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If you want to allow someone into your property but don’t want to or can’t answer the door, you’ll need one of the best smart locks available. The reason is, you can lock and open your front door from anywhere in the world with a smartphone and a smart lock.

To avoid having to worry about somebody duplicating your keys, smart locks also allow you to offer them virtual keys to your door. Additionally, a virtual key may be programmed to only function at certain times and can generate an alarm whenever it is used. Your dog walker or caretaker will only be able to enter the house at your specified times. Some smart locks provide additional features such as these. Therefore, we have compared and tested a number of smart locks of 2023 to find the best ones for you.

What is a smart lock?

Smart locks record door openings and closings to dissuade criminals and protect against them. Fingerprint-sensing locks text you when the kids come home and lock themselves if you forget. Smart locks provide us with the same security as surveillance cameras. Smartphone apps or voice commands control smart locks. Top-tier smart locks like the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock have sleek, attractive designs that blend into their surroundings. Some people protect your property beyond closing the door. Smart locks are becoming cheaper. They cost slightly more than a standard lock, making them affordable for most individuals. They’re easy to install. We’ve examined several smart locks and can recommend one that will please every household. If you want more monitoring, check out the latest home security camera discounts. They may surprise you, regardless of your choice.

Why do you need a smart lock?

Even though smart locks have become more popular in the United States, not everyone is convinced of their security. Let’s examine smart locks’ pros and cons to discover whether they’re better at keeping intruders away. Smart locks and other home automation technology, like Alexa and Google Home, transform home safety. It’s a lock that uses the wireless protocol so that you can lock and unlock it from your phone.

This is a communications protocol based on mesh network topology for usage in home automation; It employs low-energy radio waves for inter-appliance communication and depends on Security 2 (S2) for privacy and integrity. The new smart locks are Bluetooth and Wi-Fi compatible, but they have a greater range, consume less power, and have tougher security measures, which may confuse non-technical individuals.

Smart locks safeguard your valuables with a cryptographic key code instead of physical keys. “Geofencing” your home may automatically open the door when you approach. You want a smart lock but don’t know which one to choose. Let’s discuss smart lock buying priorities.

• Convenience

The most common types of smart locks are Wi-Fi-enabled and Bluetooth-enabled. Bluetooth systems are easier to hack and require you to be near the smart lock to utilize them. Wi-Fi networks increase security and accessibility but demand more energy and a constant internet connection. Home automation systems provide better security, lower power use, and remote access. You may need a smart home hub to monitor and manage the lock from your phone.

• Have Self-Assurance and Unwind

As we go toward the Internet of Things, more and more of our gadgets will be synced with our mobile phones. Because of this, it’s important that the gadgets you add work with the ones you already have so you don’t have to replace them soon.

• Security

The alarm is a crucial part of any home security system since it not only warns you of a break-in but also serves as a deterrent. You’ll need to buy a separate alarm system since smart locks won’t come with one already installed.

However, if your door is opened while no one is around, certain smart locks may notify you immediately through a push notification. You may look into the situation from the convenience of your smartphone if you have access to live video from inside or outside your door, as with a smart doorbell camera.

• Safety Improvements

You may convert your deadbolt or replace its internal mechanism with a smart lock. The second option lets you keep your key for outside entry and use your smartphone to open the door. Key loss, theft, and lock picking will still be a concern, and your “semi-conversion” options will be limited.

When you replace your door, you may add an exterior keypad to allow guests in without a fob or smartphone.

The benefits of a smart lock

One emerging technology that is seeing increasing use in smart homes is the installation of smart door locks. You need smart door locks if you’re often misplacing your house key, want an extra layer of protection, want your children to have access to the house even when you’re not there, or want the convenience of letting visitors in from afar. The addition of a smart door lock is a great enhancement to any smart home, and here’s why:

• A Practical Technique for Remote Controlled Administration

Some smart door locks let you check your phone to see whether you locked them. Smart locks provide mobile access and administration of your property. For maximum security, it is recommended that you maintain your current lock hardware in place throughout the installation. Many smart-lock systems are user-friendly, even for those who struggle with technology, by providing a place for a key.

