I Tested 30 Smart Locks, And These Are The Best

A smart fastener is an easy solution to immoderate communal problems. Locked yourself out? Need to fto a friend successful to h2o nan plants? Your latchkey kid mislaid their key? Hands are full, and it’s raining cats and dogs? A smart fastener solves each of these problems and more. 

One of nan champion smart location upgrades you tin make, a smart fastener gives you distant power complete entree to your location from anywhere, positive easy, key-free ways to unlock and fastener your door. Smart locks besides retrieve everything that happened, truthful they tin show you erstwhile your doorway was unlocked, and sometimes who did it.

For astir people, power and convenience are large capable trading points. However, smart locks besides activity nicely pinch different smart location devices, including video doorbells and smart lighting. My favourite measurement to merge locks successful my location is pinch an evening smart home routine, which locks nan doors, dims nan lights, and sets my thermostat to slumber mode. We person 4 exterior doors, truthful it saves maine from stepping astir nan location astatine nighttime checking everything is secure.

Having a connected fastener connected your doorway is arsenic unafraid arsenic a modular lock, and sometimes more. Most smart locks person nan aforesaid information ratings arsenic their non-smart counterparts (see FAQ for much details), and it’s harder to physically prime a fastener without a keyway. Plus, immoderate smart fastener is much unafraid than leaving a spare cardinal nether a flowerpot.

I’ve been testing smart doorway locks for six years and person installed much than 30 for this guideline alone. Here are my apical picks for your beforehand door. Whether you want nan champion of nan best, don’t want to switch your existing lock, are connected a budget, aliases want a smart fastener that doesn’t look for illustration a smart lock, location are awesome options for each need.

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Best smart lock

Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Thread / Access options: Key, keycode, app, sound / Auto-unlock: Yes / Battery type: Four AA batteries / Battery life: Six to 12 months / Guest codes: Yes / Security rating: ANSI Grade AAA / Works with: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Matter (including Apple Home, Samsung SmartThings)

The Kwikset Halo Select ($279.99) is simply a good-looking, reliable smart fastener pinch top-notch information ratings, wide smart location compatibility, and nan champion auto-unlock usability I’ve tested to date.

I powerfully judge a smart fastener should look bully connected your door, and nan Halo Select does precisely that, positive it tin blend successful pinch some accepted and modern doorway sets. (But I could do without nan salient Kwikset branding.)

Of nan 4 introduction methods — a keyway (which is re-keyable), a touchscreen keypad, app/smart location control, and auto-unlock by location — I liked nan past 1 nan best. It worked truthful good that I didn’t mind that it lacks a fingerprint scholar aliases Apple Home Key.

My acquisition pinch automatic unlocking connected different locks (which uses a operation of Bluetooth, GPS, and Wi-Fi to find your location) has been mostly frustrating, but connected nan Halo Select, it’s been flawless. It unlocks conscionable arsenic I attack my porch, making coming location and opening nan doorway a virtually hands-free experience.

The Select tin besides auto-lock based connected your location, not conscionable aft a group magnitude of clip arsenic astir locks offer. I besides for illustration nan Halo Select’s LED fastener parameter connected nan touchscreen, which tells you astatine a glimpse if nan doorway is locked aliases unlocked.

The Halo Select has built-in Wi-Fi and a Thread radio, but you person to prime one.

If you group it up pinch Wi-Fi, you tin usage nan Kwikset app and link to Amazon Alexa and Google via nan cloud. With Matter, you tin link to those platforms locally and besides to Apple Home and others, but you won’t beryllium capable to usage nan Kwikset app aft setup. truthful you suffer nan auto-unlock feature, among others.

Kwikset’s auto-unlock characteristic worked flawlessly successful testing

Matter-over-Thread does committedness amended artillery life (I’ll request to trial it for longer to find this) and nan expertise to easy stock nan fastener pinch different ecosystems. I group it up successful Apple Home, Google Home, and Samsung SmartThings via Matter pinch nary issues and could power it pinch each 3 via routines, automations, and sound commands.

It’s a shame to person to take betwixt utilizing Matter and immoderate of this lock’s champion features, but this is simply a problem crossed Matter, not circumstantial to Kwikset. Kwikset’s solution allows you to usage its precocious features coming while still having nan future-proofing imaginable of Matter for tomorrow.

Read my afloat reappraisal of nan Kwikset Halo Select.

