Best Smart Locks of 2023 – CNET
Best Smart Locks of 2023 - CNET
In this article:
- Choosing the best smart lock
- Best smart locks of 2023
- How we test
- Smart lock buying guide
- Smart lock FAQs
Choosing the best smart lock
Smart locks can bring a lot of connected convenience to your front door, and we’ve spent years testing the things out to find the best of the bunch. In most cases, the first smart lock we’d recommend is the August Smart Lock, as it has a good track history in our tests and comes with a well-developed mix of features and compatible accessories, including support for the top three voice assistants (Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri). That said, you’ll find plenty of compelling smart lock options if you’re in the market for a new one, many of which are well worth considering.
At a basic level, the best smart locks will help you manage access to your home. They’re great for letting workers, houseguests, and pet sitters in without need for a key, and they’re a godsend when you get into bed only to realize you forgot to lock up. Beyond that, you’ll find a growing number of models with advanced features like touchpad controls, fingerprint readers, and built-in sensors that can tell you if the door is ever left ajar.
The features that make the most sense for you will depend on your home and the ways you plan to use and share your lock. Retrofit smart locks that work with your existing hardware will often be a better fit for apartments and rentals where you need to keep the lock you’ve got. If you have a big family with lots of people coming and going and you want to keep an eye on the kids, you might want to look for a keypad lock that will let you assign everyone their own, unique code.
We’ve tested a number of smart locks over the years, including some of the most recent models to hit the market. Our favorites of the bunch are listed below, and we’ll update this page regularly as our testing continues.
Best smart locks of 2023
Chris Monroe/CNET
Our long-running smart lock champ, the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock includes a retrofit August lock and a DoorSense open-close sensor to upgrade your existing deadbolt or other lock. Wi-Fi comes built in with this version of the lock, so you won’t need to pay extra for August’s plug-in Wi-Fi Connect bridge to enable remote access with a smartphone app, or to sync up with Alexa, Google Assistant or Siri (August supports all three, which is terrific).
On top of that, the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock is 45% smaller than previous August models, and it offers a good mix of features in the well-designed August app. That includes unlimited user access, auto-locking and unlocking, and a log of every action that happens at your front door. If you purchase August’s wireless keypad accessory for $60, you can add coded entry into the mix, too.
The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock is a capable, easy-to-install smart lock, a reliable performer in our tests, all of which earned it an Editors’ Choice award here on CNET. Available in silver or matte-black for $230, it’s easily one of the best smart lock options on the market.
Ry Crist/CNET
If you’re renting out your place using a service like Airbnb, then a smart lock makes a ton of sense to make it easy for guests to get in. My recommendation would be to get a smart lock that supports coded entry — just give your guests a code that only works for the duration of their stay, and they’ll be able to get in and out without needing to use a key or download an app.
The coded smart lock I like the best is the Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro. With physical buttons that work regardless of the weather (or whether or not the user is wearing gloves), it’s about as foolproof as coded locks get. It features one of my favorite smart lock designs, with a built-in fingerprint sensor and a sneaky front face that flips down to reveal the keyhole. Plus, the lock’s built-in Wi-Fi radio was a top performer in my range tests, which might make it an especially good pick for a door that’s a couple of rooms away from your router. You can sync it with Alexa or Google Assistant for voice controls, too, though Apple HomeKit isn’t supported.
The U-Bolt Pro comes in a variety of models — I like the newest version tested and pictured here, with the fingerprint scanner, an open/closed door sensor, and built-in Wi-Fi for remote access on your phone and compatibility with Alexa and Google, but it’s a bit expensive at $280. Fortunately, you can save some money by going with an identical-looking Bluetooth model that ditches the open/closed sensor and uses an external, plug-in Wi-Fi bridge for a total of $179. Don’t care about the fingerprint sensor? You can ditch that too, bringing the price all the way down to $149.
Tyler Lizenby/CNET
August’s third-gen Smart Lock and Connect bundle comes with a DoorSense open-close sensor and the August Connect plug-in Wi-Fi bridge. The low-profile, retrofit design means you won’t need to replace your existing deadbolt lock and installation is easy, offering convenience for renters who might not be able to switch the existing deadbolt out at all.
