Best Deadbolt Smart Lock: Six Keyless Options for Front and Back Doors

The moment that sells most people on a smart deadbolt is small and ordinary: standing on the porch with two bags of groceries and no free hand for a key. A deadbolt smart lock replaces the keyed cylinder with a keypad, an app, or a fingerprint reader, while keeping the sturdy bolt that actually secures the door. The best choice depends on how you want to unlock it, whether you want Wi-Fi built in or a separate bridge, and whether the door already has a standard deadbolt hole.

This guide compares six well-known models by the questions that decide a purchase: how the lock connects, how you enter, what the door needs, and who should look elsewhere. Wherever a detail is not obvious from the product name, the advice is to confirm it on the maker’s spec sheet before ordering. As of 2026, most keyed deadbolt replacements still fit a standard door prepared for a regular lock, but a few exceptions are worth knowing before you pick up a screwdriver.

Quick Picks

How to Choose

Confirm the Door Prep and Bolt Standard

Most residential doors are drilled for a standard 2-1/8 inch cross bore and a 1 inch edge bore, and most smart deadbolts are designed for exactly that. Door thickness usually needs to fall between about 1-3/8 and 2 inches. Measure the hole and the thickness before ordering. Also look for a deadbolt with a grade rating: ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 is the toughest residential-commercial tier, Grade 2 is a solid residential standard, and Grade 3 is the lightest. A good rule of thumb is Grade 2 or better for an exterior door.

Pick the Connection Type That Matches Your Home

Smart locks connect in three main ways: Bluetooth only, Wi-Fi built in, or a hub using Z-Wave or Zigbee. Bluetooth works only when your phone is near the door. Built-in Wi-Fi allows remote locking and unlocking from anywhere but tends to use more battery. A hub-based lock is efficient and integrates with larger systems. If you already own a smart-home speaker or hub, check which protocols and assistants the lock supports before buying, so voice control and routines work on day one.

Decide How You Want to Enter

Keypad codes suit families, guests, cleaners, and short-term rentals, since individual codes can be added and removed. Fingerprint readers are quick for daily use but need clean fingers and careful enrollment. Touchscreens look modern but can show smudges. App-only entry is convenient until a phone battery dies. Whatever you choose, make sure the lock keeps a physical key override or a way to jump-start the power from outside, and that the keypad gives you at least a four-digit code with a lockout after repeated wrong tries.

Look at Power, Backup, and Auto-Lock Behavior

Most smart deadbolts run on four AA batteries, and a good unit warns you well before they die. Look for low-battery alerts in the app, an auto-lock timer you can set between about 30 seconds and a few minutes, and a manual key or emergency power contacts as a safety net. Keep spare batteries on hand, and replace them at the first warning rather than waiting. A lock that logs entries and sends alerts helps in homes where several people come and go.

Our Picks Reviewed

Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt

The name spells out the two features that matter most: a deadbolt body and built-in WiFi. Schlage is a long-established lock maker, and the Encode line is its connected family. A model with Wi-Fi inside means no separate bridge to buy, which simplifies setup for a first smart lock and keeps the device list short.

• Pro: Built-in WiFi means remote control without adding a hub or bridge.
• Pro: A deadbolt format from a traditional lock maker suits buyers who value a familiar hardware feel.
• Con: Wi-Fi locks generally draw more power than Bluetooth-only models, so batteries need regular attention.
• Skip it if: your home Wi-Fi is weak near the front door or you prefer a hub-based system.

Before buying, check the exact door preparation, the finish options, and which voice assistants the lock supports so it fits the setup you already have.

Yale Assure Lock 2

Yale has a long history in residential locks, and the Assure Lock 2 name signals a second-generation version of a well-known line. Assure locks are usually associated with keypad entry, which suits families that share codes and want guests to enter without a phone. Check the listing to see which connectivity module and finish you are selecting. Shoppers should also look at how the keypad is lit at night, how many user codes the lock can store, and whether the lock works with the voice assistant already running in the house.

• Pro: A second-generation model suggests the maker has refined the earlier design.
• Pro: Keypad-style entry is easy for guests, cleaners, and relatives who do not use smart-home apps.
• Con: Different versions pair with different connectivity modules, so mixing them up can leave remote features unavailable.
• Skip it if: you want every feature, including Wi-Fi, to be obvious from the name alone.

