Best smart locks

Why it ranks here. The Encode Plus is the lock r/smarthome tells people to buy after a bad experience elsewhere: wifi built in, a real key, Apple Home Key you tap with a watch, and owners a decade in with no failures. It ranks first for that. It is the dearest here, and its keypad is invisible until you tap it.

'The Schlage Encode Plus is the lock to get. I've had one for 2+ years, and it's always responded to Iphone or Apple Watch taps of our 4 family members'↗, says one owner, whose batteries 'have lasted 9 months or more'↗. Another has 'about 6-7 of these also and they just work'↗. A long-time owner has had 'various Schlage smart locks over the past 15 years and had exactly 0 issues'↗. One who has warrantied Kwikset, Schlage and Yale locks says 'Schlage is by far the best after-sales customer service'↗. 'Nearly every locksmith loves the Schlage code lock'↗. The gripes: the numbers only 'light up once you press a button'↗, which 'can be annoying for guests'↗; codes live in two apps; and the price. One owner wishes it came with a door sensor.

“The Schlage Encode Plus is the lock to get. I've had one for 2+ years, and it's always responded to Iphone or Apple Watch taps of our 4 family members. You can also use a standard key or a numeric code, and you can even rekey it to your existing door lock using a the Schlage rekey kit. The phone app to control it uses WiFi, but doesn't need any smart home controller... I have a pretty decent WiFi setup and the 4 AA batteries (very easy to change) have lasted 9 months or more.” — Reddit comment · u/scifitechguy · r/smarthome · 2026-07-10

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• I would recommend the Schlage encode. Will work just fine with no need for any other ecosystem, and it's a quality, well-built lock. The "plus" version lets you unlock automatically with your Apple Watch but is quite a bit more expensive. The regular just works off the keypad.

  Reddit comment · u/rando777888 · r/smarthome · 2026-07-10 · read the original ↗

• The Schlage Encode Plus is the lock to get. I've had one for 2+ years, and it's always responded to Iphone or Apple Watch taps of our 4 family members. You can also use a standard key or a numeric code, and you can even rekey it to your existing door lock using a the Schlage rekey kit. The phone app to control it uses WiFi, but doesn't need any smart home controller... I have a pretty decent WiFi setup and the 4 AA batteries (very easy to change) have lasted 9 months or more.

  Reddit comment · u/scifitechguy · r/smarthome · 2026-07-10 · read the original ↗

• Triple down on the Schlage Encode series, I have about 6-7 of these also and they just work. Only complaint if I had a gun to my head is having to replace batteries, but that’s like 1-2x a year only

  Reddit comment · u/CA_Thai · r/smarthome · 2026-07-06 · read the original ↗

• Schlage Encode Plus, all the reviews are right. I did find some people complaining about battery performance but I’m averaging 10-15% battery loss per month so I’m not sure if it drops off or if I just happen to have mine closer to a routers but I’m super pleased with it. The codes are great and granting temporary access but my favorite is using my watch to unlock it.

  Reddit comment · u/maybach320 · r/smarthome · 2026-07-06 · read the original ↗

• Nearly every locksmith loves the Schlage code lock. Batteries last for several years. There are no motors to move the bolt. Can have several codes set at the same time. Simple and reliable. Has a backup key slot.

  Reddit comment · u/sharp-calculation · r/smarthome · 2026-07-05 · read the original ↗

• Schlage Encode/Plus. I have warrantied multiple Kwikset/Schlage/Yale smart locks due to mechanical failures and Schlage is by far the best after-sales customer service. They have my business for life. Schlage also has the best electronics warranty (3 year) of those 3.

  Reddit comment · u/username17charmax · r/smarthome · 2026-08-05 · read the original ↗

• Just get a Schlage Encode Plus. Has the keypad, keyed entry and home key. Only thing I wish it had was being hardwired. But I put lithium AA batteries in mine and they last about a year between replacements.

