Schlage vs Kwikset: Which Lock Brand Should You Buy?

Schlage and Kwikset are two of the biggest lock brands in the US, and both sell everything from a basic deadbolt to a Wi-Fi smart lock. The Schlage vs Kwikset choice mostly comes down to security grades, rekeying and, for smart locks, how well each one works with your phone and smart home. Schlage gives every mechanical deadbolt the top residential grade and has the stronger Apple Home options. Kwikset lets you rekey its locks yourself, offers more Matter locks, and usually costs a little less.

This guide compares the two brands on security, keys, smart home support, warranty and price, then lists the Schlage and Kwikset smart locks worth buying.

Schlage vs Kwikset: The Short Answer

Quick answer: choose Schlage if you want the highest security grade on every deadbolt, a 3-year warranty on the electronics, or the best Apple Home lock (the Encode Plus, or the hands-free Sense Pro). Choose Kwikset if you want to rekey your own locks, a smart lock with Matter for less money, or Apple Home Key and Matter on a lock that still has a keyhole. Both brands work with Alexa and Google.

If you’re mainly shopping for a smart lock, these are the six worth looking at:

• Schlage Encode Plus — Best Schlage lock for Apple Home, with tap-to-unlock Home Key.
• Kwikset Halo Select Plus — Best Kwikset lock for Apple Home, with Home Key, Matter and a door sensor.
• Schlage Arrive — Best value Schlage Wi-Fi lock, for Alexa and Google homes.
• Kwikset Aura Reach — Least expensive Matter lock from either brand.
• Schlage Sense Pro — Best for hands-free unlocking with an iPhone.
• Kwikset Halo Touch — Best fingerprint lock from either brand.

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What Schlage Does Best

Schlage’s main advantage is consistent security ratings. Schlage says all of its mechanical deadbolts are graded AAA by the Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association (BHMA), which is the top residential grade for security, durability and finish. Most of its Wi-Fi smart locks (the Encode, Encode Plus and Arrive) are also rated AAA. Schlage is owned by Allegion, a security company that also makes commercial locks.

Schlage also has the better warranty on smart locks. Its residential locks come with a lifetime warranty on the mechanical parts and finish, and three years on the electronics.

For Apple users, Schlage has two strong options. The Encode Plus works with Apple Home directly over Wi-Fi and lets you tap your iPhone or Apple Watch to unlock. The newer Sense Pro unlocks hands-free as you walk up to the door, using Ultra Wideband (UWB). Our Schlage Encode vs Encode Plus comparison explains the difference between the two Encode models.

However, there are some downsides. Rekeying a Schlage lock means taking out the cylinder and changing the pins, so you’ll usually need a locksmith or a rekey kit. Schlage also has only one Matter lock (the Sense Pro), and that lock has no keyhole at all. Schlage’s smart locks generally cost more than Kwikset’s equivalents.

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What Kwikset Does Best

Kwikset’s main advantage is SmartKey Security. With a SmartKey lock, you can rekey it yourself in a few seconds, using the small SmartKey tool and a working key, so it opens with a different key. That’s useful when you move into a new home, lose a key, or want one key for every door. To clear the previous owner’s codes as well, our guide on how to reset a Kwikset smart lock has the steps for every model. For a Schlage, see how to reset a Schlage smart lock. Kwikset says SmartKey is also bump- and pick-resistant. Kwikset has been owned by ASSA ABLOY, the company behind brands such as Baldwin and Weiser, since 2023.

Kwikset also has more Matter locks. The Halo Select, Halo Select Plus and Aura Reach all support Matter over Thread, so they work with Apple Home, Google Home, Alexa and SmartThings from one setup. The Halo Select Plus combines Wi-Fi, Matter, Apple Home Key and a door sensor in one lock. Our guide to the best Matter smart locks compares them with other brands.

Kwikset smart locks usually cost a little less than Schlage’s. The Aura Reach costs about $156 on Amazon, and Kwikset’s most expensive smart lock costs less than Schlage’s most expensive one.

