The best smart locks make your home safer. These locks not only allow keyless entry, but they can also keep track of who comes and goes—and when they do so. After weeks of testing 11 smart locks, I selected the Level Lock+ as the best smart lock overall because it is easy to use, supports Apple home keys and doesn’t look like a sci-fi prop stuck to your front door. And the Defiant Smart Wi-Fi Deadbolt is my pick for best value smart lock, for delivering all the basics at a reasonable price.

The best smart locks do much more than just keep your home secure.

Smart locks might look difficult to install, and that seems to be one thing holding shoppers back from jumping in with both feet. According to Adam Wright, research manager for Smart Home and Office Devices at IDC, “Many consumers aren’t confident in their ability to change the lock and install a new one. They typically seek out the help of a professional installer, which inhibits adoption.”

As you’ll see below, I had no difficulties when installing the 11 locks I tested for this roundup; I found the process quite easy to do on my own with a couple of simple tools. After many hours of testing out smart locks, their apps and the smart home systems they fit into, I chose the following winners:

Level

Type: Single-cylinder deadbolt | Connectivity: Bluetooth | Smart home integrations: Amazon Alexa (via Amazon Sidewalk device) and Apple HomeKit | Entry options: Physical key, touch, NFC keycards, app, keypad (optional) | Power: Lithium CR2 | Finishes: Matte Black, Satin Nickel | Size: 2.4 x 2.4 x 1.1 inches (front), 2.4 x 2.4 x 1.2 inches (rear) 

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The Level Lock+ excels as a smart lock precisely because it doesn’t look like a smart lock. It looks like an ordinary lock from both the outside and inside. While this lock’s appearance doesn’t scream high-tech, it does a great job of using the latest technologies to make it easier to control who gets in and out.

The Level Lock+ offers several smart options for unlocking a door, but you can also use a ... [+] traditional metal key.

Instead of having complex technological elements visible on the lock itself, the Level Lock+ takes an innovative approach to hiding all its tech and mechanical bits inside the lock. Literally. Where most smart locks have a large back that holds the batteries, the electronics and the motors that move the deadbolt, the Level Lock+ fits all this into a tiny mechanism that fits in the borehole of your door, in the same space where the bolt mechanism fits on a manual lock.

This means all the complicated stuff is invisible and tucked away, leaving the lock’s design looking clean and elegant, and as normal as any other standard lock. The lock lacks any logos or branding, with a standard keyway and thumb turn.

The Level Lock+ was easy to install, with its components fitting snugly into the borehole and over a latch on the bolt mechanism. A screw holds the front and back parts of the lock together, and bolts go through the lock mechanism. Finally, the thumb turn fits on the back with a magnet.

The big benefit to the Level Lock+ is its flexibility: It offers more ways than most competitors to open your lock. The lock comes with a physical key (it includes two standard keys) and keycards that you program through the Level mobile app and tap on the front of the lock to open. Or you can use Level’s mobile app to allow entry to anyone using an iPhone or Android phone that has the app installed. Once authorized, you can just walk up to the door, tap the outside of the lock (leaving the phone in your pocket) and the lock will open.

With an iPhone using Apple home keys, granting access is simpler still, since iOS 15 and up can bypass the Level app and store the encrypted key in Apple Wallet. Just walk up to the lock, hold your iPhone or Apple Watch (Series 4 or later) up to the lock and touch the outside.

Android users will need to use the Level app to receive a key, but the app makes it easy to add authorized users and to revoke access at will. You can also email keys to a guest before they arrive, so they can enter when you aren’t there. When they are gone, you can delete the key so it can’t be used again. You can also use keycards (two are included) to unlock the door. Level also offers an optional $79 keypad that adds key code support. The Level Lock+ lacks integrated Wi-Fi, but it can connect to Amazon Alexa over Bluetooth if you have an Amazon device that supports Amazon Sidewalk (such as the Ring Video Doorbell). Level told us it will add support for the new home network standard Matter this year, and when it does, the company expects to support Google Home as well. (See below for more on Matter.)

