Smart locks are a great way to modernize your home. Not only do they look sleek and futuristic, but they come with a suite of awesome features – such as keyless entry, remote access, and the ability to set up profiles for each member of your family. The best smart locks of 2023 offer all these features (and then some), giving you full control of your front door.
However, not all smart locks are worthy of your time and money. Installing smart locks is pretty easy regardless of which brand you buy, but some models simply aren’t as smart as others. To make matters more complex, there are now dozens of smart locks on store shelves from big brands such as Yale, Wyze, August, Schlage, and other reputable manufacturers – so figuring out which is the best for your smart home isn’t an easy task.
Smart locks also come in two footprints. Some are full deadbolt replacements, while others are deadbolt adapters that simply fit on top of your existing setup. But whatever your needs or budget, there’s a smart lock with your name on it.
Here’s a look at the best smart locks of 2023.
August Wi-Fi Smart Lock
The best smart lock
- Doesn't need a bridge
- Easy to install
- Auto unlock and lock feature
- Sturdy build
- Batteries aren't rechargable
- Sticks out from the door
The fourth-generation August Smart Lock breaks free from the bonds of its predecessors’ need for a bridge to operate remotely. Thanks to its built-in Wi-Fi connection, the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock connects to your home’s wireless network without the need for a bridge or other additional hardware.
Beyond that, it’s one of the simplest smart locks to install and set up. Plus, it’s able to retain your existing lock — so you don’t need new keys. What’s impressive is that the company adds in the Wi-Fi connection, while shrinking the overall size of the lock. It is 45% smaller in volume and 20% slimmer, making it a sleek little lock, and comes in either silver or matte black plastic.
In addition to using the app to remotely operate the lock, the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock supports Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple’s Siri. Meaning that it integrates nicely with just about any smart home platform. There are also some advanced features that make it a premier offering, like virtual keys that work on a set schedule, and automatic lock/unlock as you approach or leave your home. Read our in-depth August Wi-Fi Smart Lock review.
Level Touch
The best smart lock for Apple Homekit
- Minimalist design
- Simple installation
- Convenient touch unlock
- Programmable NFC keycards used as backup
- Pricey cost
- Touch unlock won't work unless you leave home boundary
There are very few smart locks that support Apple’s HomeKit. However, the best one for Apple’s smart home platform is none other than the Level Lock Touch.
First, it sports an unconventional design for a smart lock. There are no bulky keypads, nor is there an equally bulky component that goes over the deadbolt on the inside of the door. Instead, the Level Lock Touch looks like an ordinary lock — one that retains the appearance and styling of a traditional lock. What’s also neat about the smart lock is that you can interact with the Level Lock Touch by either tapping on the keyhole housing or using the included NFC-equipped keycards for opening and locking the lock.
Once it’s connected to HomeKit, you can ask Siri on your iOS device or HomePod speaker to unlock the door. It will also unlock itself automatically because it leverages GPS on your iPhone to set up a geofence around your home. All of these features make the Level Lock Touch the best lock for HomeKit. Read our in-depth Level Lock Touch review.
Schlage Encode Plus
The best smart lock for Alexa
- Works with Apple Home Key
- Easy installation
- Reliable
- Many features inaccessible via HomeKit
Schlage has been around for quite some time — long before there was such a thing as a smart lock. But Schlage has now evolved into one of the best smart lock makers in the biz. The Schlage Encode Plus isn’t just a beautiful piece of hardware, it’s also a device that works well with Alexa, as well as a wide range of other third-party applications, including Amazon’s Cloud Cam, Key by Amazon, and Ring security products. You can also use it with the Schlage Home app.
Lockly Vision Elite
The best smart lock for Airbnb
- Fingerprint sensor
- Good battery life bolstered by solar panel
- Wide-angle camera
- Expensive
- Subpar night vision
Lockly already had a phenomenal offering with the Vision, but its follow-up model takes it one step further. The Lockly Vision Elite has everything that Airbnb hosts crave — from its ability to unlock via fingerprint, pin code, or even through a phone, there are plenty of options.
Guests that do plan on staying at your home or Airbnb residence can be given temporary key codes that they can punch into the touchscreen keypad when they arrive, which can also be made time-sensitive for additional security. Once their stay is complete, you can have another set of codes for the next guest.
Everything is tracked by the app, which can tell you the method that was used to unlock the lock — including if it’s the old fashion way with a key! What makes the Lockly Vision Elite even more appealing is its integrated video camera, which allows it to act a lot like a video doorbell camera. An integrated solar panel helps keep the lithium-ion batteries charged for the long haul, too.
Wyze Lock
The best smart lock for DIY install
- Inexpensive
- Intuitive app
- Easy to install
- Easy to use
- You can't limit digital key access
- The app is a bit slow
There’s nothing better than quick and painless. Wyze’s entire suite of smart home products — from lightbulbs to cameras — is designed for the DIY weekend warrior … and the Wyze Lock is no exception. Setup is just a matter of retrofitting your existing deadbolt. The Wyze hardware pops right onto the inside thumb latch, and installation necessitates nothing more than a screwdriver and working Wi-Fi.
With the Wyze app, you can lock and unlock the door from pretty much anywhere. For those not looking to whip their phone out every time they return home, there’s Auto Lock/Unlock. Once configured, the Wyze Lock detects your phone when you’re approaching the door, unlocking it so you can step in and then locking it behind you once you’re inside. We also love the Simple Sharing function, which lets you grant guests access to your home and log their entries and exits.
