Smart locks give you the expediency of monitoring the activities of your home when you are away as well as a host of other features. But, with the abundant range of smart locks now available in the market, it can get intimidating for one searching for the best smart locks.
For quick review, below are five best smart lock for your home:
- August smart lock pro+ connect
- Schlage Sense smart deadbolt
- Kwikset Kevo smart lock- 2nd gen
- Lockly Secure Plus
- Nest X Yale Smart Lock
In this guide, I will not only tell you about the best smart locks, but I am also going to provide you with a smart lock buying guide which will make it easy for you to select the right smart door lock.
How I pick the smart lock?
As already mentioned before, buying the right smart lock is easier said than done, especially if you have never purchased one previously.
So, you need to prepare in the right manner before you grab the best smart lock for your smart home system.
By using this guide, selecting the best smart lock will no longer be an issue.
Read also: How to use your smart lock in safe way?
The reason to buy a smart lock
Remember, a smart lock will not enhance the security of your home. So, ask yourself, why are you considering buying one?
Yes, you can control it remotely, track the activities of people coming in and out of your home, and you can also give permissions to select people.
However, most smart locks use the door lock that is already in place so they are no more secure than the lock that is already there.
Check if the smart lock will fit your door
Contrary to popular believe not all smart locks are universal. There are many smart locks which are designed in a non-standard way, and their dimensions could not fit the door of your home.
So, always verify if the smart lock fits appropriately, else it will be useless.
The capability of the door to incorporate a smart lock
Again, most of us tend to commit this mistake of thinking all doors and locks are universally the same. Unless you are constructing a new home, the old doors may not be able to incorporate a smart lock.
When you have used a door for years, chances are it has deteriorated and the deadbolt may not work as efficiently. Before you buy make sure you double check if the door is installed correctly and if any alterations are needed.
If you overlook this point, you may find the primary action of the smart lock, i.e., the automatic locking and unlocking of the deadbolt won’t work.
This might seem to be a trivial issue, but significant none the less. Also, check if the smart lock is compatible with your existing deadbolt before you buy.
Wireless or Keypad
Determine the way with which you are most comfortable when you want to control the smart locks.
As you already know, the wireless and keypads are the two options for locking and unlocking from which you can choose.
If you are good at remembering numbers, you should go for a keypad.
The wireless variant will let you control all the operations of the smart lock with your smartphone or voice. Take the practical aspects into account, and your choice should reflect after considering them.
Wireless Connection method
The wireless connection for controlling smart locks is gradually becoming the unanimous choice of the masses. Here also, you can choose either to use a Wi-Fi network or a Z-wave network.
Though the Wi-Fi control is still popular and prevalent, the Z wave network is becoming the go to option for the newer models of most manufacturers.
Make sure, the smart lock you buy is compatible with the type of network you are using. For instance, the smart lock needs to be compatible with the Z wave network if you have one.
Cost of the smart lock
Oh yes! Most of us will look at the cost factor, and inevitably, some of you have come across the $100 smart locks. However, those locks would not be as “smart” as you would want.
For the ones that guarantee complete peace of mind, gives you the ability to control them from a remote location, voice control capabilities, and ability to send notifications, you will be looking at a price tag of around $300.
Integration with other smart appliances
To have a truly smart home you will need the smart lock to integrate with your other smart devices, like your Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, Apple Homekit, for voice control, and other specific devices for alarms or front door cameras etc.
Today, you can even pair your smart lock with your video doorbell.
The smart lock alternatives
Don’t think smart locks have to necessarily only be door locks. In this era of home automation, you have a lot of freedom. There are also devices like Bluetooth-connected padlocks.
These locks are equally robust as conventional locks; they will only function when you are nearby, and work by the tap of a button.
Furthermore, these smart locks also give you the privilege of granting temporary or permanent guest access with the use of an app.
Read also:
- What are best smart security cameras to buy?
- Smart thermostats compatible with Alexa?
- Best smart outdoor lights for your home?
The 5 top Smart Locks for your Home
Now the good stuff below I am going to explore the best smart locks on the market today.