One drawback to the Level Lock+ is its price. But its high price is justified by its unique attributes, including its trim appearance and its flexible access options (including the app, Apple home keys and keycard). That flexibility is worth a lot, and it is what makes the Level Lock+ my pick for the best smart lock overall.

The Home Depot

Type: Single-cylinder deadbolt | Connectivity: 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Smart home integrations: Amazon Alexa, Google Home, The Home Depot Hubspace | Entry options: Physical key, key codes (11), app | Power: 4 AA batteries | Finishes: Satin Nickel, Matte Black, Aged Bronze | Size: 5 x 2.6 x 0.8 inches (front), 6.2 x 2.6 x 1.1 inches (rear) 

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If you need to keep expenses low but want the conveniences of a smart lock, the Defiant Smart Wi-Fi Deadbolt (sold exclusively at The Home Depot) is a simple smart lock that lets you control access to your home without spending a fortune to do so. It isn’t the fanciest, best-looking or most sophisticated lock of the bunch, but for less than $100, this model makes its mark as my pick for best value smart lock.

Despite its low price, the lock looks attractive and well designed. I tested the round design of the touch-screen keypad in Aged Bronze, which matched well with my weathered front door. It’s mostly black but with bronze highlights that created a texture that worked well with my existing bronze door lever. The front part of the lock is thin: It measures less than an inch thick. If you prefer a more modern look, there is a square version as well, plus Matte Black and Satin Nickel finishes in addition to the Aged Bronze.

The Defiant Smart Wi-Fi Deadbolt is a lot cost way to add smart locks to your home.

The rear of the lock—the part that sits inside your home—is less attractive than the front. It’s big and ungainly, measuring over 6 inches tall and made of plastic. The only part that doesn’t feel like a visual downgrade is the thumb turn (the handle that you turn to open the lock from the inside), which shares the same stylish finish as found on the lock’s front. The top of the back slides up to reveal the battery compartment, which holds four AA batteries, a reset button and a QR code to set up the lock with the Home Depot’s Hubspace smart home system.

The Defiant was simple to install. The smaller front plate fitted easily onto the front of my door, with two bolts on the backplane (the metal plate on the back of the door) holding it in place. The larger back part of the lock clipped onto the backplane. A single cable connects the two; it feeds through a dedicated hole in the backplane so it won’t get tangled in the bolt mechanism. If you buy this lock, though, don’t forget to snag some batteries, too: They’re not included, a concession to keep the price down.

The lock does not have Wi-Fi built in. Instead, you use the included Hubspace Smart Plug to create a gateway to the internet. This means that the plug has to be connected within about 30 feet of the lock if you want to control it remotely via the Hubspace app.

I found Hubspace’s smart home system and corresponding apps functional and easy to use, but they lack the polish of systems like Google’s Nest or Apple’s HomeKit. The Hubspace app let me set up door codes for single-use or unlimited uses. There is no way to set codes with a time limit or invite other users to manage codes. As with other models, I could always revoke a code at will—useful since the Defiant has a limit of 11 codes. With one master code and 10 user codes, those could run out quickly if you want to give every family member their own code, plus one for the dog walker, one for a contractor, and so on.

The lock integrates well with Amazon Alexa and Google Home systems: You can check the lock’s status, unlock it or lock it on command. There is no support for Apple’s HomeKit system, though.

The Defiant Smart Wi-Fi Deadbolt is a good pick for the value-conscious homeowner who wants to add multiple ways for someone to get into the house: app, key code or a physical key. It doesn’t offer the more sophisticated features of more expensive models, though: It has no fingerprint reader, and it only offers 11 key codes. There is also no way to give someone a digital key—it is physical keys or key codes only.

Amazon

Type: Single-cylinder deadbolt | Connectivity: 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Smart home integrations: Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Home, Airbnb | Entry options: Physical key, key codes (250), app | Power: 4 AA batteries | Finishes: Satin Nickel, Bronze, Black Suede | Size: 4.9 x 2.5 x 0.8 inches (front), 4.9 x 2.7 x 1.6 inches (rear)

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If you want a smart lock that provides multiple access options, the Yale Assure Lock 2 with Wi-Fi has a versatile, customizable key code system that supports up to 250 entry codes, the most of any lock tested, earning it my pick for best key code smart lock. This stylish lock has a streamlined design that looks great on old or new doors, and it works with most smart home systems.

