best smart lock wirecutter

To use a code, you push the button with the Ultraloq logo, enter your unique PIN, and push the logo again. Considering that, plus the sheer length and breadth of the support-issue reports and complaints we continue to receive, as well as the expense and extended wait period for the gateway (which is required for remote access), we no longer recommend the Kevo. A number of useful settings within the August app let you turn the button-press sound on and off, change the volume level, enable one-touch locking, and so on. More recent testing has shown greatly improved accuracy, but overall we believe carte blanche geofence triggering is essentially risky, most especially for city dwellers who are more susceptible to an opportunistic thief (who may be in the vicinity when a door is mistakenly unlocked). Such security concerns are a particular source of contention for smart-home skeptics, who worry that allowing a door lock to be accessible over the internet makes it fundamentally vulnerable. One extremely important note: The Yale Assure Lock SL has no keyway—should its electronics ever fail, the battery die, or its mechanism jam, you could be locked out of your home and would have to destroy the lock to get in. The Bowflex SelectTech 552 Dumbbells adjust smoothly from 5 to 52½ pounds when you turn dials at either end of each weight. Because the Yale programming is so quick and simple, we found it easier to experiment with different settings for a few days at a time in order to find the ones that best suited us. Street Price: $213; Deal Price: $163 Usually just under $215, this is a nice drop on this recommended smart lock with numeric keypad intended for … Our pick, the Yale Assure SL Connected by August, is sleek and simple enough for most anyone. One especially important buying tip: If your door has a mortise lock, with the latch and bolt in an integrated unit, or a door handle and latch that are a single unit, none of the smart locks we reviewed will fit (we hope to test some soon). The Wyze Lock is as good a smart-home bargain as we’ve seen, with its precise hardware, built-in door sensor, and tiny Wi-Fi adapter all included for about half the price of our top picks. Easy to use: On paper, our finalists looked fairly similar: All were programmable with roughly 15 to 20 codes, all had some kind of a backlit display, and so on. Our tests included the use of companion apps on both iOS and Android smartphones, though all long-term testing was performed using an iPhone 11. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. The package includes a small radio module that you physically insert in the Assure Lock SL during setup; the module allows the lock to integrate with Apple HomeKit, which includes voice control via Siri (HomeKit works only with Apple devices). One major concern we have is that, in a very informal and unskilled lockpicking attempt, we were able to unlock the Level Lock in a matter of seconds. The only major difference between installing these and a traditional deadbolt is a wire fed through the door to connect the interior and exterior portions. Using basic lockpicks, we were able to quickly unlock the Yale Assure Lock Touchscreen Deadbolt (YRD226) (a former alternative to our runner-up pick) and the Level Lock Touch (mentioned in The competition). Amazingly, the Wi-Fi doesn’t seem to especially tax the batteries, which in our tests lasted several months without fail. No; transport to the cloud is encrypted, and access to data is restricted to August-owned devices and requires 2FA, Yes; also, fingerprint images are encrypted and stored only on the device. Currently the Wyze Lock works with its companion app but can also pair with Amazon Alexa, which lets you use voice commands to lock the door; you can also use Alexa to unlock the door if you program a PIN code. This model has most of the same features as our top pick but is a replacement for a doorknob or lever handle instead of a deadbolt. For the previous version of this guide, we researched the different rating systems from foundations such as ART and Sold Secure, and we spoke to professional bicycle thieves. That convenience comes with a price, though, as smart locks cost considerably more than their non-smart counterparts. Mounting Dream is one of the best-selling TV mount brands on Amazon for a reason. We also reach out to all the companies that produce our top picks and ask them to respond to an extensive questionnaire to confirm issues that we think should be of primary concern for any potential buyer. To attain Grade 1, a lock must withstand 1 million open/close cycles and hold up against 10 strikes from 75 pounds of force. We have not tested Igloohome’s Smart Deadbolt 2S Metal Grey, as we found its housing and keypad to be far too large compared with those of competing models. Even without using third-party smart platforms, the Schlage Home app sends notifications when the Encode locks or unlocks, and you can use the app to add or alter existing lock codes. You can instead choose to enable auto-unlock mode, which relies on your smartphone’s proximity to trigger the lock when you arrive home, but we worry about the innate security risk of accidental triggers, and some early owners of the Wyze Lock