5 Best Smart Lock (2025), Tested and reviewed
The best smart locks can help anyone who constantly move the keys or is constantly wondering if they have locked the front door. I am in the second camp. After years of apartments, I have recently moved to a large house that checking if the door is locked can be like a hard work, especially once I am all in bed.
Installing a smart lock does not mean discarding your home keys – you probably still want to accompany them. These locks are all about convenience, and provides different methods of login, such as a keyboard passage, fingerprint scan, or through a program. You can easily share the codes with friends and family, so you do not need to be noise with the CRAPPY key versions, and you can usually adjust them for automatic lock when closing the door. But there are many models there, and not everyone works with your door. Don’t worry, I’ve been testing smart locks for nearly a year and I have a lot of advice in this guide. Most people will be happy with our top selection, Yale’s approach lock, but we have different options – even the sliding door lock.
For more home recommendations, our best video doors, the best outdoor security cameras, the best interior security cameras and the best robot vacuum guides.
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Before purchasing smart lock
Here are some of the pre -purchase checkpoints.
How thick is your door? Yes, you have to measure how thick your front door is. If it is close or more than 2 inches thick, you may need some kind of expansion kit, such as the thick Ultraraloq door kit for the company’s smart locks, designed for doors between 1.75 and 2.5 inches. My door is thicker on the side and while I can install most locks like Visage Lockly and Aqara U50, no problem, the lock from Kwikset needed a expansion kit. When you know the size of your door, you can check it against your choice to see if this will be appropriate and if you need expansion tools. You don’t want to just start to find out that you have to order something extra.
Do you need a bridge or pole? Some locks, like those of Yale, have a separate Wi-Fi bridge that need to be connected nearby. Companies like Aqara and Abode have poles that you need to adjust to get more features. But some models do not need a ball or bridge at all. If there is something you need, check twice and if you need to be attached close to your door. Are the outputs easily available?
Can you turn off all your locks? If you are home, buy what (possibly) any of these locks without the need for worries. But renters or people who have an accurate set of homeowners’ rules may find that they cannot change their lock freely. Depending on your freedom, there are both complete lock replacements that replace the entire front door lock and replace the reinforcement locks, which only replace the back. If you do not want new keys or do not want to change your landlord, it’s great.
The tools you want to install
Your specific selection lock may meet more, but for each installed lock, I use myself using:
- A measure of measuring
- A Philips screwdriver
- A detailed screwdriver kit
- A gallon ziplock bag (to put my old lock pieces)
Most locks do not recommend using a power drill from the risk of damaging the lock. If you already have a screwdriver, the instrument kit may look stupid, but many of these locks use fine screws that are much easier to control with a instrument kit.
If the batteries are included, check two to get ready after installation.
In general the best smart lock
Yale’s lock may seem to be a complete lock alternative, but it is a reinforced design that only changes the back of the dead screw of your thumb. This means that your existing keys will still work and everyone outside your home has no idea of being smart. This is ideal for renters, but it is also good for anyone who doesn’t want to turn off their lock and replacement keys. All of this also meant fast and easy installation – the hardest part is to keep your existing lock from falling to the ground while replacing the back, but it only takes a few minutes.
As the name implies, the Yale approach lock (10/8 recommends a wire) can feel when you approach you. Use your phone location to do this, and inside the app, you put a small range to determine what is counted when you enter the house. I have a patio and a small staircase between my door and car, so I made a larger range that could feel me as soon as the stairs are hit. It was better than putting the domain in the center of my house, because it would not get me as I was in it until I was there at the moment.
Photo: Nana Farrell
Yale’s mother company, Assa Abloy, gained the Smart-Lock lock brand in August 2017, and if you used August Lock, the Wi-Fi Bridge will include it. This bridge connects to the smart lock via Bluetooth, so it must be attached to your door. This is what connects the lock for remote lock performance (plus other features) to Wi-Fi. The whole settings are almost similar to how the August locks work in the past, although I like the design of Yale’s approach better than the August Wi-Fi Silver Cylinder.
You can select a keyboard for this approach and there are two different styles to choose from. The main keyboard package contains Yale’s numeric keyboard, but the biometric Kilipad software package has a numeric keyboard and a fingerprint scanner. I recommend upgrading to the fingerprint reader – it is very convenient and fast. Just one touch and your door has been opened. You can also buy the lock without a keyboard ($ 130) if you have no place to put it, but the keyboard is also a great smart lock so you can provide guest and temporary codes, and also allow you to log in without your key or phone.
Best Smart Lock with Biometrics
If you thought that the fingerprint reader looks useful in Yale’s approach, then let me introduce you to Visage Lockly (10/10, the wire). Visage not only has a fingerprint reader, but also has internal sensors to detect your face to open the door when climbing. True, this lock can see you.
When installing this lock, I recommend moving quickly when you reach the battery step. Don’t put the rechargeable battery in the box until you have loaded the program (keep this safe), and you are ready to complete the in -app adjustment steps, especially the Visage ID cognitive technology. The battery activates a Bluetooth signal that lived in my test only for a few minutes and you have to enter the code and complete the steps at the time. Reboot it is repeatedly disappointing, but it is possible. Lockly says it has been updated to fix this short -term Bluetooth, but I’m still going to be ready after putting the battery.
Photo: Nana Farrell
After launching, I had zero -connecting problems and happy how fast this lock can detect my face when he climb (even with bright sunglasses!) Or how fast it could read my fingerprint. Visage uses infrared sensors (IR) and a camera to see who is approaching and who is. The sensors in this lock have both live body detection and face recognition, so it is not deceived by images. Infrared sensors have about 2.6 feet and I realized that I feel accurate in my tests. The company promises that no photo is captured, and live face tracking data is encrypted and stored in the device. It is good to have both face and fingerprint options, so your family members can choose whatever they prefer. There is also a keyboard and a conventional mechanical key with two keys.
Visage Zeno uses Lockly Home (iOS, Android), the latest Lockly app. Works in particular with the Zeno line. There is another lock app that will work with this lock, but it doesn’t look good. Inside the app, you can easily create code for guests, customize notifications, and adjust preferences, such as automatically locking your door after a specified period of time.
A door sensor also sticks to your door underneath and the second part is on the door to feel if the door is closed. You can also customize the notifications around it, and this is a good additive, although the whole system is not the most attractive in the door itself-it is slightly disrupted.