• Observe the entrances and exits of those within and without

Smart locks may notify you when doors are opened or closed and let you give guests passcodes. A smart doorbell camera connected to your lock lets you see who’s at your door without leaving your computer. The option to use a unique password will be helpful for kids, guests, in-home deliveries, and people who rent homes for the holidays.

• Strengthened safety and security

The installation of a smart door lock increases the safety of your house. Do you still keep a spare key in a flowerpot on the front porch or beneath the doormat? No more losing or forgetting home keys or hiding spares. By not letting you make copies of your keys, smart locks cut down on the number of ways someone could get into your home.

• Automation for Smart Home Appliance Management

One of the most important components of a home automation system is a smart lock. Whether locked or unlocked, the state may send signals to other gadgets. You can set the smart lock to do things like turn on the hallway lights and adjust the temperature when you open the door.

The smart lock you choose can communicate with your other home automation devices through Bluetooth, Zigbee, Z-Wave, or Wi-Fi. Because Bluetooth smart locks have a range of just approximately 300 feet, you can only use them inside your home’s immediate vicinity. In the meantime, alternative technologies allow use everywhere an Internet connection is available, but at the expense of a faster rate of battery depletion.

• A smartphone showcasing a smart lock application

You may find a variety of smart door locks to choose from to meet the requirements of your house. We have a wide variety of smart locks to choose from if you’re interested in the added safety and convenience they provide. Get in touch if you have any questions regarding the goods and services we provide.

10 best smart locks for apartment buildings

To function, smart locks combine many kinds of technology. Some of them connect over Bluetooth, while others use WiFi or cellular data. The locking mechanism is the most crucial aspect of a smart lock. Typically, this is a software-operated electronic locking mechanism.

Smart locks require the user to input a code into a keypad before granting access. It is possible to open the door after entering the correct code into the lock. Fingerprint scanners and other biometric sensors are available on certain modern smart locks. If you forget your lock’s code or lose your keys, you can often reset it using your smartphone or similar internet-enabled device. Listed below are the top 10 most reliable electronic locks:

1. Schlage Encode Smart Wi-Fi Deadbolt

Like many other locks on the market and discussed here, Schlage’s Encode Smart Deadbolt provides convenient smart features. The American National Standards Institute has awarded it the highest possible grade for locks (Grade 1), making it stand out from the crowd. As a mechanical quality grade, Grade 1 necessitates that a lock be able to endure 250,000 cycles and 10 hammer hits to the door. Looking at the lock, it’s easy to see why it has such a high-security rating: it has two separate metal housings, one for the inside and one for the outer mechanisms. The deadbolt on a mechanical lock is similarly concealed by an extended metal cylinder.

Simply put, it’s sturdy, which gave us peace of mind while we set it up. Putting it in place is a breeze and needs just one screwdriver (though an impact driver would have helped us speed things along). Installing the Encode into a newly hung door that has already been drilled for a deadbolt will take about the same amount of time as swapping out an old lock.

Setup, monitoring, and administration of the “smart” features are all a snap thanks to the Schlage Home app, which is necessary for setup. After the initial Bluetooth setup, the Encode may connect directly to a Wi-Fi network in a house without the need for any additional access points. At this stage, all settings may be managed directly from the app.

The features of the Schlage Home app are:

• • Supervise a network of Schlage smart locks ia single or numerous dwellings.

• • Determine whether the lock is locked.

• • Carrying out the necessary locking and unlocking

• • Include notification

• • To control access, establish a system of codes or digital keys.

• • Restriction may be permanent, periodic, or temporary.

• • Examine past actions

• • Tweak things like the auto-lock settings.

• • Key Access Through Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Other Devices

Through the Key by Amazon app, the Encode is also compatible with Ring security systems. It also works with Google Home. If you’re in the market for a smart lock that offers cutting-edge ease in addition to top-notch physical protection, look no further than Schlage’s Encode.

