is installed on the door from the inside, so there's no indication of the smart lock from your front porch. The latest model is still a little bulky but is much smaller than previous generations.
In our review of this August Wi-Fi lock, we loved that it was so simple to install with existing hardware while including so many advanced features. One of the things that makes this particular lock so great is that you don't need any additional bridges when using this device since it has its own built-in Wi-Fi. That means you can lock and unlock the door anywhere as long as you have access to the August app and a good internet connection.
You can also view the activity of any entry where this smart lock is installed by checking the app. If you want, the app allows you to change the settings to automatically lock when you leave home or unlock when you approach. Plus, it works beautifully with Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and other smart home assistants.
Best design
If you're looking for a smart lock that offers a sleeker design, you'll be interested in this lock from Schlage. It looks beautiful, and there are a couple of colors and styles to match the look of your front door.
The Encode Plus features a built-in alarm, and you can cycle among three different alert modes to let you know if there is any activity going on at your door. It also has built-in Wi-Fi, so setup with your home network is dead simple.
Open your door using a key or give out up to 100 access codes to your kids or guests so they can get in the house without a key. You'll even be able to monitor who comes in and out of your home using the activity log.
You can customize the notifications to your liking, and even control it via assistants from Google, Amazon, and Apple. The only thing stopping many from grabbing this great smart lock, is the price. But you can often find it on sale.
Best premium pick
Getting the negative part of this lock out of the way, it's expensive. But, if you consider this a smart lock and video doorbell in one, then the price actually isn't too bad. The lock comes with a fingerprint reader that can store and remember up to 99 prints in addition to the digital keypad that scrambles the order of the numbers each time you press one. While it may take a few more seconds to enter your PIN, it means that it will be more difficult for potential evildoers to guess it.
The Lockly Vision Elite is packed with lots of features, like a door sensor that'll notify you when your door isn't closed. It also boasts very long battery life that can be extended virtually infinitely thanks to solar panel built into the keyhole cover. The Vision part Lockly Vision Elite's name is thanks to the video doorbell functionality included in this device. This lock is an all-in-one solution for securing your door.
With all of these features, you can be reassured that your home stays secure. You'll even get a notification if the lock thinks someone is tampering with it.
Best on a budget
If you're looking for something that securely bolts your door shut without costing too much, then this is the smart lock to get. It features a wireless keypad with an optional fingerprint model available. Because it uses your existing lock, you won't have to get new keys.
Aside from the keypad and physical key, you can also unlock it with your phone, an NFC card, voice via your favorite smart assistant, and more. However, to unlock it from your phone when you aren't home or with voice assistants like Alexa, you'll need the SwitchBot Hub 2 or the Hub Mini. The Hub 2 is Matter-ready, so I recommend that.
It comes in two colors to match your door: black or silver. The installation process isn't necessarily difficult, but getting the parts to line up properly can be a bit cumbersome. You won't need to remove your old lock, as this model uses a motor to turn the knob of your existing lock. Keep in mind that if your lock is tough to turn, the SwitchBot Wi-Fi Smart Lock motor may struggle to turn it. Oh, and that interior part is a bit clunky-looking.
Battery life for this lock is pretty good, rated at six months via the two CR123A batteries. Being able to have multiple ways to control the lock with or without the hub is great. Adding in the fact that you won't need to remove your old lock to install this one is great, though.
Best value
There are tons of cool features loaded into this smart lock that comes in at a pretty affordable price. Even if you won't need them all, you can create up to 250 unique user codes, schedule, and enable and disable them. Think your dog walker, cat or house sitter, the latchkey kids coming home from school, neighbor for emergencies, grandparents, house cleaner, contractors during renovations, the list goes on.
Of course, this features makes the lock a perfect option for those running an AirBnb. But beyond that, it has some impressive features for even everyday homeowners and renters. Control it from anywhere using your smartphone and the app. Plus, you don't need a home hub since it connects using its own built-in Wi-Fi. You can also enter via a code or an actual key.
Get notifications about lock activity on your phone and lock the door easily with one touch from outside. If an unauthorized person tries to gain entry, you can temporarily disable the keypad, and an alarm will sound after three consecutive wrong attempts.
The Kwikset Halo even comes in three finishes to match your front porch or general style: Matte Black, Satin Nickel, and Venetian Bronze.
Best for Nest users
The Nest x Yale Lock is a pricey option, but it has many useful features that make it a great purchase. Anyone whose home is decked out with Google smart devices will be able to lock, unlock, and check the status of this Yale lock simply by talking to Google Assistant. However, remember that since this is a Nest device, it doesn't work with Amazon Alexa.
You can use the Nest app to control the deadbolt from just about anywhere or come up with temporary access codes to give to family or friends. As we saw in our review of the Next x Yale, this is an excellent lock for those already in the Google ecosystem.
Are you worried about security? If someone starts messing with your lock, you'll get a notification on your phone letting you know that something is going on. On top of that, if you have the Nest Secure alarm system, you can connect it to this lock, making it so that it disarms the alarm whenever you unlock the lock. This keeps your home secure without making it inconvenient for you.
This lock comes in three different colors, so you can find a look that fits your door: Oil-Rubbed Bronze, Satin Nickel, and Polished Brass.
How to choose
Which smart lock is best?
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When looking for a smart lock, you want something that provides worthwhile security features and convenience for a reasonable price. Next, you'll have to determine if being able to lock via the app or voice assistant is enough or if you'd like the ability to key in codes, use a physical key slot, or even open the door via fingerprint scans.
There are a lot of great smart locks from August with a variety of features and formats to fit your needs. One of the best options out there is the August Smart Lock. It makes the front of your door look like any other lock, but you'll be able to monitor lock activity to know who is going or coming from the included August app. It's cheaper than several others because it uses Bluetooth rather than a Wi-Fi connection.
Many of the smart locks on this list are also the best smart locks for Google Home, if you're already in Google's ecosystem.