With that August Connect Wi-Fi bridge pairing the lock with your home network, this version of the August lock is compatible with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa for voice control, and you’ll find the same great remote access features in the August mobile app. About the only August feature that you don’t get here is compatibility with Apple HomeKit (sorry, Siri). Available in silver or dark gray for as little as $185, it’s the first smart lock I’d recommend if you live in an apartment and don’t want to remove your existing lock.
Editor’s note: In August 2020, PCMag and Bitdefender released a report alleging that August and Yale Android apps when working with Connect modules were vulnerable to a hack during setup mode that could give away Wi-Fi credentials. In August’s latest response to CNET, it states, “If the Connect’s firmware is up-to-date and the user’s August Android app is up-to-date, their device will not be vulnerable to the original attack even if the unit enters into setup mode.”
Chris Monroe/CNET
I’m not sure that I’d want to go totally keyless at my front door, but if you’re ready to ditch that door key for good, then the Yale Assure SL belongs right at the top of your list. The small, sleek design doesn’t have a keyhole at all — instead, you’ll let yourself in using a touchscreen keypad that comes in a variety of finishes that look good on nearly every door. If the batteries ever run out, you can hold a 9V battery against a set of nodes on the bottom of the lock to give it enough juice to let you in.
Shop around, and you’ll find a variety of Yale Assure models with different kinds of connectivity and different price points. The base model costs $179, but it doesn’t feature any smarts at all — you need to purchase and install the Yale Access Upgrade kit which includes an August Connect Wi-Fi bridge for well over $100 in order to control the lock from your phone or to pair it with a voice assistant. That’s a bad value, so instead, go with the Yale Assure lock that already has Wi-Fi built in — that model doesn’t need any extra hub hardware, and it costs $199. Another version features a Z-Wave radio instead of Wi-Fi for $291 — it might be worth considering if your home already has a Z-Wave hub that can communicate with it.
Meanwhile, Yale recently released a second-gen Assure Lock 2, with your choice of touchscreen controls or physical buttons. The version with built-in Wi-Fi supports Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple HomeKit, and costs $240. We’ll keep an eye on that one and update this rundown once we’ve had a chance to test it out.
Editor’s note: In August 2020, PCMag and Bitdefender released a report alleging that August and Yale Android apps when working with Connect modules were vulnerable to a hack during setup mode that could give away Wi-Fi credentials. In August’s latest response to CNET, it states, “If the Connect’s firmware is up-to-date and the user’s August Android app is up-to-date, their device will not be vulnerable to the original attack even if the unit enters into setup mode.”
Read our Yale Assure Lock SL Key Free Touchscreen Deadbolt review.
Ry Crist/CNET
If compatibility with Apple HomeKit and the Siri voice controls that come with it is a must-have for your smart lock, the bad news is that you’ll find fewer options than you’ll see with other platforms. The good news is that you’ve still got some great locks to choose from — and among them, I’d recommend starting with the Level Lock.
Available for $249 or less in your choice of four finishes, the Level Lock costs a little less than other HomeKit locks, and it features a clever design that packs all of the electronics into the deadbolt inside your door. That means that you won’t have a bulky thumbturn on the inside of your door or a gadgety-looking keyhole on the outside, and it also means that the Level Lock is about as quiet as smart locks get, since the motor that turns the deadbolt sits inside your door.
The Level Lock uses Bluetooth to pair with your phone, and a unique range-boosting feature worked well in our tests and allowed me to reliably control the lock from a couple of rooms away, which is something other Bluetooth locks couldn’t do. Pair it with a HomeKit hub like the Apple TV or the HomePod Mini, and you’ll be able to control it from anywhere (same goes for Alexa users — just pair it with an Echo device or another Amazon gadget that doubles as an Amazon Sidewalk bridge). There’s no Google Assistant support, but that’s really about all this smart lock is missing.
If you want to spend a little less, you could consider the Level Bolt, which offers the exact same features and the exact same hardware pictured above without the thumbturn and keyhole that go on the inside and outside of your door. Instead, that model works with your existing hardware, and that means it costs a little less at $181. On the flipside, there’s also a new Level Lock Touch Edition that adds a capacitive lock exterior that unlocks as soon as a registered user touches it — it’s expensive at $290, but we’ll update this post once we’ve tested it out to let you know if we think it’s worth the splurge.
