The Best Smart Locks For Keyless Entry At Home
Five app and fingerprint locks we'd fit to a front door so nobody hunts for keys again.
Our quick verdict
Our pick of the best smart lock is the Nuki 3.0 Pro Smart Door Lock. It fits over the inside of a euro cylinder without changing the outside of the door, and its built-in Wi-Fi lets you open up for guests from anywhere, with HomeKit, Alexa and Google all covered. On a uPVC door, go for the Yale Conexis L1, which replaces the handle set and looks like an ordinary handle.
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Our Picks At A Glance
- Check price of Nuki 3.0 Pro Smart Door Lock
Best Overall
Nuki 3.0 Pro Smart Door LockEuro cylinder doors where you want remote access and automatic opening
- Check price of Yale Conexis L1
- Check price of SwitchBot Wi-Fi Smart Lock
Best Fingerprint
SwitchBot Wi-Fi Smart LockRenters and families who want fingerprint entry with no tools
- Check price of WE.LOCK SECB Electronic Door Lock
Easiest To Install
WE.LOCK SECB Electronic Door LockA quick fingerprint and tag lock for back doors and offices
- Check price of Yale Smart Living Keyless Door Lock
Your door narrows the field before any feature does. A uPVC or composite door with a euro cylinder can take a retrofit lock or a handle-based one, while a wooden door with a rim nightlatch needs a lock built to replace that latch.
Then think about who's coming in. Remote access over Wi-Fi is what lets you open up for a cleaner or guest from miles away, and a keypad or fingerprint reader spares children and visitors an app. The five locks below cover cylinder, handle and nightlatch fittings.
How We Fitted And Tested These Smart Locks
We've fitted smart locks at home, at the office and on other properties we own, including our Airbnbs. The Nuki in the photo below is on the DIY Works office door, and it's a high-quality piece of kit with plenty of useful features.
The next two photos are from unboxing and fitting the standard Nuki Smart Lock 3.0, as the box in the photos reads, and not the Wi-Fi equipped Pro. The cylinder that drives the lock is a hefty bit of metal, yet the part you see on the door is small and tidy.
We also fitted the Yale Conexis L1 to a uPVC front door. Everything needed was in the box, and it looks smart on both sides of the door once fitted.
Every lock was judged on the same points:
- Door compatibility: which cylinders, handles and door types it fits
- Installation: tools needed and how long the job took
- Access options: app, code, fingerprint, tag and remote access
- Build quality and certification: how solid it feels and any security approvals
- App and smart home links: HomeKit, Alexa and Google support
- Finishes, warranty and value
The Best Smart Locks We Recommend
Each lock below works without a key, but they fit different doors. Check your cylinder or nightlatch before you buy.
Best Overall
Nuki 3.0 Pro Smart Door Lock
Best for: Euro cylinder doors where you want remote access and automatic opening
Check Price On AmazonA Nuki guards our office door, but the one we unboxed and fitted for the photos was the standard Smart Lock 3.0, so the Pro details below come from Nuki's specifications. Both versions sit over the inside of the existing euro cylinder, so the outside of the door looks the same and the key still works. We had the standard 3.0 up and running in a few minutes.
The Pro has a Wi-Fi module built in, which is what separates it from the standard 3.0. That means you can lock and open it from anywhere, not just within Bluetooth range, and share access with guests or cleaners remotely. Auto-open releases the door as you walk up with your phone in your pocket, and it works with Apple HomeKit, Alexa and Google Home. It's sold for euro or UK cylinders and feels well made in the hand. Nuki has since launched a 4th generation Pro with Matter support, so check which generation you're buying.
What we like
- Wi-Fi built in for remote access from anywhere
- Automatic opening as you approach with your phone
- Works with Apple HomeKit, Alexa and Google Home
- Standard 3.0 fitted in a few minutes in our testing
- Existing key still works from outside
- High-quality look and feel
What to know
- The most expensive smart lock in our roundup
- Only fits doors with a suitable cylinder
Our verdict
Remote access is what you're paying for with the Pro, so it makes most sense on a door you'll need to open while you're out, such as an Airbnb or holiday let. The standard 3.0 we tested locked and used its app without trouble, and if Bluetooth range is all you need, it does that job for much less.
Best For UPVC Door
Yale Conexis L1
Best for: uPVC and composite front doors with a multipoint lock
Check Price On AmazonWe fitted the Conexis L1 to a uPVC front door, and it's designed to suit most uPVC and composite doors. It replaces the handles, so the lock sits in the handle set itself rather than bolted to the inside, which gives a much neater finish than most smart locks.
