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Short version: the Schlage Encode is the best smart lock for most buyers — built-in WiFi, no separate bridge, and the deepest review base in the category. If price is the deciding factor, the TEEHO TE001 carries the single highest star rating here at a fraction of the cost, as a simple keypad-only deadbolt. Google Home households should look at the Nest x Yale Lock, and anyone building a broader Matter smart-home setup should consider the ULTRALOQ Bolt SE.
Want a fingerprint-specific pick, or the highest-rated deadbolt regardless of connectivity? See best fingerprint lock and best smart deadbolt.
In Plain English
A smart lock is a deadbolt that opens with a code, fingerprint or phone app, not just a key. Underneath, it's the same kind of strong bolt as a regular lock. The electronics sit on top, like a doorbell camera sitting on top of an ordinary front door.
Why it matters: you can stop hiding spare keys, give temporary codes to guests, and, with connected models, check or lock the door from anywhere. Locks connect in different ways: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or smart-home standards like Matter (a shared language that lets devices from different brands work together). The one thing to decide first is whether you need remote access. If not, a simple keypad lock does the job for far less.
Top Rated Picks at a Glance
The Ranked Field: Star Rating, Consensus and Price
Best for buyers who want built-in WiFi with no separate bridge, from the deepest review base in the category.
- Built-in WiFi, no separate bridge required.
- Keypad entry with up to 100 codes.
- Auto-lock with adjustable delay.
- Over 16,500 verified owner ratings.
Why buy it: The deepest review base of any smart lock we track, with built-in WiFi that removes the extra-hub purchase most competitors still require.
Best for a simple, reliable keypad deadbolt with no app or WiFi at all.
- Keypad deadbolt, up to 20 user codes.
- No app or subscription required.
- Backlit keypad for night entry.
- Over 10,600 verified owner ratings.
Why buy it: The highest star rating of any lock on this page, at a fraction of the price of the smart-home-connected options.
Best for households already running Google Home who want tight native integration.
- Tamper-proof design with keypad entry.
- Native Google Home integration.
- No physical keyhole — fully keyless.
- Over 2,000 verified owner ratings.
Why buy it: The natural pick for a Google Home household, with the tightest ecosystem integration of any lock on this page.
Best for buyers who want Matter-over-Thread compatibility for a broader smart-home setup.
- Matter over Thread or WiFi connectivity.
- App remote access.
- Fingerprint and keypad entry.
- Over 10,200 verified owner ratings.
Why buy it: The most affordable Matter-compatible lock here, for buyers building a broader smart-home ecosystem beyond a single app.
Comparison Table
| Product | Best for | Buy |
|---|---|---|
| Schlage Encode Smart WiFi Deadbolt | Best Overall | Price |
| TEEHO TE001 Keyless Entry Deadbolt | Best Budget | Price |
| Google Nest x Yale Lock | Best for Google Home | Price |
| ULTRALOQ Bolt SE Wi-Fi Smart Lock | Best for Smart-Home Hubs | Price |
How We Rank
We do not buy or physically install these locks. Every star rating and review count on this page comes from licensed Amazon data, weighted by review volume. Full method on how we rank.
How A Smart Lock Works
A smart lock replaces or augments a traditional key with an electronic entry method — a keypad, a fingerprint sensor, an app, or some combination. The underlying deadbolt mechanism is usually the same ANSI-graded hardware a traditional lock uses. The electronics sit on top of that physical security layer, not instead of it.
Battery Life and Backup Power
Most smart locks run on standard AA batteries. WiFi-connected models draw a bit more power than a plain keypad, but a well-reviewed lock still delivers solid battery life, lasting months per set. A low-battery warning through the app or keypad gives you time to swap batteries before a lockout. Every lock worth buying also includes a physical key backup, or an external battery-jump contact, for the rare case it dies without warning.
Buying Guide: What Matters in the Best Smart Lock for Home Use
Entry Method: Keypad, Fingerprint or App
Keypad is the most universally reliable entry method. It doesn't depend on a phone battery or a wireless signal. Fingerprint entry adds convenience, but should always come with a keypad or key backup for a finger that won't scan in cold weather. App-only entry — unlocking purely through a phone — is the least reliable primary method. It works best as a secondary option layered on top of a keypad, not a replacement for one. See the smart locks buying guide for the full breakdown.
Connectivity: WiFi, Bluetooth, Z-Wave and Matter
Built-in WiFi (Schlage Encode) gives remote access with no extra hardware. The Nest x Yale Lock connects through Google's Nest Connect instead, which Yale lists as required for remote control. Bluetooth-only locks connect to your phone at close range, and generally need a separate bridge for remote access from outside the house. Z-Wave and Zigbee locks talk to a smart-home hub rather than the internet directly. Matter (ULTRALOQ Bolt SE) is the newer, brand-agnostic standard, built to work across Google Home, Amazon Alexa and Apple Home without three separate integrations — the Bolt SE can run on WiFi or on Matter over Thread, and ULTRALOQ notes Thread mode requires a Thread border router. A no-WiFi keypad-only deadbolt (TEEHO) skips remote access entirely, but is the simplest and cheapest option here.
Do You Need A Hub?
A lock with built-in WiFi needs no hub for remote access. A Bluetooth-only or Z-Wave lock generally does, whether that's a dedicated bridge sold by the same brand, or a general-purpose smart-home hub you already own. Check the specific listing for whether a hub is included, sold separately, or required at all.