The Yale lock comes in several versions. I tested the touch-screen manual lock version in the Black Suede finish, but other permutations offer a backlit touch screen or keypad design, with or without keys. The models that lack a physical key entirely completely skip the keyway and manual key entry, making for a smaller, cleaner design.

The Yale Assure Lock 2 offers an unobtrusive design.

The manual key version costs about $180, but that does not include the $80 Wi-Fi module that adds smart home support. The $240 Yale Assure Lock 2 with Wi-Fi I tested includes the Wi-Fi module that connects the lock to Amazon Alexa, Google Home and Apple HomeKit smart home systems (but not Apple home keys).

The lock itself was easy to install. I removed my old lock and attached the front panel and the bolt mechanism, then the back plate that holds the lock in place. A single cable connects the two parts alongside the bolt mechanism.

This lock looks great from the outside, but the inside is still rather large and clumsy compared to more invisible locks like the Level Lock+. The all-black front panel of the keyed touch-screen lock looked attractive on my door, measuring just under 5 inches high. Even the keyway is black, so it has a slightly mysterious look. Touch the Yale logo or tap on the panel a couple of times, and the touch buttons light up, ready to accept your code. Some visitors found that extra step a little confusing.

The rear of the lock is larger and bulkier than the front. It shares the same solid metal construction and attractive design, but a plastic panel over the battery compartment that holds four AA batteries (included) detracts from the look. Below that panel is a large, comfortable thumb turn and a button that, when pressed, stops the auto lock from activating. This is useful if you are carrying groceries from the car that require multiple trips.

I found it easy to control and program the Yale Assure Lock 2 with the Yale Access app (available on iOS and Android). The app works to create key codes (up to 250), monitor the lock’s status and access the lock with your phone. It generates six-digit codes automatically, but you can also set your own four- to eight-digit codes.

The app also facilitates connecting to smart home systems via Wi-Fi. I found this integration worked without issues across all three systems. Yale even offers an Apple Watch version of the app, so you can open and close the lock from your watch. But it’s the Yale Assure Lock 2’s overall design and its insane number of key codes that make this model stand out and my pick for best key code lock.

Best Buy

Type: Single-cylinder deadbolt | Connectivity: Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi (optional) | Smart home integrations: Amazon Alexa, Google Home | Entry options: Physical key, fingerprints (99), app | Power: 4 AA batteries | Finishes: Satin Nickel | Size: 3.6 x 2.6 inches (front), 7.4 x 3.1 inches (rear) 

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Fingerprint locks are the sci-fi gadget that springs to mind when most people think of smart locks: Touch a finger and a benevolent AI scans you and admits you to the underground bunker. While the benevolent AI bit is still being beta-tested, fingerprint locks are now commonplace. My pick for those who want to use their fingers as keys is the Lockly Flex Touch, an elegantly designed smart lock that provides fingerprint access without fuss.

The Lockly Flex Touch presents as a simple Satin Nickel deadbolt, with one addition: Below the manual keyway sits the small biometric fingerprint reader. An LED around it glows green when scanning, a process that takes less than a second. When it recognizes your finger, the LED blinks green and the lock opens. If your finger is not authorized, it blinks red.

Your finger serves as your key with this smart lock.

The back part of the lock is a little larger, measuring 7.4 inches high. Its top slides off to reveal the battery compartment (which takes four AAs, included) and several buttons used to program and reset the lock.

Installing the lock was mostly hassle-free, with a single cable connecting the front and back. The tricky part came when attaching the cable: It has some slack, so it gets trapped between the door and the back part of the lock, and you have to tuck it out of the way. Since the Flex Touch doesn’t have Wi-Fi built in, if you want to control the lock remotely, you need to first buy and install the optional $80 Wi-Fi Hub that plugs into a wall socket up to 20 feet from the lock. Only then can you connect the lock to the hub and access Wi-Fi.