  Reddit comment · u/Aggesis · r/homeautomation · 2026-04-23 · read the original ↗

• Yale just makes garbage locks. I’ve owned various Schlage smart locks over the past 15 years and had exactly 0 issues across all of them. They do a good job of alerting you when the battery is running low and not one has ever just surprise failed. I recommend them to everyone and nobody I know has ever had an issue either.

  Reddit comment · u/mofukkinbreadcrumbz · r/homeautomation · 2026-04-23 · read the original ↗

• I've been using Schlage smart locks for just over 10 years and (touch wood) haven't had any issues. Even when using rechargeables (which often don't report correctly in the app), the lock itself gives the low battery warnings beeps well before it stops working.

  Reddit comment · u/helifella · r/homeautomation · 2026-04-23 · read the original ↗

• Reed I have the same lock! As far as not being able to see the number pad, all you have to do is press the SCHLAGE name at the top of the lock and the keypad will illuminate! hope this works for you

  YouTube comment · @TheCigarpoet · 2023-02-04 · watch the original ↗

• I’ve had mine since April of last year and it has been great. I have had no issues with it. One thing I do wish it had built in or came with is a sensor to notify you the door is either open or close. Having the key on my watch is great when carrying in groceries and forgetting to unlock the lock before loading your hands up with everything.

  YouTube comment · @jacobherrera9 · 2023-02-04 · watch the original ↗

• the thing I like the most about this lock is Apple's home key and that's probably the reason you're gonna buy this lock and it works extremely well you just hold up your phone to it just tap it and it works instantly this thing is awesome... some of the things I don't like about this lock is it's very difficult to see the numbers... they light up once you press a button and this can be annoying for guests because they don't see the numbers and they have to press one to light it up and that counts as your first number for the code.

  YouTube review · Reed's Smart Home (Reed) · 2023-02-04 · watch the original ↗

Why it ranks here. The Assure Lock 2 is the best-looking lock here, slim, fitted in five minutes, with modules for any smart-home system. It ranks second on design and sales. It ranks below the Schlage because its wifi module drains batteries in three months, auto-unlock rarely works, and one owner was locked out when the keypad and the 9-volt backup both died.

'I use this on all my rentals. The battery life lasts for a year plus. Its a great lock. Installation takes 5 mins tops'↗, says a landlord. A decade-long owner of Yale's older keypad locks has 'never even come close to being locked out'↗. A self-described tool novice installed it herself: 'works like a charm'↗. Then the failures. One family returned home to a dead keypad: 'No lights, no noise, nothing'↗, and the 9-volt emergency trick did not revive it. Auto-unlock: 'like 9 times out of 10 the auto unlock doesn't work'↗. Batteries: one lock 'drained the batteries again in less than 12 hours'↗; a reviewer notes 'the batteries only last three months'↗ because the wifi is built in. A four-year owner's wifi module now 'drops off the network'↗ weekly. And one locksmith: 'I won't sell or service them'↗.

“We returned to our house 15 minutes later completely locked out. The Yale keypad did not respond to auto lock itself, HomeKey, Apple Home, Siri, or the August/Yale app. The lock was completely unreachable, and the keypad unresponsive. No lights, no noise, nothing... We luckily live within walking distance of a CVS and were able to grab a 9V battery, which Yale advertises as the “emergency” way to get the keypad power. Well, another emergency arose, and it DID NOT WORK.” — Reddit post · u/norrsund · r/homeautomation · 2026-04-23

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• We returned to our house 15 minutes later completely locked out. The Yale keypad did not respond to auto lock itself, HomeKey, Apple Home, Siri, or the August/Yale app. The lock was completely unreachable, and the keypad unresponsive. No lights, no noise, nothing... We luckily live within walking distance of a CVS and were able to grab a 9V battery, which Yale advertises as the “emergency” way to get the keypad power. Well, another emergency arose, and it DID NOT WORK.

