The Best Smart Locks of 2026

U-tec’s Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro Wi-Fi is our former pick for the best smart lock. This is a newer Wi-Fi version, which improves on the previous model in several key ways, starting with adding Wi-Fi. No more hub needed; now you can control the lock from anywhere via your phone. That’s in addition to unlocking via the numeric keypad, voice assistant, Apple Watch, mechanical key, and even fingerprint reader. If there’s a way to open a door, this thing has it.

The U-Bolt Pro Wi-Fi boasts an attractive, compact design—a refreshing change from larger, clunkier-locking locks. It’s easy to install and configure, with detailed instructions and online videos available to help you through each step. However, note that the onboard Wi-Fi supports only 2.4GHz networks. If your router is limited to 5GHz, keep shopping.

The lock also lacks two key integrations: Amazon Key and Apple HomeKit. But it supports nearly everything else (Alexa, Google, IFTTT, etc.), so you can easily add it to compatible smart-home platforms. You can also add guest users with just a few taps, a handy option for Airbnb owners.

Battery life is one concern, though: U-tec promises three to six months of operation from the four non-rechargeable AAs the lock requires. A rechargeable battery pack would be preferable to disposables.

The lock delivers in nearly every way that matters; it performed just about flawlessly during testing. Despite a few limitations, the Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro Wi-Fi is an easy smart lock to recommend. It looks good, installs easily, and offers almost every unlock option imaginable: smart, digital, and mechanical.

Read our review of the U-tec Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro Wi-Fi.

Alfred is a lesser-known player in the smart lock space, but they made one of the best locks we tested this time around. Not only was the lock reliable, triggering every time we commanded it from the mobile app or with our voice, but it's also rather versatile. Their DB2-B model offers a keypad on the front for numeric codes, a standard key lock hidden under a little door, and a geofence-based one-touch unlock, allowing you to unlock the door by touching your finger after returning home.

Having used a similar lock in the past, this is a convenient way to unlock your door—and Alfred's one-touch feature works in conjunction with geofencing. Once you re-enter the 250-foot radius around your home, you can unlock your door by touching the keypad. This geofencing requirement can make the feature a bit fiddly for some users, as geofencing requires location permissions and battery optimization to be set a certain way on Android phones—not to mention it requires an always-on notification, which is rather annoying.

The lock's design is large but still sleek and attractive, with three colors (black, chrome, and gold). The lock connects to your phone over Bluetooth, though you can buy a separate Wi-Fi bridge or Z-Wave module for remote access and integration with other smart home platforms. (You'll need one of these to control it with Alexa or Google Assistant.)

While we love that Alfred offers both Wi-Fi and Z-Wave bridges, the addition of a separate bridge introduces extra variables that can complicate things for many users. While Alfred's bridge worked very reliably in my experience, we tend to be wary of separate bridges since I've had them introduce frustration before—see some of the locks below—particularly if your house is laid out in such a way that there aren't any outlets near the front door.

We much prefer built-in Wi-Fi, particularly when recommending a product to less tech-savvy users. (Oh, and Alfred's bridge is rather unsightly, requiring a cable to plug it in and a weird plastic hanger rather than a simple module with attached prongs). Still, it's a fantastic lock, and if you're willing to deal with the extra complexity, the Alfred DB2-B is one of the most versatile and reliable models we tested.

If you like the idea of unlocking your door with your fingerprint—which is easily the quickest and most convenient way to get inside your house, short of geofencing—check out the Kwikset Halo Touch. It eschews the keypad for a fingerprint sensor that's quick to engage and very reliable (though notifications that the door has finished locking were a bit delayed in our testing). Its built-in Wi-Fi means you can use Alexa or Google Assistant to lock your door as well, though it doesn't contain any location-based features.

Kwikset also offers the ability to share virtual keys with other users and add their fingerprints to your door. It isn't quite as versatile as a numeric keypad (since you can offer a code to anyone without them needing the app or being present), but if your primary concern is getting into your own house easily, a fingerprint is incredibly quick and easy.

August’s latest Wi-Fi lock refines the design that put August on the map. Its round locking mechanism replaces your deadbolt knob without requiring you to remove the deadbolt itself or the keyhole on the outside of the door.

Its design looks a little ugly compared to the more traditional-looking locks on this list, but its built-in Wi-Fi means you can control it from anywhere, and the location-based auto-unlock feature worked flawlessly in our testing. Virtual keys worked similarly well, though we found that invites didn’t work properly unless our invitee already had an August account, which is easy enough to work around.

We also found the iOS app slightly more confusing to use if you had more than one lock, and the lock seemed to prefer Wi-Fi over Bluetooth—the opposite of most locks—which means there’s sometimes a weird lag when you’re close to the lock, and it switches from one to the other. Still, you'll rarely need to use the app when you're standing in front of the lock, so we're okay with this quirk for how reliable the Wi-Fi connectivity was.

A discount deadbolt? That’s the initial appeal of the Wyze Lock Bolt, which costs considerably less than smart door deputies from August, Schlage, and U-tec. But do you really want to cheap out on the hardware that's meant to keep your home safe?

Good news: As deadbolts go, the Wyze is as solid and secure as any. It’s really pretty, too, with its stylish, industrial-looking matte-black keypad and interior escutcheon. Nothing about it screams “cheap” or “easy to bypass.” So, what accounts for the unusually low price?

Unfortunately, it’s the overall lack of smarts. Although the Lock Bolt features a programmable numeric keypad and fingerprint reader, it offers only Bluetooth connectivity. That pairs it with your phone, and Wyze’s admirably easy-to-use app, but the lack of Wi-Fi keeps it from integrating with the rest of your smart home. That means no voice commands via Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri, no remote access when you’re away, and no automation triggered by locking or unlocking.

Speaking of automation, the Lock Bolt lacks geofencing features, including Bluetooth-based ones that would rely on your phone's proximity. You can set it to auto-lock after a set period, and the Wyze app can generate temporary-use PIN codes even when you’re not near the lock. But without Wi-Fi, this deadbolt falls short of the competition.

That said, not everyone needs or wants that kind of connectivity. The Wyze Lock Bolt succeeds quite well on its own merits, so if you just want an inexpensive, sort-of-smart deadbolt for your front door, this is the bargain to beat.

Read our full review of the Wyze Lock Bolt.

The Lockly Secure Pro has some promising features. It comes in latch and deadbolt versions, and you can choose a Satin Nickel or Venetian Bronze finish. But this is more than just a pretty lock. The keypad has a unique security feature that helps protect your entry code from would-be-lock hackers.

The numbers on the virtual keypad are randomly grouped to make up four buttons. The numbers on each button are different each time the lock is used, so someone watching your hand in an attempt to figure out your entry code will see different movements each time you enter. Pretty smart.

Lockly comes with a Wi-Fi hub, a lifetime limited warranty covering the finish and mechanics, an easy-to-install door sensor, a fingerprint sensor, and a two-year warranty covering the electronics. We loved Lockly's PIN protection and thoughtful features, but locking and unlocking from the app was slow and finicky. Sometimes, our phone wouldn't connect to it at all.

After a few app updates, this lock may be one of our favorites. But until then, we'd recommend something simpler and more reliable, like our No. 1 pick.