In-depth review
Schlage Encode Plus Review (2026)
In-depth review of the Schlage Encode Plus: Home Key, keypad, Wi-Fi, battery life, and whether it justifies its premium price.
Schlage Encode Plus
The most complete keypad deadbolt, with Apple Home Key built in.
Our verdict
The Encode Plus is the safest recommendation in this guide: it combines the entry methods most households actually use, hub-free Wi-Fi, and the strongest independent security ratings, in a lock with years of Schlage heritage behind it. Its only real gaps are the missing fingerprint reader and the battery appetite of Wi-Fi. Buy it for an owned home and stop researching.
What we like
- Apple Home Key support lets you tap an iPhone or Apple Watch to unlock, alongside the touchscreen keypad, the Schlage Home app, and a physical key.
- Built-in Wi-Fi means remote locking, guest codes, and activity history with no extra hub or bridge to buy and place.
- Schlage carries the highest residential security, durability, and finish ratings from BHMA, and the lock is backed by a lifetime mechanical and finish warranty.
What to watch out for
- A full deadbolt replacement, so it is not an option for renters whose lease forbids hardware changes.
- Wi-Fi connectivity draws more battery power than Bluetooth-only locks, so battery changes come round sooner on busy doors.
- No fingerprint reader, so children and guests who struggle with codes have no biometric fallback.
Who it is for
Homeowners who want one lock that covers keypad, phone tap, app, and key, with no hub to buy.
Home Key changes daily use
Home Key is the feature that turns the Encode Plus from a good keypad lock into a great one. Holding an iPhone or Apple Watch near the lock opens it without waking the phone or opening an app, and power reserve keeps it working for hours after the phone battery gives out. For households where everyone carries an iPhone, it quietly replaces the keypad for daily entry, while codes stay available for guests, cleaners, and the one family member still on Android.
Keypad, app, and guest codes
The touchscreen keypad is backlit, fingerprint-resistant, and responsive with gloves on, and the Schlage Home app handles codes, schedules, and lock history without a hub. Codes can be one-off, recurring, or scheduled, which covers cleaners, dog walkers, and short-stay guests without handing out a key. The app is not the prettiest in this guide, but it is dependable, and lock history timestamps give a clear record of who came and went.
Battery life and the Wi-Fi trade-off
Built-in Wi-Fi is the reason this lock needs no hub, and also the reason its batteries work harder than a Bluetooth lock. On a typical family door, expect battery changes several times a year rather than once, and more often if the router signal at the door is weak. Moving the router or adding an access point near the door is the single best battery fix, and the lock warns well in advance, so a flat lock should never surprise you.
How it stacks up
Against the Schlage Encode, the Plus adds Home Key and a newer radio for a modest premium, which is worth it for any iPhone household and unnecessary for everyone else. Against the Yale Assure Lock 2 Touch, the Plus trades the fingerprint reader for Home Key and stronger BHMA ratings; fingerprint-first households should take the Yale, Apple-first households the Schlage.
What owners report
Commonly praised
- Tap to unlock with a phone or watch feels effortless alongside the touchscreen keypad
- Remote locking and guest codes work with no extra hub to buy or place
- Solid, well finished feel that inspires confidence in the deadbolt itself
Common complaints
- Full deadbolt replacement rules it out for renters who cannot change hardware
- Wi-Fi use means batteries run down sooner on busy front doors
- No fingerprint reader for children or guests who struggle with codes
Recurring themes from owner reviews on retailers and forums, summarised by our editors. Updated October 2026.
Key specifications
- Entry methods
- Touchscreen keypad, Apple Home Key, app, physical key
- Connectivity
- Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, no hub required
- Power
- 4 AA batteries (included)
- Security rating
- Highest residential BHMA ratings for security, durability, and finish
- In the box
- Deadbolt, touchscreen exterior, interior assembly, installation hardware
Also consider
Schlage Encode Smart WiFi Deadbolt
The original Encode: proven Wi-Fi keypad locking for less than the Plus.
- Entry methods: Touchscreen keypad, app, physical key
- Connectivity: Built-in Wi-Fi, no hub required
Yale Assure Lock 2 Touch
Fingerprint, keypad, and app in a slim, discreet deadbolt.
- Entry methods: Fingerprint, touchscreen keypad, app, Auto-Unlock
- Connectivity: Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
Research-based assessment. ThePickLedger has not hands-on tested this product; this evaluation synthesizes manufacturer specifications, retailer documentation, and published expert reviews.
Questions, answered
Does the Encode Plus work with Android phones?
Yes, through the Schlage Home app and the keypad. Only Home Key tap-to-unlock is Apple-only; Android owners lose that one method, not the lock itself.
How many codes can the Encode Plus store?
Schlage supports a large code capacity suitable for families and small rental use, with scheduled and recurring codes managed in the app. For very large multi-unit use, a commercial access system is a better fit than any residential lock.
Is the Encode Plus hard to install?
No. It replaces a standard deadbolt with a screwdriver and the included template, and Schlage provides video guides. The main check is door measurements: thickness, backset, and clearance around the interior unit.