Best Smart Locks (2026 Guide)

Last updated: September 2026

The best smart locks in 2026 are finally worth the upgrade for reasons that have nothing to do with the app. Two things changed this year: ultra wideband reached consumer deadbolts, so the door can unlock as you walk up instead of waiting for a tap, and Aliro arrived as a shared digital key standard backed by Apple, Google and Samsung. Matter is no longer a selling point either. It is just expected.

That leaves one question worth actually thinking about, which is how you want to get through your own front door. This guide covers eight current, in-stock picks and is honest about what each one needs behind it, because a lock advertised as Matter compatible can still require a hub you do not own yet.

Quick Recommendations

• Aqara Smart Lock U400 is the best smart lock for most people right now, and the only one here that unlocks hands-free as you approach.
• Schlage Encode Plus is the pick if the metal matters more than the features, with a Grade 1 deadbolt and Wi-Fi built in.
• Yale Assure Lock 2 Plus removes the keyhole entirely, so there is nothing to pick or bump, and it still takes an Apple Home Key tap.
• Tapo DL110 is the best budget option and the easiest sell if you just want fingerprint entry without a hub.
• Level Lock Pro hides entirely inside the door, so your existing hardware stays exactly as it looks now.
• SwitchBot Lock Ultra mounts over the deadbolt you already have and keeps your existing keys, which makes it the renter-friendly choice.
• Aqara Smart Lock U50 is the cheapest way into Apple Home Key, and it needs no hub for that specific trick.
• eufy FamiLock S3 Max replaces a lock and a video doorbell at once, with palm vein recognition instead of a fingerprint pad.

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Best Smart Locks at a Glance

Product	Ecosystem	Key Feature	Approx. Price	Best For
Aqara Smart Lock U400	Apple Home, Alexa, Google Home, Matter	UWB hands-free unlock	~$270	Best overall
Schlage Encode Plus	Apple Home, Alexa, Google Home, Matter	Grade 1 deadbolt, built-in Wi-Fi	~$319	Built-in security
Yale Assure Lock 2 Plus	Apple Home, Alexa, Google Home	Key-free deadbolt with Home Key	~$310	Key-free entry
Tapo DL110	Alexa, Google Home, SmartThings	Fingerprint entry, no hub	~$150	Best budget
Level Lock Pro	Apple Home, Alexa, Google Home, Matter	Completely hidden in the door	~$349	Invisible design
SwitchBot Lock Ultra	Apple Home, Alexa, Google Home, Matter	Retrofit, keeps your keys	~$170	Renters and reversible installs
Aqara Smart Lock U50	Apple Home, Alexa, Google Home, Matter	Cheapest Apple Home Key	~$120	Budget Apple homes
eufy FamiLock S3 Max	Apple Home, Alexa, Google Home, Matter	Palm vein plus 2K doorbell camera	~$400	All-in-one front door

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Compatibility Matrix

Product	HomeKit	Alexa	Google Home	Matter	Thread	Hub Required	Power
Aqara Smart Lock U400	Yes, with Home Key and UWB	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Thread border router	Rechargeable lithium, about 6 months
Schlage Encode Plus	Yes, with Home Key	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No, built-in Wi-Fi	Not stated
Yale Assure Lock 2 Plus	Yes, with Home Key	Yes, with the Wi-Fi module	Yes, with the Wi-Fi module	No	No	No for the lock, Apple hub for remote access	4x AA
Tapo DL110	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No, built-in Wi-Fi	Rechargeable, about 12 months
Level Lock Pro	Yes, with Home Key	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Thread border router	1x CR2, 9 to 12 months
SwitchBot Lock Ultra	Yes, via Matter	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes, a SwitchBot hub	Rechargeable pack, about 12 months
Aqara Smart Lock U50	Yes, with Home Key	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Aqara hub for Matter only	4x AA, about 6 months
eufy FamiLock S3 Max	Yes, via Matter	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No, built-in Wi-Fi 6	Rechargeable, plus AAA backup