The smart home arena is continually evolving; soon we can expect smart locks with added convenience and innovations to enter the market. For the time being, you can focus on the ones here.
August Smart Lock Pro + Connect
August is a well-known name in the arena of smart locks. With its latest release, the Smart Lock Pro + (Click to see on Amazon), the manufacturer has included several mind-blowing features.
This is the third-generation smart lock and deserves all the accolades. Yes, it is pricey, but it has to be the best smart lock to date.
Design and Features
The Smart Lock Pro + has a resemblance to its older model. It sports an anodized aluminum shell and is available in silver and grey variants.
Additionally, it is puck-shaped with a 3.2-inch diameter and 2.2-inches deep. At the outer side of the lock, you can see a small-textured ring of LED lights.
The lights turn green when you open the door and turn red when you close it.
The lock operates with the help of four AA batteries, a Bluetooth radio, and Z-wave radio. So, now you can run the functionalities of the lock using specific home automation hubs.
The Smart Lock Pro + comes with a door sensor, a mounting plate, three tailpiece adapters, and an August Connect Wi-Fi bridge. The sensors are small, and they need to be installed on the doorframe near the lock.
The Door Sense Technology from August comes into play here, which helps it to determine whether the door is open, closed, or left unattended.
Likewise, you can plug the Connect Bridge to the wall outlet near to the lock, and it will do the needful of connecting the device with the wireless network of your home.
August includes the essential features like HomeKit Enabled Lock, Homekit, IFTTT, and geofencing support.
You will not find it challenging to integrate the device with the other smart appliances or hubs present at your home.
As you can understand, the presence of Homekit means you can make use of your voice commands for working correctly. The smart lock also supports Google and Alexa voice commands.
The August Home app lets you control the smart lock with utmost ease. With the help of the app, you can manage several locks regardless of their location. The app is well-designed and very easy to understand.
Moreover, now you can open and close the door by tapping your phone screen. You can further enhance the services of the smart lock if you include an August Doorbell Cam.
The app will let you view the live feed and sends you push notifications on how many times the door has been opened and closed.
You also have the option of enabling the Auto-Lock feature. Using the geofencing technology, the smart lock can sense when you are nearing home and will unlock the door for you.
Installation
The installation procedure is a breeze. The good thing is, the smart lock will make use of the existing lock hardware to attach itself.
For setup you just need to download the app then click on “Setting up a new device; a wizard will guide you and finish the installation procedure.
For installing the sensors, you have the choice of putting them either on the surface of the door frame or in a flush mount on the said door frame. You will need to drill to place the mount flush against the door frame.
Once the initial installation is over, it should not take too long for the app to sync the lock with itself.
You will get a series of on-screen instructions to set up the other devices you want to integrate with the smart lock.
Performance
This is a top of the line smart lock with top of the line performance. For example, it is extremely responsive and will immediately react to your commands from the app.
Likewise, the voice commands work flawlessly. Say goodbye to the headache of locking and unlocking doors after installing the Smart Lock Pro +.
Pros
The Smart Lock Pro + is packed with useful features. Each of its functions is useful in one way or another.
Whether you want to operate the door with your voice, or you are looking for Bluetooth support, Wi-Fi support, and even Z-wave support, you get them all with this lock. Lastly, the geofencing and IFTTT support make it stand apart from the crowd.
Cons
Performance-wise I could not find any drawbacks with this device. It is expensive, and may be out of many people’s budgets for this kind of product.
Verdict
The Smart Lock Pro + has the best features, the best app, and is super-easy to install.
When you have so many good things bundled together, you ought to be ready to dig deeper on your pocket.
If you are not prepared to compromise with the security of your home, this is the smart lock for you. After using the device for some time, I believe you will agree with my verdict here.
Review video: Thanks Zachary Anderson for making this video.
Schlage Sense
You will love this smart lock from Schlage, especially if you are a fan of Apple devices.