Best fund smart(ish) lock

Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0 / Access options: Fingerprint, keypad, app / Auto-unlock: No / Battery type: Four AA batteries / Battery life: One twelvemonth / Security Grade: ANSI/BHMA Grade 3 / Guest codes: Yes / Works with: N/A

The Wyze Lock Bolt is simply a bully prime if you want thing inexpensive and useful and don’t attraction astir smart location integration — aliases for illustration a fastener without it. It’s not sleek aliases stylish; it’s conscionable a large hunk of achromatic integrative (there’s besides a satin nickel version). Out of nan box, it doesn’t link to Wi-Fi aliases merge pinch immoderate smart location systems, but it does person an easy-to-use backlit keypad and a lightning-fast fingerprint reader. It’ll auto-lock if you want, and it’s half nan value of astir smart locks successful this list. 

In summation to nan fingerprint scholar and keypad, nan Wyze Lock Bolt tin beryllium controlled complete Bluetooth, and its scope is very good. I could fastener nan doorway from my chamber astatine nan different extremity of nan location utilizing nan Wyze app. That’s important, arsenic there’s nary measurement to fastener nan doorway connected a schedule (although you tin alteration auto-lock).

The Wyze doesn’t link to Wi-Fi aliases merge pinch immoderate smart location systems

The Bolt doesn’t merge pinch smart location platforms, but if you don’t request to power your fastener pinch your sound aliases scheme to adhd it to immoderate smart location routines, you won’t miss those features. It besides delivers up to a twelvemonth of artillery life connected 4 AAs — I tested it for 3 months and it only mislaid 15 percent.

But without Wi-Fi, I couldn’t cheque connected it aliases power it erstwhile I was distant from home, truthful turning connected nan auto-lock action is simply a must. If I wanted to fto personification successful while I was gone, I couldn’t unlock nan doorway remotely, but I could make an offline codification successful nan Wyze app and stock that. This uses akin exertion to two-factor authentication codes and worked perfectly successful my testing. 

Since I tested nan lock, Wyze has introduced an integration pinch its Wyze Video Doorbell Pro that lets you unlock nan Bolt remotely erstwhile paired pinch nan doorbell — but it doesn’t fto you fastener it remotely, which is odd. Of course, if you alteration auto-lock, this is little of an issue.

Best retrofit smart lock

Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Matter-over-Thread / Access options: Key, app, voice, fingerprint and keypad (sold separately) / Auto-unlock: Yes / Battery type: Non-removable, rechargeable / Battery life: Up to 12 months / Guest codes: Yes / Works with: Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple Home, Samsung SmartThings

The Nuki Smart Lock is nan astir precocious retrofit smart fastener we’ve tested, and a worthy replacement for our erstwhile pick, nan August Wi-Fi Smart Lock. It features a compact creation and lightning-fast locking — moreover quicker than manually turning nan fastener — and it useful complete Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Matter complete Thread, nan second of which enables out-of-home power and notifications done immoderate Matter-compatible smart location platform.

Whereas astir smart locks characteristic a big, bulky design, nan Nuki Smart Lock boasts a minimalist style pinch a premium look and feel. Installation is straightforward — simply region nan thumbturn from your existing deadbolt, switch it pinch a blackplate, and threat nan Nuki into place. Once it’s installed, you tin get up and moving without signing up for an account, which is simply a uncommon characteristic for a smart lock.

The Nuki app gives you entree to aggregate settings and customization options. In summation to modular features for illustration cardinal sharing pinch family members and enabling auto-lock and auto-unlock, it supports schedules, an activity log, and a convenient Night Mode, which tin fastener nan doorway astatine a group time, disable auto-unlock, and alteration auto-lock.

If you don’t person a Matter hub and a Thread separator router — for illustration a HomePod — Nuki offers a subscription work called Nuki Premium ($5.90 per month). It adds features for illustration distant access, fastener activity notifications, and integration pinch rental platforms for illustration Airbnb. Another imaginable upgrade is nan optional keypad. which supports some PIN codes and fingerprints, making it easy for friends, family, and guests to summation entree without needing to download an app. Although nan fingerprint scholar useful well, location is nary backlight, making nighttime usage tricky without a structure light. The existent keypad doesn’t support Apple Home Key, though Nuki is readying to merchandise 1 later this twelvemonth pinch ultra-wideband unlocking (UWB) and NFC support.

Nuki’s smart fastener has a built-in artillery that tin past for months, and it only takes a fewer hours to afloat recharge. While a non-removable artillery raises concerns astir longevity — smart locks mostly usage AA batteries — Nuki claims it should past 10 years. After that, nan institution says a replacement scheme will beryllium offered.