Kwikset Halo Wi-Fi Smart Lock

Kwikset is one of the most common residential lock brands in the United States, and Halo is its Wi-Fi-focused smart line. With Wi-Fi in the name, this style of lock talks to your router directly, which makes it a straightforward pick for buyers who want app control but do not want to manage a hub or learn a new protocol. Before ordering, compare the finish options and handle style with your existing door hardware, since a mismatched interior thumb turn or exterior color is the most common cosmetic complaint with any replacement lock.

• Pro: Wi-Fi connectivity avoids the extra cost and clutter of a separate hub.
• Pro: A widely sold brand makes replacement parts and finish matching easier.
• Con: Direct Wi-Fi locks put more demand on batteries than Bluetooth-only versions.
• Skip it if: you already run a Z-Wave or Zigbee hub and want the lock on that network.

Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro

Ultraloq is known for locks that offer several ways to open the door, and the U-Bolt Pro name places it in the higher tier of its U-Bolt line. This style suits households that want a fingerprint reader, a keypad, an app, and a mechanical key all on one lock, so no single method becomes a point of failure. A lock with this many options is also handy for households that include children, visitors, and older relatives, because each person can use whichever method feels natural without sharing a single code.

• Pro: A Pro-tier lock typically offers more entry methods than a basic keypad model.
• Pro: Multiple unlock options let family members use whichever method suits them.
• Con: More entry methods mean more setup, more enrollment, and more settings to manage.
• Skip it if: you want the simplest possible install and a single way to unlock the door.

August Wi-Fi Smart Lock

August built its reputation on locks that sit over your existing deadbolt, so the outside of the door still looks like a regular keyed lock. The name here confirms Wi-Fi support. This approach appeals to renters and anyone who wants to keep their existing key and exterior hardware while adding remote control and door history. Because the exterior stays unchanged, it also keeps curb appeal intact and avoids drilling into a door you may not own, which is useful in rentals or historic homes with unusual hardware.

• Pro: Built-in Wi-Fi supports remote control without a separate bridge.
• Pro: A design that works with your existing hardware keeps the exterior familiar.
• Con: It adds bulk to the interior side of the door compared with a sleeker integrated lock.
• Skip it if: you want a keypad on the outside so guests can enter without a phone.

Wyze Lock Bolt

Wyze is a smart-home brand that tends to focus on simple, accessible devices. The Bolt name suggests a deadbolt-style lock that fits into a Wyze-centered setup. It is a reasonable first step for someone building a small smart home around cameras and sensors from the same maker.

• Pro: It fits neatly into a home that already uses the same brand’s devices.
• Pro: A simpler product line can mean a gentler learning curve for first-time smart-lock owners.
• Con: Newer lock lines have a shorter track record than long-established lock makers.
• Skip it if: you want a name with decades of lock-industry history behind it.

As with any lock, read the installation guide first, confirm the door prep, and plan on a few minutes to test the bolt throw and alignment before relying on it daily. A strike plate that does not line up is the most common cause of a lock that sticks.

Which One Fits

• First smart lock, no hub wanted: the Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt or Kwikset Halo Wi-Fi Smart Lock.
• Family with guests and kids: the Yale Assure Lock 2 for keypad-style entry.
• Households with different preferences: the Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro for several unlock methods.
• Renters keeping the existing key: the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock.
• Small smart-home setup around one brand: the Wyze Lock Bolt.

Common Mistakes

• Skipping the door measurements and discovering the bore or thickness does not match the lock.
• Choosing app-only entry and leaving guests locked out when a phone battery dies.
• Ignoring the grade rating on an exterior door and settling for the lightest tier.
• Setting a guessable code such as a birth year or repeated digits.
• Waiting for a battery to die completely instead of replacing it at the first low-battery alert.

FAQ

Are smart deadbolts safe from hacking?

Reputable locks use encrypted communication, but the physical bolt and door frame still matter most. Use a strong code, keep firmware updated, and avoid sharing one code with everyone.

What happens if the batteries die?

Most models give low-battery warnings well ahead of time and include a key override or emergency power contacts. Keep a spare set of batteries somewhere handy but not by the door.

Can I add a camera at the same door?

Yes, and many homeowners pair a lock with a video doorbell. See this guide to a doorbell camera with no subscription for options, and a doorbell chime box if you want an indoor alert as well.

Do smart deadbolts work with any door?

They work with most standard prepared doors, but very thin doors, glass doors, or doors with unusual bore sizes may need an adapter or a different lock. Measure first.

Is a keypad or a fingerprint reader better?

Keypads are better for shared access because codes can be added and removed individually. Fingerprint readers are faster for people who live in the home, as long as enrollment is done carefully.