The Best Smart Locks: 4 Compared (and One to Skip)

RBE top pick

Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt

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The Schlage Encode Plus wins on security and no-hassle Wi-Fi with Apple Home Key, making it the safest all-round choice. The Aqara U200 is the smarter value if you want fingerprint entry and the broadest smart-home support for less.

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 maker specs 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 a low-cost deadbolt whose own page shows a lower security grade.

RBE top pick

Schlage

Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt

Buy it

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.

$$$ · premium

Why we like it

• Maker lists a BHMA AAA certified deadbolt, the top residential security grade, in a sturdy 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

Know before buying

• Bulky exterior escutcheon that some owners find dominates the door
• AA batteries drain faster than the rechargeable packs on newer rivals

Check price on Amazon Read our detailed assessment ↓

Aqara

Aqara Smart Lock U200

Buy it

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.

$$ · mid-range

Why we like it

• Most entry options here: fingerprint, PIN keypad, NFC card, app, and Apple Home Key
• Matter over Thread makes it cross-platform and future-proof
• Rechargeable battery rated by the maker for up to 6 months per charge at about 8 daily unlocks
• Fits many existing deadbolts, so exterior keyed access is retained

Know before buying

• Remote unlocking and automations rely on adding the Aqara Hub M3
• Owner reports note the app setup and automations have a learning curve

Find it on Amazon Read our detailed assessment ↓

August

August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen)

It depends

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.

$$ · mid-range

Why we like it

• Installs over your existing deadbolt in minutes, so exterior hardware and keys stay the same
• Built-in Wi-Fi, so no bridge is needed, with auto-lock and auto-unlock
• Compact interior unit that attaches over your existing deadbolt
• Works with Alexa, Google Home, and Apple Home

Know before buying

• 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

Check price on Amazon Read our detailed assessment ↓

We'd skip it

Wyze

Wyze Lock Bolt v2

Skip it

A low-cost fingerprint deadbolt with built-in Wi-Fi, but its own page lists only BHMA Grade 2 and no Apple Home Key or Matter.

Best for: Budget buyers on Android or Alexa who want fingerprint entry and accept a lower security grade.

$ · budget

Why we like it

• Fingerprint, touchscreen PIN, app, Alexa and Google Assistant, and a physical key all open it
• Built-in Wi-Fi, so no hub or bridge is listed for remote control
• Maker lists up to 8 months of battery life from the included 8 AA cells, with a USB-C emergency power port

Know before buying

• Maker lists BHMA Grade 2, a step below the AAA rating on the Schlage pick
• Smart-home support listed is Wyze automations, Google Home, and Alexa, with no Apple Home Key or Matter
• Maker lists IP53 weather resistance, and it replaces only a single-cylinder deadbolt

See our pick instead See it on Amazon anyway Read our detailed assessment ↓

How we judged the field

We don’t run our own lab. Instead we synthesize maker specifications 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, Wyze) change your exterior hardware and usually add a keypad or fingerprint reader, while retrofits (August and the Aqara U200) 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.

The Encode Plus is a BHMA AAA certified deadbolt, the top residential security grade, which speaks to 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.

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 cross-platform and future-proof. Owners like the rechargeable battery, which skips the drawer full of AAs, and the fact that it fits over your existing lock. Two caveats keep it from being the outright winner: getting remote unlocking working means adding the Aqara Hub M3, and owner reports note the app and automation setup take some patience. Get past that and it’s the most capable lock per dollar.

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, auto-lock and auto-unlock, and a compact interior unit. 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.

The Wyze Lock Bolt v2 is a low-cost deadbolt replacement with a tempered glass touchscreen keypad, fingerprint reader, built-in Wi-Fi, and a physical key, and the maker lists up to 8 months of battery life from the 8 AA cells in the box. The reason to skip it for a main entry door is on Wyze’s own page: it lists BHMA Grade 2, a step below the AAA rating on the Schlage pick. Its listed smart-home support is Wyze automations, Google Home, and Alexa, with no Apple Home Key or Matter, and the weather rating is IP53. For a side door, a rental unit or a buyer on Android who wants fingerprint entry for less, it can be a fair fit. For the front door, pick a lock with the higher grade.

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 BHMA AAA certified, 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 the Aqara 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 a BHMA Grade 1 or AAA style rating if the lock guards a main entry.
• 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 BHMA AAA certified, 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 skip the Wyze Lock Bolt v2 for a main entry door, since its own page lists a lower BHMA grade and no Apple Home Key.

Deciding between the top two? See our head-to-head: Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt vs Aqara Smart Lock U200.

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