Our top 5 smart locks

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The best smart locks offer not convenience, but safety & security to your home. That is because they will send you a notification to your phone any time they are locked or unlocked and may be connected to other smart home devices, like video doorbells, security systems, and cameras. Another key feature of smart locks is that you can give others virtual keys to your door, so you do not have to worry about somebody making copies of your real keys. With a virtual key, you can make a schedule for when it’ll work, and get an alert any time it is used. So, if you have a dog walker and caregiver, you may be assured that they can get in when you want them there. Lastly, the great smart locks also connect to other smart home devices, so when you open your door, it can send a signal to turn on your smart lights as well as change your thermostat. And, if you link it to Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant, you can ask those services to lock your door on your way out.

August Smart Lock Wi-Fi (4th Gen)

There was not much to improve on the smart lock of August, but the company went ahead as well as tweaked its original to make it small and easy to use. The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock is 45% smaller than the original, so it looks less bulbous on your door, and now has Wi-Fi built-in, so you do not need to install the August Connect bridge to link your lock to your house network. Everything we liked about the August Pro is here, an easy installation procedure, features like Door Sense and interoperability with a big range of other smart home systems, from Alexa to Google Assistant to Xfinity. And, the August Wi-Fi allows you to use the keys from your existing deadbolt. This modern iteration of the August Smart Lock brakes free from the bonds of its predecessors requires a bridge to operate remotely. Thanks to its built-in Wi-Fi connection, the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock connects to the wireless of your home network without the want for a bridge or other more hardware. Beyond that, it is one of the simple smart locks to installing and setup. Plus, it can retain your existing lock. So, you do not need new keys. The impressive thing is that the company has added in the Wi-Fi connection, but they shrank the overall lock. It’s 45 percent smaller in volume and 20 percent slimmer, making it a sleek small lock, and comes in either silver and matte black plastic.

Pros

Small size
Wi-Fi built-in
Simple to use
Works with many smart home devices

Cons

Keypad sold separately

August Smart Lock Pro + Connect

The Smart Lock Pro + Connect is the modern offering from the folks at August house, and as with the original August Smart Lock and Home Kit Enabled models, it is a winner. This 3rd-gen smart lock offers all the bells or whistles you can get with the Home Kit model, and also had added new features like August's Door Sense technology, Wi-Fi connectivity, and Z-Wave compatibility. It is simple to install and may be controlled remotely or with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri voice commands, and it retains the sleek aesthetics of its siblings. It is pricey, but it is a great smart lock. The Smart Lock Pro looks identical to the Smart Lock Home Kit Enabled. It has an anodized aluminum shell that is available in silver or dark gray with a hockey puck shape that has a diameter of is 3.2” in and 2.2” deep. The outer edge of the lock is textured as well as a smallish ring of LEDs glow green when the door is being unlocked and red when it’s being locked. Inside are 4 AA batteries, Z-Wave radio, and a Bluetooth radio that allows you to control the lock using a house automation hub like the Wink 2 or Samsung SmartThings Hub. Included in the box are the lock, a door sensor, a mounting plate, an August Connect Wi-Fi bridge as well as 3 tailpiece adapters. The sensor is installed on the doorframe close to the lock. It utilizes August's Door Sense technology to tell you if the door is open, closed, and left ajar. The Connect bridge measures 2.2 by 2.2 by 1.2” and plugs directly into a wall outlet close to the lock. It connects the lock to your wireless network. There is a lot to like about the August Smart Lock Pro + Connect. Not only is it attractive and simple for installing that it is loaded with features that allow you to control it in any way, all of which are simply accessible via the thoughtfully designed mobile app. It provides similar Auto-Lock and Auto-Unlock features as the earlier models, allows you to grant full and restricted access to other users, and allows you to know who has opened the door, and when. The Pro supports Apple's Home Kit platform and has its own IFTTT channel which lets it work with other IFTTT devices & services, and it works with Alexa, Siri, and Google voice commands and some other smart devices. It is a good addition to your smart house security system. The addition of a Z-Wave radio, as well as the August Connect bridge, makes this the most flexible lock we have tested, and you will never have to wonder if the door is completely closed or not thanks to August's Door Sense technology. Granted, at $279 it is one of the costliest smart locks out there, but its great in class features and versatility make it a shoo-in as our Editors' Choice.

