Best smart locks for 2020

What do you get if you add some smarts to your door lock? A smart lock that makes your home more secure and flexible. You can be notified when people get home, let people in without a key, and generally have more control over who comes and goes in your home. 

For the ultimate in safety and security, combine one of these best smart locks with a compatible video doorbell and you'll be able to see who is at the door and let them in if you want to.

After spending more than 30 hours evaluating and testing a dozen models, we found that the best smart lock overall is the August Smart Lock Pro, which is easy to install, easy to use, and supports all of the major smart home systems, such as Alexa and Google Assistant. The Pro looks attractive and doesn’t replace your old lock cylinder, so you don’t have to swap out your old keys.

For those who want a smart lock on a budget, the August Smart Lock is our top pick. It’s significantly cheaper than the Pro version, but has most of the same features, with the only major omission being HomeKit support. However, you’ll want to also purchase the August Connect to link it to your Wi-Fi network, so that you can monitor and control the lock remotely and link it with other smart-home devices.

Those who want a lock that can be opened without a key will like the Kwikset Obsidian, a simple, straightforward lock that uses a code rather than a key. The device has a clean, simple design that looks great on a home office door or storage space. The Kwikset has only basic smart home connectivity, though: you’ll need a Z-Wave hub to trigger it remotely.

There are more great smart locks on the way that were announced at CES 2020, such as the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock. It's 45% smaller than its predecessor and has a built-in Wi-Fi connection, so you no longer need a separate bridge. Yale also announced its new Halo Touch smart lock, which can be opened using your fingerprint. 

Here are the best smart locks you can buy right now.

Best smart locks to buy now

1. August Smart Lock Pro Connect

Lock Type: Deadbolt | Smart Home Compatibility: Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomeKit | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Z-Wave Plus | Number Pad: Optional | Alarm: No | Codes: Unlimited | App: Yes

The August Smart Lock Pro Connect has it all. Our best smart lock overall, this device is compatible with all of the major smart-home platforms, so you can open  the Smart Lock Pro Connect with Alexa, Google Assistant or Apple HomeKit; it also looks great, although the circular back of the lock may confuse some users.

The device is easy to install on most single-cylinder deadbolts. The app is easy to use and simply allows you to add additional users who can open the door without a key. For those who don’t have a phone, the optional $60 August Smart Keypad provides another way to get in without a key.

The August Smart Lock Pro Connect is also the best smart lock for landlords and Airbnb hosts, as it offers a hassle-free way to let your guests in and know when they have left. The lock integrates directly with the Airbnb booking system, so you can give your guests a virtual key when they book, with the confidence that it will only work on those dates. When the visitors have checked out and left, the app will notify you, so that you can ready the unit for the next guest.

Read our full August Smart Lock Pro review.
  

2. August Smart Lock

Lock Type: Deadbolt | Smart Home Compatibility: Alexa, Google Home | Connectivity: Bluetooth, Z-Wave Plus | Number Pad: Optional | Alarm: No | Codes: Unlimited | App: Yes

If you want to add some smarts to your home without spending too much, the August Smart Lock has most of the features you'll need, at a reasonable price. You can pick up this smart, full-featured lock for under $150.

If you rent your home, the August Smart Lock is the best smart lock, as it’s very simple to install on top of an extant deadlock without replacing the cylinder or key. There’s no need to replace the cylinder; it will continue to work with your existing keys, keeping your landlord happy. And, when you move out, you can quickly and easily remove the lock and replace it with the old one, keeping your deposit safe.

Note that you will also need the $65 August Connect module if you want to control and monitor the lock remotely. That module can handle multiple locks, so it’s a great low-cost pick for adding remote control to several doors at once. The only thing missing is support for Apple Homekit.

Read our full August Smart Lock review.
   

3. Schlage Encode

Lock Type: Deadbolt | Smart Home Compatibility: Alexa, Google Home | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Number Pad: Included | Alarm: Yes | Codes: 100 | App: Yes

If the local Amazon delivery person is always around, you need the Schlage Encode. As well as being a great combination of a manual, keycode and remote-controlled lock, the Schlage Encode supports the Amazon Key service, which allows an Amazon delivery person to open the door when they arrive and place your packages inside the house. That feature makes them less likely to be stolen. Amazon Key does require a compatible security camera, which costs extra. The lock supports Alexa and Google Assistant, so you can integrate it with your Smart Home system easily, but there is no support for Apple's HomeKit.

Read our full Schlage Encode smart lock review.
 

4. Yale Real Living Assure SL

Lock Type: Deadbolt | Smart Home Compatibility: Alexa, Google Home, Homekit, SmartThings | Connectivity: Bluetooth, Zigbee, Z-Wave Plus | Number Pad: Yes | Alarm: No | Codes: 250 | App: Yes

The support for multiple smart home standards make the Yale Real Living Assure SL one of the best smart locks available. It works with Alexa, Google Home, HomeKit and SmartThings. That means you can control it from your iPhone, your Amazon Echo, your Android phone, or Google Home.