The Lockly mobile app is well designed, with an easy-to-navigate interface for handling managing users and scanning fingerprints on the lock itself. This takes a bit of time, as you have to move your fingertip around and scan it six times to make sure that the scan is accurate. Lockly also recommends that users scan two fingers so you have a backup registered. If you have multiple Lockly locks, you can transfer fingerprint scans between them. I found this process hit-or-miss, though; when I tried it, several times the scan didn’t transfer, and the app produced a timeout error. The app also allows you to close or open the lock remotely, as well as provide a virtual key for use with the Lockly app.

This lock can integrate with Amazon Alexa or Google Home smart homes, but it lacks support for Apple’s HomeKit. If you have an iPhone, you can use the app to control the lock, but you can’t use Siri voice commands or use the newer Apple home keys system.

The Lockly Flex Touch is my top pick for fingerprint entry because it works simply and without fuss: It looks like a normal lock with a small extra part for the fingerprint scanner. It’s an understated piece of technology that works well to add fingerprint scanning and remote control (with the optional Wi-Fi module) to your front door.

I tested seven other smart locks that might still be worth your consideration.

This smart deadbolt comes in three finishes and can be controlled using a smartphone app.

While not cheap, this smart lock has a built in HD video camera and also serves as a smart video ... [+] doorbell. It also offers multiple ways to lock and unlock the door.

The Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro offers a built in fingerprint scanner, numeric keypad and more.

The August Smart Lock Pro + Connect offers a contemporary design with Wi-Fi capabilities for remote ... [+] access.

I have reviewed consumer tech gear since 1992, back when 3.5-inch floppy disks were cool and laptops still weighed 9 pounds. Since then, I have tested a diverse range of products for publications like Wired, Tom’s Guide and PCWorld, spanning the gamut from automatic coffee makers to Wi-Fi routers. At Reviewed, I created new tests for products like washing machines and televisions. I’ve reviewed thousands of products over the years, and I understand how the right technology can make a difference to daily life.

To test smart locks, I used them on the front door of my house. I examined how easy they were to install on my vintage door, replacing the old-school manual lock already in place. I then used them over several weeks, noting how easy it was to add different users, scan fingerprints (where applicable) and use the lock. I tested both the electronic and manual ways of getting in and out, using the thumb turn on the back of the lock and the manual key on the front.

I narrowed the field of options to smart locks that work with or replace the single-cylinder deadbolt locks most homes use. Other types of smart locks are available, such as those that replace lever locks, but these are much less common.

All the locks I tested support Wi-Fi, which allows you to control and monitor the lock remotely. The level of Wi-Fi integration varies widely, though. The Defiant and Yale Assure Lock 2 include an intermediary device that connects the lock to Wi-Fi. The Lockly Flex Touch requires an $80 optional Wi-Fi module to connect to the internet; the module has the added advantage of connecting multiple Lockly locks to the internet at the same time. All smart locks work on the 2.4 Ghz Wi-Fi frequency. While that frequency can often get crowded with the growing number of smart devices that use it, I had no issues with this in my testing.

Many older doors have roughly cut or shaped boreholes that go through the door because older locks don’t need this hole to be completely clear. The smart locks I tested require a clear borehole, as they fill the borehole space completely. If you need to widen your borehole, you can do so with a lock installation kit that includes drill bits.

Once I installed each lock, I tested the corresponding app that manages the lock’s settings and access controls. I created entry codes or digital keys, and I managed the list of people who could come and go. I also tested how easily the lock could connect to my smart home system, using the smart home apps from Amazon, Google and Apple to control the locks. I weighed all these factors to determine which lock provided the best balance of features, ease of use and flexibility.

The Forbes Vetted tech team strives to offer accurate and trustworthy product assessments that are the result of intensive research and hands-on testing. Our writers and editors have years of experience writing about a broad range of consumer electronics and have the background and expertise to help you make the best buying decisions possible.

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