5 Best Smart Locks of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Our experts start by surveying the current marketplace to identify the smart locks you're most likely to find on store shelves and online. They also keep tabs on emerging technologies in the smart home space by attending trade shows and industry events, including the Consumer Electronics Show and the Custom Electronics Design and Installation Association Expo.

Hands-on testing took place over more than 50 hours in our Lab as well as our homes; the latter enables us to evaluate the devices in real-world conditions. In the Lab, we use a doorframe rig for evaluating the ease of assembly and functionality of each smart lock. In total, we score the locks over 15 metrics, including ease of assembly, app setup and intuitiveness, feature set, accuracy of auto-lock functionality (if applicable), integration capabilities, connectivity and functionality of unique features. These and other factors are rated by both our experts' experiences and those of real users.

Our usability tests include evaluating the intuitiveness and response time of smart locks with keypad controls.

Our testers also measure how easy smart locks' apps are to download and operate.

Smart locks are high-tech devices, but they still need to do the very low-tech job of keeping your door secure. As you narrow down the options, keep these key factors in mind:

✔️ Installation: Some smart locks are designed to be installed over your existing deadbolt on the inside of the door, while others replace the existing deadbolt. That affects the complexity of the installation as well as the look of your door from the outside.

✔️ Remote control: Smart locks can be either Wi-Fi-enabled or Bluetooth-enabled (or both, in some cases). Look for a Wi-Fi lock if you want to be able to control the lock from anywhere. With Bluetooth-only models, you'll have to be within a short distance of the lock to control it through your smartphone.

✔️ Integration: Do you want your smart lock to be integrated into a larger smart home so you can do things like program certain lights to turn on when the lock opens or open the lock with your voice? If so, you need to check that the smart lock works with your smart home ecosystem, be it Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant or Apple HomeKit.

We evaluated several additional smart locks with a variety of features and prices.

The Kwikset Halo Wi-Fi Smart Lock is versatile, allowing users to lock and unlock their door remotely via their smartphone, a touch-screen panel or an old-fashioned key. The device is compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, but not Apple HomeKit.

The well-designed, highly secure Yale Assure Lock 2 has many of the high-tech features we look for in a smart lock: remote control, keypad access, auto-lock and more. That said, our tech experts found the keypad a little obtrusive in our evaluations.

Apple users may want to consider the Schlage Encode Plus Smart Wi-Fi Deadbolt, since you can lock and unlock the door by tapping a button on your iPhone or Apple Watch. However, the device is pricey compared to many of the others we tested.

The Schlage Sense Smart Deadbolt impressed our experts with its simple installation and setup and extremely intuitive app, as well as its built-in tamper alarm that will sound if the lock detects it's being jimmied. But the lock is a tad expensive considering its relatively basic design.

Any connected device you bring into your home can be hacked. But following some best cybersecurity practices can help protect your smart lock. Start by creating a strong, unique password for each connected device in your home, including your smart lock (our experts recommend a password manager like Dashlane to organize and protect your many accounts).

It's also a good idea to replace network hardware, including your Wi-Fi router, at least every five years to make sure your security protections are relatively up-to-date. Keep existing hardware current by enabling software updates, which might mean logging in to the device and manually accepting updates, as you might with your phone.

Finally, our experts recommend creating one network for your computers, which likely contain sensitive information, and a separate guest network for your smart home devices. That way even if someone hacks into your Wi-Fi-connected smart lock, they can’t access your computer. Segmentation is easy to do with most new routers. Check the user manual for instructions.

All smart locks perform at least one core function, and that’s allowing you to lock and unlock a door. But certain devices are more secure than others, with some smart locks equipped with a tamper alarm feature that will sound if the lock detects it's being jimmied. Some also offer safety features like auto-locking and the ability to create short-term access codes for visitors.

The installation depends on the type of lock that you purchase. Some smart locks are installed over your existing deadbolt on the inside of the door, while others replace the existing deadbolt. Usually, you just need a couple basic tools to get the job done: a screwdriver (ideally an electric model, but a manual screwdriver should be sufficient) and a level to make sure the device is correctly angled. Also, some brands offer step-by-step videos with installation instructions, making the process easier.

Daniel Bortz is a freelance writer who has written about home improvement for more than a decade, including testing-based product reviews across every major category, from outdoor power tools to smart home technology. His work has been published by the New York Times, Washington Post, Consumer Reports, Newsweek, Money magazine and other outlets. He installed and tested the Eufy Smart Lock S230 at his home in Gaithersburg, MD for this report.

In researching and writing this story, he worked with Dan DiClerico, the Director of Home Improvement and Outdoors at the Good Housekeeping Institute. For more than two decades, he has written about all things home-related, from big-ticket remodeling projects to routine home maintenance. Dan has reviewed thousands of consumer products across a wide range of categories, including building materials, fixtures, outdoor power equipment and more.

Olivia Lipski, media and tech reviews analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute, provided expertise around the connectivity and smart home integration of the locks included in this review.