Read our reappraisal of nan Nuki Smart Lock.

Best smart fastener for renters

Connectivity: Bluetooth and Wi-Fi (with plug-in module) / Access options: Key, app, voice, keypad and fingerprint scholar sold separately / Auto-unlock: Yes / Battery type: Four AA alkaline batteries / Battery life: 12 months / Guest codes: Yes / Works with: Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings

Starting astatine $130, nan Yale Approach is simply a much affordable replacement to nan August. It’s ace easy to install, looks fine, and has each nan aforesaid features (it uses nan aforesaid app) — auto-lock, auto-unlock, app, and sound control. Add nan Bluetooth keypad to get one-touch locking, cardinal code, and fingerprint access.

As pinch Nuki, nan Approach replaces your thumb turn, truthful you tin still usage your existent fastener and cardinal — making it a awesome action if you are renting and don’t want to annoy your landlord. While not arsenic mini arsenic August, it has a nice, slim floor plan and blends successful amended than nan rear lodging of astir smart locks.

It comes successful achromatic aliases metallic and took maine little than 5 minutes to install. It uses 4 AA batteries and promises 12 months of artillery life — a batch longer than nan August. This is because location is nary built-in Wi-Fi; instead, it uses an included plug-in bridge.

The span adds out-of-home power and relationship to smart location platforms, including Alexa and Google Home (unlike August, there’s nary Apple Home support). This allows for sound power and adding it to smart location routines. Yale told maine there’s an onboard Thread radio that will beryllium activated to support Matter, but didn’t opportunity erstwhile this would arrive.

The optional Bluetooth keypad lets you power nan fastener from nan extracurricular without utilizing an app aliases key, and it worked promptly and reliably. There’s nan action of a fingerprint version, and that was likewise a bully acquisition — conscionable touch and open. The keypad besides allows you to fastener nan doorway erstwhile you time off by pressing nan Yale logo button.

The keys are a spot sensitive; I often get double inputs erstwhile pressing. But I liked nan LED parameter that notifies you pinch greenish if your codification was accepted aliases reddish if there’s an issue. This made it easy to cognize if nan input worked, arsenic nan fastener is very quiet — it’s difficult to perceive it locking aliases unlocking.

My biggest disappointment is nan look of nan keypad. It’s big, wide, and black, pinch salient achromatic numbers that don’t vanish erstwhile not successful usage — it looks a spot for illustration a artifact keypad connected your door.

Best fingerprint smart lock

Connectivity: Bluetooth (can adhd Wi-Fi, Z-Wave) / Access options: Key, keypad, fingerprint reader, app, sound / Auto-unlock: Yes / Battery type: Four AA batteries / Battery life: Six months to a twelvemonth / Guest codes: Yes / Security rating: ANSI/BHMA Grade 2 / Works with: Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings

The Yale Assure 2 statement — antecedently my apical prime — has thing for everyone. There’s an action pinch aliases without a keyway, pinch a touchscreen keypad aliases a beingness keypad, aliases pinch Apple Home Key, but my favourite exemplary is nan Yale Assure Lock 2 Touch pinch a built-in fingerprint reader. It costs $279.99, and nan built-in fingerprint scholar is accelerated and efficient. I tested nan touchscreen version, but Yale precocious released a keypad version. Unless you really worth nan cleanable look of nan touchscreen (which is blank erstwhile off), spell pinch nan keypad — it’s overmuch easier to use.

The Yale Assure 2 is simply a good-looking fastener that useful pinch each smart location level pinch its swappable modules. Its slimline creation (both beforehand and back), wide smart location compatibility, easy-to-use app, and bully action of unlocking options — including fingerprint unlock — make it a awesome action for your beforehand door. 

The fastener supports Bluetooth retired of nan container and useful pinch nan Yale Access app and Apple Home app (which adds distant unlocking if you person an Apple Home hub). Along pinch a keycode, fingerprint reader, aliases key, you tin besides take to usage auto-unlocking. Auto-unlock is simply a decent replacement to fingerprint unlock, but I recovered I often had to hold astatine nan doorway for a 2nd aliases 2 earlier it worked. Still, it’s faster than fumbling done a purse for keys erstwhile your hands are full.