Physical Key Backup and ANSI Grade
Confirm the lock includes a physical key override or backup entry method. A dead battery or app failure should never lock you out entirely. Also look for an ANSI/BHMA rating on the deadbolt itself, independent of any smart feature — a numbered grade (Grade 1 is highest) or a letter grade on BHMA's residential scale, where AAA is best. That grade reflects real testing, including resistance to forced-entry attacks. A high star rating doesn't guarantee a strong one.
What Consumer Reports says
Consumer Reports notes in its door lock buying guide that smart locks come as full replacements or as retrofit models that keep your existing exterior hardware. It also stresses that the door matters as much as the lock: its testing includes kick-in, drilling and picking attacks, and it says fitting a reinforced strike plate and 3-inch screws improves resistance. That backs up the point above that a smart lock's electronics don't replace a solid deadbolt and door frame.
Who A Smart Lock Is Right For
A smart lock suits any household that wants to stop carrying, hiding or copying a physical key. It's a strong fit for anyone who wants to issue a temporary code to a guest, cleaner or contractor, then delete it afterward, without cutting a spare key. A WiFi-connected model adds real value for a household that wants to check the door status remotely, or wants an activity log of who came and went.
Smart Lock or Keyless Entry Only?
If remote access and an activity log don't matter, a plain keyless entry keypad does the same physical job for less money — see top-rated keyless entry locks. If none of that appeals, and a lower price matters more, a traditional deadbolt remains a perfectly reasonable choice — see smart lock vs traditional deadbolt for the full comparison.
Installation and Deadbolt Compatibility
Nearly every smart lock, including all four on this page, retrofits a standard residential deadbolt hole. Most homeowners install one themselves with a Phillips screwdriver, in under an hour. Confirm your door's backset and thickness against the listed compatibility range before ordering — standard US doors use a 2-3/8" or 2-3/4" backset, and a 1-3/8" to 1-3/4" thickness. See the full how to install a smart lock guide for the complete steps.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Assuming every smart lock includes built-in WiFi. Several well-reviewed models don't, and need a separate hub for remote access.
- Judging security by star rating alone, and skipping the ANSI grade check entirely.
- Ignoring rekey compatibility, which matters if you're moving into a home with an existing lock already installed.
- Buying without checking deadbolt compatibility first. A mismatch on backset or door thickness is the most common reason for a return in this category.
Tip Measure your door's backset and thickness twice before you order.
How We Select These Picks From Owner Reviews
We don't buy or physically install these locks. We aggregate verified owner reviews, review volume, and the recurring themes across ratings for each model, then weigh that against manufacturer specifications, connectivity and price. A lock with a deep review base carries more weight than a slightly higher rating built on a thin sample, since a large sample smooths out the occasional bad-batch outlier a small one can't. Full method on how we rank.
Going Deeper: Matter and Thread: How the Newer Standards Connect a Lock
The ULTRALOQ Bolt SE is on this page for its Matter support, and Matter is often misunderstood as a new kind of radio. It's better thought of as a common language. The Connectivity Standards Alliance, which develops it, describes Matter as one protocol to connect compatible devices and systems with one another. It's built collaboratively by alliance members, with technology contributed by companies including Amazon, Apple and Google, and it works with Apple's Siri, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Samsung SmartThings.
Two Matter features matter most for a lock. The first is local control: the alliance says Matter enables consistent, responsive local connectivity, so devices can operate without constant dependence on the cloud. The second is what it calls multi-admin, meaning devices from multiple brands work natively together and can be controlled through more than one ecosystem at the same time. That's why Matter can stand in for three separate integrations. The alliance also runs a certification program and publishes a database of certified products.
Matter runs over existing networks, Wi-Fi and Thread, with Bluetooth Low Energy used for initial setup. Thread is the one built for battery devices like locks. Google's developer documentation describes Thread as a low-power, IPv6-based mesh network whose goal is low-power, low-latency networking, not high-bandwidth data transfer. Its throughput, around 250 kbps at the radio layer, is orders of magnitude less than Wi-Fi, which is fine for lock and unlock commands. Battery devices can run as sleepy end devices that switch their radios on only intermittently.
The catch is the border router. Google explains that border routers bridge a Thread mesh to your Wi-Fi or Ethernet network. Without one, a Thread lock can't reach the rest of your home or the internet. That's exactly why ULTRALOQ notes that the Bolt SE's Thread mode requires a Thread border router, and why the lock can also run on plain Wi-Fi. If you already own a smart speaker or hub that acts as a border router, Thread is an efficient option. If not, Wi-Fi mode is the simpler start.
The Verdict
The Schlage Encode is the right default for most buyers — deep review evidence, built-in WiFi, no compromises. Choose the TEEHO TE001 if budget is the priority and remote access is not needed, the Nest x Yale for a Google Home household, and the ULTRALOQ Bolt SE for Matter-based smart-home integration.
Sources & References
- Schlage Encode Smart WiFi Deadbolt specifications — Schlage
- Nest x Yale Lock — Yale
- ULTRALOQ Bolt SE — U-tec (ULTRALOQ)
- Matter: the foundation for connected things — Connectivity Standards Alliance
- Understanding BHMA security grades — Schlage
- Product grade levels — Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association (BHMA)
- Thread and IPv6 — Google Home Developers
- How to Choose the Best Door Lock for Your Home — Consumer Reports