The column that catches people out is Hub Required, because “works with Matter” does not mean “works on its own”. Four different arrangements appear above: the U400 and Level Lock Pro need a Thread border router (a HomePod mini, an Echo, a Google TV Streamer or an Apple TV 4K with Ethernet will do it), the U50 needs an Aqara hub before Matter turns on If a lock you already own has stopped checking in, why a smart lock will not connect covers the four places that link can break., the SwitchBot needs a SwitchBot hub before it talks to anything but your phone, and the Schlage, Yale, Tapo and eufy need nothing at all. If you are not sure what you already own, our guide to what a smart home hub actually does is the place to start. Note too that the Tapo is the one pick with no Apple Home support in any form, so Apple households should skip it regardless of price.

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The Best Smart Locks of 2026 in Detail

Aqara Smart Lock U400 — Best Overall

This is the lock that makes the 2026 crop feel genuinely new. Ultra wideband lets it sense that you are approaching from outside and unlock before your hand reaches the handle, which is a different experience from tapping a phone against a reader.

Best for: Anyone who wants the most capable smart deadbolt available and already owns a Thread border router.

What stands out in real use

The hands-free unlock is the headline, and the detail worth paying attention to is that it uses your position and direction rather than simple proximity. That means it opens when you walk up to the door from the street, not when you wander past it on the inside of the house, which is the failure mode that made older auto-unlock features annoying enough to switch off. It is also the first lock certified to Aliro 1.0, the shared digital key standard published in February 2026, so it is about as future-proof as this category currently gets.

Key specs

• Matter over Thread, plus UWB and NFC
• Apple Home Key tap-to-unlock and UWB hands-free unlock
• Fingerprint reader, keypad, NFC cards, app and mechanical key
• Rechargeable removable lithium battery, roughly 6 months per charge, USB-C emergency port
• IP65 rated, rekeyable to your existing keys

Pros

• Hands-free UWB unlock that reads direction, not just distance
• Works natively across Apple Home, Alexa and Google Home through Matter
• No proprietary hub required, unlike most Aqara devices
• Rechargeable rather than a permanent AA habit
• First lock through Aliro 1.0 certification

Cons

• UWB unlock has real requirements: an Apple Thread hub, iOS 18.5 or later, and an iPhone 11 or newer excluding the SE
• Aqara does not publish an ANSI or BHMA grade for it
• Sold through Aqara’s own Amazon storefront rather than by Amazon directly

Installation and compatibility notes

It replaces a standard deadbolt and can be rekeyed to match the keys you already carry. Matter and remote access both depend on a Thread border router, which you very likely already own if you have a HomePod mini, a recent Echo, a Google TV Streamer or an Apple TV 4K with Ethernet. Worth knowing before you buy: the Wi-Fi-only Apple TV 4K has no Thread radio, so it cannot fill that role.

Price: ~$270

Schlage Encode Plus — Best Built-In Security

If you care more about the deadbolt than the software, this is the one. Schlage puts a BHMA AAA rated bolt behind the smart features, which is the highest residential rating available.

Best for: Buyers who want a serious lock first and a smart lock second.

What stands out in real use

Everything here runs off built-in Wi-Fi, so there is no hub, no bridge and no extra box to keep powered. That makes it one of the more genuinely simple installs in this guide despite being a premium product. It supports Apple Home Key as well, so you get the tap-to-unlock convenience without giving up the mechanical credentials, and it is Matter certified so the other platforms are covered too.