2. August Wi-Fi Smart Lock

August’s Wi-Fi Smart Lock might be another good choice since it is unobtrusive, uses WiFi, and is simple to set up. The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock is one of the few available smart locks that simply need rekeying the apartment side of the deadbolt. If your renters so desire, they may continue to use their existing keys.

Automatic locking and unlocking by Wi-Fi or Bluetooth are made possible by the smart lock’s included sensor, which detects when the door is closed. Your door may be locked or unlocked automatically by August when you close it or go close to it, respectively. The program also allows you to generate virtual keys for temporary use.

August features added to the application

• • Manipulate a residence filled with August smart locks with ease.

• • Examine whether the door is open or closed, and if the locks are locked or unlocked.

• • Carrying out the necessary locking and unlocking

• • Include notification

• • Provide access to visitors and serve as their host.

• • Restriction may be permanent, periodic, or temporary.

• • Examine past actions

• • Configure locking options, such as automatic locking and unlocking.

• • Connect to online hubs for managing smart homes.

In a nutshell, the Smart Lock Pro with Connect is a great option for any house or apartment. Its software is user-friendly, and it’s compatible with a wide variety of devices, both analog and digital.

3. SwitchBot Lock

With SwitchBot, you can easily integrate smart devices into your home. The SwitchBot line of products may simplify your transition into the world of smart home gadgets, from motorized curtain openers to fully hands-free lighting and security systems. The SwitchBot remote’s app may be programmed to call the button pusher, which will then activate the switch or power source that the button pusher is connected to.

The Thermometer and Hygrometer meter is an unobtrusive instrument for measuring and displaying environmental conditions. When the threshold is reached, the SwitchBot smart button pusher may be configured to switch on additional devices via smartphone. SwitchBots are replaceable pieces for building any home automation system.

SwitchBot offers a variety of smart home products that work with popular voice assistants like Alexa, Siri, and Google Home.

Key Features

• • Instruments for home automation

• • Existing light switches and electronics can be maintained.

• • Conveniently simple setup and configuration

• • Compatibility with existing equipment

• • Direction from a single point

• • Using voice-activated devices for conversation

The item and a variety of extras are included in each box. The SwitchBot smart button pusher (retail price: $29) comes with the gadget, an instruction booklet, an extra sticky pad, and two more pads.

The SwitchBot one-touch remote control retails for $19 and comes with the remote, an instruction booklet, and an adhesive pad. Only the SwitchBot Thermometer and Hygrometer meter came without mounting adhesive pads since it was designed to be hung on the wall.

4. Nest X Yale Lock with Nest Connect

The lock has to be installed when you first acquire it, but it shouldn’t be too difficult. After installing the Nest app from the App Store or Google Play, you’ll go into your account’s settings, then choose “Add product,” search for the Nest x Yale lock, and follow the on-screen prompts. To make installing the lock even less of a hassle, Nest has included an installation video. Installation shouldn’t take more than 15 to 30 minutes, but this depends on how skilled you are.

The Nest by Yale lock is similar to other smart locks in that it has an outside keypad that may be used to open the door without the need for a key. You’ll be able to purchase the Nest Yale lock with or without the Nest Connect. It’s worth the additional $30 since it connects your lock to the internet, letting you lock and unlock your house as well as set up access codes from anywhere in the world through the web. That way, if a repairman, like an electrician, wants to go in quickly, you can give them access from the office and then take it away after they’re done. Notable features include:

Key Features

• • Fast and simple entry without the need for a key

• • safe and unchangeable.

• • Uncomplicated Installation.

• • Distance Gained Access

• • uses the Hey Google2 system.

• • easy-to-use auto-lock system.

There is some unnecessary weight on the interior of the Nest by Yale lock, although it is more compact than, say, the Schlage Sense. Not a huge deal considering how nice it still is and how well it complements most homes’ decor.The Nest x Yale lock, in general, is simple to install and well-made. As an added bonus, it comes in many different finishes, including satin nickel, oil-rubbed bronze, and polished brass, so it may complement a wide variety of decors.