The Schlage Sense (click to see on Amazon) is a touchscreen smart lock which is only functional with iOS devices. It is expensive, but Apple fans should be used to this kind of price tag.
It has some outstanding features and in certain aspects performs better than the August smart lock which I covered earlier.
However, its usage limitation makes it the second choice. You just cannot operate it without Apple devices which will be a huge drawback for many people.
Design and Features
The smart lock from Schlage is available in two versions, the Classic Camelot, and the modern Century styles.
In this review, I evaluated the latter. The Sense sports a satin nickel body and has a cylindrical shape.
It comes with 2.5-inches touchscreen which is silver colored.
You will find a shield in the interior section of the lock which contains a thumb turn lever for manually locking and unlocking the door.
Furthermore, it comes with a speaker for sounding the built in alarm, and another button to stop the alarm.
When you want to unlock the door, you have the option of using the keypad.
You should press the logo which will turn on the backlit touchscreen; now you can enter your access code. If you see a green check mark, it means you have entered the correct code.
Similarly, a red X will be visible when entering the wrong access code. Sense gives you the privilege of adding up to 30 access codes that you can customize easily with the Sense iOS app.
I found the app incredibly easy to use. Usually, the home screen will display the name of your home along with the names of the other installed locks. It also simultaneously displays the present status, i.e., locked or unlocked with a time stamp.
By tapping the lock icon, you can either close or open the door. There are a plethora of options in the settings page which you can explore.
Features like auto lock, touch locking feature, enabling the built-in alarm, and the possibility of renaming, deleting, and registering the lock are present here.
You will love it when you use the voice commands with the help of Siri. Saying phrases like “Open the door,” “Close the door” works seemlessly. Additionally, this smart lock will work with all the devices that Homekit-enabled.
But, you should not forget, the Sense uses Bluetooth technology, so you have to be in the range to control it from your iPhone.
If you want to operate it from a remote location, you have to invest in an Apple TV and then connect the lock to your router.
Installation
The manufacturer has kept the installation procedure of this smart lock simple.
Still, for those who are installing a deadbolt lock for the first time, the makers have included a tutorial video which can be seen in the app.
It should not take long for you to figure this process out, and you can install the lock in no time.
The Sense comes with the necessary user guides if you need to refer to it, a bolt, strike, strike reinforcement plates, mounting screws, a backup key, a support plate, and the interior and exterior escutcheons.
Performance
As already mentioned, the smart lock integrates and works perfectly with Siri voice commands.
However, it is better to pronounce words that are devoid of similar sounding words, for example, it is better to say “Lock the door” instead of saying “Close the door,” as there are similar words that sound like “close.” Go ahead and work with the touchscreen touchpad.
It is somewhat responsive, and you will find it easy to work with.
The alarm is loud and clear. I found it helpful to adjust the sensitivity slider of the alarm to the halfway point between the Least Sensitive and Most sensitive, by doing this, you can restrict the sudden triggering of the alarm for no reason.
Pros
If your smart home mostly has Apple products, you will find the experience delightful to work with the Sense. All the feature it incorporates is perfect and helpful for the user.
Cons
As you can imagine, a product that is dedicated to Apple devices will naturally be expensive.
Also, I do not like the idea of investing in an Apple TV for the sake of controlling the lock from a remote location.
Verdict
If you already have Apple products in your home this is the right lock for you.
Yes, you need to invest further in controlling it from another location, but with its excellent performance, drop-dead looks, and the ease of control, the Schlage Sense is one of the front-runners in the world of smart locks.
Review Video: Christian David has made a such beautiful video about the Schlage Sense smart lock.
Kwikset Kevo 2nd Gen
The Kwikset Kevo stepped in the smart home arena a few years ago. However, the first generation of the smart locks had some drawbacks.
The manufacturer was quick to spot these flaws and have come up with the second generation smart lock seems to be better prepared to take on its competitors.
Feature-wise, the Kwikset Kevo second gen (click to see on Amazon) is quite similar to the first generation smart lock, but it appears more stylish, and has the ability to integrate to a host of smart devices.