Ry Crist/CNET
If you’re ready to upgrade to a smart lock, but you aren’t crazy about the idea of spending $200 or more, then the Wyze Lock might be just what you’re looking for. Available for just $130, you’ll get built-in Bluetooth for pairing with your phone at close range plus a plug-in Wi-Fi hub for connecting from afar or connecting via Alexa or Google Assistant. If you’re interested in coded entry, you can add a wireless keypad accessory into the mix for an extra $30.
With a retrofit design, the Wyze Lock works with your existing deadbolt and key. It’s admittedly plain-looking on the inside of your door, but it’s easy to install and it worked well in our tests, making it a great budget pick.
Other smart locks we’ve tested
In our search for the best smart lock, these are some of the other products we’ve tried out:
The Kwikset Halo Touch is a no-frills fingerprint lock with built-in Wi-Fi and support for Alexa or Google Assistant.
Ry Crist/CNET
Nest Yale Lock : Nest and Yale partnered up for a Google-centric smart lock with a touch keypad. This Nest app smart door lock has the good looks of Yale’s earlier models, but it isn’t quite as capable as other keyless locks when it comes to smart home integration.
Array by Hampton Connected Door Lock : This lock has solar-powered battery backup and built-in Wi-Fi, but it’s expensive and doesn’t have the option to work with HomeKit or Google Assistant yet.
Kwikset Halo Touch: The Halo Touch is a simple, straightforward fingerprint lock that costs $234. With built-in Wi-Fi, there’s no need for any additional hub hardware — just install it, pair it with your home network, and you’ll be all set. It was a strong performer in our tests, with a snappy, responsive fingerprint scanner and a relatively quiet design, and it supports voice controls via Alexa or Google Assistant (no HomeKit support, though). If it were me buying, I’d try to catch it on sale for less than $200, but this is definitely a smart lock worth considering if you want fingerprint access at your front door.
Kwikset Kevo Bluetooth Deadbolt : Kwikset’s second-gen Kevo is a good Bluetooth smart lock and a simple answer to smartening your door if you don’t need remote control access. If you do, you’ll need to purchase the Kevo Plus connect module. You can use the mobile app or the key fob for keyless door entry.
The Lockly Flex Touch is a Bluetooth smart lock with a built-in fingerprint scanner, but you’ll need to pay an extra $80 for the plug-in Wi-Fi hub that lets you control it from anywhere or pair it with a voice assistant.
Ry Crist/CNET
Lockly Flex Touch: An understated fingerprint lock, the Flex Touch looks like a standard deadbolt on the outside, apart from the small fingerprint sensor that dangles underneath. That fingerprint sensor worked great when we tested it out, but the interior part of the lock is made of faux-stainless-steel plastic that feels a bit cheap to the touch. In addition to that, you’ll need to buy an overpriced $80 plug-in Wi-Fi hub if you want to control the lock via your phone from beyond Bluetooth range.
Schlage Encode Wi-Fi Deadbolt: We liked the Encode’s simplicity when we tested it out — with built-in Wi-Fi, there’s no need for any extra hub hardware, meaning you can pair it with your home network and with Alexa or Google Assistant for voice controls as soon as you install it. It’s also compatible with Amazon Key, in case you’re interested in in-home delivery drop-offs. On top of that, it’s a really nice-looking smart lock, with a classy touchpad for coded entry and a variety of elegant finishes. It doesn’t support Apple HomeKit, though, and it’s difficult to find it on sale for less than $250, which makes it hard to recommend.
Schlage Sense Bluetooth Deadbolt : Schlage’s Sense smart lock is affordable, but clunky and not as simple to set up as its Encode sibling. You’ll also need a Schlage lock Wi-Fi adapter to connect with Google Assistant or Alexa.
Eufy Smart Lock Touch with Wi-Fi: At a retail price of $260, Eufy’s sleek-looking, finger-scanning smart lock is too expensive for us to recommend outright, but it performed well when we tested it out, apart from a few minor hiccups during setup. With both a fingerprint scanner and a touchpad for coded entry, it’s about as versatile as smart locks get, but it’s probably more than most people need.
The Kwikset Halo Touch did a great job of separating the parts and screws you’ll need to use to install it, and labeling them according to each step of the process. That helps make the setup process a lot less intimidating.
Ry Crist/CNET
How we test smart locks
We’ve been testing and reviewing smart locks for years on the CNET Home team. For our most recent batch of tests here in 2022, I tested several new models out of my own home.
