5 Best Smart Locks (2025), Tests and Reviews
The best smart locks can help those who constantly misunderstand the key or frequently wonder if they lock their front door. I’m in the latter camp. Over the years, years in the apartment, I recently moved to a house big enough that I could feel like a chore, especially after I was all cozy in bed, checking if the doors were locked.
Installing a smart lock does not mean throwing away your house key. You probably want to bring it with you. All of these locks are convenient and offer multiple ways of entering via keypad, fingerprint scanning, or apps. You can easily share your code with friends and family so there’s no need to fuss about Crappy Key copies. Normally, you can set it to autolock when the door closes. But there are many models out there and not all work at your door. Don’t worry, I’ve been testing smart locks for almost a year and this guide has plenty of advice. Most people are our top picks, Yale approach lock with keypad touchhowever, there are several options – even a lock that fits a sliding door.
Read on for smarter home recommendations Best Video Doorbell, Best Outdoor Security Camera, Best indoor security camerasand The best robot vacuum cleaner guide.
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Before you buy a smart lock
Before you buy a smart lock, there are a few things to check.
How thick is your door? Yes, you need to measure the thickness of your entrance. If it is close to or greater than 2 inches thick, you may need some kind of expansion kit. ultraloq thickness door kit For company smart locks designed for 1.75-2.5 inch doors. My door is on the thicker side and I have no problem with most locks like the lockley face and Accra U50, but the lock on the Kwikset required an expansion kit. Once you know the size of the door, you can check it against the lock you choose to see if it fits and whether it is needed or not. You don’t want to start just to know that you need to order something.
Do you need a bridge or hub? Some locks like Yale have separate Wi-Fi bridges that need to be connected nearby. Companies like Aqara and Abode have hubs that need to be set up to get more features. However, some models do not require any hubs or bridges at all. Double check if you have any extras you need and need to connect near the door. Are there any outlets available right away?
Can I switch the entire lock? If you’re a homeowner, you can (probably) buy these locks without worry. However, tenants or people with a strict set of homeowners association rules may find that they cannot freely change their locks. Depending on your freedom, there is a full lock replacement, which replaces the entire front door lock, and a retrofit lock that simply replaces the backing. Retrofit is the perfect option if you don’t need a new key or don’t want to tip off your landlord.
Tools required for installation
There may be more requirements for the particular lock I chose, but with each lock I installed, I realized I was using myself.
- Measuring tape
- Philips head driver
- Precision screwdriver kit
- Gallon Ziploc bag (to hold my old lock piece)
Most locks do not recommend using a power drill because of the risk of damage to the lock. The Precision Tool Kit may sound stupid if you already have a screwdriver, but many of these locks use small screws that are much easier to control in the Precision Tool kit.
If the battery is included, double check if the battery is ready to pop in after installation.
The best smart lock overall
Yale’s lock may look like a complete lock replacement, but this is a retrofit design that only changes the back of the thumb turn deadbolt. This means that the existing keys still work and no one outside the house knows it’s clever. It’s ideal for renters, but also great for those who don’t want to switch between front lock and swap keys. That all means the installation was quick and easy. The most difficult thing is to ensure that your existing locks do not fall to the ground while replacing the backing, but it only takes a few minutes to complete.
As the name suggests, Yale approaches the rock (8/10 Wired recommends) You can feel when you approach. Do this using your phone location and place a small area within the app to establish what is important when you “arrived” your home. There is a patio and a small staircase between the door and the car, which has expanded the range you can feel when you hit the stairs. It worked better than putting range in the center of my house. Because I don’t think I’ll arrive until I’m already at the door.
Photo: Nena Farrell
Yale’s parent company, Assa Abloy; I got a smart lock If you’ve used the 2017 brand August, and the August lock before, the included Wi-Fi bridge looks familiar. The bridge connects to the smart lock via Bluetooth, so it must be connected near the door. This is what connects the lock to Wi-Fi to unlock the lock (plus other features). The entire setup is very similar to how August locks worked in the past, but Yale’s approach design is August Wi-Fi Smart Lock.
You can choose to get a keypad for your approach. You can also choose from two different styles. Basics Keypad Bundle Yale numeric keypad is included, Biometric Keypad Touch Bundle There is a numeric keypad and a fingerprint scanner. We recommend upgrading to a fingerprint reader. This is very convenient and fast. It unlocks the door with just one touch. You can also purchase Lock without a keypad ($130) There’s no place to place it, but the keypad is perfect for smart locks, allowing you to provide temporary code with guests. You can also enter without a key or phone.
Best Smart Lock with Biometric Authentication
If you think the above Yale approach fingerprint reader sounds convenient, let me introduce you to a Rockley vision (8/10 Wired recommends). Visage not only has a fingerprint reader, but also has a built-in sensor to recognize faces to unlock doors while walking. Yes, this rock can see you coming.
When installing this lock, it is recommended to move quickly once you reach the battery stage. Do not place it in the rechargeable battery until you download the app and place the activation card in the box (keep this safe in case you reset the lock). The battery needs to activate the Bluetooth signal, which was only live for a few minutes in the test, enter the code and finish the procedure at that time. Rebooting again and again is frustrating, but it is possible. Lockly says it pushed an update to fix this short-lived Bluetooth window, but once the battery is in, it’s set to roll.
Photo: Nena Farrell
Once the setup had zero connection issues, I was pleased with how fast this lock could walk (even with sunglasses on!) and how quickly I could recognize my face, reading my fingerprints. Visage uses infrared (IR) sensors and cameras to see when a person is approaching and who is. Sensors in the lock are both bio-detection and facial recognition, making them inappropriate for photos. The infrared sensor has a range of about 2.6 feet, and tests showed it to feel accurate. The company has promised that stills will not be captured, and live face tracking data is encrypted and stored on the device. It’s nice to have both face and fingerprint options. This will allow family members to choose what they like. There is also a keypad and a regular mechanical key, and two keys are included.
Visage Zeno uses the Locklee Home app (iOS, Android), the latest app from Rockley. It works specially with Zeno Line. There is another Locklee app that works with this lock, but it doesn’t look that good. Within the app, you can easily generate guest code, customize notifications, and set settings such as automatically locking doors after a certain period of time.
Also, the door sensor is stuck on the door under the lock, and the second part is sitting in the door clogged to feel if the door is closed or not. You can also customize notifications around that. It’s a great add-on, but the whole system is not the most appealing in the door itself. It’s a little cluttered.