Last updated: October 22, 2026. Picks are based on reviews from PCMag (updated September 30, 2026), Consumer Reports (updated August 19, 2026), WIRED (updated May 2026), Tom's Guide and 9to5Mac (February 24, 2026), plus an owner thread on MacRumors Forums, all read October 22, 2026.
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Quick answer- Reviewers' top picks for smart home locks include the Ultraloq Bolt Fingerprint (PCMag) and the Lockly Visage Zeno Series for biometrics.
- For Matter and a hidden look, see the Level Lock Pro; for renters, the Yale Approach Lock or August Wi-Fi Smart Lock keep your existing deadbolt.
- Check battery life, door fit and a physical key backup before buying, and note that drill resistance varied by model in Consumer Reports' tests.
Smart home locks promise keyless entry, guest codes and remote checks, but the choices can be confusing. Keypad, fingerprint and deadbolt retrofit designs work differently, and Wi-Fi, Matter and Thread change how a lock fits your setup. This guide summarizes what PCMag, Consumer Reports, WIRED, Tom's Guide and 9to5Mac found, and where owner feedback disagrees. All reviews were read on October 22, 2026, and prices change.
1. How to choose smart home locks
Start with the lock type. A full replacement deadbolt swaps both sides of your current lock, while a retrofit lock replaces only the interior part. Consumer Reports (updated August 19, 2026) notes that retrofit models keep your exterior deadbolt, so your physical keys still work.
Keypad and fingerprint locks add ways in without a phone. PCMag (updated September 30, 2026) says a touchpad helps when you do not have your phone or keys, and newer locks add face or palm recognition. Tom's Guide adds that a fingerprint reader lets you set up a specific group of authorized users.
Next, check connectivity. PCMag says Bluetooth locks work within roughly 30 feet, while built-in Wi-Fi or a bridge allows control from almost anywhere. Consumer Reports explains that Matter is a standard that lets a lock work with Alexa, Apple Home, Google Home and SmartThings, and Thread is a low-power network built into many hubs and speakers.
Consumer Reports says Matter over Thread should help battery life, but remote control needs a Matter hub and a Thread border router.
Battery and backups matter too. WIRED (updated May 2026) says smart locks usually last two to six months on a charge or set of batteries, depending on features like biometrics and NFC. PCMag says nearly all smart locks are battery powered, so they keep working in a power outage, and a key slot is a useful safety net.
Finally, confirm that the lock fits your door. WIRED suggests measuring door thickness, because a door near or over 2 inches may need an expansion kit. Tom's Guide recommends checking your backset and deadbolt type, and PCMag estimates 10 to 25 minutes to remove the old lock and install a new one.
At a glance
| Pick | Best for | Key spec | Reviewed by |
|---|
| Lockly Visage Zeno Series Facial Recognition Deadbolt | Biometric entry | Face, fingerprint, keypad; Wi-Fi | PCMag, WIRED, Tom's Guide |
| Ultraloq Bolt Fingerprint | All-round Wi-Fi lock | Built-in Wi-Fi; no Matter | PCMag, WIRED |
| Yale Assure Lock 2 | Apple Home keypad lock | Bluetooth and HomeKit; Wi-Fi module | PCMag, Consumer Reports |
| Level Lock Pro | Matter and discreet design | Matter over Thread; CR2 battery | Consumer Reports, WIRED, 9to5Mac |
| Yale Approach Lock | Budget retrofit | Retrofit; Bluetooth; AA batteries | WIRED, Tom's Guide |
| August Wi-Fi Smart Lock | Retrofit with Wi-Fi | Retrofit; built-in Wi-Fi | PCMag, Consumer Reports, WIRED |
| Kwikset Halo Touch Fingerprint Smart Lock | Styled fingerprint Wi-Fi lock | Fingerprint; built-in Wi-Fi | PCMag, Consumer Reports |
2. Top picks for keypad, fingerprint and Wi-Fi locks
Lockly Visage Zeno Series Facial Recognition Deadbolt: Best for biometrics
Best for: Households that want face, fingerprint and keypad entry in one deadbolt and accept a higher price.
What reviewers say: PCMag (September 30, 2026) named it best for facial recognition, praised the easy install and Apple Home Key support, and called it pricey. It listed about $349 at The Home Depot on that date, and prices change. WIRED (May 2026 update) liked how quickly it recognized a face, even with sunglasses, and noted that the infrared sensors use no camera. WIRED also found the first Bluetooth setup frustrating, though Lockly has since patched it.
