Unless you want to replace all the locks in your house, you may want to stick with the keyway your locks already use so you can keep using one key for the entire house. (That is, if your smart lock uses physical keys at all.)
Most smart locks don’t have Wi-Fi built-in. Instead, they use something like Z-Wave, which communicates with a nearby hub. Or they rely on Bluetooth, which can communicate with a hub or directly with your phone directly. If you want to be able to check your lock from afar, or use it with voice assistants like Amazon Alexa and Google Home, you’ll need one that connects to Wi-Fi, either through the lock itself or through a Bluetooth or Z-Wave hub. If you use an iPhone, you may also want to look for HomeKit compatibility for Siri.
As with any lock, you want something that can’t easily be picked. And as with any tech, you want something from a brand you can trust to keep your software updated against hackers. Having said that, if we’re being honest, thieves aren’t likely going to waste time hacking your Bluetooth signal — if someone wants to get into your house, they’ll probably just break a window.
Which smart lock you buy will depend on a combination of these many factors, so be sure to research your current setup to make sure the lock you buy is compatible. That said, here are a few of the best options that should fit a variety of scenarios.
The Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro allows six different ways for you to get into your house: a traditional Schlage key, a fingerprint sensor, a numerical keypad, your smartphone, automation that unlocks when you arrive and — most uniquely — the ability to shake your phone while standing on the front stoop. You can also lock or unlock the door inside using a voice assistant if you have the Wi-Fi bridge (which comes bundled with the lock), though it isn’t compatible with Apple’s HomeKit.
If you’re ready to get rid of your keys altogether, the Yale Assure Lock SL sticks a touch screen keypad on your door. You can enter a code, set it to automatically unlock as you arrive home or use your voice assistant of choice.
If you aren’t allowed to remove your existing deadbolt, August’s retrofitted Smart Lock allows you to control the lock that’s already on your door by replacing only the internal hardware. You’ll probably want the version with the Connect Wi-Fi bridge, which allows you to lock the door from afar and use voice assistants like Amazon Alexa. It’s not as feature-filled as other smart locks, though August’s Smart Lock Pro does offer a few more smart home integration features like Apple’s HomeKit or compatibility with Z-Wave hubs. Regardless, for renters, it’s certainly a step up from a traditional lock.
Having a separate hub, or bridge, to enable Wi-Fi can be a bit of a hassle. For a smart lock that has Wi-Fi completely built-in — and uses the Schlage keyway — the Schlage Encode is a great option. It doesn’t have some of the more widespread support you get from Ultraloq, Yale or August, but it works with the Amazon Alexa and Google Home voice assistants and is otherwise simple to set up.
If you like the idea of a Wi-Fi smart lock but the rest of your house uses a KW1 keyway, check out the Kwikset Halo. It doesn’t need a hub, allows for a keypad with custom codes and you can easily re-key it to your existing Kwikset keys without the need for a locksmith.