Support for different platforms and distant unlocking comes done Yale’s ingenious swappable networking modules, which costs astir $80 each. There’s a Wi-Fi module to adhd Alexa and Google Home integration and a Z-Wave module for compatibility pinch (some) SmartThings hubs, Ring Alarm, and different Z-Wave hubs. Yale promised support for Matter via a Matter-over-Thread module backmost successful 2022, but this still hasn’t materialized. They person announced a different fastener that uses Thread, but it doesn’t person a fingerprint reader. I scheme to trial this soon.

I tested nan Wi-Fi module successful nan Assure 2 Touch, which worked good pinch Amazon Alexa and Google Home. It allowed maine to adhd nan fastener to Alexa Routines, fastener and unlock it pinch my voice, and power it distant from home. The downside is that power complete Wi-Fi is considerably slower than complete Bluetooth and drains nan artillery much quickly. Yale estimates up to a twelvemonth connected Bluetooth only, compared to six months complete Wi-Fi; I sewage astir 4 months.

Read my reappraisal of nan Yale Assure Lock 2 Touch.

Best smart fastener that useful pinch Apple Home Key

Connectivity: Wi-Fi aliases Thread / Access options: Key, keypad, app, voice, Apple Home Key / Auto-unlock: No / Battery type: Four AA batteries / Battery life: Up to six months / Security Grade: ANSI Grade 1 / Guest codes: Yes / Works with: Apple Home (Home Key), Amazon Alexa, Ring, and Google Home

Apple Home Key lets you usage your iPhone aliases Apple Watch to pat to unlock your doorway successful overmuch nan aforesaid measurement arsenic you pat to pay. It uses an NFC spot successful nan lock, and is fast, efficient, and secure. There are nary apps to open, nary buttons to press, and nary request to unlock your telephone (although you tin adhd that measurement arsenic an other information layer). However, it does require an Apple device; it won’t activity connected Android.

Home Key took a while to summation adoption, but location are now respective options (and should soon beryllium much arsenic Apple has made it portion of Matter). The Schlage Encode Plus is still nan champion action — if 1 of nan astir costly — arsenic it has a built-in keypad and useful complete Thread.

The keypad is useful for giving entree to group pinch whom you can’t stock a Home Key (sharing is rather limited), and Thread makes for a rock-solid connection. While it won’t beryllium updated to support Matter, nan Thread power adds amended artillery life and a much unchangeable relationship to Apple Home than Bluetooth. I person had galore connectivity issues successful HomeKit pinch Bluetooth-only locks.

To usage Home Key, you request to person an Apple Home Hub, specified arsenic an Apple TV aliases HomePod. Adding nan fastener to nan Home app automatically adds nan Home Key paper to your Wallet, arsenic good arsenic that of anyone other you person added to your Apple Home. That’s overmuch easier than getting family members to download a full caller app for nan doorway lock. I should cognize — I effort regularly.

To let personification not successful your family to power nan lock, you’ll person to springiness them a modular PIN, which you tin do successful nan Apple Home app aliases nan Schlage Encode app. If you like, you tin group this fastener up wholly successful nan Home app and ne'er person to usage nan manufacturer’s app. 

Read our reappraisal of nan Schlage Encode Plus.

Best smart fastener that doesn’t look for illustration a smart lock

Connectivity: Bluetooth, Thread, Wi-Fi pinch span / Access options: Key, app, voice, keypad (sold separately), Apple Home Key / Auto-unlock: Yes / Battery type: One CR2 battery / Battery life: One twelvemonth / Guest codes: Yes / Security Grade: ANSI/BHMA: Grade 1 / Works with: Matter, Apple Home, Ring

Want a smart fastener that doesn’t look for illustration a smart lock? Level packs each nan exertion wrong nan deadbolt — including nan azygous CR2 artillery that gets up to a twelvemonth of artillery life.

The Level Lock Plus useful pinch Apple’s Home Key and precocious started supporting Matter complete Thread. You tin besides power it pinch a key, auto-unlock, touch-to-unlock, nan app, and smart location integrations. If you don’t usage an iPhone aliases person family members who don’t, you’ll want to get nan Bluetooth keypad (from $79) to springiness you different action for access. The fastener besides comes pinch two NFC cards you tin manus out.

The Level Lock Plus replaces nan full lock, deadbolt and all, but still looks for illustration a accepted doorway fastener — some successful beforehand and down nan door. There is nary branding astatine each — this is nan only smart fastener I’ve tested that isn’t a mini advertisement connected my beforehand door. There’s besides nan action of nan Level Bolt, which only replaces nan deadbolt of your existing lock. This has each nan aforesaid features, barroom Home Key and touch-to-unlock, and it costs importantly less.

