If you have certain smart speakers like the Amazon Echo (4th generation) ($100) or smart displays like the Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd generation) ($150), you may already have a smart home hub. If you’re an Apple HomeKit user, you may have a HomePod or Apple TV that will act as the hub of your home, but HomeKit compatibility is much more complex than more common options like Zigbee and Z-Wave, or the choices of Amazon and Google.
Want more codes?
Entry or access codes are one of the best parts of smart locks in my opinion. Not all smart locks come with one, but most have an optional keypad that you can add and place anywhere you want on the outside of your home. While a digital lock allows you to set one code, a smart lock application it allows you to create multiple codes and assign them to certain people and set limits on code usage, so you can give the code to your dog handler or your favorite neighbor and know when they use it to enter your home. It makes it easy to cancel codes without your entire household having to adjust to a code change.
Some locks, like the Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro ($109) and the Schlage Encode Plus ($319), come with a keypad built into the front of the lock, but others require the purchase of an additional keypad. If codes are a key feature for you, prefer a lock with an attached keypad so you don’t have to spend extra money, or worry about installing two things instead of one.
Do you want biometric or keyless entry?
The real future is no keys or codes! There are several locks that allow you to unlock the front door by pressing your fingerprint. Some, like the aforementioned Ultraloq, include a fingerprint reader built into the lock itself, while some have external keypads, like the Abode Lock, with a biometric reader. I like to use it as a one-touch open when I don’t have my keys handy, and it’s definitely faster than typing code.
Most smart locks have a keyhole, and I’d recommend sticking to the ones that do. Smart locks run on batteries (more below), so it’s a good idea to have a battery-less physical key backup if you run out of battery power. (Locks warn you of low battery in advance, but I’m a procrastinator, so I know how this story will turn out.) Some locks use your phone’s geofencing to alert it when your door is unlocked, so if your phone dies, you might as well lose the convenience that you are looking for, and you need a separate access option.
Do you have other entry points?
If you are interested in getting a smart door lock without a barrier, or even a sliding door, good news! There are options for you too. For example, Schlage makes a coding level ($310) designed for doors without an existing deadbolt. Instead, it adds a keyhole in the handle along with the keyboard. You can also add smart home controls for your garage with MyQ Smart Garage Door Openers (8/10, WIRED Recommends) and you can add a keypad to them.
What about battery life? Hidden fees?
All these clever tricks need a power source: batteries. Most smart locks promise a battery life of at least a few months, if not the better part of a year, but performance depends on how much the lock works – more frequent requests and automation will naturally drain the battery a bit faster. In any case, be prepared to charge or replace the batteries in your smart lock. Some have ways to remove the lock if it’s completely dead—for example, the Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro has a hidden MicroUSB port on the bottom if it needs juice.
Some locks also have features hidden behind subscription fees. Abode comes to mind – it offers a notification that your lock has been activated, but doesn’t make it clear whether it’s unlocked or locked. You have to sign up for one of Abode’s subscription plans for this benefit, and it’s also the only way to use it with other smart home devices. That’s not exactly common with smart locks — Abode is also a smart home security company, so its subscription fee works with a few other products outside of locks — but it’s worth keeping an eye out for.