The best smart locks: our list of the best

If you want to make your own four walls a little more secure, you don’t have to spend a lot of money these days. You no longer need the support of specialists to install security gadgets. Thanks to WiFi and smart homes, even laypeople can now quickly and easily ensure greater security in their house or apartment. In addition to surveillance cameras and sufficiently bright and smart lighting, a smart door lock should also be part of the basic equipment. This not only ensures security. It also promises ease of use when opening and closing the door. But which model is the right one? We have tested a few and present you with the best smart locks.

The WELOCK Touch61 is a user-friendly and versatile smart door lock that impresses with its reliable security functions. It does not require a conspicuous attachment, but simply replaces the door cylinder, which enables elegant integration. The design combines robust stainless steel with black plastic and offers protection against water and dust (IP65). Installation is flexible and quick thanks to the removable knobs.

The same applies to setup via the WELOCK app, which boasts an intuitive design and allows comprehensive management of the smart door lock. The lock offers several unlocking options, including a fast fingerprint sensor, RFID cards and the smartphone app. Remote access is also possible with the optional WeLock Hub, allowing the lock to be controlled remotely. Overall, the WeLock Touch61 offers an attractive combination of functionality, security and convenience for smart home enthusiasts.

When I held the WeLock Touch 41 in my hands for the first time, I was actually a little skeptical. After all, I simply didn’t trust myself to remove the old locking cylinder and install a new one. But the practical test proved me wrong. The smart lock, which for the most part is very well made, scores highly in terms of user convenience. This is not only reflected in the quick and uncomplicated installation and setup.

On top of that, I prefer the independent turning mechanism to the automatic ones from Nuki and SwitchBot. One thing I would like to see improved is the fingerprint sensor. It only recognized my thumb a few times when I put it back on. I would also like to see the functions expanded. For example, an auto-unlock feature, as offered by the competition, would bring even more convenience.

Would you like to give your home door lock a smart boost, but are reluctant to do so because you don’t want to break anything in your rented apartment? Then the SwitchBot Lock is probably the perfect solution. But homeowners should also take a closer look at the smart lock. In addition to its stylish design, great workmanship and unrivaled price-performance ratio, it scores with its simple installation.

The smart lock can be easily attached to your existing door lock and transforms it into a smart door lock. This means that if you move house, you can remove it without leaving any residue and simply take it with you to your new home. An auto-unlock function that opens the lock automatically when I approach would provide even more convenience. But given the great price, that’s something you can get over. For WiFi features including remote access, you also need a SwitchBot Hub.

The Aqara Smart Lock U200 impresses with its robust design and high-quality workmanship. It offers versatile access options such as fingerprint sensor, NFC and Apple Home Key, as well as a matching keypad with illuminated buttons. Installation is uncomplicated and quick, without having to replace the door cylinder.

Apple Home Key in particular makes the smart door lock stand out from the crowd. After all, Aqara is even ahead of SwitchBot and Nuki here. But the smart door lock doesn’t have to hide in the other disciplines either. The only thing I would have liked to see is a little more ease of use during installation. Laymen have it easier with Nuki and SwitchBot.

Are you looking for a smart door lock that requires hardly any manual skills? Then the SwitchBot Lock Pro is just the thing for you. Although it is quite clunky, it scores points for its understated appearance and high quality of workmanship. What’s more, it works quietly, quickly and reliably in practice.

What earns SwitchBot a lot of points here is the great price-performance ratio. After all, the competition sometimes charges significantly higher prices. However, if you want to enjoy the full range of functions, you have to buy one or two additional gadgets. And you should. In “naked” mode without an internet connection, the features are quite limited.

The EZVIZ Smart Lock Kit does what it should. I am correspondingly satisfied after the test days in which I was allowed to use the smart door lock. The uncomplicated operation and installation leave a very positive impression. Being able to open the door with an access code is simply extremely practical and offers a high level of convenience, especially for Airbnb operators or people who regularly receive visits from a wide variety of people.

