🔒 Editor’s Picks · Smart Locks by What You Actually Need
Best Smart Locks of 2026
A smart lock is only as good as the door it’s installed on — a fingerprint reader means nothing if your door needs a full deadbolt swap, and an Apple Home Key lock is wasted on an Android household. Yale’s Assure Lock 2 remains the best all-around WiFi deadbolt for most buyers, Level’s retrofit locks let you keep your existing exterior hardware entirely untouched, and igloohome proves you don’t need Wi-Fi at all to manage access remotely. This guide covers 20 real smart locks organized by how you’d actually shop for one — not just brand recognition.
Not Sure Where to Start?
For most buyers, start with the Yale Assure Lock 2 — a proven WiFi deadbolt with keypad, app, and voice control, and enough Apple, Google, and Amazon ecosystem support to work with whatever smart home setup you already have.
6 Picks · Built-In WiFi, No Separate Hub Needed
These deadbolts connect straight to your home WiFi network out of the box — no separate smart home hub or bridge accessory required for remote access, app alerts, or voice control.
Yale Assure Lock 2 Smart WiFi Deadbolt
Good to Know: Yale’s current flagship WiFi deadbolt — keypad, app, and auto-lock in one unit, with a modular design that also supports an Apple Home Key module and Z-Wave add-ons if you want them later.
Heads Up: Confirm the specific listing you’re buying includes the WiFi module bundled in — some retailers sell it as a separate add-on.
August WiFi Smart Lock (4th Gen)
Good to Know: Built-in WiFi and DoorSense that confirms your door is actually closed, not just locked, backed by August’s long track record in the smart lock space.
Heads Up: Some installations still depend on your existing deadbolt’s exterior cylinder remaining compatible — measure your door’s backset before ordering.
Kwikset Halo Touch Fingerprint WiFi Smart Lock
Good to Know: Combines built-in WiFi with a fingerprint reader for up to 50 prints, plus a physical keyway as backup — no bridge or hub needed for remote access.
Heads Up: Fingerprint readers can struggle with very wet or very dry fingers in extreme weather — the backup keypad code and physical key cover that gap.
Kwikset Halo Keypad WiFi Smart Lock
Good to Know: The non-fingerprint version of the Halo Touch — same built-in WiFi and keypad entry at a lower price if biometric unlock isn’t a priority for you.
Heads Up: No fingerprint reader here — if that’s the feature you actually want, the Halo Touch above is worth the upgrade instead.
Schlage Encode WiFi Deadbolt
Good to Know: The base Encode line’s built-in WiFi, a lighted touchscreen keypad, and Schlage’s BHMA Grade 1 security rating — the same hardware pedigree as the Encode Plus, without the Apple Home Key module.
Heads Up: If Apple Home Key or a haptic touchscreen matters to you, see the Encode Plus in the ecosystem section below instead.
Wyze Lock Bolt WiFi Smart Deadbolt (v2)
Good to Know: Wyze’s most affordable smart deadbolt, with app control and auto-lock at a price well below most WiFi-native competitors on this list.
Heads Up: Full remote access requires Wyze’s separate Lock Bolt WiFi Bridge accessory, sold apart from the lock itself — factor that into the real total cost.
4 Picks · Built for a Specific Smart Home Ecosystem
These locks are built around a specific smart home standard — Apple’s Home Key, Google’s Matter-based Home app, or both — so the right pick here depends entirely on which ecosystem you’re already using.
Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt
Good to Know: One of the first deadbolts with Apple Home Key built in — tap an iPhone or Apple Watch to unlock, alongside the same touchscreen keypad and BHMA Grade 1 rating as the base Encode.
Heads Up: Apple Home Key needs a HomePod mini, Apple TV, or compatible hub on your network for full remote functionality — check your existing Apple setup first.
Yale Assure Lock 2 Plus Smart Deadbolt
Good to Know: The Apple Home Key version of Yale’s Assure Lock 2 — the same modular WiFi-ready deadbolt hardware, with NFC tap-to-unlock added for iPhone and Apple Watch.
Heads Up: Like the Encode Plus, Apple Home Key needs a compatible home hub for remote features — this isn’t a benefit if you’re not already in the Apple ecosystem.
