The Best Smart Locks for Enhanced Home Security and Convenience
For anyone who has ever experienced that nagging doubt – Did I lock the door? – or the frustration of fumbling for keys, smart locks offer a compelling solution. They represent a significant upgrade in both convenience and control over traditional deadbolts and doorknobs. Imagine arriving home with arms full of groceries and unlocking your door with a simple touch of your finger or a quick code entry, or even having the door unlock automatically as you approach. This isn't science fiction; it's the reality offered by the best smart locks available today.
While the idea of replacing your existing locks might seem daunting, the process is often simpler than you think. And importantly, installing a smart lock doesn't necessarily mean abandoning your traditional keys entirely. Most models retain a physical keyhole as a backup, ensuring you're never locked out. The primary appeal lies in the flexibility and added features they provide: multiple entry methods, the ability to grant temporary access to guests or service providers with unique codes, and the peace of mind that comes with remote monitoring and auto-locking functions.
However, the smart lock market is vast and varied, with options designed for different needs and door types. Not every smart lock will be compatible with your specific door hardware, and features can range from basic keypad entry to advanced biometric scanning. To navigate this landscape, we've spent over a year rigorously testing various smart locks, evaluating everything from ease of installation and daily usability to smart home integration and security features. This guide compiles our findings to help you choose the perfect smart lock for your home, whether it's for your main entryway, a sliding glass door leading to the patio, or even your garage.
While our top recommendation, the Yale Approach Lock With Keypad Touch, offers a versatile retrofit solution suitable for many, we've also identified excellent options for those seeking budget-friendly alternatives, cutting-edge biometric security, or specialized locks for less common door types like sliding doors and garages. Read on to discover the smart lock that best fits your lifestyle and security needs.
Best Smart Lock Overall: Yale Approach Lock with Keypad Touch
The Yale Approach Lock stands out because it offers smart lock functionality without requiring you to replace your entire deadbolt. This is a retrofit design, meaning it only swaps out the interior thumb-turn portion of your existing lock. The exterior remains unchanged, preserving your home's original look and, crucially, allowing you to continue using your existing keys. This makes it an excellent choice for renters or homeowners who prefer not to alter their door's exterior hardware or manage new sets of keys.
Installation is remarkably straightforward, typically taking just a few minutes. The primary challenge is simply holding the exterior part of your deadbolt in place while you attach the new smart interior piece. Once installed, the Yale Approach lives up to its name with its proximity-sensing feature. Using your smartphone's location, the lock can detect when you are arriving home and automatically unlock the door as you get close. You can customize the detection range within the app to suit your home's layout, ensuring it triggers at the right moment, whether you're walking up a long driveway or just stepping onto a small porch.
Yale is owned by Assa Abloy, which acquired August Home in 2017. This lineage is evident in the Yale Approach's design, particularly the included Wi-Fi bridge. This small plug-in device connects to the smart lock via Bluetooth and then to your home's Wi-Fi network, enabling remote access and control through the Yale Access app. While the need for a separate bridge is similar to older August models, the Yale Approach features a more streamlined design compared to the cylindrical August locks.
The Yale Approach offers flexibility in how you interact with it. While the base lock allows entry via your existing key or the app, you can enhance its functionality by adding an external keypad. Yale offers two keypad options: a standard numerical keypad and a Keypad Touch bundle that includes both the numerical keypad and a fingerprint scanner. We highly recommend opting for the biometric Keypad Touch. Fingerprint scanning provides an incredibly fast and convenient way to unlock your door – a simple touch is all it takes. The keypad is also invaluable for creating temporary or permanent access codes for family, friends, or service providers, eliminating the need for physical key copies and allowing entry even if you don't have your phone or keys with you.
| Specs | |
|---|---|
| Smart home ecosystem: | Amazon Alexa, Google Home |
| Power source: | 4 AA batteries included |
| Entry options: | Optional keypad with fingerprint scanning, retains original key |
| Security rating: | N/A, depends on your lock |
| Weatherproof rating: | The external Keypad and Keypad Touch are IPX5 |
| Encryption: | AES 128 bit and TLS encryption |
Best Budget Smart Lock: Aqara Smart Lock U50
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Finding a smart lock that balances affordability with reliable performance and a premium feel can be challenging, but the Aqara Smart Lock U50 manages to do just that. Unlike the Yale Approach, the U50 is a full deadbolt replacement, requiring you to swap out both the interior and exterior components of your existing lock. Despite this, the installation process is remarkably fast and user-friendly, making it one of the quickest full lock replacements we've tested. While some tiny screws might benefit from a precision screwdriver, the overall process is straightforward enough for most DIYers.