For starters, I took a critical eye to each lock’s design, as well as the simplicity of the installation process. It’s usually not a complicated process, and in most cases you’ll only need a Phillips head screwdriver, but it still might feel intimidating for some.
Most smart locks do a good job of including detailed instructions in the box and in the app, but others, like the Kwikset Halo Touch, go a step further by clearly labeling and separating the different parts and screws you’ll need to use. That can be a big help if you’ve never swapped out a door lock before.
The U-Bolt Pro with built-in Wi-Fi was the top finisher in my range tests, as I was able to reliably control it from my phone even with the lock in my backyard, on the fringes of my home Wi-Fi network. No other Wi-Fi lock I tested worked as flawlessly this far from my router.
Ry Crist/CNET
Rather than installing the locks in my front door, I installed them in a mock door display cut to standard specifications. That allowed me to move each lock after installing it, which helped me to test their wireless range when controlling them over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.
Some locks did great — most notably the U-Bolt Pro with Wi-Fi, which worked flawlessly even in my backyard, on the fringes of my home’s Wi-Fi network. The Level Lock was another standout thanks to a neat range-boosting feature that allowed me to control the lock over Bluetooth from nearly twice the distance as other Bluetooth smart locks (albeit at an expense of battery life).
From there, the testing is largely experiential. I pay attention to important physical considerations like the size of the lock and how loud the motor gets when the deadbolt turns, as well as practical considerations like app features, ease of use, and the range of compatibility with different smart home platforms and peripheral devices. Some smart locks, particularly coded smart locks, are better for sharing access with guests. Others, including Bluetooth locks with auto-unlocking smarts whenever you draw near, are better for users who are more convenience-minded. Whatever the lock’s approach, the features need to work well if it wants to earn my recommendation.
Smart design matters, too. Apart from the fact that these locks are likely going to be sitting on the front face of your home’s exterior and making a first impression on visitors, good design can make for better implementation of core features, as well.
For instance, the U-Bolt Pro stood out to me for its clever build, with the fingerprint-scanning front-face of the lock folding down entirely to reveal a standard keyhole backup. Hiding the keyhole makes a lot of sense — most of the time, you aren’t going to use it to get in, and putting it out of sight gives the lock a smaller footprint on your front door than other fingerprint-scanning locks. I also liked the physical buttons on that lock for coded entry, as buttons like those are easier to use in inclement weather than touchscreen controls. Another nice design touch — you can punch in dummy digits before or after your code, and the lock will still let you in. That’s a good feature if you’re worried about people snooping over your shoulder as you unlock the door.
How to choose a smart lock
Smart locks are a highly visible part of your home that you’ll use just about every day, so it’s important to find a reliable pick that meshes well with your smart home. Here are the factors you should be thinking about as you shop:
A retrofit smart lock like the August lock will replace the interior of your existing lock, but not the exterior keyhole or the deadbolt.
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Full deadbolt or retrofit
Most smart locks will replace the entirety of your existing lock, including the interior thumbturn, the exterior keyhole, and the deadbolt in the middle. Locks like those will also come with their own keys, which will replace the ones you’re using now.
Others, like the August Smart Lock, the Wyze Lock, and the Level Bolt, are designed instead to work with at least some of your existing lock hardware. With a retrofit lock like that, you probably won’t need new keys at all, and you might not even need to swap out the deadbolt. Locks like those can sometimes be a better fit for apartments, where the building owners might not allow you to replace the entire lock.
Modes of access
Different smart locks will take different approaches to letting you in. On a basic level, most smart locks will let you lock and unlock the door wirelessly from your phone, using an app. Others add in keypads for coded entry, which can help you rely on your keys a little less while also making it easier to share access with others. Some of the newest smart locks add in touch sensitivity or fingerprint scanning to let you inside with just a tap. Apple recently added a Home Key feature in iOS15 that lets you store a digital house key in your Apple Wallet, which lets you open compatible smart locks using the NFC radio in your iPhone or Apple Watch.
It’s probably overkill to pay up for a smart lock that offers all of that, so it’s fine to dial in on the mode of access that interests you most. You’ve got a diverse mix of options these days.
Platform compatibility
The Schlage Encode Plus is the first smart lock to support Apple Home Key. Similar to Apple Pay, Home Key lets you unlock your door using the NFC radio in your iPhone or Apple Watch.