The Assure SL is an attractive, well-designed lock that is easy to install. There is no manual key option, though: it’s a keycode, app or nothing. If the battery runs out, you can give it a temporary boost by touching a 9v battery to two contacts underneath the keypad.

Read our full Yale Assure SL review.
 

5. Lockly Secure Plus

Lock Type: Deadbolt or lever | Smart Home Compatibility: Lockly | Connectivity: Bluetooth | Number Pad: Included | Alarm: No | Codes: Unlimited | App: Yes

With the Lockly Secure Plus, the only key you’ll need is your finger; one touch to the fingerprint reader on the right side of the lock body opens the lock. You can also open the door by entering a code, and cleverly, the touchscreen keypad shifts the numbers around, so thieves can’t guess your code by looking at finger smudges.

Another unusual feature is that the Secure Plus is a lever lock; most smart locks are deadbolts. However, the Locky Secure Plus doesn’t support other smart home systems. For that, you'll need either a $70 Wi-Fi adapter, or to spring for the $299 Lockly Secure Pro, a separate model with built-in Wi-Fi that lets it connect to Alexa and Google Home.

Read our full Lockly Secure Plus review.
  

6. Nest X Yale

Lock Type: Deadbolt | Smart Home Compatibility: Google Home &Assistant, Nest | Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | Number Pad: Included | Alarm: No | Codes: Unlimited | App: Yes

“Google, lock the front door.” If you are a Google household, you want a lock that speaks to the Google Assistant smart home system. The best smart lock that offers this feature is the Nest X Yale, a neatly designed lock that works very well with Google Assistant. Locks from August and Schlage also support Google Assistant, but the Nest X Yale is the more elegant, all-in-one solution if you are invested in the Nest or Google Assistant systems.

Read our full Nest X Yale review.

7. Kwikset Premis

Lock Type: Deadbolt | Smart Home Compatibility: Homekit | Connectivity: Bluetooth | Number Pad: Yes | Alarm: No | Codes: 30 | App: Yes

The Premis is a smart, simple lock for those who want to offer entry with keys, codes and a smartphone app. The low-profile keypad looks smart, but still offers a manual key option for the luddites in your house; Homekit support means that you can control it through Siri or the Premis app. The latter also allows you to create keycodes that provide limited access, such as allowing the dog walker in during the day, but not at night. There is no support for Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant nor Google Home, though, so you can’t check the lock from your Amazon Echo.

Read our full Kwikset Premis review.
 

8. Kwikset Obsidian

Lock Type: Deadbolt | Smart Home Compatibility: Z-Wave | Connectivity: Z-Wave | Number Pad: Included | Alarm: No | Codes: 30 | App: Yes

You’ll never forget your keys with this lock, because there aren’t any. The Kwikset Obsidian with Home Connect is a keycode, deadbolt lock with a smart, minimalist keypad that lights up on touch. Tap in a code (it can hold up to 30) and the lock opens. Using the Obsidian is a simple way to control access to a basement or home office without worrying about keys.

A feature called SecureScreen prompts you to touch random digits before you enter your code, so others can’t guess your code by fingerprint smudges. However, in order to control or monitor the lock remotely, you’ll need a compatible Z-Wave hub, such as Samsung SmartThings. If the four AA batteries run out at the wrong moment, you can give the lock a boost by touching a 9V battery to the two terminals underneath the touch panel.

Read our full Kwikset Obsidian review.

What to look for when buying a smart lock

When shopping for a smart lock, there are a few factors to consider.

Lock Type: Smart locks come in two types: deadbolt and lever-style. The former is designed to replace your existing deadbolt, while the latter has the lock and door-opening lever in one. Deadbolts are the most common, but lever locks are becoming more common.

Design: Your smart lock should blend in with your home decor. Most locks are available in a variety of styles and finishes, such as brass, silver, and bronze. 

Connectivity: In order to control and monitor a smart lock remotely, you have to connect it to your home network. This can be done in one of several ways. Zigbee, Z-Wave, and Bluetooth are the most popular radios built into smart locks, as they require little power.

Most smart locks require that you connect the lock to a bridge of some kind, like the August Connect module, or a smart home hub, such as the Samsung SmartThings or Amazon Echo Plus. Relatively few smart locks have Wi-Fi built in, as it requires a lot of power, and will have you changing batteries more frequently.

Smart home compatibility: The better smart locks should be able to work with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Homekit, which allows you to tie them in to other smart home devices. So, for example, if you say "Siri, Goodnight," Apple's assistant will turn off your lights and lock your doors automatically. If you have a home security system, you can also connect some locks to it, so that they'll automatically lock when you leave home.