have reported such problems. A battery pressed against these can power the lock enough to enter a code and get inside. Beyond this, the Kwikset models don’t have the versatility of the Yale lock. Programming is relatively simple—but with no voice prompts, the instructions are more necessary than with the Yale. The best smart plugs and power strips let you control anything you … We also considered the physical robustness of each lock and, where applicable, the keyway. The Schlage lock allows an unlimited number of virtual keys through its native z-wave integration. If so, what data, and for what purpose (including location, tracking, marketing, or any other purpose)? Put Amazon's Alexa to work for you with these great smart-home devices. Jon Chase is an editor leading smart-home coverage at Wirecutter. The Wyze Lock offers some impressive features, including a built-in presence sensor that alerts you via a chime and a smartphone notification when you’ve left the door open or ajar. The newer Secure Pro model is available for purchase with a wireless bridge, but at $300 it’s not a good value compared with our picks. We were also able to successfully copy our fingerprint and use a Play-Doh mold of it to gain entry to two of our test locks: the Eufy Secure Smart Lock Touch and the Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro. Our top pick, the Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro, is small and attractive, and can be used in multiple ways. Based on our testing, the best smart lock overall is the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock. "The Best Smart Lock" The Wirecutter names Kevo "the best choice for most homeowners." For our city environment, we found it (and the August) tedious to deal with. Google Assistant support is in the works, but HomeKit isn’t an option. A smart lock lets you go key-free and control your door from afar. When you think about it, keys are irritating—they’re bulky, you’ve got to keep track of them, and your keychain just picks up more and more of them as time goes by. More informally, we also attempted to break into the locks using readily available and cheap lockpicking tools; for the fingerprint-reading models, we used a wax mold and Play-Doh. He currently has over 35 smart devices installed in his home. Like the Connect, the Sense has a terrific keypad and top-quality ANSI Grade 1 hardware, but over many years of testing, it has suffered from Bluetooth range issues that make it unreliable when we’re trying to connect to it remotely—despite being within spitting distance of both our Wi-Fi beacon and an Apple TV acting as a hub. We could ask Alexa if the door was locked or unlocked, and also have Alexa unlock it (to do so, you have to state aloud a custom PIN). This feature can be disabled or set to 30 seconds, 60 seconds, two minutes or three minutes. This initial step keeps the screen constantly smudged, so fingerprints don’t just sit over the code numbers. This is subjective, and the logo on the interior side is a little too noticeable for our tastes, but what can’t be disputed is that the exterior portion of the Yale has the lowest profile and the smallest footprint. Does the manufacturer share data with third parties, affiliates, and partners? Once you set it up, you can use it without ever bothering with your smartphone, as long as you can remember a four- to six-digit entry code—useful if you have kids who lose keys (or haven’t earned smartphone privileges yet). The Best Smart Lock Deals This Week* August Smart Lock Pro + Connect, 3rd gen technology — $129.99 (List Price $229.99) Schlage Encode Wi-Fi Touch Screen Deadbolt … If the batteries start to get low, the lock gives a number of warnings. Here are a few ways a smart lock might be a useful addition to your home: Smart locks, especially keypad models, are perfectly suited for rental-property and vacation-home owners, such as Airbnb hosts, who tend to have to deal with frequent key exchanges (in fact, with some locks, Airbnb now offers to automate code creation for guests). Programming the Yale lock is easy. Once you input your code correctly, pressing the checkmark causes the screen to flash, and with a gentle whir the lock activates. More than anything, not dealing with an app or periodic Bluetooth failures just to get in through the front door is a welcome relief. See more ideas about best smart home, smart home, home automation. To aid in our selection process, we consulted professional reviews from sites such as CNET, PCMag, Reviewed, and Tom’s Guide, as well as owner feedback on Amazon and other retailer sites. Kwikset Premis Smart Lock. In short: It’s important to consider security, we do our best to recommend only products from companies that are responsible and competent, and the smart locks we recommend are as safe as or safer than their mechanical counterparts (which, for instance, can’t alert you when your front door is unlocked or opened). To add or delete codes or change any options, the cover needs to be removed from the interior portion of the lock, which requires taking out two very small set screws, which are just begging to be dropped (we lost one). Typically around $140, it’s more expensive than most, but it also offers much more convenience. It’s keyless