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Smart Locks: Reviews, Comparisons & Buying Guide
Keyless entry, guest codes, and remote locking, without giving up a real deadbolt.
A smart lock earns its place by removing the daily friction of keys: codes for family, a fingerprint for hands full of shopping, a phone tap for guests, and a lock that secures itself behind you. The differences that matter are less glamorous than the marketing suggests. They are whether the lock needs a hub, how long its batteries last on your door, whether it still works when the internet drops, and whether it fits your door without drilling.
The picks below weight those practical questions first. Retrofit locks keep your existing keys and exterior hardware, which suits renters and anyone who likes their current handles. Full deadbolt replacements add a keypad or fingerprint reader outside, which suits households that want codes and touch entry at the door. Every pick here keeps a physical key or a keypad fallback, because a lock that strands you during a flat battery or an outage has failed at its one job.
Every guide on best smart locks (2026)
11 guidesBest of
The Best Smart Locks (2026)
The best smart locks of 2026: Schlage Encode Plus, August retrofit, Yale Assure Lock 2, Aqara U100, and more, compared on entry methods, hubs, battery life, and door fit.
Ranked on lease-friendliness: no exterior change, no drilling, and easy removal at move-out.
The Best Smart Locks for Renters (2026)
Smart locks that do not change your exterior hardware or break a lease: retrofit locks and discreet replacements for rented homes.
Ranked on Apple integration depth: Home Key, Siri, automations, and hub-free operation in an Apple household.
The Best Smart Locks for Apple Home (2026)
Smart locks with Apple Home Key, Siri control, and HomeKit automations, ranked for iPhone and Apple Watch households.
Ranked on offline capability: local codes, fingerprints, and Bluetooth control that do not depend on a router.
The Best Smart Locks Without Wi-Fi (2026)
Smart locks that work without Wi-Fi: Bluetooth and Zigbee locks for weak-signal doors, cabins, and privacy-first homes.
Review
Schlage Encode Plus Review (2026)
Schlage Encode Plus - The most complete keypad deadbolt, with Apple Home Key built in.
Review
August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Generation) Review (2026)
August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Generation) - The renter-friendly retrofit: smart control with your existing keys intact.
Review
Yale Assure Lock 2 Touch Review (2026)
Yale Assure Lock 2 Touch - Fingerprint, keypad, and app in a slim, discreet deadbolt.
Head to head
Schlage Encode Plus vs Yale Assure Lock 2 (2026)
Schlage Encode Plus vs Yale Assure Lock 2 with Wi-Fi: Home Key against slim Yale design, keypads, apps, and security ratings compared.
Head to head
August Wi-Fi Smart Lock vs Aqara U100 (2026)
August retrofit vs Aqara U100 full deadbolt: renter-friendliness, Home Key, fingerprint entry, and hub needs compared.
Buying guide
Smart Lock Buying Guide (2026)
How to choose a smart lock: retrofit vs replacement, entry methods, hubs, battery life, security grades, and door measurements.
Fix it
Smart Lock Problems? Fixes (2026)
Common smart lock problems: batteries draining fast, codes not working, auto-unlock failing, jammed bolts, and app connection drops.