5. Halo WiFi-Enabled Smart Door Lock

The Halo Wi-Fi Smart Lock ($229) joins Kwikset’s wireless door locks. You may lock and open the door using a touchscreen panel code, voice commands using Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, a smartphone app, or a physical key. It features Bluetooth and Wi-Fi radios and is easy to set up, but it lacks the third-party connectivity of our top selection, the $250 August Wi-Fi Smart Lock.

Key features of the Halo locking system

• • The Halo Locking System covers standard doors from 1-3/8 to 2 inches thick.

• • Escutcheons for both sides of the door, a latch and strike, two keys, four AA batteries, and mounting hardware are supplied.

• • modern, four-color outer escutcheon (Matte Black, Polished Chrome, Satin Nickel, or Venetian Bronze).

• • It contains a 2.5-by-2.7-inch touch screen and a keyway for unlocking your door with the included keys.

Kwikset’s Android and iOS apps let you control Halo. When you press the symbol, you’ll go to “My Home,” where you’ll see panels for each lock you’ve installed, showing its name, connection, and battery status. The screen’s green lock/unlock button becomes red when locked. The footer has “People,” “History,” and “Settings” sections. Tap the People button to add up to 250 users and give them full-time or limited access. Time and day limits and 24-hour codes are available. SMS, email, and Facebook may spread codes.

6. Schlage Connect Smart Deadbolt

Many of the locks we’ve reviewed, including Schlage’s Smart Deadbolt, have comparable capabilities. Where it diverges is in the fact that the American National Standards Institute has awarded it its highest grade for locks: Grade 1. The mechanical quality certification of Grade 1 requires that a lock be able to endure 250,000 cycles and 10 hammer blows to the door.

When you take a look at the lock, it’s easy to see why it has such a high-security rating: it has two separate metal housings, one for the inside and one for the outer mechanisms. In the same way, the deadbolt is concealed by an extended metal piece on the mechanical lock cylinder. Simply put, it’s sturdy, and that gave us a lot of peace of mind while we put it in place. When it comes to setting up, you simply need a single screwdriver (though an impact driver would have helped us speed things along).

Replacement of an existing deadbolt or installation of the Encode in a newly hung door with a pre-existing lock hole will take around the same amount of time, about 10 to 15 minutes.Easy installation, maintenance, and administration of the lock’s “smart” features are all made possible by the slick and straightforward Schlage Home software needed for setup. Initially, the Encode connects through Bluetooth, but after it’s up and running, it can link directly to a Wi-Fi network in the house without the need for any additional access points. At this stage, all features may be controlled directly from the mobile app.

Features of the Schlage Home app:

• • Control the smart locks on one house or several.

• • View the locked or open state of the lock.

• • Shut and open the door.

• • Determine notifications

• • Codes or digital keys may be created to provide access.

• • Indicate whether access should be permanent, intermittent, or temporary.

• • Check out the history of actions

• • Customize features like automatic locking.

• • Key Access Via Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and More

In addition to working with Google Home and the Key by Amazon app, the Encode is also compatible with Ring security systems. If you’re in the market for a smart lock that offers cutting-edge ease in addition to top-notch physical protection, look no further than Schlage’s Encode.

7. Obsidian Keywayless Electronic Touchscreen Smart Deadbolt

The Obsidian, named for its black keyboard that resembles volcanic rock, comes in two colors. The $180 touchscreen deadbolt operates alone. The $229 Home Connect version includes Z-Wave Plus, which certifies the latest 500-series platform with greater wireless range, over-the-air firmware updates, and wireless encryption.

The Obsidian in both its traditional and Z-Wave guises passed my testing. Here, the touchscreen keypad takes center stage; it’s very similar to the keypad on the Kwikset Premis model we examined last year. The Obsidian’s cap holds four AA batteries, like other smart locks. If your batteries die, the lock’s bottom has 9-volt restart nodes.

Features obsidian keywayless electronic touchscreen

• • Smooth, glass-like finish and a minimal, stylish form factor.

• • It’s more convenient than ever to not have to carry keys to your house thanks to keyless entry systems.

• • The door may be locked with the press of a single button.

