Best smart locks

This is a full replacement deadbolt. Schlage lists it as Grade AAA under the residential standard and Commercial Grade 1 under the commercial one, higher than the Grade 2 that Wyze and Yale list for their locks.^{1 2 5 6} Wi-Fi is built in, so you get remote control without a hub. Schlage also lists custom auto-lock, up to 100 access codes and an alarm for forced entry with adjustable sensitivity.^{1 2}

Check your Wi-Fi signal at the door before you buy. The lock needs a 2.4GHz network, and a locksmith referral service says a weak signal is the common reason an Encode goes offline and drains its batteries.^{1 7} That service also blames a bolt that binds against the strike, so check that the bolt moves freely with the door closed.⁷ Schlage's rating of up to six months per set of batteries is a best case, so expect at least two changes a year.¹

Owner reports on this exact model are thin. One locksmith's video describes sudden battery drain within a couple of weeks and a keypad that cuts in and out on both the Encode and the Encode Plus, and he suggests shimming a loose battery pack.⁸ Its key cylinder is a standard 5-pin one, not a high-security type.² Security.org notes there's no auto-unlock as you approach, which is no great loss given the problems described under the August.⁹

The reason to buy this over the Encode is Apple home keys, which let you unlock with an iPhone or Apple Watch.¹⁰ It keeps the same listed grades, batteries and backup key.^{2 10} To use home keys, or to reach the lock through Apple Home when you're out, you need an Apple home hub, an always-on Apple device in your house. It joins Apple Home over Thread, a low-power network for smart home devices, and uses Wi-Fi for the Schlage app.¹¹

Don't buy it for Matter, the standard that lets devices from different makers work together, because this isn't a Matter device.¹¹ Reviewed praised the easy hardware install, but found no geofencing or fingerprint reader, a keypad with no tactile feedback and a dim backlight.¹² A reviewer who tried 16 locks for a month said it offers not much else over rivals and ranked the Schlage third-worst for value.¹³

Owner reports split. One Hacker News owner calls it the most reliable smart lock, with the best battery life, and another moved to it after a Level lock's battery died twice with no warning.^{14 15} In one Home Assistant forum thread, three owners report batteries lasting from about two weeks to a month, and six report integration trouble.¹⁶ Those owners run home automation software, so their results may not be typical. If that's you, read that thread before you buy.

Wyze launched this lock in late 2025 for a small premium over the original Lock Bolt, which Reviewed said costs considerably less than August or Schlage.^{12 17} Wyze lists BHMA Grade 2, 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, a mechanical key, a USB-C emergency port and up to eight months from eight AA batteries. Use new alkaline AAs, because Wyze warns against rechargeables.⁵ PCWorld's reviewer found it quick to install, with a fingerprint reader that missed occasional scans, no door-ajar sensor and limited third-party support.¹⁸

Two problems affect what you should do. At least 10 owners in one Wyze forum thread report that the app doesn't register fingerprint scans during setup, mostly on iPhones, so set up fingerprints as soon as you install it.¹⁹ Wyze also says auto-lock doesn't detect whether the door is closed, so the bolt can throw with the door open.⁵ One owner reports that a lock two days old unlocked itself with no log entry, and nobody else in that thread confirmed it.²⁰

This is a Wi-Fi product from a company with a privacy incident on its record. In 2024, about 13,000 people saw thumbnails from other homes' Wyze cameras. Locks weren't involved, but it's worth knowing before you connect your front door.²¹

This is a retrofit lock. It replaces only the inside thumbturn, so your deadbolt and keys stay, and Bob Vila's 2023 review called it the easiest of its smart locks to install.^{22 23} Wi-Fi is built in on 2.4GHz or 5GHz with no bridge.²⁴ Its DoorSense sensor is meant to report whether the door is closed and locked, though one owner could never get it to work properly.^{24 25}

It has no security rating of its own, so it's only as strong as the deadbolt it sits on.^{3 22} Batteries are the main complaint. August says to expect up to three months from two CR123 batteries, and a two-year owner reports only 6 to 8 weeks, though he still suggests the lock for renters.^{24 26} Home Assistant's documentation warns that the reported battery level has frequently been wrong, so don't rely on the app's reading.²⁷ A May 2026 law firm notice collects similar complaints, but it's a solicitation for clients and proves nothing by itself.²⁸

Be careful with auto-unlock. Reviewed said it worked well, but one owner reports that his door unlocked at 4 a.m. with no log entry, and he turned the feature off.^{12 25} See the university finding in the setup section below.