Best Smart Lock for Front Door (2026): 7 Picks by Door Type

The Encode Plus is a deadbolt that connects to your home Wi-Fi directly, so there is no bridge to buy and nothing to plug in. Schlage's product page lists up to 100 access codes, and the lock runs on four AA batteries. Battery life depends on use, and owners report different results.

The feature that sets it apart for iPhone owners is Home Key. According to MacRumors and 9to5Mac, it needs a recent iPhone on iOS 15 or later, or an Apple Watch Series 4 or newer, and 9to5Mac reports the lock keeps responding for up to five hours after the phone runs out of power.

The main drawback is the dead-battery case. There is no terminal to power the lock from outside, so you rely on the key or a spare battery plan.

Skip it if you want to keep your existing deadbolt, because the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock goes over the one you have.

This is the fingerprint version of the Yale Assure Lock 2, not the standard touchscreen model. It has a keypad, a fingerprint reader and optional auto-unlock through the Yale Access app. Listings say the Wi-Fi version has the connection built into a module, so remote access works without a bridge. Power comes from four AA batteries.

The standard Assure Lock 2 has no fingerprint reader, and the Touch model adds one. Retail listings cite an IPX5 rating and an operating range of -22 to 140°F, which suits a front door that gets weather.

Owner reviews are mixed on two points: fingerprint recognition that sometimes needs a second try, and battery drain when the lock has a weak Wi-Fi signal. Keep the lock close to a strong 2.4 GHz signal and the second problem mostly goes away.

Skip it if you want Apple Home Key, since the Schlage Encode Plus, the Level locks and the Aqara U200 support it.

The August is one of two retrofits here, with the Aqara U200 the other. Listings describe it as mounting on the interior side of a standard single-cylinder deadbolt, with built-in Wi-Fi on a 2.4 GHz network and two CR123A batteries in the box. Because your original key still turns the bolt, it is a sensible choice if you rent or share keys with a neighbor.

Short battery life is a common owner complaint, and connection quality affects battery drain too. We found no announcement of a newer August Wi-Fi lock, but retailer stock for individual finishes varies.

Check the spindle shape on your deadbolt before buying, since a few owners report trouble with non-standard ones.

Skip it if you want a keypad on the outside or a long battery life, because the Schlage Encode Plus adds a keypad and four AA cells.

Level fits the smart hardware inside the door edge, so from the outside you see a regular deadbolt with a keyway. Level's spec sheet gives the lock a weight of 23.5 oz (665 g), a 2.125-inch bore hole and a door thickness range of 1.75 to 2 inches. It runs on a single CR2 lithium cell that Level estimates at roughly six months.

Home Key needs a recent iPhone or an Apple Watch Series 4 or newer, and Level says the key works without a network connection. Remote access needs the Connect Wi-Fi bridge, which should sit within 20 feet of the lock. Level has since launched the Level Lock Pro with Home Key and Matter over Thread, which appears to be the current model, so check Level's site for whether the Lock+ with Connect bridge is still sold before buying.

Powermoves, a long-term Home Key comparison, found the Level less consistent on the first tap than the Schlage, so expect an occasional second tap.

Skip it if you want a keypad built in or a door thinner than 1.75 inches, because the Schlage Encode Plus has the keypad and fits 1-3/8 to 1-3/4 inch doors, per its listing.

The E32 is one of the Matter locks eufy announced in June 2026, and the E30 listing we found was marked unavailable. Matter Alpha reports the E32 was announced on June 11, 2026, and eufy's page lists up to 8 months of battery life on 8 AA cells, depending on how often you use it. The CSA certification listing shows Matter over Thread.

Thread is the catch. Matter Alpha notes it needs a border router such as a HomePod mini, an Apple TV 4K or a compatible Echo or Nest hub. With one in place, the lock appears in Apple Home, Alexa and Google at once, which suits mixed households.

Because the model is new, there is little long-term owner feedback yet. The fingerprint reader gets only a general claim from eufy that it improves with use, without numbers.

Skip it if you have no Thread border router and want Matter control, because the Yale Assure Lock 2 Touch with Wi-Fi connects through your router instead.

The U200 is one of the few locks that combines a retrofit install with Apple Home Key. It mounts over a single-cylinder deadbolt, and the Amazon listing includes the fingerprint keypad that goes on the outside. The listing says the keypad's NFC lets an iPhone or Apple Watch unlock even when the keypad is powered off.

Retail listings describe a rechargeable Li-ion lock battery that Cult of Mac and iClarified put at up to six months per charge, and the keypad takes four AAA batteries or 12 to 24V wiring. The keypad is rated IPX5 and works from about -18°C to 66°C.

Thread and Matter are the other half of the story. The listing says remote unlock requires an Aqara Hub M3, so budget for it if you want to open the door from away.

Skip it if you do not have an Apple hub or Aqara hub, because the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock needs no hub.

The Vision Elite packs a 1080p camera with a wide-angle view and night vision into the exterior plate. Tom's Guide lists the front unit at 7 by 2.8 by 2 inches and rates the deadbolt as ANSI Grade 2. Lowe's listings say it stores up to 99 fingerprints.

Video goes to a microSD card in the bridge, which SecurityInfoWatch says means no storage subscription. Power is a removable 10,000 mAh battery topped up by the solar panel; recharge timing depends on how much sun the door gets, so check Lockly's manual. The bridge connects over an Ethernet cable and Wi-Fi, so it needs a spot near your router.

The fit is narrower than other locks here: Listings give a door thickness range of roughly 1⅜ or 1 7/16 to 2 inches, so check Lockly's listed range and your door's cutouts before buying. Our guide to the [best video doorbell without a subscription](/home/best-video-doorbell-without-subscription/) covers the stand-alone camera route.

Skip it if you want a slim lock, because the Level Lock+ looks like an ordinary deadbolt.