Fitting takes only a screwdriver, though the lock needs fine tuning on some doors before it runs smoothly. You can open it with a key tag, phone, phone tag or key card, and the app gives you full control. It's approved by the BSI, which counts for a lot on a front door, and comes in five finishes, chrome, black, polished brass, satin nickel and white. Power comes from four AA batteries, and how long they last depends on how many times a day the door's used, so a busy family front door will need fresh ones sooner than a quiet flat. Yale has since released the Conexis L2 as an update to the L1.
What we like
- Approved by the British Standards Institution
- Fits most uPVC and composite doors
- Fitted with just a screwdriver
- Opens with a tag, card or phone
- Choice of five finishes
- Runs on four AA batteries
What to know
- Needs fine tuning on some doors after fitting
- Doesn't suit wooden doors with a nightlatch
Our verdict
From the outside, the Conexis L1 looks like an ordinary handle set, which is a big part of its appeal on a uPVC or composite front door. BSI approval adds reassurance, and the choice of five finishes means it'll match your door furniture. Wooden doors with a nightlatch need the Yale Smart Living instead.
Best Fingerprint
SwitchBot Wi-Fi Smart Lock
Best for: Renters and families who want fingerprint entry with no tools
Check Price On AmazonThe SwitchBot is a retrofit lock with fingerprint entry, remote access and automatic locking. SwitchBot says it suits euro profile, UK oval, Swiss round and knob cylinders, and it fixes over the inside of the existing lock with a 3M adhesive strip, so no tools are needed. That's handy in a rental where you can't drill.
The build is solid, with a one-piece zinc alloy body, an OLED display and a handle that reverses for left or right-handed doors. It's rated IP65, comes in four styles and has a low battery alarm. SwitchBot gives an 18-month electrical warranty and a lifetime mechanical warranty. It doesn't work with Apple HomeKit, and we don't think it looks as sleek as the Nuki.
What we like
- Fingerprint entry for the whole family
- Sticks on with no tools needed
- Fits several cylinder types according to SwitchBot
- Solid zinc alloy body with an OLED display
- IP65 rated with a low battery alarm
- 18-month electrical and lifetime mechanical warranty
What to know
- No Apple HomeKit support
- Not as sleek-looking as the Nuki
Our verdict
Fingerprint entry with no drilling is a combination nothing else here matches, which makes the SwitchBot a strong fit for renters and families with children prone to losing keys. The zinc body and lifetime mechanical warranty back up the build. Apple households should note the lack of HomeKit support.
Easiest To Install
WE.LOCK SECB Electronic Door Lock
Best for: A quick fingerprint and tag lock for back doors and offices
Check Price On AmazonThe WE.LOCK SECB is a cylinder replacement lock that opens by app, fingerprint or remote tag. WE.LOCK says it fits most UK doors and installs in about three minutes, with an adjustable cylinder to suit different door thicknesses.
The app keeps a record of every entry, and a low battery siren warns you before it goes flat. It stores up to 459 fingerprints, which is more than any home will need, and it's rated IP44 for splashes. The design is more functional than stylish, so it suits a back door, garage or office more than a smart front door.
What we like
- Three-minute install according to WE.LOCK
- Adjustable cylinder for different door thicknesses
- Opens by app, fingerprint or tag
- Entry log in the app
- Low battery alarm siren
- Stores up to 459 fingerprints
What to know
- Plain design that won't suit every front door
- Lower IP44 rating than the SwitchBot
Our verdict
Fast fitting and a huge fingerprint memory make the WE.LOCK a practical lock for a back door, garage or small office. Looks are its weak point, and on a smart front door the plain design stands out. For that job, the Yale Conexis L1 or Nuki 3.0 Pro are neater.
Best Budget
Yale Smart Living Keyless Door Lock
Best for: Wooden front doors with a 60 mm nightlatch
Check Price On AmazonThe Yale Smart Living lock is a low-cost route to keyless entry on a wooden door. It replaces a standard 60 mm nightlatch, so it only suits timber doors with that type of lock, not uPVC or composite doors.
You get several ways in, including a PIN code on the illuminated keypad, a key card or tag, a remote fob and the app. It supports Alexa voice commands, and an internal alarm sounds if someone tampers with it. Finishes are chrome, polished brass or satin nickel to match existing door furniture.
What we like
- PIN, card, fob and app access
- Illuminated keypad for night use
- Works with Alexa
- Tamper alarm built in
- Chrome, brass or satin nickel finish
What to know
- Only fits wooden doors with a 60 mm nightlatch
- Not suitable for uPVC doors
Our verdict
A wooden door with a standard nightlatch and a small budget is exactly what this Yale is made for. The illuminated keypad is easy for guests and older relatives, and you still get app and Alexa control. Measure your nightlatch before buying, because it won't fit anything other than a 60 mm latch on a timber door.
Choosing A Smart Lock For Your Door
The right smart lock depends more on your door than on features. Check what lock you have now before you look at anything else, then decide how you want to get in.
