Smart locks solve a real problem — access management, remote control, no more hiding a key under the mat. But every connectivity feature you add is a potential new attack surface that a regular deadbolt simply doesn't have. Bluetooth sniffing, relay attacks on RF signals, app vulnerabilities, and dead batteries at 2am are all part of the picture. The best smart locks manage those tradeoffs intelligently. The worst ones trade real security for convenience theater.
Every smart lock on this page replaces or supplements a physical cylinder. That cylinder's pick and bump resistance matters just as much here as on any deadbolt page. A smart lock with a Grade 3 cylinder and great Bluetooth is still a Grade 3 lock. We test the mechanical side too — check each review for the full picture, or start with our ANSI grades explainer.
The only smart lock with Apple Home Key and ANSI Grade 1 security. Built-in Wi-Fi, no hub required, 100 access codes. The one we'd put on our own front door.
Same Grade 1 security as the Encode Plus with Z-Wave instead of Wi-Fi. Hub required, but battery life doubles and it plays nicely with SmartThings, Ring Alarm, and Abode.
Clean design, Matter support, and easy installation make this the go-to for renters or secondary doors. Grade 2 is the trade-off, but for most low-risk situations it holds up.
Installs on the interior side of your existing deadbolt — no locksmith, no new holes, landlord-friendly. You keep your existing keys and add smart features on top.
Under $80 for WiFi, an AI fingerprint scanner, tempered glass keypad, and key backup. Grade 2 cylinder keeps it honest, but for secondary doors or low-risk setups the value is hard to argue with.
Our full 18-lock deadbolt roundup includes smart lock picks ranked by the one thing most smart lock reviews skip: the mechanical cylinder underneath.
Most smart lock marketing is 100% about the app and 0% about the cylinder. This is the 10-minute read that changes how you evaluate every smart lock you'll ever look at.
Keyless car entry had the same promises smart locks do now. Then came relay attacks. The parallels are uncomfortable reading for anyone shopping for a Wi-Fi deadbolt.
Smart locks are one layer of a bigger system. Here's how they fit alongside cameras, sensors, door frame reinforcement, and the physical deadbolt that backs them up.
Apple Home Key, ANSI Grade 1, built-in Wi-Fi. Every other smart lock traded physical security for connectivity. The Encode Plus is the one that refused.
Grade 1, Z-Wave Plus, 12-month battery life, built-in alarm. The same physical security as the Encode Plus — without the Wi-Fi, and with double the battery life.
WiFi, an AI fingerprint scanner that improves over time, tempered glass keypad, and key backup — all under $80. The catch is Grade 2, but for secondary doors the value is hard to argue with.