  Reddit post · u/norrsund · r/homeautomation · 2026-04-23 · read the original ↗

• Nah, Yale is shit. Am locksmith. Yale smart locks have massive issues with quality and app issues. I won't sell or service them. I'm not attaching my name to that crap.

  Reddit comment · u/PapaOoMaoMao · r/homeautomation · 2026-04-23 · read the original ↗

• Just to throw another experience in the mix… I’ve had Yale key free z-wave locks with push button numbers on my only exterior doors for a decade and have never even come close to being locked out. So, in my experience, it’s been more reliable than a key (which can be lost).

  Reddit comment · u/r2xj · r/homeautomation · 2026-04-23 · read the original ↗

• I've had this lock for a year or so. I got the Bluetooth-only version but recently got the wifi module for it hoping it would help, to no avail. The issue is that like 9 times out of 10 the auto unlock doesn't work, or if it does I have to stand in front of my front door for a long time waiting for it to realize I'm there.

  Reddit post · u/OK_Soda · r/homeautomation · 2025-12-08 · read the original ↗

• I used alkaline batteries at first but switched to Amazon Basics high capacity NiMh a few months ago... Now I put in freshly charged batteries and a day later got a low battery warning. Swapped them out just to be safe thinking it was a fluke. A few days later I got another low battery warning... That was several weeks ago and I get a daily low battery warning but the lock keeps working just fine.

  Reddit post · u/HoneyMustard086 · r/homeautomation · 2025-09-26 · read the original ↗

• I've had a Yale Assure 2 (nee August) lock for over four years. And it has started to misbehave. In particular, the Yale WiFi Smart Module has begun to fail... The problem is that the device drops off the network... it has been a few times a week.

  Reddit post · u/cyclingroo · r/homeautomation · 2026-08-07 · read the original ↗

• I DID IT!!! I’m a single woman who’s tool talent is shy of inept but thanks to this video my lock is securely installed and works like a charm-big thank you!!!

  YouTube comment · @suzique7302 · 2023-06-10 · watch the original ↗

• I use this on all my rentals. The battery life lasts for a year plus. Its a great lock. Installation takes 5 mins tops.

  YouTube comment · @popularblvd · 2023-06-10 · watch the original ↗

• Works great when it works. The August gen II is solid, way better. Maybe my yale is a lemon, and it's rotten. Auto unlock is glitchy

  YouTube comment · @BurchfieldSchwartzGroup · 2023-06-10 · watch the original ↗

• Steve, thanks for sharing this helpful video. I was able to install my Yale Assure Lock 2 on Friday and it worked great for like 12 hours. I replaced the batteries and it worked again, but it drained the batteries again in less than 12 hours. Any idea what could be the problem?

  YouTube comment · @mcastaneda7 · 2023-06-10 · watch the original ↗

• my one big complaint with this lock is that the batteries only last three months this is due to the fact that Wi-Fi is built into this thing instead of having a module off to the side it's actually going to be built into the device and that is really going to drain on the battery life

  YouTube review · Steve DOES · 2023-06-10 · watch the original ↗

Why it ranks here. The August hides behind the deadbolt you already have, so a renter keeps the key and the landlord never knows. It ranks third for that trick. It ranks below the Yale because the 4th Gen's built-in wifi eats its small CR123 batteries in six to eight weeks, and its geofence unlock is slower than the app.

'It has been 5 years now without carrying a key, and this is wonderful'↗, says one owner. Another chose it because 'you could always use your key to get in to the house in the event the lock didn't work'↗, and now carries none. A 3rd Gen owner's auto-unlock 'works well about 95% of the time'↗. The 4th Gen is the problem: 'I just removed my august 4th gen yesterday because I was absolutely sick of buying batteries for it every month or so! Reinstalled my old 3rd gen pro!'↗. A reviewer six months in got 'more like six to eight weeks of battery life'↗ against a claim of three to six months. August support sent one owner a free wifi bridge to help. Geofencing 'is terrible'↗, 'literally faster for me just to open The August app'↗. One new lock came with no setup code and no reply from support.

