With so many different options available on the market, choosing the right one for your home can be an overwhelming process. This guide will review what features you should consider when shopping for the best smart lock while reviewing some of the top models on the market.
I used a variety of criteria to review more than 15 different smart locks for this guide. Connectivity was key, so I only chose locks that are able to connect to your home network in a variety of ways, including WiFi, Bluetooth, or via a smart home bridge or hub. Today’s smart locks should also work with a home’s network, so I only chose models that support voice activation with Google Home, Amazon Alexa, and Apple Homekit.
I also favored front door locks with useful additional features, such as auto unlocking and locking and geofencing, which automatically locks the door when you leave the home’s perimeter. The locks I chose also have robust apps that allow you to schedule and control access for friends, family, contractors, and housekeepers while recording a viewable log of who comes and goes. Finally, since smart locks require installation, I stuck with models that homeowners with minimal skills and tools could capably install in under an hour.
Easy installation coupled with an affordable price makes August Lock the top choice when it comes to automating the lock on the front door of a home. Instead of replacing an existing lock, the August fits over most existing deadbolt lock switches, eliminating the need to trade out the old deadbolt.
While there was little for August to improve upon with the most recent version of its smart lock, improve it has. One gripe from the previous iteration of the Smart Lock was its lack of WiFi support. This fourth generation of the August door lock has an integrated WiFi radio, so unlike earlier versions of the August, it doesn’t require a bridge to connect to your home’s network. The August also supports Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple Homekit and a whole host of other devices and platforms.
The August, once a bulbous mass on the door, has gotten smaller with each new version and this one is the most compact yet at nearly half the size of the third generation model. This version also adds cool auto locking and unlocking features. It will automatically lock the lock after a certain amount of time or automatically unlock it as you arrive home. If there is something to gripe about with the August, it’s its battery life. The two CR123 batteries that power it last just three months.
With most front door locks costing upwards of $200 or more, at $130, this door lock from Wyze represents one of the more affordable ways to add a smart door lock to your home. Similar to the August smart door lock, the Wyze includes a unit that fits over the interior part of your existing deadbolt lock, though it’s notably larger at 2.5 inch by 2 inches by 5 inches.
The smart lock connects to a bridge that plugs into an outlet near the front door and works with Alexa and Google Assistant. It includes features similar to other smart door locks, including a setting that will unlock the door when your smartphone is in close proximity and an auto lock feature that prevents the door from accidentally being left unlocked. The Wyze app allows you to schedule and share access with friends, family members, and maintenance workers and view a log of who comes and goes.
As if being able to lock and unlock your door remotely via an app or even with voice commands wasn’t enough, the Ultraloq adds spy thriller security to your with fingerprint recognition. The lock looks similar to the previous version of the Ultraloq, only it includes a programmable fingerprint sensor in the middle that uses fingerprint ID to unlock the lock. Keeping the theme of futuristic technology, the lock and fingerprint reader are backlit with green light.
In addition to using your fingerprint, you can also punch in a code on the 10-digit keypad or unlock the lock via an app on a smart device. And, the lock will also auto lock after a certain period of time or auto unlock if your phone is in close proximity. If all else fails, there’s a mechanical key lock override.
The Ultraloq lock works with most platforms, including IFTTT, Google Assistant, and Alexa and has built-in WiFi that allows you to operate it from anywhere in the world via an app. Similar to other smart locks, you can program numerous codes and set them to work only at specific times, such as when the housekeeper or repair guy is scheduled to work in your home.
