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The best smart locks can help anyone who constantly misplaces keys or who frequently wonders whether they locked the front door. I am in the latter camp. After years in apartments, I recently moved to a large enough house that checking whether the door is locked can feel like a chore, especially once I’m all cozy in bed.
Installing a smart lock doesn't mean throwing away your house keys—you probably still want to bring them with you. These locks are all about convenience, offering multiple ways to enter, like a passcode via a keypad, fingerprint scanning, or through an app. You can easily share codes with friends and family, so no need to fuss with crappy key copies, and you can usually set them to auto-lock when the door closes. But there are a lot of models, and not all will work with your door.
To help you find the best smart lock for you, we've been testing smart locks for a few years now, ranging from renter-friendly solutions to options that work for your sliding door and garage. If you're looking for a well-priced, full-featured smart lock, the Aqara Smart Lock U50 ($125) is my go-to with a built-in keypad and great performance. Looking for something more discreet? Try the Level Lock Pro ($350), which looks like a completely normal lock both inside and out but is secretly packed with smarts. Curious about more options? Read on for everything we recommend.
For more smart home recommendations, read our Best Video Doorbells, Best Outdoor Security Cameras, Best Indoor Security Cameras, Best Smart Speakers, and Best Smart Displays guides.
Updated January 2026: The Level Lock Pro is a new pick in this guide, and the Aqara U50 is now the top pick. We've also updated links and prices throughout. Next, I'm testing the Nuki Smart Lock and MyQ 3-in-1 Smart Lock.
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I really like the Aqara Smart Lock U50. It's quick to install, affordable, and doesn't look like a budget lock on my front door. This is a full dead-bolt replacement lock, replacing both the front and back pieces of a dead bolt on your front door. It's easy to install. In fact, it's one of the fastest installations I've done. It was even quick to remove and then put back onto my door after the next lock I set up didn't work. It does have some tiny screws that will require a precision screwdriver. It's also easy to take off and put back on; in between testing rounds, or if a lock I test fails to be usable, this is the lock I grab to put back on my door.
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The U50's sleek panel blended in nicely with my door, was consistently responsive, and had a high-end feel to it that seemed more expensive than the price tag. This lock previously wasn't a pick because you needed Aqara's expensive hubs to connect it to Wi-Fi, which often retails for more than the lock itself. But Aqara now has cheaper hubs like the M100 ($30), making this a truly affordable option.
I recommend placing the hub near the front door; when I had Aqara's M3 hub ($150) on a different floor and different side of my house than the U50 lock, it frequently disconnected from the Wi-Fi. I also usually needed a Bluetooth connection to do anything serious, even when the Wi-Fi was working. Still, even if Wi-Fi wasn't working right, the premade codes always worked, and it always remembered to lock itself after 10 minutes. It also knows whether the door is closed or not thanks to a built-in gyroscope—no separate door accessory required, which most other locks need to do the same feature.
This lock has a nice range of entry options beyond the keypad, including smart home control (including Apple Home), NFC cards (if you already have one), and even a hidden keyhole, with two keys included with the lock. In the months I tested this lock, I never had any battery issues or needed to replace the batteries, but there is a USB-C emergency port for charging if you need it. My main complaint is that the lock doesn't have any security ratings like you'll find on other smart locks; otherwise, it's a fantastic smart lock.
The Level Lock Pro is easily the most visually pleasing lock I've tested. It's also the smallest, with a diameter of only about 2.5 inches at its widest point on either side. The back is just the dial, while the front protrudes forward only an inch. From both sides of the door it truly looks like a small, normal lock. Level's known for this, as its original lock, the Level Bolt ($199), hides entirely inside existing basic locks to add smarts without changing the style.
For such a small and discreet smart lock, the Level Lock Pro has an impressive array of features. The dual-core chip set has wide compatibility, including Matter and Apple Home, and it has a magnetometer to sense whether the door is open or closed without needing an additional accessory. Most smart locks with this feature require some kind of dongle, attachment, or sensor paired nearby. There's a proximity sensor in the front of the lock so that it only activates things like Bluetooth and NFC when someone's actually nearby, helping conserve battery. Speaking of, this lock also has an impressive battery life, claiming up to a year on a single CR2 battery. I've been using the Level Lock Pro for about two months, and so far the battery life is still “Healthy” per the app.
To get the most out of this lock, though, you'll need accessories. At the very least you'll want the Level Connect Wi-Fi Bridge ($79), which will connect the lock to (you guessed it!) your Wi-Fi. Without it, you won't be able to control the lock if you're out of Bluetooth range. I also really like the Level Keypad ($79), since I like to leave the house without my keys, and it's faster to just type in the code than to use my phone (or check if I remembered that, either). It comes with two key fobs, which you can also use to unlock your front door, and it comes with two physical keys.
If you thought the fingerprint reader on the above Yale Approach sounded handy, then let me introduce you to the Lockly Visage. Not only does the Visage have a fingerprint reader, but it has built-in sensors to recognize your face to unlock the door as you walk up. That's right, this lock can see you coming.
When installing this lock, I recommend moving fast when you get to the battery stage. Don't put in the rechargeable battery until you've downloaded the app, located the activation card inside the box (keep this safe in case you ever reset the lock), and are prepared to finish the in-app setup steps, specifically the Visage ID—Lockly's face-recognition tech. The battery activates a Bluetooth signal that was only live for a few minutes in my testing, and you'll need to input the code and finish the steps in that amount of time. Restarting it over and over is frustrating, but possible. Lockly says it has pushed an update to fix this short-lived Bluetooth window, but I'd still plan to be ready to roll once you put in the battery.
Once set up, I had zero connection issues and was happy with how quickly this lock could recognize my face as I walked up (even with sunglasses on!) and how quickly it could read my fingerprint. The Visage uses infrared (IR) sensors and a camera to see when a person is approaching and who they are. The sensors in the lock have both live-body detection and face recognition, so it isn't spoofed by pictures. The infrared sensors