convenience but stops short of device connectivity. Like the Yale lock, the programming is all done from the front keypad. It is significantly larger because it contains a complete door-lever mechanism, but otherwise it worked wonderfully in our tests and was also noticeably quieter than typical smart locks we have tested in the past, emitting just a brief whir. In a low-light situation, the top “Schlage” button activates a backlight to the numbers. It has three volume settings (high, low, and mute), three language settings (English, Spanish, and French), and a number of auto-lock settings, which lock the door behind you after a pre-established duration. The volume and auto-lock feature both have multiple settings, and the movement of the deadbolt is quieter and quicker than with others. The Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro is a wonderful device, with some of the cleanest, most precise hardware we’ve ever tested and a pleasing low-profile design. When activated, the backlit numbers are easy to read and have a nice sensitivity. Schlage’s Leimer explained the appeal of the manual lock: “A lot of people like the idea of knowing that their deadbolt actually locked because they turned the bolt themselves.” During testing we felt the nice satisfaction of manually engaging with the deadbolt. So if your home does not have a deadbolt, you can still swap in the electronic locks that we recommend. None of the other models have a voice, and the beep on the Yale is much nicer than the Kwikset harsh digital tone. That capability is appealing, and along with the nicely designed hardware—which also includes a built-in impact alarm—it makes the Encode one of the easiest models to install and one of the simplest smart locks to use of those we’ve tested. None of them work perfectly. ... By Wirecutter | Earns commissions. Smart home starter kits are a quick and budget-friendly way to get started with—or expand—a smart home system that will just work. The Best Bike Lock for 2019: Reviews by Wirecutter. The smart locks we recommend are as safe as or safer than their mechanical counterparts (which, for instance, can’t alert you when your front door is unlocked or opened). Also available are useful security settings, such as timed lockouts based on too many incorrect attempted entries, a feature designed to thwart suspicious guessers. In our tests, setup was delightfully hiccup free, with the mechanical and app components all connecting seamlessly. It’s a keypad model that is completely keyless, and you can trigger the lock using a code or an app. This is not possible with the other locks. Nov 11, 2020 - 5 Recommendations. Some models include a little magnet, which you install near the lock, to determine when the door is closed or open; that ensures you don’t lock the deadbolt when the door is left ajar, which is helpful. Our pick, the Yale Assure SL Connected by August, is sleek and simple enough for most anyone. The Schlage was the only lock we tested with the highest security grade of 1, and it has a traditional keyway that can open the door, in case the battery dies or if that’s your preference. The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock is nearly half the size of the company’s Smart Lock Pro. However, if you have One Touch Unlock enabled, when you arrive home it recognizes your smartphone’s signal, and you can simply press the keypad to unlock the door—most of the time. For this guide, we spoke with Greg Leimer, product manager for Schlage Residential Electronic Locks, and Jason Tu, product marketing manager in the hardware and home improvement division at Spectrum Brands, which makes the Kwikset, Baldwin, and Weiser lines. It’s also the only lock in our test group with a built-in alarm, a soul-shattering shriek powerful enough to rouse the deceased—you can arm it to trigger if someone attempts to bust the lock or if the door is rammed. It offers features identical to those of the deadbolt version, with a couple of minor differences; for instance, you can wake the lock or have it lock when you’re leaving simply by pressing the Yale logo. John R. Delaney, The Best Smart Locks for 2020, PCMag, April 9, 2020, Mike Prospero, Best smart locks in 2020, Tom’s Guide, April 1, 2020, Nick Schmiedicker and Sarah Kovac, The Best Smart Locks of 2020, Reviewed, April 16, 2020. It has a security grade of 2 and is the only model that uses voice prompts during programming, eliminating the need to constantly refer back to the directions. We also restricted our selections to models that you can monitor and control remotely via smartphone, regardless of whether that involves pairing them with a separate hub or gateway device (which typically is a separate purchase). As a result, you should install it only if you have ready access to another entrance to your home. Should any privacy or security issues be found with any of our picks, we’ll report that here and, if necessary, update or alter our recommendations. If you pop off to a neighbor’s house or the corner store, it won’t work, and you’ll need to consult your phone to open the door. It doesn’t offer remote access, which isn’t essential; however, it has the largest internal housing we’ve ever seen and a similarly large external one, so we’d recommend