The Wyze Lock is now compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant, which means you can lock and unlock your door from the comfort of your couch. Assistant control is also great for those of us who would rather do our on-the-go unlocking with the Alexa or Google Home app. Read our in-depth Wyze Lock review.
Level Lock
The best designed smart lock
- Gorgeous aesthetics
- Straightforward installation
- Better priced in Level's lineup
- Can't adjust geofencing settings
Level is on a roll. After releasing its previous two smart locks, the Level Lock Bolt Edition and Touch Edition, its latest model sits right in the middle of the lineup. The Level Lock follows a similar minimalist design to its siblings while offering the same core features you’d expect in any smart lock. Unlike most smart locks, the Level Lock doesn’t have any clunky keypads for all to see — nor does it have a chunky deadbolt attached on the inside. Instead, the Level Lock looks like an ordinary door lock.
This design philosophy is at the heart of every lock from Level, so it manages to maintain the décor and appearance of your door. Beyond the contemporary design, the Level Lock features geofencing for auto-unlock, temporary passes to let guests access the lock, and even an auto-lock feature if you happen to forget to lock the door behind you.
Best of all, its price is much more accessible than the Level Lock Touch Edition. If you want an invisible smart lock, the Level Lock is no doubt the only one on the market to achieve this. Read our in-depth Level Lock review.
Kwikset Halo Touch
The best smart lock for fingerprint access
- Simple installation
- Works every time
- Stores up to 100 fingerprints/50 users
- Durable
- Limited notifications
- Might be a little too security conscious
Simplicity is a core fundamental quality for any gadget, but for a smart lock, nothing’s more aggravating than wasting time on unlocking it. That’s why the Kwikset Halo Touch is here to save you from that particular hassle. All you really need to unlock it is just a slight touch of your finger against its fingerprint sensor — much like what you get in today’s smartphones.
What’s impressive is that it’s spot on every time, ensuring that users have proper authorization. Some smart locks offer features like auto-unlock that will unlock the deadbolt as you approach, but they can fail. Kwikset’s Halo Touch works every time.
The Kwikset Halo Touch is still very much advanced, offering useful features such as auto-unlock, storage for up to 100 fingerprints, and a durable design. Read our in-depth Kwikset Halo Touch review.
Yale Assure Lock 2
The best-looking smart lock
- Robust smartphone app
- Multiple available designs
- Gorgeous touchscreen
- Highly customizable performance
- Expensive
- Entry-level models lack important functionality
Yale knows how to make a great lock, and the Assure Lock 2 proves it. Available in a wide variety of formats (including lockless and touchscreen), there are plenty of ways to customize this unique device.
One of the best formats includes a module that lets you access the door remotely, giving you peace of mind that you locked up before leaving for work. You can also create temporary passwords for guests, check out the activity history to see when it was last opened, or remotely open the door for a friend who is locked out.
But most importantly, it looks stunning – with premium materials and a slim design offering a decidedly modern aesthetic. It's also one of the few smart locks with a flash red variant, as the Yale x Pantone model in Viva Magenta brings a maximalist flair to your front door.
Lockly Flex Touch
- Quick and easy installation
- Responsive fingerprint scanner
- Multiple ways to lock/unlock
- Simple but efficient app
- Bulky interior design
- No rechargeable battery
- Requires Wi-Fi adapter for mobile features
If you’re a fan of smart locks but wish they had a more traditional appearance, consider taking a closer look at the Lockly Flex Touch. This smart home gadget forgoes the large touchscreen pads found on most smart locks, and instead uses a small fingerprint sensor to let you quickly and securely open (or lock) your front door.
You can also access the lock via Bluetooth using a smartphone app, which lets you track its history or set up unique user profiles for each member of your home.
Toss in support for traditional keys and the ability to power the unit with a 9V battery if it dies while you’re on vacation, and there’s a good chance the Lockly Flex Touch is a great fit for your home.
Frequently Asked Questions
A traditional lock typically contains internal pins. When you insert the proper key, it puts the exact right amount of pressure on each pin until the lock opens. Smart locks are electronic, and they work using a keypad, touchpad, or other means.
This depends on the smart lock you purchase and your DIY skills. Some locks, like the August Smart Lock, retrofit over your existing deadbolt. This makes them incredibly easy to install and only takes about 10 minutes. Other locks require a bit more effort.
Smart locks typically have a corresponding app, which is compatible with Alexa, HomeKit, or one of the other voice assistants. This allows you to use voice commands like, “Alexa, lock the door,” or “Alexa, is my door locked?” To find out specific voice assistant compatibility, visit the manufacturer’s website.
As with any Wi-Fi-connected device, there’s always a small risk the device will be hacked if the user doesn’t take steps to protect themselves. However, there’s also a risk that someone can breach or pick a regular (non-smart) door lock.
Some smart locks work with a key and some don’t. Smart locks typically allow you to remotely control your lock via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or Z-wave. So, you can operate the lock without a key, and perhaps even when you’re away from your home.
Some smart locks, like the August Smart Lock, have geofencing. If you set up the geofencing feature, it can detect when you’re nearby and unlock the door when you approach.
A smart lock can help you to prevent or grant access to your home, and it acts as a barrier to entry. However, few smart locks (few good ones at least) have cameras, and a smart lock doesn’t provide the same features as a video doorbell, which acts as a sort of digital doorman.
If you want to use your compatible smart lock with Alexa or Google Assistant, you typically just need any Amazon Echo or Google Home speaker. You shouldn’t require a smart home Hub with most locks.
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