Key specs

• Built-in Wi-Fi, Matter certified, Thread capable
• Apple Home Key tap-to-unlock with iPhone or Apple Watch
• BHMA AAA rated deadbolt, the top residential grade
• Up to 100 access codes, built-in alarm, encrypted connection
• Three year electronic warranty, lifetime mechanical and finish warranty

Pros

• Best physical security credentials in this lineup
• No hub needed for the app, codes or remote access
• Sold directly by Amazon, which is the cleanest buying channel here
• Single-bore installation fits standard doors
• Works with Apple Home, Alexa and Google Home

Cons

• The most expensive keypad lock here at around $319
• Schlage does not publish the battery type or expected life
• No fingerprint reader, so entry is by code, phone or key
• Apple Home remote access still needs a home hub, even though the lock itself does not

Installation and compatibility notes

This is a full deadbolt replacement on a standard single-bore door. The lock reaches your Wi-Fi on its own for the Schlage Home app, but Apple Home automations and remote control still route through an Apple home hub, which is a HomePod, HomePod mini or Apple TV. That distinction trips people up: the lock needs no hub, but Apple Home does.

Price: ~$319

Yale Assure Lock 2 Plus — Best Key-Free Entry

Every other lock in this guide still has a keyway. This one does not, which changes the threat model rather than just the convenience.

Best for: Apple households that want tap-to-unlock and a keypad, with no keyhole on the door.

What stands out in real use

Picking and bumping are attacks against a cylinder, and there is no cylinder here, so both stop being possible. What you get instead is a touchscreen keypad, Apple Home Key on an iPhone or Apple Watch, and codes you hand out and revoke from the app. The Wi-Fi module is in the box rather than sold separately, and DoorSense reports whether the door is actually shut, which matters because a deadbolt thrown into an open frame still reads as locked on most locks.

Key specs

• Model YRD450-N-WF1, Standard Kit with the Wi-Fi Smart Module included
• Apple Home Key tap-to-unlock, plus Apple Home, Alexa, Google Home and SmartThings
• ANSI/BHMA Grade 2, key-free with no cylinder
• 4x AA batteries, with a 9V terminal on the outside for emergency power
• DoorSense open/closed sensor included, sold for the US and Canada only

Pros

• No keyway at all, so picking and bumping are off the table
• Apple Home Key without paying the U400 premium
• Wi-Fi module included rather than a separate bridge purchase
• DoorSense distinguishes a locked door from a closed one
• Power reserve keeps Home Key working when your iPhone is nearly flat

Cons

• No Matter and no Thread, so Alexa and Google both depend on the Wi-Fi module
• Grade 2, where the Schlage is the top residential grade
• Yale does not publish an expected battery life
• No keyway also means no mechanical override if the batteries die and you have no 9V
• List price is high, though it is regularly discounted well below it

Installation and compatibility notes

This is a full deadbolt replacement on a standard door. The lock reaches Wi-Fi on its own, but Apple Home automations and remote control still route through an Apple home hub, which is a HomePod, HomePod mini or Apple TV. One buying note specific to this model: it is sold as a family with separate colour and Wi-Fi options, and the individual combinations do not always ship from the same seller. Our link points at the Wi-Fi version in Black Suede, sold by Amazon. If you change the colour or switch to the No Wi-Fi option, check the seller line before you order.

Price: ~$310

Tapo DL110 — Best Budget

The most sensible cheap smart lock on the market, provided you are not an Apple household. It gives you fingerprint entry, a keypad and direct Wi-Fi for well under half the price of the premium picks.

Best for: Alexa or Google homes that want keyless entry without hubs or subscriptions.

What stands out in real use

Fingerprint recognition is the feature that changes daily life, and this one reads in under half a second and stores up to 100 prints. The battery is the other quiet win. It is a removable rechargeable pack rated for about a year, with a USB-C port for an emergency top-up, so you are not buying AAs every few months. For a lock at this price, that combination is unusually complete.