Aqara Smart Lock U200
Good to Know: Supports both Matter, for Google, Samsung, and Amazon smart home apps, and Apple Home Key in the same lock — one of the few locks that genuinely covers both major ecosystems.
Heads Up: Full Matter functionality needs an Aqara or other Matter-compatible hub on your network — check compatibility with your existing smart home gear first.
Yale Smart Lock with Matter
Good to Know: Google’s own Matter-and-Thread-based smart lock, designed to pair specifically with the Google Home app and Nest Doorbell for a single unified interface.
Heads Up: Thread connectivity needs a Thread border router nearby — a Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) or Nest WiFi Pro handles this if you don’t already have one.
5 Picks · No Exterior Hardware Replacement
These locks mount on the inside of your door over your existing deadbolt or cylinder — your exterior keyway, house key, and door’s original look all stay exactly as they are.
Level Lock Invisible Smart Deadbolt
Good to Know: Fits entirely inside your existing deadbolt with nothing visible from outside except your original keyway — genuinely the most “invisible” smart lock on this list.
Heads Up: Installation requires more precise measuring than a standard deadbolt swap — check Level’s compatibility guide against your exact door prep before ordering.
Level Lock Pro Invisible Smart Deadbolt
Good to Know: Same invisible retrofit design as the standard Level Lock, adding a separate keypad accessory for code-based entry without needing a phone.
Heads Up: The keypad is sold and installed separately from the lock body — budget for both pieces together, not just the lock’s own price.
Level Bolt Retrofit Smart Deadbolt
Good to Know: Level’s most minimal design — replaces only the deadbolt’s internal mechanism, with nothing added to the outside or inside faceplate of the door.
Heads Up: No standalone keypad option exists for the Bolt — entry is phone, key fob, or physical key only.
Nuki Smart Lock (US Edition)
Good to Know: Mounts over your existing single-cylinder deadbolt in under 15 minutes and removes just as easily — a genuinely non-destructive upgrade if you don’t own the door.
Heads Up: Nuki is a newer entrant to the US market than Level — check current US customer support and warranty terms before buying.
SwitchBot Lock WiFi Smart Deadbolt
Good to Know: Fits over your existing deadbolt in minutes without replacing your exterior hardware, with built-in WiFi and Bluetooth — a strong fit for Airbnbs and vacation rentals per its own listing.
Heads Up: This is SwitchBot’s standard lock, not the higher-end Lock Pro — fingerprint access and Matter support require SwitchBot’s separate Lock Pro model and its Hub 2 accessory.
4 Picks · Unlock Without a Phone, Code, or Key
Every lock in this section reads a fingerprint as its primary or headline unlock method — useful for households where remembering a code or carrying a phone isn’t realistic for every family member.
Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro WiFi Fingerprint Smart Deadbolt
Good to Know: Combines a fingerprint reader, keypad, and built-in WiFi in one deadbolt — no separate bridge accessory needed for remote access, unlike some competing fingerprint locks.
Heads Up: Confirm “WiFi” is built into the specific listing you’re buying — Ultraloq’s WiFi module has historically shipped as a separate add-on on some models.
Lockly Secure Pro Fingerprint Smart Deadbolt
Good to Know: Pairs a fingerprint reader with Lockly’s 3D Fingerprint Sensor and a patented keypad design meant to resist “smudge attacks” that can reveal a PIN from fingerprint oil patterns.
Heads Up: Lockly’s app and firmware updates have historically lagged some competitors — check current app store reviews before buying if smart home integration is a priority.
Yale Assure Lock 2 Touch Fingerprint Smart Deadbolt
Good to Know: The fingerprint version of Yale’s Assure Lock 2 — the same modular, WiFi-ready hardware as the standard Assure Lock 2, with a fingerprint reader added to the keypad.
Heads Up: Like the base Assure Lock 2, full WiFi remote access may depend on which specific bundle you buy.
Eufy Smart Lock S230 Fingerprint WiFi Deadbolt
Good to Know: Built-in WiFi and a fingerprint reader backed by a genuinely long-rated one-year battery life, plus BHMA security certification and IP65 weatherproofing for exposed front doors.
Heads Up: The S230 has no camera — Eufy’s separate S330 model adds a built-in video peephole if that’s what you’re actually looking for.
