Image: Rob Schultz
Smart entry locks are the biggest improvement to home security since the lock-and-key system was invented more than a thousand years ago. In many cases, smart locks dispense with physical keys altogether in favor of PINs, fingerprints, NFC tags, smartphone apps–even your smartphone or smart watch. And with some of the latest models, you can even unlock your door with just your face! Smart locks deliver lots of other benefits, too.
They invariably have logging systems, so you can keep track of who’s coming and going–and when. That’s incredibly useful whether you have a teenager who tends to break curfew or merely want to give temporary access to houseguests, service providers, or Airbnb guests. Smart locks are an incredible upgrade over the old way of doing things, and these are our top picks in several categories.
Level Lock+ Connect – Best smart lock overall
Pros
- Understated industrial design that doesn’t scream “it’s a smart lock!”
- Supremely easy to install and set up
- Compatible with Alexa, Google Home, and Apple HomeKit (including Apple’s “home key” NFC tech
- Thread radio onboard for eventual Matter certification
Cons
- No biometric security
- Pricey
Price When Reviewed:
$349.00 (Level Lock+ and the Level Connect Wi-Fi bridge)
Best Prices Today:
$349
Level (this link is for the Level+ Connect)
$349
Who should buy the Level Lock+ Connect?
This smart lock is a great option for anyone, regardless of their smart home platform. Now bundled with the Level Connect Bluetooth-to-Wi-Fi bridge, the Level Lock+ Connect is fully compatible with all three of the major smart home platforms: Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit (including Apple’s “home key” NFC tech), and Google Home. Activating the Thread radio in the Level Lock+ Connect renders it compatible with Matter devices.
In addition to its compatibility, it’s a breeze to install simply by replacing your existing deadbolt, and requires just a Phillips screwdriver to accomplish. Its understated design is a big key to its appeal. It can function on its own, or be integrated into a broader smart home system.
It can be controlled locally via Bluetooth or over the internet. The ability to create one-time guest codes is particularly handy.
Level Lock+ Connect: Further considerations
The inclusion of the bridge erases the biggest cons we had for this minimalist lock that looks as good as it operates. It remains our highest-rated smart lock–there is nothing better on the market today.
Read our full
Level Lock+ (Level Connect bridge included) review
Kwikset Halo Select – Best mainstream smart lock
Pros
- Solid operation plus high-grade security certification from BHMA
- Wi-Fi built in, along with Matter over Thread
- Excellent geofencing system
Cons
- Buggy initial setup had to be fixed with a factory reset
- Matter connections remove some of the best features of the lock
- Expensive
Price When Reviewed:
$279
Best Prices Today:
$287
Who should buy the Kwikset Halo Select?
The Kwikset Halo Select strikes a good balance between the minimalism of our top pick in smart locks, the Level Lock+ Connect, and the ultra-sophisticated–and uber-expensive–Lockly Visage Pro. While it lacks a fingerprint reader and doesn’t support Apple Home Keys, it delivers lots of other features and it supports all the other smart home ecosystems, including Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Home, and Samsung SmartThings. It supports both Wi-Fi and Matter connections.
The Halo Select is straightforward to install, with the aid of a Kwikset app should you need it. Management of the lock is also straightforward, with operation of the lock happening via the app or a numeric pin of 4 to 8 digits. The Halo Select offers a generous 250 pin codes, which can be set as permanent, time-limited, or recurring based on time of day and day of week.
Kwikset Halo Select: Further considerations
You can integrate this attractive smart lock into your smart home system using either Wi-Fi or Matter over Thread, which will deliver much better battery life. While enabling the latter disables some of Kwikset’s own special features, the system you’re integrating it into can presumably provide equivalent functionality. We also appreciate that Kwikset made the effort to obtain BHMA certification for this lock, not all manufacturers do.
Read our full
Kwikset Halo Select Touchscreen Wi-Fi and Matter Enabled Smart Lock review
TP-Link Tapo DL100 – Best budget smart lock
Pros
- Wi-Fi connectivity
- Voice control via Alexa, Google Assistant, and SmartThings
- Customizable access codes for guests, deliveries, and more
- Excellent battery life, with emergency power backup
Cons
- No Fingerprint recognition
- No geofencing support
- Slight delay on remote unlocking
- Not Matter certified nor Apple HomeKit compatible
Price When Reviewed:
$69.99
Best Prices Today:
$59.99
Who should buy the Tapo DL100?
If you’re working with a tight budget and you can do without a fingerprint reader to gain admission to your home, the Tapo DL100 is a great and full-featured smart lock for not a lot of money—it’s less expensive than our favorite retrofit product.
It’s BHMA certified as an ANSI Grade 3 lock, the lowest of the three grades, but those ANSI grades are for commercial, as opposed to residential, locks.
This lock is outfitted with a numeric PIN pad and a conventional key cylinder, and it’s a Wi-Fi lock. That means you don’t need a bridge or hub to integrate it with your smart home. It’s compatible with Amazon Alexa, Google Home, SmartThings, and IFTTT. What’s missing? A fingerprint reader, Matter certification, and Apple Home support.