Tom's Guide praised the face unlock speed and the lack of a subscription, but warned that the battery needs charging about monthly at default settings. The outlets differ on setup: PCMag calls it easy, while WIRED advises being ready to finish in-app steps quickly after inserting the battery.
- Pros: Face, fingerprint and keypad entry, Apple Home Key support, no subscription needed.
- Cons: High price, frequent battery charging at default settings, fussy first-time pairing.
See Lockly Visage Zeno Series Facial Recognition Deadbolt on Amazon →
Ultraloq Bolt Fingerprint: Best all-rounder with built-in Wi-Fi
Best for: Buyers who want fingerprint, keypad and app control without a hub, and do not need Matter.
What reviewers say: PCMag (September 30, 2026) picked it as best overall, citing multiple ways to lock and unlock, built-in Wi-Fi, good battery life and easy install. Its listed drawbacks were the price and no Matter support. WIRED (May 2026 update) found it the most reliable of three Ultraloq locks it used over about a year and a half, with a quick install on a standard borehole.
WIRED also needed several tries to connect it to Wi-Fi and found auto-unlock inconsistent, so it ranks Ultraloq a rung below its top picks. That is a real disagreement with PCMag's top ranking.
- Pros: Fingerprint sensor is the highlight, works with Alexa, Google and HomeKit, built-in Wi-Fi.
- Cons: Price, no Matter, some software quirks.
See Ultraloq Bolt Fingerprint on Amazon →
Yale Assure Lock 2: Best for Apple Home users who want a keypad
Best for: Apple Home households that want a clean keypad lock and may add Wi-Fi later.
What reviewers say: Consumer Reports (updated August 19, 2026) named the Wi-Fi version its best Wi-Fi smart lock. It held up against kick-ins and a cordless drill, and was easy to set up. That version included a Wi-Fi module and DoorSense sensor that CR valued at $90.
PCMag (September 30, 2026) called it the most affordable HomeKit lock, with Apple Watch support and a well-designed app. It also flagged poor battery life on the Wi-Fi model, a short low-battery warning and iffy auto-unlock over Wi-Fi. CR notes that the separate Assure Lock 2 Plus adds Home Key but scored poorly in its drilling test.
- Pros: Several entry options, Bluetooth and HomeKit, strong brute-force results for the tested Wi-Fi version.
- Cons: Battery drain with Wi-Fi, short low-battery warning, DoorSense may require drilling.
See Yale Assure Lock 2 on Amazon →
3. Top picks for Matter, Thread and deadbolt retrofits
Level Lock Pro: Best for Matter and a hidden look
Best for: Apple Home or Matter households that want a lock that looks like an ordinary deadbolt.
What reviewers say: Consumer Reports (August 19, 2026) said it performs well in kick-in tests and decently in picking and drilling. It connects by Bluetooth or Matter over Thread, and remote use needs a Thread border router or the Level Connect WiFi Bridge, which CR listed at $79. WIRED (May 2026 update) called it the most visually pleasing lock it tested and noted a built-in door sensor and a claim of up to a year on one CR2 battery.
9to5Mac (February 24, 2026) found Matter over Thread fast and Home Key dependable, and its only gripe was missing UWB. Owners are more mixed. In a MacRumors Forums thread (May 2026), one owner reported a lockout when the battery went from healthy to dead, while another praised Home Key and noted a low-battery chime.
- Pros: Discreet design, Matter over Thread, Apple Home Key, BHMA Grade 1 rating per WIRED.
- Cons: No built-in keypad (sold separately), battery reports vary, remote use needs extra gear.
See Level Lock Pro on Amazon →
Yale Approach Lock: Best budget retrofit
Best for: Renters (with permission) and owners who want to keep their current deadbolt and keys.
What reviewers say: WIRED (May 2026 update) picked it as best retrofit. It replaces only the back of a thumb-turn deadbolt, installs in minutes and senses your approach through phone location. Tom's Guide called it the best budget smart lock and said it could be found easily below $100 after a price drop, though prices change.
Both flagged limits. WIRED noted a weaker motor and that full lock history needs an Abode subscription, while Tom's Guide noted a noisy motor and that a keypad and Wi-Fi bridge cost extra. The two sources describe the bridge differently (included versus add-on), so check what is in the box.
- Pros: Keeps existing keys, optional fingerprint keypad, quick install.
- Cons: Noisy, modest motor, extras can raise the total cost.