The lock offers a total of three different ways to unlock the door. But there is also a little to complain about. In particular, the limited compatibility with locks is likely to annoy some people. I would also have appreciated an auto-unlock feature and compatibility with common voice assistants. All in all, the EZVIZ Smart Lock Kit leaves a good impression, but Nuki and Switchbot currently offer even more at a similar price.

Overall, the tested combination product from Nuki (incl. Nuki Smart Lock 3.0) is a solution that can make everyday life easier: Anyone who frequently forgets their keys or has to search for them in their trouser pocket when they are full will have an easier time with the smart door openers. Installation is very simple, only the opener is more challenging to fit. Once everything has been installed, however, using it is anything but complicated. In our test, control via the app worked perfectly, but the particularly interesting geofence mode for automating openings did not.

This may have been due to the power-saving settings of our Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus, although we made all the settings Nuki wanted and the smartphone is not an unknown niche smartphone. Nuki can and should make improvements here and at least work more closely with the major smartphone manufacturers. If you have a smartphone (e.g. an iPhone) that works well with Nuki’s geofence mode, or have another need for a smart opening, the 300 euros for the Nuki Opener Combo are money well spent – but without geofence, the whole thing is only half as much fun.

The Nuki Smart Lock 4th generation is an innovative, smart door lock that takes convenience and security to a new level. It can be conveniently controlled via smartphone app and supports Matter technology through integration into smart home systems, so that it can also be operated via voice assistants such as Alexa, Google Assistant or Apple HomeKit. Thanks to the door sensor, users always know whether the door is open or securely locked. The auto-unlock function, which automatically opens the lock as soon as authorized users approach, is particularly practical – an advantage when coming home with full hands.

The lock can be easily retrofitted and adapted to Euro Profile cylinders without removing the old lock. In addition, an optional power pack ensures a sustainable energy supply and an operating time of up to 6 months. The Nuki Smart Lock is not only ideal for households, but also for landlords and AirBnB hosts, as access can be flexibly managed with digital authorizations at any time. This simplifies the organization of access rights and increases security at the same time.

The Nuki Smart Lock Pro (4th generation) is a powerful, smart door lock with integrated Wi-Fi and Matter support. Thanks to the Wi-Fi connection, the lock can be easily controlled via smartphone and an additional bridge is not required. The smart door sensor monitors the door status in real time and thus increases security. Setup is straightforward and the lock fits standard Euro profile cylinders.

The control options are particularly versatile: In addition to the Nuki app, a keypad or the Nuki Fob can also be used to conveniently operate the lock. In addition, the Smart Lock Pro is compatible with Apple HomeKit, Google Home and Amazon Alexa and can therefore be optimally integrated into smart home systems. With automatic functions such as “Auto Unlock”, which recognizes and opens the door as soon as you approach, the Nuki Smart Lock Pro offers a convenient and secure solution for accessing your home.

The Tedee GO smart door lock combines modern design and intelligent functions for maximum convenience and security. It can be fitted directly to the Euro profile cylinder and does not require the cylinder to be replaced. Thanks to the connection to the Tedee app, the door can be unlocked and locked via smartphone or smartwatch – even remotely.

Automatic locking when leaving, activity logs and integration with smart home systems such as Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa (via the optional Tedee Bridge) ensure a high degree of flexibility. The battery offers a runtime of up to six months and can be easily recharged. Thanks to its small size, Tedee GO fits unobtrusively into various door designs and makes life safer and more convenient.

If you are looking for the best smart locks, you will find many offers on the extensive market. You should avoid making a hasty purchase. After all, you first need to ask yourself what type of lock you want. Completely replacing the cylinder is certainly the most elegant solution. However, the associated installation is also more complex than using a surface-mounted lock. But no matter what you choose, a smart door lock not only ensures security, but also a high level of convenience. We hope that our list of the best smart locks has helped you a little in your search for the right model.