Level locks activity complete Bluetooth retired of nan container and tin link to an Apple Home hub for out-of-home control. If you don’t person a HomePod aliases Apple TV, get nan Level Lock Plus pinch Wi-Fi, which comes pinch a Connect Wi-Fi bridge. Or you tin link it to Matter for smart location and out-of-home control. You’ll request a Matter controller, which tin beryllium a HomePod aliases Amazon Echo smart speaker, among different options (See FAQ).

The Level fastener besides has auto-unlocking and touch-to-unlock, though pinch immoderate quirks: it’s 1 aliases nan other, not both. And neither useful unless you time off nan geofence area and travel back. So if you time off nan house, fastener nan door, get successful your car, retrieve you forgot something, and spell backmost to your door, it won’t unlock automatically. This is why I for illustration Home Key aliases a keypad for unlocking.

Based connected my testing of nan fastener connected 3 different doors, it is worthy noting that nan afloat replacement Level locks don’t activity good pinch older doors. I would only see installing this if your doorway lines up perfectly pinch nan onslaught plate.

Level locks are very expensive; nan Plus costs $329 ($349 for nan Wi-Fi version). But it’s nan measurement to spell for an invisible smart fastener that useful well. 

Read my reappraisal of nan Level Lock Plus.

Best smart lever lock

Connectivity: Thread / Access options: Key, app, voice, keypad, NFC tag, Apple Home Key / Auto-unlock: No / Battery type: Four AA batteries / Battery life: 10 months / Guest codes: Yes / Works with: Matter, Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings

The Aqara U300 is simply a lever-style smart lock; it replaces a knob aliases lever fastener connected a doorway pinch a azygous borehole alternatively than a doorway pinch a deadbolt fastener pinch 2 holes. This type of fastener is traditionally recovered connected interior doors, pedestrian doors into garages, aliases broadside doors.

There are options for smart lever locks from Yale, Schlage, and Lockly, but nan U300 is nan only 1 pinch Home Key compatibility and a built-in fingerprint reader. It besides useful complete Thread and supports Matter.

I installed it connected my car shed door, and it useful for illustration a charm. The fingerprint scholar is correct wherever you put your thumb to unfastened nan door, truthful I hardly announcement it unlocking arsenic I locomotion in. It besides has a keypad, and I tin usage my iPhone aliases Apple Watch for Home Key. It’s group to auto-lock by default, but you tin alteration transition mode straight connected nan fastener if you don’t want it to enactment locked each nan time.

It paired to Matter easy — I group it up successful Apple Home and could adhd a codification and Home Key each without moreover opening nan Aqara app. Because it uses Thread, there’s nary request for an Aqara hub. Thread besides enables up to 10 months of artillery life, according to Aqara.

I emotion nan thought of utilizing smart locks connected different doors successful my home. I could spot this moving connected a basement door, a location office, aliases immoderate different room you for illustration to support group retired of. However, I would for illustration to spot a measurement to permanently alteration transition mode. Currently, you person to do it connected nan device, and it reverts to auto-lock aft an undetermined period. This makes it somewhat useless for interior doors. It’s besides very ample and only comes successful achromatic aliases silver, truthful it apt wouldn’t blend successful pinch your interior decor. A slimmer option, successful much colorways, designed for wrong usage would beryllium bully to see.

The U300 is costly astatine $230, but it’s akin to different outdoor-rated options (it’s IPX4-rated). The summation of Thread — a protocol that useful complete a mesh web — makes it easier to widen connectivity further to places for illustration a shed aliases garage.

Best smart fastener that’s besides a video doorbell

Connectivity: Wi-Fi aliases Eufy HomeBase / Access options: Key, thenar unlock, keypad, app, sound / Auto-unlock: No / Battery type: Removable, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AAA backup / Battery life: Five months / Guest codes: Yes / Security rating: ANSI Grade 1 / Works with: Matter (including Apple Home), Amazon Alexa, and Google Home

Eufy’s caller FamiLock S3 Max combines a smart fastener and video doorbell successful 1 instrumentality and features a integer peephole and a wave-to-unlock function. It besides has a keyway and keypad and supports Matter-over-Wi-Fi, truthful it tin activity pinch each nan awesome smart location platforms.

My favourite of each these features is nan video surface connected nan wrong portion of nan lock, which shows a unrecorded provender of who is connected nan different broadside of nan door. If you person a peephole aliases a model successful your door, this mightiness not beryllium overmuch usage — and you tin opt to get nan fastener without nan surface for $50 less. But arsenic a speedy measurement to corroborate who is astatine your doorway earlier opening it, it’s ace handy.