Additionally, the internal build of this lock is superb, unlike some of the competitors who do not have the best build quality or internal components. The Kevo second gen is indeed capable of giving the other competitors on this list a run for their money.
Design and Features
You can get the new smart lock from Kwikset in four colors: the Iron Black, Venetian Bronze, Polished Chrome, and Satin Nickel.
It sports a conventional square faceplate, but you will love the smart LED lighting stripe that gives it an excellent appearance.
The housing is all metal, and it serves to protect the batteries and the mechanism of the parts inside. It gives it the impression of a boxy appearance, and overall it looks good.
The Kevo second-generation smart lock comes with an auto-lock option; the feature makes unlocking the door very easy.
It works exceedingly well with the mobile app. However, this smart lock is still missing some of the features of the other locks on this list, namely does not include any alarm capabilities. The Kwikset Kevo app is straightforward, and you will find some useful features in it.
Installation
Installation is relatively simple and shouldn’t take too much time to figure out. The manufacturers have worked out of their minds to make the installation procedure very convenient.
The smart lock comes with an interactive guide via the app. It will prompt you to answer a few questions about the door, which primarily includes the size and measurement of the door, and accordingly it will provide you with the correct measurements.
As you know, the parts like screws are different for each door; the smart lock manufacturer has included and coded various different shapes and sizes of screws to make mounting on many different types of doors possible.
Performance
I loved the “Advanced SmartKey” security feature which provides increased protection against torque attacks.
It also has a feature called Bumpguard, which protects you against lock bumping. With the second generation Kevo, you can send unlimited eKeys to the other members and guests easily.
You also have the choice of giving permanent access or to create keys for your lock on a schedule. It is a pity that the lock settings lack the features which most of the other smart lock manufacturers provide.
Remote access feature which other manufacturers provide and many people consider essential is not initially available with this smart lock.
For remote access, you have to buy another accessory, the Kevo Plus. But, this accessory is not cheap and many people may opt not to purchase it and go without remote access.
The standout feature of the smart lock has to be the Touch to open feature. The lock will scan your phone or the key fob and allow you to touch the lock to activate it as soon as you get to the door.
Though not entirely automatic, the auto-unlock feature is pretty convenient. The touch to open feature does not work when you are inside, only from the outside.
The SmartKey tool allows you to switch compatible keys for the lock. Furthermore, it integrates very well with the other smart appliances in your home.
Unlocking the door is no longer limited to only your smartphone, you can do so with your Android watch, and integrate it with the other devices to make easy changes in your home.
Pros
The Kevo smart lock second generation offers the most straightforward installation of the locks on this list and sports a great design.
Its ability to share the eKey makes it super convenient for family, friends, and other visitors. With the Kevo Plus upgrade, you can add several smart appliances with your smart lock and add the capability to remotely unlock your door.
Cons
The absence of some main features like the alarm, the limited features in the app settings, and the additional cost of upgrading for better integration is a huge area that is lacking in this smart lock.
Verdict
You will appreciate certain things about this smart lock and may be longing for a few missing features.
It is up to you to decide, if you think the benefits outweigh the flaws, this is the smart lock for you. It will not enhance your security but will surely be great for some people with features like eKey and its quick responsiveness.
Review Video: Thanks to Andrew Ohara for creating this video.
Lockly Secure Plus
Of course, with the advent of the smart locks, we no longer need to worry about the misplaced keys. But, there is no reason to think, the touchscreen keypad door locks are fully secure.
Intruders and rogues are always on the prowl, and you never know if someone is spying on you trying to steal the access code. The services of Lockly Secure Plus (click to see on Amazon) have a solution for this.
It does add a couple of layers of security and make it difficult to steal the access codes. Simultaneously, you can use the app to control the access and utilize the auto-lock feature.
For further security, this lock also comes with a fingerprint scanner. However, the Lockly Secure Plus is devoid of several smart features which other premium smart locks have.
Design and Features
The Lockly Secure Plus is available in two variants, the Satin Nickel and Venetian Bronze.