Key specs

• Direct 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, no hub or bridge required
• Fingerprint, keypad codes, app, Bluetooth, voice assistant and two backup keys
• BHMA Grade 2 certified, IP65 rated
• Removable rechargeable battery, around 12 months, USB-C emergency charging
• Works with Alexa, Google Home and SmartThings

Pros

• By far the best price for fingerprint entry with a real durability grade
• No hub, no bridge, nothing extra to buy
• Roughly a year of battery per charge
• Scheduled and one-time guest codes included
• Sold directly by Amazon

Cons

• No Apple Home support at all, and no Matter either
• Requires a PIN when operated through a third-party voice assistant
• Grade 2 rather than Grade 1, so it sits a tier below the premium picks

Installation and compatibility notes

Standard deadbolt replacement, and the setup is about as simple as this category gets because the lock joins your 2.4GHz Wi-Fi directly. The important limitation is ecosystem rather than hardware: there is no Apple Home and no Matter, so if you are running an Apple household this is the wrong lock no matter how good the price looks. For Alexa, Google Home or SmartThings homes it is the value pick of this list.

Price: ~$150

Level Lock Pro — Best Invisible Design

Every other lock here announces itself. This one does not, because the entire mechanism lives inside the door and the visible hardware looks like an ordinary deadbolt.

Best for: Anyone who wants smart access without changing how their front door looks.

What stands out in real use

The engineering is the appeal. Level fits the motor, the radio and the battery inside the bolt itself, so from both sides the door keeps its existing appearance. It is also a properly rated lock rather than a design exercise, carrying ANSI Grade 1 and BHMA AAA certification and tested to the ANSI 156.40 and 156.25 standards. Matter over Thread and Apple Home Key are both built in, so the convenience features match the premium price.

Key specs

• Matter over Thread plus Bluetooth
• Apple Home Key tap-to-unlock
• ANSI Grade 1 and BHMA AAA, with a bump and pick resistant cylinder
• One CR2 battery hidden in the bolt, 9 to 12 months
• Works with Apple Home, Alexa, Google Home and SmartThings

Pros

• Genuinely invisible, with no exterior keypad or reader
• Grade 1 security despite the minimal hardware
• Matter over Thread for fast, local, reliable response
• Long battery life from a single cell
• Now sold on Amazon by Level directly

Cons

• The most expensive lock in this guide at around $349
• The keypad is a separate accessory, so code entry costs extra
• Needs a Thread border router before Matter or remote access work
• Home Key requires an iPhone XS or later and iOS 17.1 or later

Installation and compatibility notes

It fits standard doors with a 2.125 inch bore, a 2.375 or 2.75 inch backset and a thickness of 1.75 to 2 inches. Because there is no exterior hardware, entry without your phone means either the physical key or the optional Level Keypad, which mounts anywhere within Bluetooth range rather than on the door itself. Budget for that accessory if anyone in the household will not be carrying a paired phone.

Price: ~$349

SwitchBot Lock Ultra — Best Retrofit

The only pick here that does not replace anything. It mounts over the thumbturn of the deadbolt you already own, which means your existing keys keep working and the whole thing comes off without a trace.

Best for: Renters, and anyone who wants a reversible install or has a door they cannot modify.

What stands out in real use

Retrofit locks live or die on how fast and quiet the motor is, and this is the area SwitchBot improved most over its earlier models. The other practical advantage is that nothing about your door changes: the same key opens it, the same lock core stays in place, and if you move out you unscrew the unit and the door is exactly as you found it. The battery is a rechargeable pack rather than disposables, rated at roughly a year of normal use.

Key specs

• Retrofit over an existing deadbolt, keeps the original lock core and keys
• Bluetooth locally, with Matter and remote access through a SwitchBot hub
• Rechargeable battery pack, about 12 months at ten cycles a day
• Fits most standard US apartment deadbolts
• Jimmy Proof and mortise locks need the separately sold Accessory Kit

Pros

• Completely reversible, with no drilling and no hardware changes
• Your existing keys still work, which no other pick here can claim
• Rechargeable rather than disposable batteries
• Much cheaper than replacing a deadbolt with a premium smart lock
• Quiet, fast motor

Cons

• No Apple Home Key support, despite what several reviews claim
• Requires a SwitchBot hub before it works with Matter, Apple Home, Alexa or Google Home
• No Thread, so it depends on that hub for everything beyond Bluetooth range
• Not compatible with European cylinders without the correct mount