Tapo DL100: Further considerations
Tapo promises seven months of battery life from four AA batteries when connected to Wi-Fi (that rises to 10 months if you only use a Bluetooth connection), but there’s a USB-C on the bottom of the lock that will power it up if the batteries die while you’re out.
Read our full
TP-Link Tapo DL100 review
Level Bolt Connect – Best retrofit smart lock
Pros
- The champion of unobtrusive retrofit smart locks
- Very easy to set up and use
- Near flawless operation in daily use
Cons
- Geofencing didn’t work
- Minimal activity logging
- iPhone users will need a HomeKit hub for away-from-home control
- Android phone users will need an Amazon Sidewalk bridge in order to control the lock while away from home
Price When Reviewed:
$229
Best Prices Today:
$133
Level (This link is for the new Level Bolt Connect)
$219
Who should buy the Level Bolt Connect?
Now that it comes bundled with the Level Connect Bluetooth-to-Wi-Fi bridge, the Level Bolt Connect is compatible with all three of the major smart home ecosystems–Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, and Google Home–making it a great choice for those looking to retrofit their locks regardless of their smart home platform. Level has also activated the Level Bolt’s Thread radio, adding Matter support to its long list of features.
Level Home’s Level Bolt Connect is our favorite retrofit smart lock, thanks in large measure to its ability to disappear. The smart components of the Bolt hide inside your door, where they replace the interior mechanical elements of your existing deadbolt. You re-attach your existing interior and exterior components, so that your door’s overall aesthetic doesn’t change in the least.
Level Bolt Connect: Further considerations
You’ll need to purchase specific hardware based the length of your door’s backset.
Read our full
Level Bolt review
Lockly Visage Zeno Series Facial Recognition Deadbolt – Most sophisticated smart lock
Pros
- Facial recognition tech is a game-changer
- Supports most every other access method, too
- PIN Genie is a brilliant invention
- Long-life battery, with a spare in the box
Cons
- Unattractive industrial design
- Awkwardly placed fingerprint reader
- App still feels like it’s in beta
Price When Reviewed:
$349.00
Best Prices Today:
$349.99
Who should buy the Lockly Visage Zeno Series Facial Recognition Deadbolt?
Yes, it’s a very expensive smart lock; and no, it doesn’t support Matter, but if you want the ultimate flexibility when it comes to opening your door, there’s nothing quite like Lockly’s high-end offering.
This smart lock’s facial recognition technology works delightfully well, and it can be opened via a host of other ways, too: Fingerprint, PIN code, smartphone app, NFC tag, and for those in the Apple Home camp, either an iPhone or an Apple Watch.
There are a large number of components to this sophisticated lock and installation can take some time, but there are thorough and helpful instructions if you take the time to read them carefully.
Lockly Visage Zeno Series Facial Recognition Deadbolt: Further considerations
Our enthusiasm is mildly tempered by this lock gargantuan proportions and less-than-elegant industrial design, but there’s just no competition in terms of its sophistication.
Read our full
Lockly Visage Zeno Series Facial Recognition Deadbolt review
Other smart locks we like
We’ve evaluated many other smart locks. If none of our top picks check all the boxes for you, take a look at these other products.
The Avia Smart Deadbolt+ is a stylish smart lock built completely around Apple HomeKit and Home Keys; the Nuki Smart Lock is a petite retrofit smart lock that will discreetly integrate into just about any environment; the Lockly Secure Pro 2025 features many welcome upgrades from its previous iteration including built-in Wi-Fi, better installation, and a new app; the SwitchBot Lock Ultra is a retrofit model that’s simple to install, affordable, and reliable; the Eufy FamiLock S3 Max is full of features including an intergated video screen on its interior escutcheon.
How we test smart locks
To test smart locks, we put ourselves in the shoes of the consumer. Which means, walking through the entire process of installation, setup, and daily use with a critical eye.
Are all the necessary parts included? Are the instructions clear? Is the companion app intuitive and easy to use? How much control does the user have in setting up the lock’s operation to suit their particular needs? And most importantly, how is it to use the smart lock day in and day out, potentially by multiple members of a household.
Why you should trust PCWorld for smart lock reviews and buying advice
PCWorld editors and contributors have been testing smart locks since the very first models came to market, and we continuously evaluate the latest models along with their accompanying apps. We’ve tested keyless smart locks, retrofit locks, locks with keypads, Bluetooth-only locks, locks that support geofencing, and more. You can trust us to guide you to the right smart lock for your needs.
Who curated this article?
Christopher Null is an award-winning technology journalist with decades of experience reviewing and writing about consumer and business tech products. In the past he served as Executive Editor for PC Computing magazine and was the founder and Editor in Chief of Mobile magazine. In addition to covering a wide range of smart home gear for PCWorld, he is a frequent contributor to Wired, This Old House, and AAA’s Via Magazine.