The fastener has different reasonably unsocial feature: palm vein nickname technology. This lets you activity your manus complete it to unlock it, and is an replacement shape of biometric entree to nan celebrated fingerprint reader.

Palm unlocking isn’t immoderate faster aliases easier than utilizing your fingerprint, though, and I recovered it harder to get utilized to. But erstwhile I sewage nan bent of it, it worked reliably. Both my kids besides picked it up quickly, and my husband, who has problem pinch fingerprint locks successful general, really liked it.

The main logic to bargain this fastener is for nan video doorbell feature. The FamiLock’s 2K camera provides clear, crisp video during daylight hours and decent nighttime vision, though my protruding doorway framework reflected nan LEDs, causing nan footage to rustle retired a bit.

The 180-degree diagonal section of position meant I could spot apical to bottommost and each of 1 broadside (not nan different side, though, owed to nan aforementioned doorway frame). But packages and group were intelligibly visible, which is astir of what you want to spot pinch a doorbell camera.

There’s nary interest for viewing recorded footage of visitors successful nan Eufy app, and videos are stored locally connected nan device. Live position and signaling pulled up promptly successful nan app, and nan doorbell tin alert you erstwhile it sees a person. For much precocious smart alerts, for illustration packages and facial recognition, you request to link it to a Eufy HomeBase.

However, connecting to nan HomeBase intends you presently can’t usage nan Matter integration, truthful you would suffer Apple Home support (although Eufy says a firmware update is coming to hole that). Bear successful mind, Matter only controls nan lock, arsenic cameras aren’t supported by nan modular yet, truthful nan benefits of utilizing Matter are reasonably limited. (If you’re looking for a biometric Matter lock, Eufy’s E30 is simply a bully fingerprint fastener that uses Matter-over-Thread.)

Adding a video doorbell to a smart fastener puts a batch of strain connected nan battery. While you tin set respective settings to thief prevention power, Eufy says you’ll only get astir 5 months of artillery life from nan lock’s elephantine 15,000mAh removable battery. Handily, 4 AAA backup batteries are tucked into nan apical to support it functioning while you’re recharging nan artillery (which takes a while). I’ve been testing it for complete a week, and nan artillery parameter hasn’t budged yet.

At $400, this is simply a very costly lock, but it useful good and provides dual functionality of a doorbell and doorway lock.

Best facial nickname smart lock

Connectivity: Wi-Fi (2.4gHz) / Access options: Fingerprint, facial recognition, app, voice, keypad, Home Key, cardinal / Auto-unlock: No / Battery type: 10,000mAh rechargeable / Battery life: Eight months / Guest codes: Yes / Security rating: ANSI Grade 1 / Works with: Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, Google Home

I was very impressed pinch nan Lockly Visage. The first facial nickname residential smart fastener connected nan market, it besides features a fingerprint reader, a keypad, a keyway, and Apple Home Key — that’s a batch of high-tech ways to unlock your door. And while it’s astir apt excessively overmuch fastener for astir people, if you are a ace smart location personification aliases a awesome gadget nerd, you’ll emotion this lock.

I was skeptical astir nan facial unlocking astatine first, but it worked really well, opening a 2nd aliases 2 earlier I put my manus connected nan handle. The only caveat is that I had to beryllium approaching face-on, which successful astir cases I was, but nan mates of times I approached from a somewhat overseas angle, it grounded to unlock. In those cases, though, I had nan action of utilizing my fingerprint aliases Home Key.

There’s besides a touchscreen keypad, which is chiefly useful for handing retired codes to guests and visitors whose faces and fingers you don’t want to scan into your lock. The keypad is astir apt my slightest favourite portion of nan lock; it’s very small, which is bully for nan wide look, but fiddly to access. It’s besides difficult to spot successful agleam light. But pinch each nan different ways to unlock, this isn’t a deal-breaker.

Note that nan Visage doesn’t return video aliases still images; its infrared camera is only utilized for facial recognition, information for which is stored connected nan device. Lockly does person a video doorbell type for $429, though that doesn’t person facial recognition.

Surprisingly, contempt each nan tech packed into it, nan fastener is compact and stylish-looking and useful pinch nan redesigned Lockly Home app, which is now much straightforward and easier to use. The fastener useful complete Wi-Fi and supports Apple Home, Google Home, and Alexa, but there’s nary support for Matter.

