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Smart door locks are becoming more and more popular every year. The ability to lock and unlock your door remotely definitely has it’s perks. Don’t want to get your key out of your pocket to open your front door? Unlock the door automatically when you get back home. Laying in bed and forgot if you locked the door? An app can tell you if you did, and can lock it if you did not. Maybe you are out walking the dog and don’t want to bring your keys with you, you can use your phone to open your smart door lock.
Depending on your situation, there is a smart door lock that can fit your life and your living situation.

Kwikset SmartCode 910

Name: Kwikset SmartCode 910
Protocol: Z-Wave Plus
Hub Required?: Yes
Price: $165 (check current pricing on Amazon here)
About: The Kwikset SmartCode 910 smart door lock replaces your existing deadbolt on your door. As such, you will want to pick the finish that matches your handles so that it doesn’t clash. This smart door lock communicates on the Z-wave plus protocol, so you will need a hub in order to use the smart features. I would recommend Home Assistant as a smart home hub. It operates on 4 AA-batteries which typically last between 4-6 months. The SmartKey system allows you to rekey the deadbolt so that you can use your existing key. The door lock itself can store up to 30 different codes for multiple users. Once it is tied in to your smart home, you can create automations that can lock and unlock the deadbolt automatically. If you have visitors coming to your home, you can give them special codes and also create rules so that those codes only unlock the door during certain hours. There is also the ability to create alerts and notifications based on which codes opened the door and you can track when it happened.

Schlage Connect

Name: Schlage Connect
Protocol: Z-Wave Plus
Hub Required?: Yes
Price: $450 (check current pricing on Amazon here)
About: The Schlage Connect line of smart door locks takes the standard touchscreen deadbolt and adds Z-Wave Plus technology. After you install the new deadbolt, you will be able to add this smart door lock into your current smart home setup. This unit runs on 4 AA batteries which typically last between 4-6 months. You will need a smart home hub to access the smart features of this smart door lock, so make sure you have that set up first. Once it is tied in to your smart home, you can create automations that can lock and unlock the deadbolt automatically. If you have visitors coming to your home, you can give them special codes and also create rules so that those codes only unlock the door during certain hours. There is also the ability to create alerts and notifications based on which codes opened the door and you can track when it happened.

Schlage Sense

Name: Schlage Sense
Protocol: WiFi
Hub Required?: No (unless you want remote access)
Price: $269 (check current pricing on Amazon here)
About: The Schlage Sense is similar to the Schlage Connect line of door locks, however the Sense uses Wi-Fi instead of Z-Wave Plus. The installation of the deadbolt is quick and simple. This smart door lock does not require a smart home hub, however you would need the WiFi adapter in order to access it through the app remotely. You can also pair this deadbolt to a HomeKit hub if you have an iPad or AppleTV running the HomeKit software. This will allow you to access the deadbolt remotely without a hub and also use Siri voice commands to control it.

Level Lock

Name: Level Lock
Protocol: Bluetooth
Hub Required?: No (unless you want remote access)
Price: $249 (check current pricing on Amazon here)
About: The Level Lock is one of the smallest smart door locks on the market. This unit is barely larger than a standard deadbolt, and it would be hard to tell it is a smart door lock when you first see it. The Schlage and Kwikset smart door locks all have a large and bulky box that sits on the interior side of the deadbolt which houses all of the hardware. This unit uses a CR2 battery which allows it to keep it’s compact size while still lasting over a year with typical use. Using the Bluetooth protocol it communicates with your phone and you can also pair it to an Apple HomeKit device to allow for remote access. The app comes with auto-locking and auto-unlocking directly out-of-the-box. You can also share access through the Level app so others can use your smart door lock if they need to. If you are looking for a discrete smart door lock that you can unlock with an app, this would be a good choice.

August WiFi Smart Lock

Name: August WiFi Smart Lock
Protocol: WiFi
Hub Required?: No
Price: $230 (check current pricing on Amazon here)
About: The August WiFi Smart Lock controls an existing deadbolt, without requiring you to remove and replace the entire unit. This makes it a nice idea for renters that want to have a smart door lock but cannot replace the deadbolt itself. Using the WiFi protocol, the August Smart Lock connects to it’s own app (find it in the App Store or Google Play Store) which allows remote access without the use of a hub. The system also has auto-lock and auto-unlock features natively. You can also create “Guest Keys” so that you can share access to the door lock without having to give somebody a key or worse, leave one under a rock.

My Recommendation

All of the locks above are secure enough as door locks on their own. What I want out of a door lock beyond that is simple. I want to be able to lock it if I forgot to do it, and I want the ability to unlock it without the use of a key. I also want to be able to create automations that can lock or unlock my door lock based on certain events, which means I need to be able to add it to my smart home server. Beyond this, I would like to be able to share access to my smart home without giving somebody a copy of my key and preferably without them having to download an app that they might never use. Keeping all of those requirements in mind, my recommendation is the Kwikset SmartCode 910. Once installed and tied in to my smart home, I can use it with any automation I would like, and I can also control it from my app no matter where I am. I can create new codes for guests and limit those codes to only work during certain times. My guests only need to use the keypad that is on the deadbolt and not an app that they need to download on their phone.

Bonus: Kwikset Home Connect Card

If you already own a Kwikset deadbolt, and want to upgrade it to Z-Wave, you do not need to replace the entire deadbolt. If your deadbolt in your door is “Home Connect Ready” then your deadbolt will have an empty slot that is designed to fit a Home Connect lock module.

Name: Kwikset Home Connect Lock Module
Protocol: Z-Wave Plus
Hub Required?: Yes
Price: $79 (check current pricing on Amazon here)
About: The Kwikset Home Connect Lock Module is a way to upgrade your existing “Home Connect Ready” deadbolt. This card slides into the slot beneath the cover of the deadbolt. It will drop right in and begin transmitting right away so you can add it in to your Z-Wave system. Since your existing deadbolt is already installed, you will not need to install a new deadbolt on your door.