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About a year ago, I traveled home to see my mother and was met with a strange new addition to my childhood home: All of the doors now had smart locks on them (she quickly registered my fingerprint to them so I wouldn’t get locked out of my own bedroom). She said she got them because some of her friends were being nosy when they came over, but instead of interrogating her about the people with whom she chooses to spend her time, I looked into smart locks and found that they’re extremely useful—and pretty affordable.
With a smart lock, you no longer need to stress all day about remembering if you locked the door. You can quickly check your phone to see whether you remembered to lock up, which you can do from anywhere. Plus, there’s no concern about ever getting locked out, as long as your phone is charged or you know the right passcode. If you want to upgrade, here are some great options.
The best smart-locking door handles with fingerprint technology
First up, these locks recognize your fingerprint, like iPhones used to do, and unlock when you touch the handle. It’s all very futuristic and, in my experience, convenient.
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The one I’ve used is by Gekrone ($69.99) and it has a bunch of features that justify the price point: In addition to using your fingerprint, you can also use a PIN (on a numerical pad that appears down the length of the door handle when prompted), an app, or an actual key (which is nice if the batteries die).
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For something less expensie, try the Aibocn smart door lock ($49.99) which has the same features and allows you to generate temporary passcodes for guests.
The best smart locks for front doors
If you want something a little more robust than just a locking door handle, try these, which are hefty enough to secure your front door.
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The Hornbill keyless entry door lock ($58.49) is a deadbolt lock that still works with fingerprints, an app, a passcode, and mechanical keys. My mom set hers up to link with her Amazon Echos and can now command Alexa to lock her front door, which gives real Smart House vibes.
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If you’re just looking to bypass keys and don’t want anything too tech-y, try the TEEHO TE001 keyless entry lock ($32.78), which unlocks with a predetermined passcode. I’ve used ones like this before and have a word of warning: Keep the real key on you just in case, because if the battery dies, you’re screwed.
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The Eufy Security Smart Lock ($94.99) also packs a big punch, with an app that enables you to lock and unlock the door from anywhere, plus a keypad and physical key, Apple Watch connectivity, and Alexa/Google Voice Assistant functionality. It also pairs with Eufy doorbells within the brand’s app, so you can set routines and controls for both at once. (Eufy also sells a combination lock/video doorbell for $269.99 if you just want to bundle right off the bat.)
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Schlage’s Encode Smart Wi-Fi Deadbolt ($211) has the dual honor of being recommended by both the New York Times and my mother, with the former heralding it as “easy-to-install” and “sharp-looking” and the latter calling it “great for the back door.” It comes in multiple sizes and finishes (so you can actually match it to your door), gives you the option to create up to 100 access codes for friends and family, and can be locked and unlocked from anywhere using your phone. Plus, of course, it works with your smart home devices, too.
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