Best smart locks for 2026

It depends on the connectivity your lock uses. Wi-Fi locks (like the Schlage Encode Plus or Kwikset Halo) connect directly to your home router and require no hub at all: you get remote access, real-time notifications, and guest code management straight from the app. Z-Wave and Zigbee locks (like the Schlage Connect) require a compatible smart home hub, such as SmartThings, a Ring Alarm base station, or a dedicated Z-Wave hub, to get remote access. Without the hub, a Z-Wave lock still works as a keypad lock, it just won’t connect to your phone. Bluetooth locks like the August range work for auto-unlock near the door, but a bridge accessory is required for remote access from anywhere outside Bluetooth range.

Most keypad and Wi-Fi smart locks run on four AA batteries and last six months to a year with typical household use, checking the lock from the app a few times a day and entering codes a handful of times. Wi-Fi locks drain batteries faster than Bluetooth-only or Z-Wave locks because the radio consumes more power. August and some Kwikset models include low-battery alerts via the app before the batteries die. The practical rule: put a recurring six-month reminder to change batteries, and always keep a spare set on hand. If you find yourself replacing batteries every couple of months, check whether auto-lock is set to trigger too frequently or whether the Wi-Fi radio is staying connected constantly.

Yes. A licensed locksmith can open any deadbolt lock, smart or otherwise, the same way they’d open a keyed deadbolt: by picking, bypassing, or removing the cylinder. Smart locks don’t meaningfully resist physical entry better than a good traditional deadbolt unless they carry the same ANSI Grade 1 security rating. The digital attack surface (Bluetooth spoofing, relay attacks, app vulnerabilities) is separate from the physical attack surface. The safest smart locks use Grade 1 deadbolt bodies (Schlage is the clearest example), meaning the physical cylinder and bolt are as hard to breach as a traditional high-security deadbolt, while the electronic layer adds convenience rather than replacing physical security.

Z-Wave and Zigbee are mesh radio protocols designed for low power consumption: each device in the network can relay signals, which extends range in larger homes and makes the network more resilient. Both require a compatible hub. Z-Wave is more common in locks; Zigbee is used in some Yale and August models. Wi-Fi locks skip the hub entirely by connecting directly to your home’s 2.4GHz or 5GHz network, delivering remote access out of the box. The trade-offs are battery life (Wi-Fi drains faster), range (Wi-Fi depends on router placement), and privacy (all traffic routes through the manufacturer’s cloud). For most homes, a Wi-Fi lock is the most convenient choice. For larger homes with smart home hubs already in place, Z-Wave locks integrate more reliably and use less power.

Yes, provided you choose a lock with a solid physical security rating. The relevant benchmark is the ANSI/BHMA grading system: Grade 1 is the highest rating for residential deadbolts, meaning the bolt and cylinder have passed tests for forced entry, pull resistance, and cycle durability. Schlage is the clearest leader here, consistently building Grade 1 deadbolt bodies into their smart locks. On the digital side, look for end-to-end encryption of the Bluetooth or Wi-Fi channel, a manufacturer with a track record of patching disclosed vulnerabilities, and two-factor authentication in the app. The honest framing: a Grade 1 smart deadbolt is at least as physically secure as most traditional deadbolts already on front doors. The risk profile changes slightly (you’re adding an app and a battery), but it doesn’t meaningfully decrease security when you choose a well-rated lock.