“It’s crazy I saw your video today, I just removed my august 4th gen yesterday because I was absolutely sick of buying batteries for it every month or so! Reinstalled my old 3rd gen pro!” — YouTube comment · @galaxystarrr · 2022-01-23

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• I've been testing the August 4th Gen for my site, and I noticed a lot of people struggle with the Auto-Unlock feature being hit-or-miss. After some stress testing, I realized it’s rarely a hardware issue—it’s about how the lock handles the 'Geofence Exit/Entry' trigger combined with the Bluetooth handshake delay.

  Reddit post · u/EducationOverall5875 · r/smarthome · 2026-03-14 · read the original ↗

• I live in South Korea and, here, keys are pretty much a think of the past. It has been 5 years now without carrying a key, and this is wonderful. I don't know why the electronic locks used here are not more popular everywhere. They are amazing.

  YouTube comment · @marialuizacunhalima · 2022-01-23 · watch the original ↗

• Very glad you mentioned battery life off the bat, it’s been my experience as well. I actually contacted August support for help, and they sent a free WiFi bridge which has helped extend battery life a bit!

  YouTube comment · @saadshamshair8907 · 2022-01-23 · watch the original ↗

• I've had the August Smart Lock the previous generation for about 2 years, and it has completely replaced my keys... However I have to mention some bugs. The geofencing is terrible, similar to you it's literally faster for me just to open The August app then waiting for my phone to GPS or Bluetooth to kick in and activate the feature.

  YouTube comment · @Sheikxlove123 · 2022-01-23 · watch the original ↗

• I have a 3rd gen and live in a traditional suburban single family home. The Auto-Unlock works well about 95% of the time. Enough so that I don't cary my key in my pocket because it's convient enough to just pull out my phone to unlock when the auto-unlock doesn't work.

  YouTube comment · @JakeDiToro · 2022-01-23 · watch the original ↗

• It’s crazy I saw your video today, I just removed my august 4th gen yesterday because I was absolutely sick of buying batteries for it every month or so! Reinstalled my old 3rd gen pro!

  YouTube comment · @galaxystarrr · 2022-01-23 · watch the original ↗

• I got this lock because there were concerns about not being able to use the regular old fashioned key. It was an extremely good way to provide some comfort knowing that you could always use your key to get in to the house in the event the lock didn't work. The locks work so well that keys are no longer carried around.

  YouTube comment · @neozizen42 · 2022-01-23 · watch the original ↗

• August estimates the fourth generation Wi-Fi lock I have should last anywhere from three to six months of use. However, in my experience, it's been more like six to eight weeks of battery life... Overall, do I recommend the August Wi-Fi Smart lock? Yes, but with some caveats.

  YouTube review · 6 Months Later (Josh Teder) · 2022-01-23 · watch the original ↗

• I have a new august smart home lock. Per the manual there should be a QR code or numerical code on the device or in the manual. There is neither. I've reached out to customer service, with no response.

  Reddit post · u/hollywood9292 · r/smarthome · 2025-04-27 · read the original ↗

Why it ranks here. The Halo Touch is the lock builders fit in new houses: fingerprint, touchscreen, wifi with no hub or subscription, 250 scheduled codes for a rental. It ranks fourth because the screen needs a firm tap and sulks in frost or sun, batteries vary from two years to two months, and it is loud.

One owner of two new Halo Selects says 'so far they have been awesome'↗, with Siri integration he loves. Another: 'Mine is very responsive. Wakes up immediately with a light tap'↗, 'But it's VERY loud'↗. The rekey feature 'sold me so I can match my other locks'↗, and 'it's the best looking in the price range'↗. The weather: 'the touch screen doesn't like to be below freezing or very hot'↗, and the included strike plate is 'kind of offensive on kwiksets part'↗ for the price. Batteries: one new-build lock sits at 85 percent after two years, another 'seems like every other month'↗. One owner cannot add codes because of 'a known software issue'↗ with no patch date. And a switcher: 'Got a ubolt pro at half the cost of the kwikset and it's awesome'↗.