Visually, the U50 features a sleek, modern panel that doesn't look out of place on a front door. Its responsiveness and solid build quality give it a more expensive feel than its price tag suggests. Previously, connecting the U50 to Wi-Fi for remote access required one of Aqara's more expensive hubs. However, Aqara has recently introduced the much more affordable E1 Hub, transforming the U50 into a truly budget-friendly smart lock option with full connectivity.
For optimal performance, it's recommended to place the Aqara hub relatively close to the U50 lock. In testing, placing the hub on a different floor or far side of the house sometimes led to Wi-Fi disconnection issues. Even with Wi-Fi working, a Bluetooth connection was often necessary for more advanced functions. However, even when Wi-Fi connectivity was inconsistent, the pre-programmed access codes remained reliable, and the auto-lock feature (which can be set to engage after a customizable delay, like 10 minutes) always worked correctly. A notable feature of the U50 is its built-in gyroscope, which allows it to detect whether the door is open or closed without needing a separate door sensor accessory, a requirement for many other smart locks offering this functionality.
The U50 provides a variety of entry options beyond the standard keypad. You can unlock it using the Aqara app, through smart home ecosystems like Apple HomeKit, Google Home, and Amazon Alexa, or even with NFC cards (two are included). For traditionalists or in case of battery failure, a hidden keyhole is available, and two physical keys are provided. During several months of testing, the battery life proved excellent, with no need for replacement. Should the batteries eventually run out, a convenient USB-C emergency port allows you to provide temporary power for entry.
| Specs | |
|---|---|
| Smart home ecosystem: | Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomeKit, IFTTT |
| Power source: | Four AA batteries (included), backup USB-C power |
| Entry options: | Keypad, fingerprint reader, NFC, smart home connection, mechanical key (two included) |
| Security rating: | None beyond weatherproofing |
| Weatherproof rating: | IPX5 |
| Encryption: | AES 128-bit encryption |
Best Smart Lock With Biometrics: Lockly Visage Zeno Series
While the Yale Approach offers a convenient fingerprint reader, the Lockly Visage Zeno Series takes biometric access to the next level by adding facial recognition. This smart lock can literally see you coming, offering a futuristic and incredibly convenient way to unlock your door.
Setting up the Lockly Visage requires careful attention, particularly during the battery installation phase. It's crucial to have the Lockly Home app (iOS, Android) downloaded and ready, along with the activation card (which should be stored in a safe place after setup). The lock's Bluetooth signal, needed for initial pairing and setting up the facial recognition feature (Visage ID), is only active for a short period after the rechargeable battery is inserted. Being prepared to complete these steps quickly is key to avoiding frustration, although restarting the process is possible if needed. Lockly states they have addressed this short window with a software update, but it's still wise to be ready.
Once successfully configured, the Lockly Visage provides a seamless experience. The facial recognition is impressively fast and accurate, even working when wearing sunglasses. It utilizes infrared (IR) sensors and a camera with both live-body detection and face recognition technology, making it resistant to being fooled by photographs. The IR sensors have an effective range of about 2.6 feet. All facial data is encrypted and stored locally on the device, with the company assuring that no images are captured. The combination of facial recognition and a fingerprint reader offers excellent flexibility, allowing household members to choose their preferred biometric entry method. In addition to these high-tech options, the lock also includes a traditional keypad and comes with two physical keys as a backup.
The Lockly Visage operates with the new Lockly Home app, designed specifically for the Zeno series. This app provides a clean interface for managing user access, generating temporary guest codes, customizing notifications, and setting preferences like auto-locking after a set duration. The lock also includes a two-part door sensor that attaches to the door and frame, providing accurate feedback on whether the door is open or closed, which can trigger customizable notifications. While the sensor is a useful addition, the overall system, including the external keypad and camera unit, can appear somewhat bulky on the door.
| Specs | |
|---|---|
| Smart home ecosystem: | Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomeKit |
| Power source: | Rechargeable USB-C battery (two included), backup USB-C power |
| Entry options: | Keypad, fingerprint reader, infrared face recognition, mechanical key (two included) |
| Security rating: | ANSI Grade 2 |
| Weatherproof rating: | IP65 |
| Encryption: | AES 128-bit encryption, cloud data secured on AWS servers (US) |
Best for Sliding Doors: The Connected Shop Next Gen Smart Lock
Securing sliding glass doors, common in backyards or patios, with smart technology presents a unique challenge. Unlike standard hinged doors, they require specialized locking mechanisms. Options for smart locks designed specifically for sliding doors are limited, making The Connected Shop Next Gen Smart Lock a notable find, despite its premium price point.
This lock has proven to be a reliable solution over extended testing, functioning almost flawlessly for over a year on a sliding glass door. Its rechargeable USB-C battery boasts impressive longevity, requiring recharging only once during that period, though usage frequency will impact this.
