The best smart lock for you starts with what's already on your door. Some fit over or turn your existing deadbolt or cylinder, so you keep your keys, and some replace the whole deadbolt with a keypad or fingerprint reader. Check which kind a maker sells, which door it suits and which phone or smart home system it names.
A smart lock sounds like one gadget, but the makers on this list sell two quite different jobs. One adds smarts to the lock you've already got, and the other takes your old deadbolt off the door.
This list sticks to what each maker's own website says, read on 1 Nov 2026 (as of Nov 2026). It's alphabetical and in no particular order. Nothing here is a promise about security or break-ins: I've described how each lock fits and opens, in the maker's own words, and skipped every sale banner.
Smart locks side by side
| Tool | Type | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| August | Smart locks that fit over a deadbolt | A renter-friendly fit, by its own account |
| eufy | Palm vein, video and fingerprint locks | Three series, from biometric to keyless |
| Kwikset | Smart locks with SmartKey rekeying | Auto Lock and SecureScreen on its feature list |
| Level | Small smart locks and a retrofit Bolt | Apple home keys on the Pro model |
| Lockly | Fingerprint and smartphone-controlled locks | Walk-up entry and a video intercom |
| Nuki | Retrofit smart locks, innovated in Austria | Matter and Thread, plus an activity log |
| Schlage | Smart deadbolts and smart levers | 11 hardware finishes, by its count |
| Tedee | Smart lock that turns your existing cylinder | Keeps your hardware and your key |
| Ultraloq | Smart deadbolts and latches from U-tec | A key in Apple Wallet on one model |
| Wyze | Bluetooth smart lock with a fingerprint reader | Replaces your deadbolt |
Ten smart lock makers, from add-ons to full deadbolts
August
Best for: Keeping your deadbolt and keys, with a lock the maker says fits over your existing deadbolt in a renter-friendly installation, and a Yale keypad it suggests for front doors.
eufy
Best for: Picking a series: S, which the maker says leads with biometric security, E, which pairs touchless entry with dual power, or C, which keeps keyless simple.
Kwikset
Best for: Controlling access from your smartphone, with Auto Lock and SecureScreen among the features its page lists, and SmartKey Security for rekeying a lock yourself.
Level
Best for: Retrofitting the lock you've got with a Bolt that keeps your keys and home design, or a Lock Pro the maker lists with Apple home keys and door status detection.
Lockly
Best for: Walking up and having the door open without lifting a hand, in the maker's words, with fingerprint models, a video intercom and what it calls lifetime technical support.
Nuki
Best for: Linking a retrofit lock to smart home systems through Matter and Thread, with timers, automatic locking and an activity log in a free app.
Schlage
Best for: Choosing a smart deadbolt or lever in one of the 11 hardware finishes the maker lists, with an Apple Watch tap or hands-free Sense Pro entry on some models.
Tedee
Best for: Turning your existing lock cylinder like a key, which the maker says leaves your hardware intact so you can still open the door with a key.
Ultraloq
Best for: Choosing between the U-Bolt deadbolt series and the Latch 5 range, with a Bolt NFC model the maker markets to Apple Home users with a key in Apple Wallet.
Wyze
Best for: Replacing the deadbolt entirely with a Bluetooth lock that has a backlit keypad and a fingerprint reader, and that the maker says auto-locks if you forget.
Keep your deadbolt, or replace it?
This is the split that decides what you can fit, and it's easy to miss on a product page. August fits 'over your existing deadbolt'. Tedee works by 'controlling your existing lock cylinder'. Nuki calls itself a maker of 'retrofit Smart Locks', and Level offers a Bolt that retrofits your lock so you keep your matched home design and keys.
At the other end, Wyze says its Lock Bolt 'replaces your deadbolt', with a backlit keypad and fingerprint reader. So decide first whether you want your old lock to stay, then shop only in that half of the list.
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- Add-ons and retrofits: fit over your deadbolt or turn your cylinder, so your existing lock and key stay put.
- Full replacements: the old deadbolt comes off and a smart deadbolt, keypad or fingerprint lock goes in.
- Keypads and biometrics: on several locks here, from a backlit keypad to a palm vein reader.
How each lock lets you in
Once you know the fit, look at how you'd open the door day to day. Lockly says 'simply walk up to your door, and your door unlocks, all without you lifting your hand'. eufy says its S Series 'leads with biometric security', and its page title lists palm vein, video and fingerprint locks. Ultraloq markets 'your key, now in Apple Wallet' on one model.
Phone and watch support differs too. Schlage offers remote access through its Home app and a tap with your Apple Watch on some models, and Kwikset says you can 'control access to your home at anytime from anywhere with your smartphone'. If you live in one smart home system, check that the maker names it.
Renting, guests and short stays
If you rent, ask your landlord before you change any lock. One maker on this list calls its fit renter-friendly because it goes over your existing deadbolt, and another says its lock is ideal for homes and short-term rentals. If you'll be letting guests in, look for the guest codes or shared access that some makers describe.
Questions to ask before you change your lock
- Do I want to keep my deadbolt and keys, or replace the whole lock?
- Does the maker's own compatibility check cover my door and lock?
- How will I open it: phone, keypad, fingerprint or a watch?
- Which phone and smart home system does the maker name?
- Can I give guests their own codes or access?
- If I rent, have I got my landlord's agreement first?
Do you make a smart lock? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My advice for picking a smart lock
Look at your door before you look at features. If you'd like to keep your lock and keys, start with the makers that fit over or turn what you've got. If you want a keypad or fingerprint reader on the outside, look at the ones that replace the deadbolt. Then check each maker's own compatibility notes, and read any security wording as the maker's description, not a guarantee.
A lock is only one part of looking after the front door, so see my guide to choosing a home security camera too. And if you let a property, here's how to go about keeping a rental property safe and secure.
Want your tool on this list? Featured spots and reviews here are paid partnerships. Here's how to partner with me.
Frequently asked questions
Must I replace my deadbolt to fit a smart lock?
No. Some locks on this list fit over your existing deadbolt or turn your existing cylinder, so your lock and key stay. Others replace the deadbolt entirely. Check which kind a maker sells before you order.
Can I still use a key with a smart lock?
Some makers say so. One says its lock leaves your hardware intact so you can still use a key, and another says its retrofit keeps your keys. Check the maker's own page for the model you want.
Are smart locks good for renters?
One maker on this list describes its installation as renter-friendly, because it fits over your existing deadbolt. Even so, check your tenancy agreement and ask your landlord before you change a lock.
Can a smart lock open with a fingerprint?
Several makers here list it. Pages on this list mention fingerprint readers, a palm vein lock and backlit keypads, so check the entry methods a maker names for each model.
Do smart locks work with Apple Home, Alexa or Google?
Some name the systems they work with. One maker lists Matter and Thread, one markets a model to Apple Home users with a key in Apple Wallet, and another lists Apple home keys on its Pro model. Check the maker's list for your system.
Is a smart lock safer than a normal lock?
No list can promise that, and this one doesn't. The makers describe their own features, such as auto-locking and activity logs, in their own words. Ask a maker directly about the standards its locks meet.