This smart lock gives the impression of a complete lock set as it comes with an exterior and interior escutcheon, a mounting plate, a deadbolt latch, two keys, mounting hardware, a couple of gaskets, and the batteries.
The exterior of the smart lock sports a capacitive touchscreen keypad. Right below the keypad is the keyhole which is well-protected with a cover.
The 3D fingerprint scanner sits on the right-hand side which is surrounded by an LED screen. The LED display turns green when you succeed in providing the correct fingerprint.
Likewise, it will become red if it fails to scan the fingerprint. Being 3D, it will only give access to real fingerprints. The interior escutcheon includes a thumb turn for manually locking.
The Pin Genie feature is the one thing that I liked the most during the review. With the help of this feature, the lock changes the order of the numbers you enter on the keypad. Thus, no one can steal the access code over your shoulder.
This feature works on a specific mechanism which makes the lock shuffle the numbers each time you open the door with the access code. You also have the choice to select the order of shuffling according to your preference.
For added convenience, the inner escutcheon comes with a thumb turn. It helps you in locking and unlocking the lock manually.
Additionally, you can use the privacy button alongside it to disable the external keypad and the fingerprint scanner, if you prefer opening the door with a key only.
At the top of the smart lock you can see the removable battery cover, and it also includes a program and reset button. Here, you can program the smart lock by using the keypad for adding new access codes, enabling the auto-lock feature, and submit fingerprints.
Enabling the auto-lock feature will make sure the door locks after a particular time.
Lockly Secure Plus primarily works with Bluetooth to access your smartphone and it does not include the Wi-Fi connectivity, so as you can expect, remote operation is not possible.
Furthermore, it does not support voice assistants. You will be entirely dependent on the app for controlling the operations of the smart lock.
The app lists all the essential features of the smart lock in the settings, and you can quickly locate and operate them.
Installation
Like most other smart locks, the installation of the Lockly Secure Plus is a breeze. The installation should not take more than fifteen minutes.
You need to remove the existing lock, deadbolt, door strike, and cylinder. Then put the deadbolt latch along with the Lockly Secure Plus exterior escutcheon on the door.
You can easily do this by bolting it to the interior mounting plate. Attach the data cables to the interior escutcheon and safely connect it to the mounting plate. Connect the batteries, and press the program button.
That’s it; you have successfully installed the smart lock. To integrate the smart lock with your door, download the app and perform the necessary steps, like creating an account, verification, etc.
You will be prompted to add the new device, and you are all set to add your access code, which completes the installation.
Performance
The Lockly Secure Plus runs very quietly. It has a good response time and will instantly follow the commands you give through the app.
Similarly, I found the keypad and the fingerprint scanners were also very responsive — the Pin Genie number shuffling works very well, guaranteeing complete peace of mind.
The entire lock and unlock history were present in the logs and when I tested the auto-lock feature, I found it worked without any problems.
Pros
The Lockly Secure Plus is easy to install, and it offers the best features to secure the access codes of your lock.
Even the pioneer smart lock manufacturers do not include such varied technologies for covering your access codes. All the features work remarkably well, and you can have complete peace of mind.
Cons
The lack of remote access is surprising. For those who want their smart lock to integrate with the other smart devices at home will be in for a disappointment.
It also lacks voice command support, and it also does not provide you with push notifications, a feature that is so common nowadays.
Verdict
The Lockly Secure Plus smart lock is for those who are looking for the best option to secure their access codes.
You will surely miss the ability to control it remotely though. Since this smart lock does not connect with the Wi-Fi and uses Bluetooth only, you must be in the range for operating it.
If you prefer a secure lock with less techy features, you should opt for this lock.
Review Video: This is the best video I found, this video is created by HappyRider Reviews.
Nest x Yale smart lock
Previously, I covered the smart lock that works for Apple users. Here, is another smart lock that is dedicated to the Nest’s smart home ecosystem.
Nest is a well-known name in the world of home automation, and several homeowners use Nest as the backbone of their smart home.
