Best smart locks for Google Home 2023

The best smart locks for Google Home are a wise investment for any smart home setup using Google Assistant. Not only do they keep your home safe and secure, but because these devices work wonderfully with Google Home, you have remote access to your door anywhere with an internet connection. We've picked out a few for you across a range of budgets, styles, and features.

While these smart locks are ideal for Google Assistant users, the best smart locks usually work with all the most popular smart home ecosystems, including Google Home, Amazon Alexa, and Apple HomeKit.

Note: As you may have already heard, Google is officially ending its support for Works with Nest on September 29th, 2023. Once that happens, you'll be able to continue automating your home by creating Routines in the Google Home and Google Assistant apps.

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At a glance

Best overall

If your home is a part of the Google Nest ecosystem, the Nest x Yale smart lock was pretty much tailor-made to the needs of your smart home. You can control this lock from anywhere using Google Assistant, and it ties in beautifully with your other Google Nest products with a bounty of automated features, such as disabling your Nest Secure Alarm when you come home.

You can also set it to unlock automatically with your phone, and there's a backup number pad. Like most smart locks, you also have the ability to create unique passcode for family and guests, and you can set a schedule to control when they work. Installation is pretty straightforward too, with no intense modification to your door needed. Just make sure you follow the included instructions and install the Nest app. One downside to the Nest x Yale smart lock is that there's no Voice Unlock feature, which is a bit strange.

Best budget pick

Although it lacks the futuristic appearance and cutting-edge features of other August smart locks, the August Smart Lock is a great choice if you want smart security without breaking the bank. You still get the ability to control the locking and unlocking of your door from your mobile device, plus it'll alert you if your door is ajar or you forgot to lock it before you left the house. As someone who's constantly wondering if they remembered to lock the front door, this is a great feature.

Installing the August Smart Lock is also quite simple, as it fits over your existing deadbolt on the inside of the door; the outdoor lock can remain untouched. You can even keep your existing keys for manual locking/unlocking. It's a bit on the bulky side, however, so keep that in mind if you like your smart home devices to be sleek and discreet.

Best style

If it works with your budget, the Schlage Encode Plus is one of the top-rated smart locks on the market. You get built-in Wi-Fi, of course, but you can also set up to 100 different access codes to give to friends and family and monitor the lock history of each one. You also get customizable notifications and voice control for Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit, and Amazon Alexa.

Installation is simple, too. You just need a screwdriver for most standard-sized doors. The lock is available in a few different color options and style varieties, so it shouldn't interfere with the look of your home. Something else that helps this lock stand out is how it, well, doesn't stand out. The classic design works with a wide range of home styles. We went for the rounded "Camelot" style in Aged Bronze, and the lock looks like it was meant to be there. The main issue of the Schlage Encode Plus is its price; prepare to spend at least $300.

Best for rentals

Although you obviously don't have to be a rental owner to use and love the Kwikset Halo Wi-Fi Smart Lock, we think it's a great choice if you run an AirBnB or vacation home for a few reasons. For starters, you can create up to 250 unique user codes at a time, set schedules for each one, and disable or delete them all directly from the app. That's a really handy feature if you have a ton of guests coming and going.

If you have a contractor coming through, you also have the ability to set a one-time user code, plus you can remotely disable the keypad any time there's an issue. Like most smart locks, the Kwikset Halo connects to your existing Wi-Fi network and it's compatible with both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. Although it was a bit expensive when it first came out, the Kwikset Halo now regularly gets discounts, so keep an eye out during the next sale.

Best premium pick

Whether you want the extra security or you just want to impress your guests with a James Bond smart lock, the Lockly Vision Elite is a feature-packed option that really lets you choose how you want to keep your home safe. The lock comes with a fingerprint reader that can store and remember up to 99 prints, plus there's a PIN pad that scrambles the location of the numbers so others can't snoop on you to figure out your code. Sure, that might seem like overkill, but that's exactly what you should be looking for when it comes to home security.

Installation can be a bit tricky and it's not the cheapest smart lock on the list, but the Lockly Vision Elite makes up for these issues with a bounty of helpful features. You also get a door sensor that'll notify you when your door is ajar, plus the app is easy to use and comes with additional features like access code scheduling and a battery life indicator.

Speaking of the battery life, thanks to the solar panel built into the keyhole cover, you don't have to worry about your lock's batteries dying. The Lockly Vision Elite gets the vision part of its name thanks to the video doorbell functionality included in this device. This lock is an all-in-one solution for securing your door.

Best discreet design

Perhaps the most interesting-looking lock on the list, the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen) is a round device that fits over your existing deadbolt on the inside of your door, so outsiders will have no idea that you even have a smart lock installed. This design also means that the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock is super easy to install, you'll just need your trusty screwdriver.

As we detail in our August Wi-Fi Smart Lock review, the lock also has built-in Wi-Fi, so you wont need an additional hub, plus features like Door Sense, which lets you know when your door is ajar. You also have the option to use biometric authentication, which means you can lock or unlock the door using your face or fingerprint.

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FAQ

Which smart locks work with Google Assistant?

While all of these smart locks support Google Assistant for voice controls like locking and unlocking remotely, only a few of them can do so as standalone smart locks for Google Home. The Google Nest x Yale Smart Lock works independently of any bridges or hubs, connecting directly to your Wi-Fi network. It's our favorite smart lock on the list, and it's made even better if you already use some of Nest's other products.

Schlage Encode Plus is the best backup option and might even be preferable if you have Apple users in your home. While the Nest x Yale lock also works great with Apple products, the Schlage Encode Plus can be unlocked with just a tap of an iPhone or Apple Watch when the Apple Home Key is set up. Plus, this one connects directly to Wi-Fi and even has a physical key backup option, too.

The Igloohome Deadbolt 2S operates strictly off Bluetooth, meaning you won't be able to control it when you're away from the house, but you can still control it with Google Assistant when you're nearby. While this sounds negative at first, Igloohome stuck with Bluetooth to reduce the risk of Wi-Fi hacking or disruption. Of course, you can still grant access to friends or Airbnb guests with PIN codes or Bluetooth keys.

What is a smart lock bridge?

For some smart locks, you'll need to keep a specialized Wi-Fi bridge plugged into the wall somewhere near the lock for full remote operability. August's Wi-Fi Smart Lock comes bundled with the August Connect bridge, but you'll need to buy it separately if you get the standard 3rd-generation Smart Lock.

Typically sitting in the $60-$70 range, these bridges aren't cheap, and they're yet another thing for your shopping list. However, they add such vital connectivity to their respective products that it's hard to recommend against them. If you don't want to invest in a separate product, look for a lock with built-in Wi-Fi.