Lockly claims 8 months of artillery life pinch its included rechargeable 10,000mAh battery. Uniquely, it comes pinch 2 batteries, truthful you tin switch 1 and support nan fastener online while charging nan other.

At $350, nan Lockly Visage is very expensive, but considering nan tech packed into this lock, positive nan 2 batteries, it’s not outrageous. Its coagulated build, wide smart location compatibility, and aggregate very cool ways to power it make this a awesome lock.

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Other smart locks to consider

• Eufy’s E30 smart lock useful pinch some Matter-over-Thread and Wi-Fi. It has a fingerprint reader, key, and keypad, and you tin usage nan fingerprint entree done nan Eufy app while connecting it to platforms for illustration Apple Home done Matter. Unlike nan Kwikset Halo Select, you tin usage Wi-Fi and Thread simultaneously, which is unusual. I’ve not tested it agelong capable to find if you still use from Thread’s amended artillery life. It’s cheaper than nan Halo, has a fingerprint scholar alternatively of auto-unlock, and promises 8 months of artillery life. It tin besides merge pinch a Eufy doorbell to power it from a unrecorded view. It has a bully compact design, but nan rear lodging is immense to fresh 8 AA batteries. The fastener is large successful operation, and nan fingerprint scholar was finicky; it besides has nan lowest ANSI/BHMA rating.
• U-tec’s Bolt Fingerprint Matter useful complete Thread and tin beryllium group up straight successful your smart location level of prime — nary request to usage U-tec’s U Home. But if you want to usage its built-in fingerprint reader, you’ll request to download nan app. And if you don’t usage it, past it’s benignant of a discarded of space, truthful nan full “you only request 1 app” characteristic falls flat. I besides don’t emotion nan creation of nan Ultraloqs, while smaller connected nan exterior than astir smart locks, they are squat and chunky looking, resembling a operation fastener alternatively than doorway hardware. It besides uses 8 batteries, which is an absurd amount, and is very noisy.
• If you’re an Amazon Alexa Ring household, the Schlage Encode Wifi lock is simply a bully option; it integrates pinch nan Ring app, truthful you tin fastener and unlock it while viewing a unrecorded provender from your Ring doorbell. Its creation will besides lucifer a Schlage doorway set, which is important for immoderate people. There’s nary door-sensing aliases auto-unlock option, but you person 3 reliable ways to get in: a key, a PIN, and nan app. It besides lasts astatine slightest six months connected 1 group of 4 AAs.

• If you want Home Key but nan Schlage is excessively costly aliases not your style, nan Aqara U50 is simply a good, inexpensive replacement that’s little than half nan value of nan Schlage. It doesn’t person arsenic bully a build quality, and nan keypad is simply a spot finicky, but it useful pinch Apple Home and Home Key retired of nan box. (You‘ll request an Aqara hub for immoderate different smart location integrations, including Matter.) It besides pairs with Aqara’s G4 video doorbell to unlock nan doorway while viewing video from nan unrecorded feed. (Aqara has a doorbell that’s besides a hub coming soon).
• The Aqara Smart Lock U100 is simply a Matter-compatible smart lock that besides useful pinch Apple HomeKit and Home Key. A afloat replacement deadlock that tin beryllium unlocked by key, keypad, NFC cardinal fob, fingerprint, sound control, done an app, aliases pinch Apple Home Key. It’s a bully lock, but its smart location integrations are complicated, and location are now amended options.
• The Yale Assure SL pinch Matter Module is simply a Matter-over-Thread deadbolt smart lock. It’s simple, pinch a cleanable creation and a touchscreen keypad for entry. There’s nary keyway, fingerprint reader, aliases Apple Home Key, but successful position of simplicity, reliability, and future-proofing, it’s a bully option. It’s 1 of nan fewer locks you tin link straight to your smart location level of prime without needing to download nan manufacturer’s app — nan Assure SL doesn’t moreover activity pinch Yale’s app.

• The SwitchBot Lock Pro is an all-around upgrade to 1 of my erstwhile favourite locks, nan SwitchBot lock (which is now discontinued). It’s a awesome solution if you person an different lock, arsenic it tin activity connected almost immoderate door; it has higher-quality materials than nan original, but now requires you to switch nan rear of your fastener (as astir retrofit locks do). It does support Matter done a bridge, but for $200, I would still opt for August.
• The Kwikset Halo Touch is simply a Bluetooth and Wi-Fi fingerprint fastener pinch a accepted keyway. As there’s nary keypad, it looks much for illustration a modular fastener pinch nan prize of easy access. This is much limiting erstwhile it comes to sharing entree to your door, but it’s a bully solution for anyone who wants a elemental key-free measurement into their location and knows they won’t request to stock tons of integer keys.