looking for one of the many other smaller devices available. If you find these sounds distracting, they can be muted. The white numbers are small, and with the sound off it may be hard to tell if your key press has registered. A top name in locks for almost a century, Schlage successfully combines trusted security and the latest smart technology with this top-quality model. I’ve been testing smart locks, as well as a wide range of smart-home hubs and accessories, since 2015. Is a username or password required to use this device? Combination Lock, 4 Digit Combination Padlock, Waterproof Gate Lock, Resettable Combo Lock for Locker, Gym, Cases, Toolbox, School, 2 Pack (Black) 4.5 out of 5 stars 448 $7.29 At $140, the Yale is on the upper middle end of the price range. If your door is a single-hole model—that is, with a doorknob or lever and no deadbolt—the Yale Assure Lever (YRL256) is the smart lock to get. By Wirecutter | Earns commissions. The U-Bolt Pro is compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, but unlike the Assure Lock SL, it doesn’t work with Apple HomeKit or Samsung SmartThings. You can unlock it six different ways, including with a numerical code, in an app, through a physical keyway, and—the pièce de résistance—via fingerprint. This attractive smart lock is a product of Nest and Yale. Photo: Duncan Niederlitz. This feature makes the Yale a nice stepping stone if you like the idea of an electronic lock and feel you may want to upgrade to a smart version at a later date. To function, the Touch relies on proximity to your smartphone and a touch to its housing. A smart lock lets you go key-free and control your lock from afar. The August Connect allows the lock to work wirelessly with other smart devices and platforms, though not as many as the August Smart Lock Pro. This compact, versatile, and quiet smart lock’s top feature is a fast (though sometimes faulty) fingerprint reader, and its rubber number keys will please most anyone. Does this device contain inactive or active but unadvertised hardware such as cameras or microphones? The Lockly Vision is another smart lock that includes a built-in doorbell. For some people, especially those who live in urban environments, the risk is just not worth taking, and so opting for another smart lock may be the best route. All of the smart locks we tested can integrate somewhat with other smart devices, though not as much as other smart-home gadgets due to security concerns. The Yale Assure Lock SL (YRD256) Connected by August comes closest to hitting all the right notes in terms of convenience, reliability, and just plain good looks. The lock offers a wide array of customizations that others don’t have, such as volume control, language options, and a feature that automatically locks the door behind you. “They’re not for someone looking to automate their entire life,” Leimer told us. *At the time of publishing, the price was $250. The main downside to any modern … Our thinking has been that, depending on your environment, the actual security risk may be negligible, especially if the lock is set to auto-lock after a short period. August Smart Lock Pro (3rd Gen) + Connect Hub - Zwave, HomeKit & Alexa Compatible - Silver. We began our selection process by narrowing the field based on security ratings and manufacturer reputation. Wirecutter is reader-supported. The buttons on the Schlage are large and pronounced, and it’s easy to tell when one has been pressed. Does this device record and share location data? The Bridge also gives you the ability to use Alexa or Google Assistant with the lock, which in our tests worked well. The downside is that the keypad is difficult to use and it’s easy to miss a button, which in our testing forced us to start over with the code. The face of the U-Bolt Pro has durable but soft rubber number buttons that encircle a fingerprint reader in the center; the front face pulls down to reveal a hidden keyway, a nifty design move. (We’d also point out that everyone now lives in a ubiquitously connected world, and everything from your utilities to the entire global financial system is fully internet-connected.) The Yale Assure Lock SL (YRD256) Connected by August is fast, quiet, and completely keyless, and in contrast to many keypad models, its sleek, slim, glass-and-metal housing is stylish. Installing the included Connect Wi-Fi adapter is another way to enable remote access as well as compatibility with Alexa and Google Assistant voice control. In the company’s favor, it has a growing line of products, and in our experience it replied quickly to a customer service request and responded to questions about its security practices and policies with detailed information. It also offers wide compatibility with other smart-home devices. Only if you integrate with third-party platforms, No, and no API is available for third parties, Yes, if you choose to integrate with third-party platforms; customers may opt out of sharing data by emailing dataprivacy@allegion.com. For deadbolts, Grade 1 is the top ranking, reserved for a commercial-use lock with a 1-inch-thick latch bolt that’s able to take 10 strikes of 75 pounds and a million open/close cycles. If you only lock the door at night—or you’re the sort of person who leaves the