See Yale Approach Lock on Amazon →
August Wi-Fi Smart Lock: Best retrofit with built-in Wi-Fi
Best for: People who want a retrofit lock with remote access and no separate bridge.
What reviewers say: PCMag (September 30, 2026) named it best retrofit, praising automatic lock and unlock, easy install and wide integrations, while noting its price and short battery life. Consumer Reports (August 19, 2026) said it connects directly to Wi-Fi and scored high for remote access, monitoring and setup. WIRED (May 2026 update) said it had not tested August in a few years and that the design has changed little since 2013.
Several MacRumors Forums owners described August locks as hard on batteries or prone to going offline, which fits PCMag's battery note.
- Pros: Keeps your exterior hardware and keys, built-in Wi-Fi, door open/close sensor.
- Cons: Short battery life and a higher price.
See August Wi-Fi Smart Lock on Amazon →
4. Budget options, alternatives and who should skip
Kwikset Halo Touch Fingerprint Smart Lock: Best for style
Best for: Buyers who want a fingerprint Wi-Fi deadbolt without a hub and use Alexa or Google.
What reviewers say: PCMag (September 30, 2026) liked its stylish design, built-in Wi-Fi and easy install, but listed price, no HomeKit and limited integrations. Consumer Reports (August 19, 2026) said it withstood kick-ins and picking and scored well for remote access and setup, but was very susceptible to a cordless drill attack.
- Pros: No hub needed, fingerprint plus other entry methods, good remote features.
- Cons: Weak drill result in CR's tests, no HomeKit support.
See Kwikset Halo Touch Fingerprint Smart Lock on Amazon →
On cost, PCMag says some smart locks run around $100, but expect $200 or more for built-in Wi-Fi, voice control and tamper alarms. Tom's Guide suggests add-ons can make a cheap lock cost more than a fuller one.
Consumer Reports also lists the Kwikset Halo Select Plus (Wi-Fi plus Matter over Thread) and PCMag lists the Aqara Smart Lock U400 for Thread users. I found only one of these outlets' write-ups for each, so they are leads rather than picks.
Who should skip buying: Renters without landlord approval should not swap hardware. Tom's Guide says doors with misalignment, unusual hardware or shared or regulated entrances may need professional advice.
Anyone who worries about drill attacks should read CR's brute-force notes first, since results varied by model. WIRED's skip list included locks that would not fit a door or sync with Wi-Fi, so keep your old hardware until the new lock works.
5. Setup, ownership and security tips
Measure first, then install. WIRED recommends a measuring tape, a Phillips screwdriver and a precision screwdriver set, and says most brands advise against a power drill.
Keep a physical key or other backup. PCMag says most Wi-Fi locks also have Bluetooth, so a Wi-Fi outage should not cause a lockout. WIRED warns that some locks have no keyhole and that an emergency port on the inside will not help outside.
Plan battery care. Tom's Guide advises replacing or charging promptly after a low-battery alert. One MacRumors Forums owner of a Level lock uses rechargeable CR2 cells and a calendar reminder, an owner tip rather than reviewer advice.
Harden the door. Consumer Reports says a reinforced box strike plate is a basic DIY upgrade that improves kick-in resistance. CR says at least half of the locks fail its first kick-in round.
Secure the network. PCMag recommends a strong Wi-Fi password, applying firmware updates and turning on multi-factor authentication where offered. Using a unique password for the lock account is a sensible extra step.
Review privacy settings. For face unlock, WIRED notes Lockly says no stills are captured and face data stays encrypted on the device. That is the company's claim.
Watch for Aliro. WIRED and Consumer Reports describe it as a coming standard that would bring tap-to-unlock to Android wallets as well as Apple Home Key.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do smart locks work in a power or Wi-Fi outage?
PCMag says nearly all smart locks run on batteries, so they keep working in a power outage. Most Wi-Fi models also have Bluetooth, and a keypad or fingerprint reader still works during a Wi-Fi outage.
Do I need Matter or Thread?
No. PCMag's best overall pick, the Ultraloq Bolt Fingerprint, does not support Matter. Consumer Reports says Matter over Thread can help battery life and cross-platform control, but it requires a Thread border router for remote use.
Can I install a smart lock myself?
PCMag says none of the locks it tested is especially difficult, and estimates 10 to 25 minutes. Tom's Guide advises checking door and deadbolt compatibility first, and WIRED suggests measuring door thickness.
Can smart locks be hacked?
PCMag says any internet-connected device can be vulnerable, including smart locks. It recommends a strong Wi-Fi password, firmware updates and multi-factor authentication where offered.
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