Pros

Simple to install
Supports Bluetooth, Z-Wave, and Wi-Fi
Comes with a door sensor as well as a Wi-Fi bridge
Works with Alexa, Google, and Siri voice commands
Geofencing & IFTTT support

Cons

Expensive

Benji lock Gray 43mm Fingerprint Padlock

Benji Lock by Hampton is the first padlock of the world that features both fingerprint technology as well as a traditional key lock. Benji Lock can store up to ten fingerprints and is stable sufficient for multiple users. The lock comes with a built-in LED indicator that can aid the user to understand when the accurate fingerprint is registered by the scanner while a fingerprint is being programmed. The lock is prepared of die-cast zinc with a chrome-plated hardened steel shackle. The lock is completely rechargeable and has a built-in lithium-ion battery that can last up to six months on a single charge. The lock weighs 8.8 ounces and measures 4.1 x 2.7 x 2.2” in size. It’s available in matte black, white, dark navy, and matte grey color finishes. Benji Lock has come a long way from where it first started some years ago. The product as well as the company have seemingly moved mountains to bring this product to market and to ensure the right people are included. Since its debut at CES in 2017, Benji Lock has expanded its product portfolio to involve the TSA padlock and the 43mm standard padlock. The travel lock comes in a fairly standard retail package. It is clear on the front so that customers can see the product inside. The back has a few basic info about the lock including the Travel Sentry logo as well as highlighting that multiple users may be programmed into the lock. The package was a small difficult to get into, but it was not as bad as some plastic, hermetically sealed packages.

Pros

First traditional rechargeable padlock of the world with fingerprint technology, unlocks with authorized fingerprint(s) or key
Stores up to 10 fingerprints, suitable for multiple users
Built-in LED light indicator for simple programming and operation
Made of die-cast zinc with highly secure chrome-plated hardened steel shackle
Completely rechargeable lithium-ion battery, lasting up to six months to a year on a single charge, depending on use

Ultraloq Lever Fingerprint Smart Lock Door Handle

This lock is featured with the display and the alarm that indicate the battery status. With the innovative technology equipped, you can check the logs activity through App as well. The locking methods are up to five different options. Hence you can easily select the right one that you’re comfortable with. The company of this product is willing to back the product with an 18 months warranty too. 7 x 6.3 x 3.5” is the size of this product. It even lets you knock on your phone to open the door, even when it is in your pocket. How is that for convenience? Your door is opened effortlessly with and without your phone. That is pretty handy for those times when you forgot your key. This smart lock allows you to know who opened your door and when. It is a better solution when you require higher security for a special door. Other features include Bluetooth 4.0, the ability to store 95 fingerprints, which will identify you in less than 0.5 sec, and you can shake your phone to open the door. It’ll hold 95 user-defined four to eight-digit codes. Three AA batteries will deliver up to 8,000 times access with 50 percent less power consumption compared to the same locks on the market. This smart lock is built difficult so that you can trust it in your house. The solid 1-piece Zinc Alloy body is IP65 rated and fully waterproof & dustproof. You can use it for both indoor as well as outdoor use.

Pros

Originally launched on Indiegogo
iOS and Android apps have a decent number of reviews and overall score.

Cons

If you’re in Bluetooth range the lock says it supports Alexa integrations with its own Alexa skill. Several clients have had difficulty in getting this to work
Only supports long-distance control and access logs with a more Wi-fi accessory bridge

Igloo Home Key box 3 - Smart Lockbox for Keys

The folks at Igloo home are making smart door locks as well as lockboxes for a while, and they keep getting better. They now offering the Smart Key box 3 by improving version 2 in multiple ways. This isn’t a door lock. It’s a lockbox that hangs on a doorknob and gate. The circular keypad is used for unlocking the lockbox using a PIN. You can use the companion app to unlock the box through Bluetooth or generate more PIN codes for construction workers, cleaners, and other folks. It is helpful for Airbnb guests or keeping keys near the pier or storage shed, etc. However, you open it, it gets access to a storage compartment. That compartment was the type of small in previous models, big enough for some home keys. Now you can fit a usual car key or even many access cards and keycards. This makes it much more versatile and it does create the Key box 3 bigger and deeper. You can even eliminate the rubber protective ring on the back, exposing 2 holes, to wall-mount the Key box 3. This key box is heavy-duty, and weather-resistant therefore it will be safe on the exterior door during bad weather. There are rubber accents for protecting your door's finish. They include 2 shackle kinds to accommodate different types of doorknobs or mounting points. Another good enhancement is the use of a USB-C port to charge and recharging. Few competitors use proprietary cables, which are difficult to keep track of.

Pros