However, potential buyers should be aware that installation can be complex. The instructions provided are not the most intuitive, and the process may require modifications to existing hardware, such as cutting the strike plate or drilling new holes. While a DIY installation might be possible for some, professional installation may be necessary. The company acknowledges this and states they would cover damages, like accidentally shattered glass, if they occurred during a customer installation, as they did in our testing experience. It's highly recommended to contact The Connected Shop with photos of your existing lock and door frame to confirm compatibility before purchasing.
Initial setup of users, codes, fingerprints, and app connectivity after installation can also be cumbersome, relying on inputting codes directly into the lock's keypad rather than a streamlined in-app process. The lock connects to the third-party Tuya Smart app (Android, iOS), but its functionality within the app is somewhat limited, primarily allowing for deleting users, creating temporary passwords, and viewing notifications. Remote unlocking via Wi-Fi is advertised but seems to only work when the doorbell function is activated, which is an unusual implementation. Battery life can be monitored through the app.
The lock features internal lock and unlock buttons and a manual knob. On the exterior, tapping the center of the lock illuminates the number pad for code entry. It includes a doorbell function, though its sound is not very loud unless you are close by. Entry methods include keypad codes, fingerprint scanning (which works reliably once you learn the correct finger placement), and two included NFC tags for backup. Two physical keys are also provided.
The advertised Face Unlock feature did not work during testing, consistently failing to scan faces. If facial recognition is not a priority, The Connected Shop offers a slightly cheaper Sliding Door Smart Lock Knob model that omits the camera but uses four AAA batteries instead of a rechargeable one.
One consideration is the company's relative newness (founded in 2021). While the lock's build quality is surprisingly excellent, long-term customer service and support are less established. The product information could be more detailed, lacking specifics like encryption standards and comprehensive weather resistance ratings on the product pages. The reliance on a third-party app with limited features and inconsistent smart home ecosystem compatibility (like the reported issues with Google Home) are also drawbacks. Despite these points, for those specifically needing a smart lock for a sliding door, the Next Gen Smart Lock is a functional and well-built option in a niche market.
| Specs | |
|---|---|
| Smart home ecosystem: | None |
| Power source: | Rechargeable USB-C battery, backup USB-C power |
| Entry options: | Keypad, fingerprint reader, face recognition, NFC tags, mechanical key (two included) |
| Security rating: | None |
| Weatherproof rating: | IP54 |
| Encryption: | AES 128-bit encryption |
Best for Indoor and Side Doors: Aqara Smart Lock U300
Not every door that could benefit from smart access is a main entryway with a deadbolt. Side doors, doors leading into a garage, or even interior doors within a large home or rental unit can all be made more convenient and secure with a smart lock. For these applications, a smart lever lock, which replaces a standard doorknob, is the ideal solution.
Among the smart lever locks we've tested, the Aqara U300 stands out. It boasts a solid, well-built feel and is relatively easy to install, much like the Aqara U50 deadbolt. The package includes helpful measuring tools to ensure proper alignment with your door jamb, and Aqara provides video guides within their app or on YouTube to assist with the installation process. The lock comes with four AA batteries and two physical keys. Setup involves using the Aqara app to configure keypad codes and register fingerprints for the reader located on the handle itself. For the fingerprint scanner, it's important to cover the entire circular sensor with your finger for reliable recognition. The U300 also supports unlocking via an NFC card and Apple Home Key.
A key advantage of the Aqara U300 is its Matter compatibility. This means it's designed to integrate seamlessly with various smart home ecosystems, including Apple Home, Google Home, and Amazon Alexa, provided you have a Thread border router (like a Google Home Hub or Apple HomePod Mini) on your network. While we experienced some initial binding issues with a HomeKit setup during testing, Aqara confirmed this is not typical behavior. If you don't use HomeKit, you're less likely to encounter this. The lock can also be set up and controlled via Bluetooth using the Aqara app, allowing for remote locking and unlocking from your phone within range.
We've found the Aqara U300 particularly useful for securing an interior door in a rental scenario. The Aqara app allows for easy user management and customization of settings. For instance, the built-in voice prompts can be disabled using the app's Do Not Disturb mode, which is a welcome feature, especially for a lock on a bedroom door where loud announcements might be disruptive. The auto-lock function can also be adjusted or disabled entirely, offering flexibility depending on whether the door is a main access point or simply provides privacy. Inviting other household members to control the lock via the app is a straightforward process.
| Specs | |
|---|---|
| Smart home ecosystem: | Apple HomeKit, Matter |
| Power source: | 4 AA batteries, backup USB-C power |
| Entry options: | Keypad, fingerprint scanner, NFC card, Apple Home Key, mechanical key |
| Security rating: | None beyond weatherproofing |
| Weatherproof rating: | IPX4 |
| Encryption: | AES 128-bit encryption |