The Nest X Yale (click to see on Amazon) is not suited for any other home ecosystems. This smart lock deserves mention due to the popularity of the Nest systems in smart homes today.
Design and Features
If you are familiar with products from Nest, you probably know, the company never compromises on design.
The Nest X Yale is also no exception. First impression, the smart lock will appeal to you with its sleek, classy, and stylish looks.
The Nest x Yale includes a keypad like most of the other smart locks in the market. It is available in some stunning designs and colors like Satin Nickel; Oil Rubbed Bronze, and Polished Brass.
The product looks perfectly streamlined, but it is bulky. Nevertheless, it does seem pretty impressive and easily fits at the door of most of the homes.
You have the option of buying the Nest x Yale with the Nest Connect feature.
It will require you to spend a few more bucks, but it is a wise choice. With the help of this feature, you can connect the smart lock online, and you can control it remotely.
Installation
Before installing this smart lock, you ought to make sure; the door is compatible. Though it should work fine in the most conventional doors, it does not support the sliding doors, glass doors, and doors with multi locks.
Again, the distance between the edge of the door and the center of the hole is a determinant factor. Doors in which the deadbolt is more than 3 inches away, the smart lock will not be compatible.
It seems most of the smart lock manufacturers have made the installation procedure super-easy. The Nest x Yale also gets installed easily.
You only need to attach the front plate of the lock. Follow this up by connecting the cable with the receptor on the inner piece of the lock, and insert the batteries.
That is all, you will be greeted with a welcome message, from the speaker and it will ask you to enter a new code.
Additionally, you can calibrate the door when you unlock it which will let the deadbolt to test the automatic locking.
Once you have supplied the new master code and calibration, open the Nest app and follow the on-screen instructions.Gradually, you can connect the smart lock with the all the smart Nest appliances you have at your home.
The app has all the settings which will let you control the operations of the lock, so make sure to assess the app thoroughly for maximizing the benefits.
Performance
The Nest x Yale is incredibly easy to use. It is evident from the way the smart lock functions, Nest has put a lot of hard work in designing this product.
As I mentioned, this smart lock works well with the other smart Nest products at your home, as soon as it is set up, you can see the list of all those products.
It only takes a single tap to control the locking and to unlock the door, setting up new access codes, enabling the privacy mode, and much more.
Remember to enable the sounds of the keypad when you use it from the outside.The keypad does not provide much feedback, and at times, you may become unsure if you have pressed the right keys.
Then there is the one-touch locking system. By pressing the Yale logo, you can lock the door instantly, and repeat the same procedure for unlocking the door, albeit after entering the access code.
Furthermore, you have the option of setting up the lock after a certain period.
This feature comes very handy for those who often forget to lock the main door before hitting the hay. It can manage up to twenty passcodes at a time.
The Nest x Yale does not work with any other smart home appliances other than the Nest products and that is a big disappointment.
The smart lock works exceedingly well and integrating it with the voice assistants like Google Assistant, or Amazon Alexa would have made this a much better choice.
Nest plans to make this device compatible with Google Assistant soon, but for now, you have no such option.
Pros
The Nest x Yale smart lock works incredibly well. Adding the elegance and style of the smart lock, you will crave buying this smart lock if you have a Nest-powered home ecosystem. It works quietly and is convenient for the sake of Nest product users.
Cons
The smart lock does not work with the IFTTT, and it doesn’t support any voice assistants. Some people may not appreciate the idea of investing the extra money for Nest Connect to extend the functionality as the product is expensive.
Verdict
It is a real pity, such an excellent smart lock is limited to only a handful of people. So, if you are a fan of the Nest products, and have set up your smart home accordingly, the Nest x Yale smart lock is for you.
Review Video: This is the best video created by Smart Home Solver.
Conclusion
Smart locks provide increased security and flexibility to your home, and yet I can say, the journey has just begun.
Hopefully I have cut your work short by reviewing and providing detailed information on the best smart locks you can get in the market at the present date.
There is a smart lock for everyone. So, evaluate the smart lock that will work best for you, and increase the peace of your mind by securing your home.