There are some downsides. Kwikset’s grades vary by model: its Halo Select Plus is rated AAA, but its standard 158 deadbolt and the Aura Reach are Grade 2. The electronics warranty is one year, against three for Schlage.

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Schlage and Kwikset Side by Side

Here’s how the two brands compare on the points that matter most:

Factor	Schlage	Kwikset
Owner	Allegion	ASSA ABLOY (since 2023)
Basic deadbolt price	About $30	About $27 to $42
Mechanical deadbolt grade	AAA on every model	Varies (the 158 is Grade 2)
Rekey it yourself	No (locksmith or rekey kit)	Yes, with SmartKey
Smart lock prices	About $199 to $339	About $156 to $309
Native Apple Home	Encode Plus	No (Apple Home works through Matter)
Apple Home Key	Encode Plus (tap), Sense Pro (hands-free)	Halo Select Plus (tap)
Matter locks	Sense Pro	Halo Select, Halo Select Plus, Aura Reach
Alexa and Google	Yes	Yes
Z-Wave lock	Schlage Connect	Home Connect 620
Electronics warranty	3 years	1 year
Mechanical and finish warranty	Lifetime	Lifetime (while you live in the home)

Security grades and rekeying

When you compare Kwikset vs Schlage on security, the grade on the box is the best guide. BHMA grades residential deadbolts separately for security, durability and finish, from C (good) to A (best), as explained on the BHMA’s A156.40 standard page. Every Schlage mechanical deadbolt is AAA. Kwikset grades depend on the model, so check the box: the Halo Select Plus, Halo Select and Halo Touch are AAA, while the 158 deadbolt and the Aura Reach are Grade 2.

The keys are the other big difference. A Kwikset SmartKey lock can be rekeyed in a few seconds by anyone with the tool. A Schlage lock uses a traditional pin-tumbler cylinder, so you need a locksmith or a rekey kit. Schlage and Kwikset keys aren’t interchangeable, although some Kwikset locks are sold with a Schlage-style (SC1) keyway.

Whichever brand you buy, the strike plate matters as much as the lock. Consumer Reports found that a reinforced box strike fastened with 2-inch screws made every lock it tested much harder to kick in. Our guide on how to install a smart lock covers fitting one.

Smart locks and Apple Home

This is where the two brands differ the most. The Schlage Encode Plus is a native Apple Home lock: you can add it to Apple Home and the Schlage Home app at the same time, and it adds a home key to Apple Wallet so you can tap your iPhone or Apple Watch to unlock. The Schlage Sense Pro goes further. It uses UWB to unlock hands-free as you approach with an iPhone 11 or later (except the SE, 16e and 17e), but it needs a Thread-enabled Apple home hub, such as a HomePod mini or HomePod (2nd generation).

Kwikset’s locks join Apple Home through Matter instead. The Halo Select Plus has a home key for tap-to-unlock, but only after you switch the lock from Wi-Fi to Matter and add it to Apple Home. The lock runs on Wi-Fi or Matter, not both. According to reviews of the Halo Select, which works the same way, Matter mode needs a Thread border router and gives up some features in the Kwikset app, such as geofence auto-unlock and door-open alerts. The Aura Reach works with Apple Home through Matter too, but it has no home key.

Other models from both brands, including the Schlage Arrive and Encode and the Kwikset Halo Touch, don’t work with Apple Home. Our guides to the best HomeKit smart locks and Apple Home Key cover the Apple side in more detail.

Matter, Google Home and Alexa

Both brands’ Wi-Fi locks work with Alexa and Google Assistant without a hub, so you can lock the door by voice or in a routine. Matter locks work with every major platform, but Google Home doesn’t allow voice unlocking for any Matter lock, only locking.

If you use a Z-Wave hub such as Ring Alarm, SmartThings or Home Assistant, both brands still sell a Z-Wave lock: the Schlage Connect and the Kwikset Home Connect 620. Our best keypad door locks guide includes simpler keypad locks without Wi-Fi from both brands.

Warranty and price

Both brands cover the mechanical parts and finish for life. Kwikset limits that to as long as the original buyer lives in the home. The real difference is the electronics: three years from Schlage, one year from Kwikset.