house without forgetting anything, then drives off and returns only once that day—it might be a good option. You can create and share a custom code (or virtual e-key) for a houseguest, or even a last-minute visitor—no need to make physical copies of keys. The August Smart Lock Pro + Connect is the HomeKit smart lock pick in our guide to the best HomeKit-compatible devices. Simply press the padlock button to lock it when you leave. Fortunately, even limiting our search to models priced reasonably (under $200, approximately), we had multiple options from three established companies: Yale, Kwikset, and Schlage. This keypad smart lock allows for quick exit or entry without needing to carry keys (or even a smartphone). If these added features are appealing to you, we have a guide to smart locks. Parents with latchkey kids can keep track of when they get home from school (or a late-night party). Also included is a plug-in Connect Wi-Fi bridge, which becomes the intermediary between the lock and your home’s internet network. You can set up and manage almost all models in both categories by using a companion smartphone app, and some can integrate with smart-home platforms and controllers such as Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, or Samsung SmartThings; they might also allow you to control them through a third-party app that consolidates multiple smart devices into a single dashboard or interface. Of all the locks we looked at, the Yale YRD256 Assure Lock SL is the easiest to program, the most customizable, and the nicest looking. ... Wirecutter is a list of the best … Still, for everyday use it works well, and the fingerprint reader was flawless. Wyze turns on a few optional features by default that you should be aware of. Some can be installed inside the house to replace the deadbolt, for example, with an option to open either with your standard key still or the smartphone app. Nov 11, 2020 - 5 Recommendations. The other electronic locks are “as is,” so an upgrade to smart technology requires the purchase of an entirely new lock. You have to go to the FAQ page on the company’s website to get the full programming instructions (PDF). The Yale also offers the most customization. OK! It’s made up of Hardened molybdenum that makes it more resistance to sawing and cutting compared to cheaper locks. In our tests, we found using the app to control the lock and create codes—both while we were standing in front of it and when we were away from home—to be quick and easily understandable to anyone who has used a smartphone app. Other models, specifically the Kwiksets, were much harder to program and included taking apart the interior portion of the lock to access a programming button and tiny switches. Oddly, only one model we tested, the Schlage BE375, has booklet instructions. A smart lock lets you go key-free and control your door from afar. There are also benefits for those with kids too young to handle the responsibility of keeping a key safe and in their possession. We found the feel and function of the lock’s rubber number buttons to be superior to pecking numbers on the glass touchscreen of our runner-up pick, the Yale Assure Lock SL (YRD256). © 2021 Wirecutter, Inc., A New York Times Company, but you may not be able to have a smart lock trigger automatically unless you first input a code, Yale Assure Lock SL (YRD256) Connected by August, Yale Assure Lever (YRL256) Connected by August, Our pick: Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro (with Bridge), Runner-up: Yale Assure Lock SL (YRD256) Connected by August, Also great: Schlage Encode Smart WiFi Deadbolt, Yale Assure Lock Touchscreen Deadbolt (YRD226), owners having their door unlock at unwanted times, Building a Smart Home With Apple’s HomeKit, The Smart Home Devices the Wirecutter Staff Uses, The Best Smart Home Starter Kits to Buy Black Friday 2020. Wirecutter is reader-supported. An electronic lock opens via a code entered into a keypad or touchscreen. It is available in brass, bronze, or satin nickel. Pecking in your key code is simple, and the mechanism is among the quietest we’ve tested. We’ve found that the fingerprint reader works better in the spring and summer than in the fall and winter, perhaps due to differences in temperature or relative moisture levels. Even Leimer mentioned this to us: “It’s big and bulky and beefy looking.” The keyway is integrated into the thumb turn, creating a large protrusion out the front of the lock. It still needs a manual turn to retract the bolt. Wirecutter takes security and privacy issues seriously and, as much as possible, investigates how the companies whose products we recommend deal with customer data. The touchscreen buttons are easy to press, even with bulky gloves on. It also has a security grade of 2, which still meets our requirements but is lower than the other Schlage. Another important note: Use the August app as instructed, not the Yale app, which a few readers have found to be problematic or even nonfunctional. It can hold up to 25 unique codes and has the second-highest ANSI security rating. This gives a little time if you’re bringing groceries or packages in from the car or if you have kids in tow that slowly wander in the house behind you like little lost ducklings.