Schlage
If your household includes multiple types of smart home devices, then your best bet is to control them all from a single smart home platform — that way, you won’t need to juggle multiple apps to keep everything automated. The most popular picks are Amazon Alexa, the Google Home app and the Google Assistant voice controls that come with it, and Apple HomeKit, which brings Siri into play. Samsung SmartThings is another option for a hub-centric smart home.
Whichever you end up using, make sure that your smart lock is compatible. You’ll find plenty of locks that work with Google and Alexa, and slightly fewer that work with Apple HomeKit, but you shouldn’t have any trouble finding multiple options for any of them. Just make sure that you have what you need to connect — a Bluetooth smart lock might require a Wi-Fi bridge of some sort before it can connect with a larger platform, and some locks require a specific hub device in order to connect, like an Amazon Echo Plus or an Apple HomePod Mini.
Security and privacy
Smart locks aren’t quite as data sensitive as devices with built-in cameras and microphones, but you’ll still want to make sure that you’re keeping things secure. Most, if not all of your options will use some form of encryption to keep the wireless transmissions between your lock and your phone or home network secure — you should also look for locks that use two-factor authentication to keep your account safe from malicious logins. And, as with any connected device in your home, you’ll want to be sure to keep your lock updated to the latest firmware, and to set a strong password in the app.
As for lockpicking and other physical concerns, you can look for the lock’s ANSI grade to get a sense of its durability, and how well it might stand up against a brute force entry attack. ANSI grade 3 is the most basic rating, but a growing number of smart locks offer ANSI grade 2 or grade 1 ratings, which tell you that they’re built with commercial-grade durability. If you’re concerned about forced entries, a lock like that might be a good investment.
The Level Lock runs off of a single CR2 battery that hides neatly in the deadbolt itself.
Ry Crist/CNET
Design considerations
Your smart lock is going to sit right on the front of your home’s exterior, so it’s worth aiming for something you won’t hate looking at. Some smart locks go out of their way to show off their gadgety features with light-up touchscreens, color-coded LED indicator lights and tech-minded designs. Others take the opposite approach, doing their best to blend in and look just like a standard lock, from the outside at least. Picking a preference between the two approaches will help you narrow your options.
You’ll also want to consider how the lock stays powered. Most smart locks will run off four AA batteries, but some take a different approach. The Level Lock, for instance, runs off of a single CR2 battery that sits inside of the deadbolt itself. Meanwhile, Eufy’s touchscreen smart lock runs off of a rechargeable battery pack.
Smart lock FAQs
Here are the answers to some of the most common questions about smart locks. If you have any others, feel free to email me from my author page (just click the little orange envelope).
How secure are smart locks?
Smart locks from major developers, like Yale and Schlage, are reliable security devices — but only if you use them correctly. In the same way a lock three feet from a key hidden under a doormat isn’t very secure, a smart lock with the PIN 1-2-3-4 won’t be very secure. Smart locks can even be more secure than conventional locks, since keys are easier to lose than, say, your fingers, if you’re using a fingerprint lock.
Why are smart locks so expensive?
Like most smart home tech, smart locks are getting more affordable all the time — but that doesn’t mean they’re cheap. Between the conventional hardware (which often includes a deadbolt and other parts of the lock mechanism), the “smart” hardware (which includes computer chips and various kinds of radios) and the software (which includes digital security measures like encryption), a lot goes into a smart lock. So finding one for under a hundred bucks, which isn’t unusual these days, is actually a solid deal.
Can smart locks be hacked?
Smart locks, like any Wi-Fi-connected device, can be hacked. But as long as you’re finding smart locks from reliable developers, the communications that would allow a hacker to trigger the lock should be thoroughly encrypted — making hacking pretty difficult. It’s important to keep in mind, too, that robberies are often crimes of convenience. So unless you live on a totally secure compound, protecting one-of-a-kind jewels, an unlocked window or an open garage door is a more likely point of entry than your theoretically hackable smart lock.
Are smart locks risky?
While smart lock hacking isn’t much of a risk to your individual home’s security thanks to encryption, that doesn’t mean smart locks pose no risks. Battery-powered smart locks can lead to problems in the long run if you’re not diligent about keeping them powered. Smart lock hacking can also pose a larger societal problem when unsecured smart home gadgets are hacked en masse to carry out distributed denial-of-service attacks against internet-dependent institutions, such as banks. You can mitigate risks like those by setting strong passwords for the apps that control your smart home, and by using security-minded features like two-factor authentication.
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