• • The cutting-edge touchscreen displays your current screen instantly and lets you enter your user code in a flash.

Kwikset offers comprehensive guidelines on how to measure, in addition to a wide variety of fixings. After installing both halves of the lock, the Obsidian calibrates itself and is ready to pair with your smart home hub.

8. Lockly Secure Smart Locks

Lockly Secure offers three different levels of smart locks: Standard, Plus, and Pro. Each series has both deadbolts and latches. Furthermore, Bluetooth connectivity is available on all three platforms. If you’re looking for the most basic and reasonably priced option, choose the Standard range. In addition to the features included in the Standard model, the Plus model has a fingerprint sensor that is conveniently located on the device’s side. It has a fingerprint sensor and an internal database that can each hold up to 99 fingerprints.

Finally, WiFi, Bluetooth, and a fingerprint sensor are all available on Pro models. When you buy a Lockly Secure Pro lock, you also get the company’s WiFi hub for free. With the WiFi hub, you can connect your Lockly smart locks to your home’s existing network and control them remotely. You’ll have more say over the whole setup and access to new features with this upgrade. You may even use your voice to unlock and lock your WiFi smart lock’s doors. At the end of the day, there isn’t much difference between the three different brands of smart locks.

Key Features of Lockly Secure Smart Locks

• • Satin nickel, Venetian bronze, and matte black are the available coatings.

• • Choice between a latch and a deadbolt.

• • All locks in the Secure series are equipped with Bluetooth connection as standard.

• • Lockly Secure Plus and Pro have a fingerprint reader.

• • Pro locks have WiFi connection.

• • Donate electronic keys and temporary passcodes

• • To deliver access codes remotely without an active internet connection, customers may take use of the Offline Access CodeTM function.

• • Padlocking the keyboard

• • Custom-built mobile program

9. August Smart Lock + Connect

We’ve loved August’s smart locks since 2014. The August Smart Lock Pro received the Editors’ Choice in our most recent review because of its extensive device compatibility, easy setup, and sleek appearance. The August Wi-Fi smart lock, the newest and smallest, costs $249.99. Like its predecessors, it’s compatible with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, and many other third-party platforms and devices, making it our latest Editor’s Choice for smart locks. The back has the reset button and two wing latches for installing the lock. Wi-Fi lets this August lock connect to your home network without a bridge, unlike previous versions. Two CR123 batteries (included) power the lock. Replace them every three months.

Key Features

The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock is like other August locks in that it replaces the thumb turn mechanism on the inside of the door but otherwise works with your current lock and keys. It’s the same puck form as its predecessors, but much smaller at 2.8 by 1.8 inches (HD).

The lock is available in either black or silver matte and has a textured grip around the perimeter as well as a magnetic faceplate that serves as a status indicator and can be removed for cleaning. You can unlock it by turning the lock to the left and lock it by turning it to the right.

10. Wyze Lock

If you’re looking for a smart home lock at a reasonable price, look no further than the Wyze Lock. It’s approximately half the price of our top selection and another fantastic option; however, it has solid and accurate hardware, a novel built-in door sensor, and a compact Wi-Fi adaptor.

The Wyze Lock attaches to your existing lock’s keyway and conceals its electronic components within the deadbolt’s housing, a tiny metal mechanism actuated by a thumb turn. For auto-unlock to work when you reach home, you’ll need to utilize the app or geofencing. If the lock doesn’t recognize you, security is compromised. Since Wyze’s keypad requires batteries and wireless connectivity, we recommend one of our other smart locks for everyday usage. In our long-term testing, the Wyze Lock’s two- to three-month battery life is a huge downside, even though the app warns you. The Wyze Lock may be perfect if you need remote access to a lock occasionally or want to go keyless.

Features worthy of mention:

• • The Wyze app enables global remote access.

• • compatible with the Alexa Voice Service from Amazon

• • The door auto-locks and unlocks as you approach.

• • adds new functionality to your current deadbolt.

• • Simple and speedy setup

• • It assists you in determining whether your door is open or closed.

• • compatible with AA batteries

• • Keypad Accessory Available