Installation and compatibility notes

Two points are worth being precise about here. First, SwitchBot’s own support documentation confirms that the Lock, Lock Pro and Lock Ultra do not support Apple Home Key, so if tap-to-unlock is what you are shopping for, this is not the lock. Several third-party reviews get this wrong. Second, the Amazon listing describes built-in Wi-Fi, but the lock itself communicates over Bluetooth and the Wi-Fi reach comes from the SwitchBot hub, so treat the hub as required rather than optional. If you are specifically looking at rental-friendly options, our guide to smart locks for renters covers more no-drill choices.

Price: ~$170

Aqara Smart Lock U50 — Cheapest Apple Home Key

Apple Home Key normally lives on locks costing $250 and up. This one delivers it at around $120, which makes it the obvious entry point for Apple households.

Best for: Apple homes that want tap-to-unlock on a budget.

What stands out in real use

The neat part is that Home Key here does not depend on a hub. The lock handles it over Bluetooth, so tapping an iPhone or Apple Watch works out of the box, and it keeps working even when the phone has run out of battery thanks to Apple’s power reserve. That is the single most useful smart lock feature for most people, delivered at the price of a mid-range keypad lock. For a wider look at Apple-specific options, our best HomeKit smart locks guide goes deeper on the Apple side.

Key specs

• Zigbee 3.0, Bluetooth 5.0 and NFC
• Apple Home Key with no hub required
• Matter available with a Matter-capable Aqara hub
• Touchscreen keypad, NFC cards, physical keys, rekeyable
• 4x AA batteries, around 6 months, with a USB-C emergency port
• IPX5 rated, BHMA Level 3

Pros

• The least expensive route to Apple Home Key
• Home Key works with no hub at all
• Rekeyable to your existing keys
• Still unlocks when your iPhone battery is flat
• Straightforward keypad and NFC card options for guests

Cons

• No Thread radio, despite what the Amazon listing title says
• Matter, remote access and voice control all require an Aqara hub
• BHMA Level 3, the lowest grade in this guide
• AA batteries rather than a rechargeable pack

Installation and compatibility notes

Read the listing carefully on this one. The Amazon product title advertises “Matter Over Thread”, but Aqara’s own specification sheet lists the U50 as Zigbee, Bluetooth and NFC only, with no Thread radio at all. Matter works, but it is bridged through a Matter-capable Aqara hub rather than running natively. The same listing claims IP65 while Aqara’s own product page says IPX5. Neither point undermines the lock, which does exactly what it promises for Apple Home Key, but budget for a hub if you want it in Alexa or Google Home.

Price: ~$120

eufy FamiLock S3 Max — Best All-in-One

This one replaces two products. It is a Grade 1 deadbolt with a 2K video doorbell built into the same unit, and it reads palm veins instead of fingerprints. If you would rather keep the doorbell separate, see our best doorbell cameras without a subscription.

Best for: Front doors where you were going to buy a video doorbell anyway.

What stands out in real use

Palm vein recognition is the unusual part. Rather than reading the surface of a finger, it reads the vein pattern inside your palm, which cannot be lifted from a smudge on a glass and works when hands are dirty or damp. The camera side is a genuine 2K doorbell with a wide head-to-toe view, so you can see packages on the ground rather than just faces. There is even an interior screen on the inside half of the lock for checking who is there without picking up a phone.