Check Your Door And Lock Type
Most uPVC and composite doors use a multipoint lock with a euro cylinder, which suits retrofit locks like the Nuki and SwitchBot or handle-based locks like the Yale Conexis. Plenty of wooden front doors have a rim nightlatch instead, which needs a lock like the Yale Smart Living. Measure the cylinder and check whether it has a thumb turn on the inside before ordering. A cylinder that's too short for a retrofit lock is a cheap swap, but it's better to know before the lock arrives than when you're stood at the door with a screwdriver.
App, Code, Fingerprint Or Tag
Phone access is the most common way in, and automatic opening is handy when your hands are full of shopping. Keypads and fingerprint readers suit children, older relatives and guests who don't want an app. Tags and cards are good for cleaners at a rental, and you can cancel one without changing anything else.
Wi-Fi And Remote Access
Bluetooth locks only work when you're near the door. Wi-Fi models like the Nuki 3.0 Pro and SwitchBot let you lock, open and share access from anywhere, which is what makes them so useful for Airbnbs and holiday lets. For a full remote check-in, pair one with a video doorbell to see who's at the door before letting them in.
Security And Certification
A smart lock is only as secure as the cylinder behind it. Look for an anti-snap cylinder and approvals such as BSI certification, as on the Yale Conexis L1. Check whether your insurer has rules about the locks on external doors before replacing one.
Batteries And Backup Entry
Smart locks run on batteries, so look for a low battery warning and a backup way in, such as a key that still works or an emergency power contact. A spare key in a police approved key safe covers you if a lock ever runs flat.
Smart Lock Questions We Get Asked
Are smart locks safe for front doors?
Smart locks are safe on front doors when they're fitted with a good anti-snap cylinder and come from a brand with proper security testing. The Yale Conexis L1 is approved by the British Standards Institution, and retrofit locks like the Nuki keep your existing cylinder, so security depends on that cylinder being up to standard.
What happens to a smart lock if the batteries die?
When a smart lock's batteries die, the lock stays in its current position, locked or unlocked. Most give low battery warnings well in advance through the app or an alarm. Retrofit locks like the Nuki let you keep using a key from outside, and some keypads have an emergency power contact. Keep a spare key in a key safe as a backup.
Can you fit a smart lock to a uPVC door?
Yes, you can fit a smart lock to a uPVC door. The Yale Conexis L1 replaces the handle set on most uPVC and composite doors with a multipoint lock, and retrofit locks like the Nuki fit over the euro cylinder inside. The Yale Smart Living won't fit uPVC doors, as it's made for wooden doors with a nightlatch.
Do smart locks work without Wi-Fi?
Most smart locks still work without Wi-Fi, using Bluetooth from your phone, a keypad, a fingerprint or a tag at the door. What you lose is remote access, so you can't let someone in or check the lock from away. Locks like the Nuki 3.0 Pro have Wi-Fi built in, while others need a separate bridge for remote control.
Is the Nuki 3.0 Pro worth paying more for than the standard Nuki 3.0?
The Nuki 3.0 Pro is worth the extra if you want remote access. The Pro has a Wi-Fi module built in, so you can lock, open and share access from anywhere rather than only within Bluetooth range. If you only need to open the door from your phone when you're near it, the standard 3.0 costs much less and does that job.
Which smart lock would you pick for a rental where drilling isn't allowed?
The SwitchBot Wi-Fi Smart Lock is the one for a rental, because it fixes over the inside of the existing lock with a 3M adhesive strip and needs no tools. It gives fingerprint entry and remote access, and SwitchBot says it suits several cylinder types. Apple households should know it doesn't support HomeKit.
Will a smart lock change how my front door looks from outside?
A retrofit lock leaves the outside of the door looking the same. The Nuki 3.0 Pro sits over the inside of your existing euro cylinder, so the key still works from outside. The Yale Conexis L1 replaces the handle set instead, and on a uPVC or composite door it looks like an ordinary set of handles.
Which smart lock suits an Airbnb or holiday let?
A Wi-Fi lock suits a holiday let best, because you can share and remove access remotely instead of passing keys over. The Nuki 3.0 Pro and SwitchBot Wi-Fi Smart Lock both offer this. Tags and cards also suit cleaners, as you can cancel one without changing anything else, and a video doorbell lets you check who's at the door.
Our Top Smart Lock Picks
The Nuki 3.0 Pro is the smart lock we'd fit to most euro cylinder doors, with remote access, automatic opening and support for every major smart home system. It's also the brand we chose for our own office door. For uPVC and composite doors, the Yale Conexis L1 is the neat alternative that replaces the handles.
Smart locks sit well alongside an indoor security camera and an app-controlled home alarm, giving you one phone to manage the whole house.
Richard has spent years renovating properties and turning them into rentals and Airbnbs. Like a lot of people he started out as a beginner, and these days there isn't much DIY he won't take on.