As you’ve doubtless realized by now, not all smart locks are made alike. Some smart locks are designed to completely replace an old “dumb” lock, while others are meant to retrofit an existing lock. Some smart locks will let you create PINs for guests, while others can unlock automatically once you cross a virtual geofence. Here’s a guide to some of the key design options and features in the smart lock category.
Smart home hub integration
If you have an existing hub like a Samsung SmartThings, Homey Pro, or an Apple TV, you’ll want to ensure your chosen smart lock is compatible from the start. Many smart locks support Bluetooth, so they work with your phone, but lack the technology needed to connect with your home network.
Some Bluetooth locks, like the Yale Assure system and the August Smart Lock, offer a radio module as an add-on to connect to your home network. If you’re using a smart home hub like the Samsung SmartThings or a Homey Pro, look for a lock that supports Z-Wave or Zigbee, instead.
Then there’s Matter, the new smart home standard that promises to unite the major smart home ecosystems. The good news is that smart locks are included in the Matter specification; the bad news is that for now, only a few Matter-enabled smart locks are available. We look forward to checking out more Matter smart locks in the weeks and months ahead.
Entry means
From apps and keypads to fingerprint readers and good, old-fashioned keys, there are myriad ways to unlock a smart lock. Make sure to pick a model that supports the entry method (or methods) you prefer.
Power backup
What do you do if the batteries inside the lock die—and you’re stuck outside? Some locks allow for emergency power to be applied should this happen. Yale’s Real Living locks feature external posts to which you can connect a 9-volt battery, giving you enough juice to get the door open. Other models retain the traditional key cylinder for backup, while still others have a USB-C port for quick-charging an onboard battery.
Geofencing
Bad about manually locking the door when you leave? A geofencing system automatically locks the door when it detects your phone has left the vicinity, and can be set to automatically open up when it finds you’ve come home.
Guest access features
Most smart locks let you set up temporary keys for houseguests, which you can delete when they’ve returned home. Smarter systems even let you set time restrictions around when each access code can be used.
Frequently asked questions about smart locks
1.
What benefits do smart smart locks deliver?
You can thank the hospitality industry for finally pushing locks into the digital age. Hotels learned long ago that keys are easily lost, expensive to replace, and simple to bypass, as thieves can pick locks or simply make copies of a key to allow for unfettered future access.
On the flipside, hotel guests have readily accepted key cards (and in some cases, smartphone-based solutions) as the primary means of getting into their room. The electronic solution is just so much simpler. Lost hotel key card? Replacing it is no big deal.
But the biggest benefit of electronic entry systems is that they are highly configurable. Digital locks can be changed at a moment’s notice (which is why that old hotel key card in your wallet isn’t good for anything), and the property owner can generate a record of when each door was opened.
In a more advanced setting, different keys can be generated for the same lock, so a homeowner can tell when each member of the family came in, or when the housekeeper arrived.
2.
What is the best smart lock?
The best smart lock for most people is the Level Lock+. In addition to its compatibility with all platforms, it’s a breeze to install simply by replacing your existing deadbolt — all that’s needed is a Phillips screwdriver. It’s got an understated design that doesn’t scream “smart gadget.” And the Level Lock+ can function on its own or be integrated into a broader smart home system.
3.
How do you pick a smart lock? (No pun intended)
This is a young and wildly immature space, and many products on the market are still extremely rough around the edges. Even top products can balk when dealing with old or stiff deadbolts, doors that don’t shut well, or environments where non-standard fixtures are in use.
The bottom line is that it’s tough to declare that any product is universally perfect for every home. That said, here are some key considerations to take into account to help you narrow down your shopping list.
4.
Are some smart locks smarter than others?
Some “smart locks” don’t work with a smartphone app or any smart home networking hubs at all; they’re really just electronic locks that use a code instead of a key to open up.
One step up from that, you’ll find Bluetooth-only locks. These work with a smartphone app, but can’t be monitored remotely or via a smart home system. That’s fine if you’re looking to get rid of the keys in your pocket, but less impressive if you want to make your entrance portals a true part of your home network.
Finally, there are full-on smart locks that connect to your smart home system via Zigbee, Z-Wave, or Wi-Fi.
5.
Do I need to completely replace my old lock to install a smart lock?
You’re forgiven if you don’t want to replace your antique doorknob on your vintage Victorian with a metallic device that looks like it would be more at home keeping people out of a strip mall bank branch.
A sizeable number of smart lock products don’t require you to replace all your existing hardware. Instead, they are installed on the inside of the door only, replacing only the interior part of the deadbolt. You can continue to use a standard key from the outside or open the lock via a smartphone app.
Author: Christopher Null, Contributor, PCWorld
Christopher Null is an award-winning technology journalist with more than 25 years of experience writing about and reviewing consumer and business tech products. Previously, he served as Executive Editor for PC Computing magazine and was the founder and Editor in Chief of Mobile magazine, the first print publication focused exclusively on mobile tech. In addition to covering a wide range of smart home gear for TechHive, he is a frequent contributor to Wired, This Old House, and AAA’s Via Magazine.