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Other smart locks I tested

• The Aqara U200 is $270. That’s a batch for a retrofit fastener — moreover pinch support for Thread, Matter, and Home Key. It has a keypad/fingerprint scholar included; astir retrofit locks complaint other for one. The keypad enables Apple Home Key, and this is nan only retrofit fastener that useful pinch it. If that’s thing you want, past this is nan only action for now. Otherwise, you tin get each nan aforesaid functionality pinch nan Yale Approach — positive auto-unlock — for $40 less.
• U-tec’s Ultraloq Bolt Fingerprint pinch Wi-Fi ($199 to $249) is nan newest type of an earlier prime for champion lock, nan U-Bolt Pro pinch Wi-Fi. This type adds support for Apple Home (that’s nan $249 one), but not Home Key, and a flimsy redesign — you nary longer person to popular half nan fastener collar disconnected to get to nan keyhole, which is simply a bully upgrade. It still has a fingerprint scholar and auto-unlock.
• The Bosma Aegis is an inexpensive retrofit fastener that useful good and costs conscionable $60. It is remarkably akin to nan August Wifi fastener successful position of usability and installation, but not build value (it’s very plasticky). It besides has a Bluetooth keypad action (with a fingerprint reader). But it is giant. Like, hulking huge. It’s besides very large and requires a abstracted bridge.
• The Lockly Vision Elite is simply a smart fastener pinch a video doorbell. It’s very expensive, and it’s not a awesome video doorbell. Motion discovery is spotty, and nan camera lacks group aliases package detection. It useful pinch Amazon Alexa and Google Home, but not Apple Home aliases Matter.
• The Eufy Smart Lock Touch is simply a very bully fastener successful position of usability — it has an easy-to-use fingerprint reader, a bully large touchscreen keypad, nan action of a key, and Wi-Fi built in. But it is conscionable excessively large and techie-looking for astir people’s beforehand doors. I do for illustration nan removable 10,000mAh battery, which went 8 months earlier needing to recharge (with a USB-A cable). But that’s besides why this fastener is truthful big.
• The Eufy Video Smart Lock is likewise immense and very expensive; it requires a span to link to Wi-Fi, and nan Eufy FamiLock offers measurement much features for conscionable $50 more.

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What’s coming next

• The Tapo DL100 is simply a $70 smart fastener pinch built-in Wi-Fi, a keypad, and a beingness key, positive entree via nan Tapo mobile app and smart location integrations. It’s cheaper than my fund pick, nan Wyze Bolt, and includes Wi-Fi for distant access, but you don’t get a fingerprint reader. It useful pinch Tapo’s fantabulous video doorbells.
• The SwitchBot Lock Ultra Vision is simply a retrofit smart fastener that useful pinch a keypad that has facial nickname built in. The keypad besides has a fingerprint scholar and auto-unlock. The fastener tin activity pinch almost immoderate style of doorway lock, connects complete Bluetooth, and useful pinch Apple Home (through Matter), Amazon Alexa, and Google Home pinch a SwitchBot hub. 
• The Schlage Sense Pro is nan company’s first fastener to support  Matter and 1 of nan first to use ultra-wideband exertion (UWB) for hands-free unlocking. It has a keypad but nary keyway and will activity pinch nan Aliro standard erstwhile it launches. This intends it should support a type of Apple Home Key.
• U-tec’s Ultraloq Bolt Mission is a $400 fastener that will activity pinch UWB for hands-free unlocking; it besides has a keypad and a keyway, and nan institution says it will support Matter.
• The Yale Smart Lock pinch Matter is simply a $170 smart fastener that useful complete Thread and is simply a full-deadbolt replacement featuring a keypad and keyway for access. It’s designed to brace pinch Google’s Nest video doorbells.
• The Ultraloq Bolt NFC HomeKey ($249) is U-tec’s first Apple Home Key smart fastener slated for merchandise soon. There’s nary fingerprint reader, but location is simply a keypad and a beingness key. Built-in Wi-Fi adds support for Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Samsung SmartThings.

Smart fastener FAQs

Photography by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy / The Verge

Update, July 16th: Replaced our prime for nan “best retrofit smart lock” pinch nan Nuki Smart Lock. Updated to bespeak existent pricing and availability. Brandon Russell contributed to this post.