Key specs

• Matter over Wi-Fi 6, no hub required
• Palm vein recognition, about 0.6 seconds, up to 50 palms
• 2K camera with an f/1.6 lens and a 150 degree head-to-toe view
• BHMA Grade 1, up to 100 passcodes
• 15,000mAh rechargeable battery plus AAA backup
• Onboard storage, with optional HomeBase 3 for local video

Pros

• Replaces a smart lock and a video doorbell in one install
• Grade 1 security rating
• Palm vein entry is harder to spoof than a fingerprint
• Works with Apple Home, Alexa and Google Home over Matter with no hub
• Large rechargeable battery with a AAA fallback

Cons

• The most expensive option here at around $400 list
• A single unit doing two jobs means one failure takes out both
• Physically larger than a plain deadbolt, which suits some doors better than others
• Matter over Wi-Fi rather than Thread, so it draws more power than a Thread lock would

Installation and compatibility notes

It replaces a standard deadbolt, but check your door first because the unit is deeper and taller than a plain lock and the interior screen needs clearance. Everything runs over its own Wi-Fi 6 connection with no hub, and Matter support means Apple Home, Alexa and Google Home all work directly. A HomeBase 3 is optional and mainly buys you local video storage. If a separate doorbell makes more sense for your setup, our best smart security cameras guide covers standalone options.

Price: ~$400

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How to Choose a Smart Lock

Start with how you want to get in

This is the actual decision, and everything else follows from it. Fingerprint is fastest for families and the reason to look at the Tapo or the U400. A phone tap suits people who always have a device on them, which points at any Home Key lock. Hands-free UWB is the newest option and currently means the U400. Codes remain the most practical way to let in a dog walker or a cleaner. Most of the best keyless door lock options here offer three or four of these at once, so pick the one whose primary method matches your household.

Decide whether to retrofit or replace

Replacing the deadbolt gives you the exterior hardware, the keypad and the readers, and it is what six of these seven picks do. Retrofitting mounts over your existing thumbturn, keeps your keys, and comes off cleanly. If you rent, or you have a door you would rather not drill, that difference matters more than any spec.

Weigh Wi-Fi against Thread

Wi-Fi locks like the Schlage, the Tapo and the eufy are simpler because they need nothing else, and they are the answer if you want the best wifi door lock experience with no extra boxes. Thread locks like the U400 and Level Lock Pro respond faster and use less power, but they need a border router. The good news is that you probably already own one, because a HomePod mini, a recent Echo, a Google TV Streamer or an Apple TV 4K with Ethernet all qualify. If the protocol side is new to you, our Zigbee vs Z-Wave vs Matter explainer covers how these fit together.

Check the grade, not just the features

ANSI and BHMA grades measure the physical lock, not the electronics, and they are the part reviews tend to skip. Grade 1 is the strongest residential rating and covers the Schlage, the Level and the eufy here. Grade 2 is solid for most homes and covers the Tapo. Grade 3 is the entry tier, which is where the U50 sits. A clever lock on a weak bolt is still a weak door, so treat the grade as a floor you are not willing to go below rather than a tiebreaker.

One forward-looking note worth having: Aliro, the shared digital key standard published in February 2026 and backed by Apple, Google and Samsung, is what will eventually make phone unlocking work the same way regardless of which phone you carry. Very few locks carry that certification yet, so it is a tiebreaker today rather than a requirement.

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The Bottom Line

For most homes, the Aqara U400 is the best smart deadbolt to buy in 2026. It is the only pick here that unlocks hands-free, it needs no proprietary hub, and it is the first lock certified to the standard the whole industry is moving toward. If physical security is what you actually care about, the Schlage Encode Plus is the stronger lock and the simpler install, and the Yale Assure Lock 2 Plus is the one to pick if you would rather have no keyhole on the door at all.

The situational picks are easy to place. Renters and anyone who cannot modify a door should take the SwitchBot Lock Ultra, since it keeps your existing keys and leaves nothing behind. Apple households on a budget should take the U50, which is the cheapest honest route to Home Key. And if you were already shopping for a video doorbell, the eufy FamiLock S3 Max does both jobs for less than buying them separately. Whichever of these best smart locks for doors you land on, check the Hub Required column before you order, because that is the detail most likely to leave you with a lock that will not do what you bought it for.

A lock only secures your front door. If the garage is how you usually get in, pair it with one of the best smart garage door openers so every entry point is covered. Pair a lock with contact sensors from our best smart door sensors guide so every door and window reports when it opens.