Tech & Gadgets
The Best Smart Locks: 4 Compared (and One to Skip)
We compared four current smart locks on security, keyless entry, smart-home fit, install effort, and battery to find the honest winners.
The verdict in 30 seconds
What mattered most
- Physical security
- Keyless entry methods
- Connectivity
- Smart-home platforms
- Installation
- Power
Smart locks in 2026 split into two camps: full deadbolt replacements with built-in keypads and phone-tap unlocking, and low-profile retrofits that keep your existing key. We weighed independent testing and owner reports across security grade, entry methods, connectivity, and day-to-day reliability. Two of these are easy recommendations, one suits a specific buyer, and one is gorgeous but hard to justify.
The most secure of the group, with hub-free Wi-Fi and Apple Home Key baked in.
Best for: Apple households that want the strongest security and don't want to manage a hub.
- Independent testing and owner reports consistently rate it the toughest here on physical security (commercial-grade build)
- Built-in Wi-Fi with no separate hub or bridge required
- Native Apple Home Key tap-to-unlock plus Matter, Alexa, and Google support
- Backlit touchscreen keypad works for guests without a phone
- Bulky exterior escutcheon that some owners find dominates the door
- AA batteries drain faster than the rechargeable packs on newer rivals
The value pick: fingerprint, keypad, NFC, and Matter over Thread without a premium price.
Best for: Anyone who wants the most features and the widest smart-home compatibility for the money.
- Most entry options here: fingerprint, PIN keypad, NFC card, app, and Apple Home Key
- Matter over Thread makes it the most cross-platform and future-proof of the four
- USB-C rechargeable battery that owners report lasting months per charge
- Fits many existing deadbolts, so exterior keyed access is retained
- Full remote control and Home Key rely on adding an Aqara hub
- Owner reports note the app setup and automations have a learning curve
A renter-friendly retrofit that keeps your key and hardware but skips a built-in keypad.
Best for: Renters and anyone who must keep their existing keyed cylinder and landlord's hardware.
- Installs over your existing deadbolt in minutes, so exterior hardware and keys stay the same
- Built-in Wi-Fi with reliable auto-unlock geofencing that owners praise
- 45% smaller than the old Pro, so the interior knob is far less obtrusive
- Works with Alexa, Google Home, and Apple Home
- No built-in keypad or fingerprint; you pay extra for the separate keypad accessory
- No native NFC Home Key tap, so guests without the app lean on a physical key
The invisible smart lock looks stunning but costs the most and does the least out of the box.
Best for: Design purists on Apple who prize an invisible look over value and raw security.
- Electronics hide entirely inside the door, so it looks like an ordinary deadbolt
- Native Apple Home Key tap-to-unlock at the cylinder
- Keeps a normal key and thumbturn for a clean, familiar feel
- Highest price of the group, and Wi-Fi and a keypad are separate add-ons
- Independent testing and owner reports flag it as less physically robust than the Schlage
- Bluetooth-first range means remote features need the extra bridge
| Criteria | Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt Top pick | Aqara Smart Lock U200 | August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen) | Level Lock+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verdict | Buy it | Buy it | It depends | Skip it |
| Best for | Apple households that want the strongest security and don't want to manage a hub. | Anyone who wants the most features and the widest smart-home compatibility for the money. | Renters and anyone who must keep their existing keyed cylinder and landlord's hardware. | Design purists on Apple who prize an invisible look over value and raw security. |
| Price tier | $$$ · premium | $$ · mid-range | $$ · mid-range | $$$$ · flagship |
| Physical security | Strongest here (commercial-grade) | Solid mid-tier | Retrofit keeps your existing bolt | Weakest of the four per reports |
| Keyless entry methods | Touchscreen keypad + Home Key | Fingerprint, keypad, NFC + Home Key | App only (keypad sold separately) | Home Key + key (keypad add-on) |
| Connectivity | Built-in Wi-Fi, hub-free | Thread; hub for remote/Home Key | Built-in Wi-Fi, hub-free | Bluetooth; bridge for Wi-Fi |
| Smart-home platforms | Matter, Apple, Alexa, Google | Matter, Apple, Alexa, Google | Apple, Alexa, Google | Apple Home Key focus |
| Installation | Full deadbolt swap | Fits many deadbolts | Interior retrofit, keeps key | Full deadbolt swap, hidden |
| Power | AA batteries | USB-C rechargeable | CR123A batteries | Single CR2 battery |
| Design/visibility | Large, prominent keypad | Compact keypad module | Small interior knob | Invisible, looks standard |
| Price tier | $$$ · premium | $$ · mid-range | $$ · mid-range | $$$$ · flagship |
Which one is right for you?
- Apple households that want the strongest security and don't want to manage a hub. Buy it Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt
- Anyone who wants the most features and the widest smart-home compatibility for the money. Buy it Aqara Smart Lock U200
- Renters and anyone who must keep their existing keyed cylinder and landlord's hardware. It depends August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen)
- Design purists on Apple who prize an invisible look over value and raw security. Skip it Level Lock+
How we judged the field
We don’t run our own lab. Instead we synthesize independent testing and aggregated owner reports, then weigh the factors that actually decide whether you’ll be happy a year in: how physically secure the lock is, how many ways you can get in without a phone, how it connects to your home, how hard it is to install, and how the battery holds up. Smart locks live outdoors and get used every single day, so reliability and finish matter as much as headline features.
A useful early split: full deadbolt replacements (Schlage, Aqara, Level) change your exterior hardware and usually add a keypad or fingerprint reader, while retrofits (August) keep your existing key and only change the inside. Neither is automatically better, but the choice narrows the field fast depending on whether you own or rent.
Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt — buy
Across independent testing and owner reports, the Encode Plus is the one that keeps coming up as the most physically solid lock in this group, with a commercial-grade build that shrugs off the kick-and-pry attacks that worry most buyers. It pairs that with built-in Wi-Fi that needs no hub, a bright touchscreen keypad for guests, and native Apple Home Key so you can tap your iPhone or Watch to get in. Matter, Alexa, and Google support round it out. The honest downsides are size and power: it’s a large, prominent unit, and its AA batteries don’t last as long as the rechargeable packs on newer rivals. If security and simple setup top your list, this is the safe pick.
Aqara Smart Lock U200 — buy
The U200 is the value standout because it does almost everything the pricier locks do, for less. You get fingerprint, PIN keypad, NFC card, app, and Apple Home Key entry, plus Matter over Thread, which makes it the most cross-platform and future-proof lock here. Owners like the USB-C rechargeable battery, which skips the drawer full of AAs, and the fact that it fits many existing deadbolts. Two caveats keep it from being the outright winner: getting full remote control and Home Key working generally means adding an Aqara hub, and owner reports note the app and automation setup take some patience. Get past that and it’s the most capable lock per dollar.
August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen) — it depends
The August is a different animal: instead of replacing your deadbolt, it clamps onto the inside and turns the existing thumbturn, so your exterior hardware and keys never change. That makes it the obvious choice for renters and anyone who can’t or won’t swap out the whole lock. It has built-in Wi-Fi, well-liked auto-unlock geofencing, and it’s far smaller than the old Pro model. But it’s a conditional recommendation for a reason: there’s no built-in keypad or fingerprint reader, so guests without the app fall back on a physical key unless you buy the separate keypad, and there’s no tap-to-unlock Home Key. Right lock, but only for the right situation.
Level Lock+ — skip
The Level Lock+ is the most beautiful lock here precisely because you can’t see it: all the electronics hide inside the door, leaving what looks like an ordinary deadbolt with a normal key and thumbturn, plus Apple Home Key at the cylinder. The problem is value and substance. It carries the highest price of the four, yet Wi-Fi and a keypad are separate add-ons, and it’s Bluetooth-first so remote features lean on an extra bridge. On top of that, independent testing and owner reports rate it less physically robust than the Schlage. Unless the invisible look is the whole point for you, you’re paying more to get less.
Schlage Encode Plus vs Aqara U200: which should you buy?
These are the two we’d steer most people toward, and the decision is refreshingly clear. Buy the Schlage Encode Plus if security and no-fuss setup matter most: it’s the toughest lock here, its Wi-Fi needs no hub, and Apple Home Key plus a keypad cover guests easily. Its costs are size, price, and AA batteries.
Buy the Aqara U200 if you want the most ways to unlock and the widest compatibility for less money. Fingerprint entry, a rechargeable battery, and Matter over Thread give it real day-to-day and future-proofing advantages, as long as you’re comfortable adding a hub and spending a little time in the app. In short: Schlage for peace of mind, Aqara for features and value.
What to look for
- Security grade: Look for commercial or heavy-duty ratings if the lock guards a main entry; it’s the difference that matters most.
- Entry methods: Decide whether you need a keypad or fingerprint for guests, or whether phone and key are enough.
- Hub or no hub: Built-in Wi-Fi is simplest; Thread and Bluetooth locks may need a hub or bridge for remote access.
- Install type: Retrofits keep your key and suit renters; full replacements let you add keypads and new finishes.
- Power: Rechargeable packs are convenient; replaceable cells are easy to swap in a pinch. Either way, check that the app warns you early.
- Ecosystem fit: Confirm Apple Home Key, Alexa, Google, or Matter support matches the smart home you already run.
Our final take
Most buyers should get the Schlage Encode Plus. It’s the most secure lock in this comparison, its hub-free Wi-Fi keeps setup painless, and Apple Home Key plus a keypad make daily use easy for the whole household. If you’d rather spend less and get more entry options, the Aqara U200 is the smarter value, with fingerprint unlocking and the broadest compatibility, provided you don’t mind adding a hub. Choose the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock only if you must keep your existing key and hardware, and pass on the Level Lock+ unless an invisible look is worth paying the most to get the least.
Questions, answered
Do smart locks work if the Wi-Fi or power goes out?
Yes. All four keep working locally when the internet drops; you just lose remote control from your phone until it returns. The Schlage and Aqara keypads, the Aqara fingerprint reader, Apple Home Key taps, and physical keys still function. Because they run on batteries, a household power outage doesn't lock you out either.
Which of these is best for a renter?
The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock. It retrofits onto the inside of your existing deadbolt, so the exterior hardware and your landlord's keys stay exactly as they were and it's easy to remove when you move out. The trade-off is no built-in keypad, so budget for the separate keypad accessory if you want code entry.
What is Apple Home Key and which of these support it?
Home Key stores a digital key in your iPhone or Apple Watch so you tap the phone to the lock to unlock, similar to Apple Pay. The Schlage Encode Plus, Aqara U200, and Level Lock+ all support it natively; the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock works with Apple Home but not tap-to-unlock Home Key. Aqara typically needs its hub for the Home Key feature.
Do I need a separate hub or bridge?
It depends on the lock. The Schlage Encode Plus and August have Wi-Fi built in and need no hub. The Aqara U200 uses Thread and generally needs an Aqara hub for full remote access and Home Key. The Level Lock+ is Bluetooth-first and needs an add-on bridge for Wi-Fi and remote features.
How long do the batteries last?
Owner reports generally put all four in the several-months-per-charge range under normal use, though heavy keypad and auto-unlock activity shortens it. The Aqara's USB-C rechargeable pack is the most convenient to top up, while the Schlage and August use replaceable cells. All four warn you in the app before the battery runs low.