“The make and finish of the lock is pretty god i would say 8/10. the touch screen doesn't like to be below freezing or very hot (sitting in direct sunlight all day). it require a more precise press on the touch screen... i would have liked to see the lock come with a optional larger security strike plate. for the price of this thing its kind of offensive on kwiksets part.” — Reddit post · u/TikeSavage · r/smarthome · 2023-01-26

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• I have found that kwikset sucks as a brand . Sorry my man. It was on sale wasn't it?

  Reddit comment · u/CuriousWolf7077 · r/smarthome · 2025-06-08 · read the original ↗

• Battery is at 85% and it’s been this way since we purchased our new build 2 years ago.

  Reddit post · u/whyhellother3 · r/smarthome · 2025-06-08 · read the original ↗

• Mine is very responsive. Wakes up immediately with a light tap. It’s actually more responsive than my old Yale. But it’s VERY loud

  Reddit comment · u/OverThinkingTinkerer · r/smarthome · 2025-06-08 · read the original ↗

• My Kwikset that I've had since 2020 does that whenever it gets to 75+ degrees and it eats 4 aa's twice a year. Got a ubolt pro at half the cost of the kwikset and it's awesome.

  Reddit comment · u/Smac1988 · r/smarthome · 2025-06-12 · read the original ↗

• Just wanted to report in because it looks like most of the posts on Kwikset locks are from years ago. I just purchased two Kwikset Halo Select smart locks and so far they have been awesome... The Apple Homekit lock stuff looks super nice, I love the Siri integration.

  Reddit post · u/gleenn · r/smarthome · 2024-12-04 · read the original ↗

• The make and finish of the lock is pretty god i would say 8/10. the touch screen doesn't like to be below freezing or very hot (sitting in direct sunlight all day). it require a more precise press on the touch screen... i would have liked to see the lock come with a optional larger security strike plate. for the price of this thing its kind of offensive on kwiksets part.

  Reddit post · u/TikeSavage · r/smarthome · 2023-01-26 · read the original ↗

• the lock itself is wonderful, but it seems like the software is horrible. I haven't been able to add any new codes since I got it. After multiple calls to support, they finally said it was a known software issue but gave no timeline for a patch.

  Reddit post · u/foxpro80 · r/smarthome · 2020-06-05 · read the original ↗

• Love it. Only thing is sometime I agave to refresh the app for the lock to show online and the lock is loud when when it operates. Really loud…. But the rekey feature sold me so I can match my other locks. And it’s the best looking in the price range.

  YouTube comment · @jamarwaithe5809 · 2022-04-22 · watch the original ↗

• We purchased this same lock a few months ago and it seems to run out of battery seems like every other month. Is that right or is ours defective?

  YouTube comment · @LifewithSusy · 2022-04-22 · watch the original ↗

• this is the kwikset halo touchscreen wi-fi enabled smart lock and it's 189.95 currently discounted down to 177.23 at amazon.com it's a great upgrade... one of the things i really like about this is there's no hub needed... this also means because it uses wi-fi there's no subscription.

  YouTube review · Dave Taylor · 2022-04-22 · watch the original ↗

Why it ranks here. The U-Bolt Pro packs a fingerprint reader, keypad, key, app and an emergency USB power port into a heavy lock for $150 to $200, and it works with no account at all. It ranks last because its app is rough, its geofencing barely works, and sensors and wifi modules have died around a year with little help from the warranty.

'The fingerprint thing works great most of the time. My 10 year old loves it since he's always losing his keys anyway'↗, says a six-month owner, whose battery lasts 'more like 4 months instead of 6+'↗. Another gets about a year and finds short presses help the reader. 'I LOVEEEE THAT IT CAN BE TEMPORARILY POWERED'↗, says an owner who once forgot her key with a dead battery. A former beta tester says 'Their hardware has always been well built'↗. The rest: one owner used the auto-unlock for three and a half years and 'could almost never get it to work'↗. Another calls them 'an overpriced keypad lock. The wireless never works'↗. One sensor 'stopped working in just under a year'↗ and the warranty claim was dragged past its deadline. Two out-of-warranty locks with a software fault got 'a 30% discount'↗.