On price, basic deadbolts are close: both brands sell a single-cylinder deadbolt for about $30 on Amazon. Smart locks show a bigger gap. Kwikset’s Aura Reach costs about $156, while Schlage’s least expensive Wi-Fi lock, the Arrive, costs about $199. Schlage’s Sense Pro is the most expensive lock from either brand.

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Which Should You Choose?

The Schlage vs Kwikset smart lock decision usually depends on these situations:

• You want the highest security grade on every lock: Schlage. Every mechanical deadbolt is AAA.
• You want to rekey your locks yourself: Kwikset, with SmartKey.
• You use Apple Home and want the simplest setup: Schlage Encode Plus, which works with Apple Home and the Schlage app at the same time.
• You want hands-free unlocking with your iPhone: Schlage Sense Pro. Kwikset doesn’t sell a UWB lock.
• You want Matter for the least money: Kwikset Aura Reach.
• You want Home Key and Matter on a lock with a keyhole: Kwikset Halo Select Plus. The Sense Pro has both too, but no keyhole.
• You use Alexa or Google and don’t need Apple Home: either; the Schlage Arrive and the Kwikset Halo locks both work well.
• You want to unlock with a fingerprint: Kwikset Halo Touch. Our fingerprint door lock guide compares it with other brands.

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Which Schlage or Kwikset Smart Lock to Buy

Schlage Encode Plus — Best Schlage Lock for Apple Home

A Wi-Fi deadbolt with a touchscreen keypad, 100 access codes and native Apple Home support. You can tap your iPhone or Apple Watch to unlock, and it also works with Alexa and Google Assistant. It’s rated AAA and runs on four AA batteries for up to six months. Our Schlage lock battery guide has the steps to change them.

Best for: Apple Home users who want tap-to-unlock and the Schlage app on the same lock.

Price: ~$329

Kwikset Halo Select Plus — Best Kwikset Lock for Apple Home

A touchscreen deadbolt with Wi-Fi and Matter over Thread (you choose one), 250 access codes, a door sensor and an Apple home key once it’s set up with Matter. It’s rated AAA and has a SmartKey cylinder you can rekey yourself. It runs on four AA batteries, and our Kwikset smart lock battery guide shows how to change them.

Best for: Apple Home users who also want Matter, and homes that use more than one platform.

Price: ~$309

Schlage Arrive — Best Value Schlage Wi-Fi Lock

A push-button keypad deadbolt with built-in Wi-Fi and 250 access codes. It works with Alexa and Google Assistant and is rated AAA, but it doesn’t work with Apple Home or Matter.

Best for: Alexa and Google homes that want Schlage’s security rating for less.

Price: ~$199

Kwikset Aura Reach — Best Budget Matter Lock

A keypad deadbolt with Matter over Thread and Bluetooth, 250 access codes and a SmartKey cylinder. It has no Wi-Fi, so remote control needs a Thread border router, and it’s rated Grade 2.

Best for: Matter homes on a budget that already have a Thread border router.

Price: ~$156

Schlage Sense Pro — Best for Hands-Free Unlocking

Schlage’s newest lock unlocks as you approach with an iPhone or Apple Watch, using UWB and a home key. It has Wi-Fi and Matter over Thread, 250 access codes and a USB-C port for emergency power. It has no keyhole and is rated BAA.

Best for: iPhone households with a Thread-enabled Apple home hub that want the most hands-free entry.

Price: ~$339

Kwikset Halo Touch — Best Fingerprint Lock

A Wi-Fi deadbolt that unlocks with a fingerprint, the Kwikset app or a key. It stores up to 100 fingerprints for 50 users, works with Alexa and Google Assistant, and is rated AAA. It has no keypad and doesn’t work with Apple Home.

Best for: families who want to unlock without a code or a phone.

Price: ~$159

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The Bottom Line

The Schlage vs Kwikset decision depends on what you value most. Schlage gives you the top security grade on every deadbolt, a longer electronics warranty and the best Apple Home locks. Kwikset lets you rekey your own locks, offers more Matter options and costs a little less.

If you’d like to compare more brands before you buy, see our guide to the best smart locks.