Best Smart Locks for Your Front Door

The front door key is one of the last analog holdouts in an increasingly connected home. A smart lock fixes that — letting you unlock with a fingerprint, a code, or your phone, lock up automatically when you leave, and grant access to family or guests without ever cutting a spare key. If you've already built out the rest of your setup with our smart home security guide, a smart lock is the upgrade that ties your most-used entry point into the system. Below are five locks we'd recommend right now, followed by everything you need to choose the right one.

Entry methods: how you actually get in

The single biggest difference between smart locks is how they let you unlock the door. Most modern locks offer several methods at once, and the best ones let every member of the household pick their favorite:

• Fingerprint — the fastest, most natural option. Touch and go, no code to remember.
• Keypad/passcode — great for guests, dog walkers, and anyone you don't want on the app. You can issue temporary codes and delete them later.
• App and remote — unlock from your phone, check whether the door is locked, and let someone in while you're across town.
• Physical key backup — a mechanical override for dead batteries or emergencies. We strongly prefer locks that keep one.

The more methods a lock supports, the more flexible it is. Our most versatile pick offers five different ways in, while a keypad-only deadbolt keeps things refreshingly simple.

Wi-Fi vs. Bluetooth vs. a hub

How a smart lock connects determines what you can do when you're not standing in front of it.

Bluetooth-only locks are the cheapest and most battery-efficient, but they only respond when your phone is within range — fine for hands-free unlocking as you walk up, useless for letting in a guest while you're at work.

Built-in Wi-Fi is the sweet spot for a front door. It lets you lock, unlock, and check status from anywhere and powers remote guest access, all without extra hardware. The trade-off is faster battery drain, though most of these locks still run for months to over a year before you need to think about power. Several use replaceable AA or 9V batteries rather than a rechargeable pack, and one of our picks — the Schlage keypad deadbolt — is a code lock with no Wi-Fi at all. Note that nearly all of these locks use the 2.4GHz Wi-Fi band, so make sure your router broadcasts it.

Hub-based locks route through a separate bridge. They can be very reliable and integrate deeply with a security ecosystem, but they add cost and one more box to plug in. For most people, a lock with Wi-Fi already inside is the simpler path.

Installation and compatibility

Good news: almost every smart deadbolt installs with a screwdriver in about 20 minutes, replacing your existing deadbolt without touching the door frame or wiring. Before you buy, check three things:

• Door thickness and backset — standard doors are covered, but confirm if yours is unusually thick or thin.
• Deadbolt vs. handle set — some picks replace just the deadbolt, while others (like our handle-set options) swap the entire lever and lock in one unit.
• Ecosystem — if you use Alexa, Google Assistant, or Apple HomeKit, buy a lock that matches so it lives in the same app as your cameras and doorbell.

That last point matters most if you're integrating the lock with the rest of your home. A lock and a doorbell that share an ecosystem can work together — see who's at the door on your video doorbells and unlock from the same screen.

How to choose the right smart lock

Start with how you want to get in. If a quick fingerprint is your priority, focus on the fingerprint-equipped picks. If you mostly need to hand out codes to guests, a solid keypad deadbolt is plenty. Then weigh remote access: built-in Wi-Fi is worth it if you'll regularly let people in while you're away. Finally, match the lock to your door and your existing smart home. Budget shouldn't be the only filter — but as our picks show, you can get full keyless entry with auto-lock and Wi-Fi without overspending.

Frequently asked questions

Are smart locks secure? Yes. Reputable smart locks use the same heavy-duty deadbolt hardware as traditional locks, add encrypted communication, and let you delete codes or revoke app access instantly — something you can't do with a copied physical key.

What happens if the batteries die? Most quality locks warn you well in advance and last many months on a charge. The locks we recommend keep a mechanical key backup or an emergency power option so you're never stranded outside.

Can I let guests in remotely? With any of the Wi-Fi-enabled picks above, yes. You can unlock from your phone from anywhere or issue a temporary passcode that works only when you want it to.