“Got my U-Bolt Pro WiFi about 6 months ago... The fingerprint thing works great most of the time. My 10 year old loves it since he's always losing his keys anyway. Only fails when my hands are really wet from doing dishes or whatever... Battery life isn't quite what they claim - more like 4 months instead of 6+ but whatever... Main complaint is the keypad - the button markings aren't super clear and it's not the most intuitive design.” — Reddit post · u/Choice-Importance670 · r/smarthome · 2025-08-22

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• Got my U-Bolt Pro WiFi about 6 months ago... The fingerprint thing works great most of the time. My 10 year old loves it since he's always losing his keys anyway. Only fails when my hands are really wet from doing dishes or whatever... Battery life isn't quite what they claim - more like 4 months instead of 6+ but whatever... Main complaint is the keypad - the button markings aren't super clear and it's not the most intuitive design.

  Reddit post · u/Choice-Importance670 · r/smarthome · 2025-08-22 · read the original ↗

• I used the U-Bolt Pro(with a Wifi bridge) for over 3 and half years and I could almost never get it to work. I know it did work once or maybe twice as I was approaching the door. But the rest of the time it either didn't work at all or would work minutes after I was inside the house.

  Reddit comment · u/Rice_Eater483 · r/smarthome · 2025-08-23 · read the original ↗

• I used to beta test for them. Their hardware has always been well built. I have a u bolt pro beta unit from back when they had the horrible external wifi dongle you had to plug into a power outlet that hopefully was within 5 feet of the door lol.

  Reddit comment · u/limpymcforskin · r/smarthome · 2025-08-22 · read the original ↗

• These locks are nothing but an overpriced keypad lock. The wireless never works. It's so buggy and regret my purchase.

  Reddit post · u/Fuckth3shitredditapp · r/smarthome · 2022-07-01 · read the original ↗

• I have two UL3s with Bridge that are both not smart anymore. (1) App does not connect to the device. (2) I cannot add, edit or delete users. (3) The lever inside is not opening the lock so need to use the given keys... I reported this to the manufacturer reiterating that this is a SOFTWARE issue but since it is out of warranty, they just gave me a 30% discount.

  Reddit post · u/Unique_Judgment6123 · r/smarthome · 2024-02-01 · read the original ↗

• Good review and I agree that it is made solid. Good you caught the fingerprint angle. I initially did mine sitting down and most of the time I had to try a couple of time to get it to open. I found that using the fingerprint with short presses helped a lot... Batteries do last about a year and you get a red flashing/beep when they need replacing.

  YouTube comment · @wm973 · 2023-01-04 · watch the original ↗

• I agree that there are so many pros and very few cons but the cons, although few, are dealbreakers. Cons are: 1) fingerprint sensor longevity - mine sensor stopped working in just under a year 2) Post sales service. Although my issue happened in the warranty period and Ultraloq initially agreed to replace the sensor, they dragged the issue out and when I followed up with them it went beyond the warranty period so they denied my warranty.

  YouTube comment · @mincooper · 2023-01-04 · watch the original ↗

• I LOVEEEE THAT IT CAN BE TEMPORARILY POWERED. that is exactly what happened to me. i forgot my physical key and the battery died i was completely locked out!

  YouTube comment · @ariannam.9360 · 2023-01-04 · watch the original ↗

• First Impressions on build quality are excellent it's heavy built like a tank... although if I'm being honest the app doesn't feel all that polished don't get me wrong it works just not smoothly... overall I'm thrilled with this product... this product gets the rare 5 out of 5 stars in my book.

  YouTube review · Aaron's Test Lab · 2023-01-04 · watch the original ↗