1 Pick · Built for Managing Access Without a Phone Call
Property managers and Airbnb hosts need something different from a homeowner’s smart lock: time-limited codes you can issue remotely, that still work even if the lock’s WiFi connection drops.
igloohome Deadbolt 2E
Good to Know: Generates time-sensitive PIN codes and Bluetooth keys that work even without an active WiFi or internet connection at the property — built specifically for landlords and short-term rental hosts managing access remotely.
Heads Up: Codes are generated and scheduled in advance through the igloohome app — this isn’t a real-time “unlock now” remote-access lock like the WiFi-native picks above.
🛠 What to Know Before You Buy a Smart Lock
📐 Measure Your Door Before You Shop
Backset (the distance from the door’s edge to the center of the deadbolt hole), door thickness, and whether you have a single-cylinder or double-cylinder deadbolt all determine which locks will actually fit — most listed specs assume a standard 2 3/8″ or 2 3/4″ backset and a 1 3/8″–1 3/4″ door thickness.
🚪 Retrofit Locks Trade Visible Change for Stricter Compatibility
Level- and Nuki-style locks that mount inside your existing deadbolt look completely unchanged from outside, but they’re pickier about exact cylinder and door specs than a full deadbolt replacement — check the compatibility guide, not just the marketing photos.
📶 WiFi-Native and Hub-Dependent Aren’t the Same Thing
A lock with built-in WiFi connects straight to your router; a lock that’s only Bluetooth or Z-Wave needs a separate hub or bridge for remote access and app alerts away from home — factor that accessory into the real cost.
🔑 Apple Home Key and Matter Aren’t Universal Yet
A lock with Apple Home Key only helps if you’re already using Apple’s Home app with a compatible hub, and Matter-based locks still generally need a Thread border router nearby — check what you already own before paying extra for a feature you can’t fully use.
What is the best smart lock in 2026?
It depends on what you need. The Yale Assure Lock 2 is the best all-around WiFi deadbolt for most buyers; Level’s retrofit locks are the best fit if you want to keep your door’s existing exterior hardware completely unchanged; and igloohome stands out specifically for property managers who need to issue access remotely without relying on the lock staying connected to WiFi. There is no single “best” lock — the right pick depends on your door, your smart home ecosystem, and how you plan to manage access.
Do smart locks work during a power outage or WiFi outage?
Yes, for the most part. Nearly every smart lock on this list runs on standard batteries, not household power, and most also include a physical keyway as backup even when the electronics are dead. A WiFi outage generally only affects remote access and app alerts — the keypad, fingerprint reader, or physical key on the door itself still works locally.
Do I need a separate hub for a smart lock?
It depends on the lock. Locks with built-in WiFi, like the Yale Assure Lock 2, August WiFi Smart Lock, and the Kwikset Halo line, connect directly to your home network with no extra hardware. Locks that rely on Bluetooth, Z-Wave, or Matter/Thread, including some Ultraloq, SwitchBot, and Yale Matter models, need a separate hub or bridge accessory for full remote access away from home.
Can I use my existing house key with a smart lock?
Most smart deadbolts, including every retrofit pick in this guide (Level, Nuki, SwitchBot), keep your existing exterior keyway completely unchanged, so your current house key still works as a backup. Full deadbolt replacements like the Yale Assure Lock 2 or Schlage Encode line typically come with new keys for a new exterior cylinder, so you’d need to rekey or hand out new keys to anyone who needs physical-key access.
What’s the difference between Apple Home Key and Matter?
Apple Home Key is Apple’s own NFC-based tap-to-unlock standard, built specifically for iPhone and Apple Watch inside Apple’s Home app. Matter is a separate, cross-platform smart home standard backed by Google, Amazon, Samsung, and others, meant to work across multiple ecosystems rather than being tied to one phone brand. A lock can support one, both, or neither — check which your household actually uses before choosing based on this feature.
How does NME test and rank smart locks?
NME’s smart lock rankings are based on our five-criterion framework: validated performance, real-world reliability, value, brand reputation and warranty coverage, and use-case fit. We verify install requirements, connectivity claims, and current product availability directly against manufacturer documentation before publishing. See our full methodology for details on how we research and rank every category on this site.
Ready to Lock In the Right Smart Lock?
The Yale Assure Lock 2 is our top overall pick for most buyers — a proven WiFi deadbolt with enough ecosystem flexibility to work with whatever smart home setup you already have.
