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Get your doors to lock themselves door handles and locks
Ever lost your keys? Ever wished the doors would lock themselves? Welcome to the world of the smart home lock, where digital and secure keys operate your doors whenever and from wherever you choose.
From letting in the cleaner once a week to allowing the postman to drop off an awkward package when you’re out, the smart lock makes perfect sense in today’s hectic world, where immediate access and remote control are more helpful than we might admit. The best smart locks in our roundup are not only as secure as standard door locks, but far, far more useful. Here are our picks for the best smart locks at a glance:
The best smart locks work by replacing part of your existing locking system with a ‘smart’ element that can unlock the door – in some cases physically retracting the bolts, in others allowing the keyholder to do so using the manual handle. To unlock the smart lock, you will need a key, which can range from a standard metal key to a digital version in a mobile app, a credit card or a fob. The latter options contain a unique, virtual key that’s ideally encrypted to prevent interception.
This authenticates you to the lock and allows you to control it. Some smart locks take this a step further, using keypads so a master code unlocks the door (if your keys are lost or your phone battery is exhausted), and in some cases fingerprint readers. The best smart locks have backup options so you can open the door if the batteries in the lock go flat, the wifi is down, or a brand’s servers suffer an outage.
We set out to test a wide range of locks that are available and compatible with UK locksets - many US brands are not. We installed the locks into our test door(s), and connected them to an accompanying app and/or wider smart home platform like Alexa, Google Home or Apple Homekit. We then carried out a range of methods of opening (if available), over an extended period to check for consistency and any connectivity issues. We didn’t physically attack the locks to check for robustness or try to break in using aggressive digital hacking techniques.
The smart locks on the list are a selection of UK-specific locks that fit British doors, an area of potential confusion we’ll dip into fully further down. We chose several locks from the established market leader for high-quality door locks, Yale, as well as some newer challengers.
The Linus lock is one of Yale’s most recent forays into smart locks, and takes a more US-style approach to tackle the problem of smartening up home security. Indeed, the similarities to the US-only August One locks are considerable. The premise here is that the exterior Euro cylinder lock and handle remain untouched, while the interior handle is removed, a key inserted into the lock, and the Linus Smartlock screwed on top.
When triggered, Linus turns the key on the inside, unlocking the door. It’s an ingenious solution and with the supplied screws and backplate it’s easy enough to attach to the interior of a Euro cylinder door. The main benefit (apart from easy installation), is that the insurance rating of your lock should be unaffected, and the Linus can be removed at a later date without major work – ideal for a rental situation.
The Yale Linus lock offers Bluetooth proximity unlocking, which works well enough, and geofenced lock/unlock, which also works but seems a little unnecessary. In the latter case, alerts through the app keep you posted on whether the lock thinks you are at home (unlocked), or away (locked), but there are warnings such as not to turn your phone off while away otherwise the location data can be inaccurate.
Fortunately, the Linus deactivates the feature if it’s lost your location (by going underground for example), or the app quits or crashes, which is sensible, but means functionality is spotty. Overall, it’s an ingenious take on the smart lock genre, and one with wide connectivity to boot.
The Yale Keyless Connected aims firmly at the ‘access’ end of the smart lock market, and while there are plenty of additional connectivity options, the basic premise is a keypad lock with extras.
The backlit keypad is the main distinguishing feature of the exterior, with a bulky thumbturn below. It’s designed to replace a standard UK rim cylinder Yale-style night latch, bolting onto the outside instead of your standard keyway. As with other Yale products, there is the slight complexity of a cable that needs to be fed through the door to the internal unit, where the four AA batteries hide.
The lock can be operated via codes, which can be permanent “master codes”, revocable “user codes” or 24-hour temporary codes, by a fob or card, or by the Yale Home App when connected to the Yale Connect wifi bridge. With the Bridge installed, the fob functionality is disconnected.
As you can tell, this is a complicated system, especially when managed purely through the keypad and audible beeps. This is more of a keypad lock that has had smartness thrust upon it, rather than the other way round. But it’s still an excellent lock for holiday rentals, where a new code can be generated for each new arrival.
The Brisant Ultion Nuki is the product of a partnership between UK security brand Brisant, and European smart home firm Nuki – the latter providing the tech, the former providing the security nous. The result is quietly impressive.
Designed to be user-installed, the kit comes with a variety of fitting options to suit most sizes of multi-point locking systems. Three screws later (and having inserted a new Brisant Euro cylinder core), and you have a smart lock.
The clever bits are numerous, but keeping your existing exterior handle is one of them, as is the fact that you can always use an old-fashioned key if you have to.
Indeed, the biggest faff in setup is syncing all the various elements – we had the lock, a wifi hub, a key fob, a separate number pad and a smartphone. These can all be used to open the door, a fact that makes it very unlikely you’ll be accidentally locked out. The attention to detail is impressive, and the quality is equally so.
The Yale Conexis L1 is something of a pioneer in the smart lock market, coming out in the UK a good five years ago. This means it’s tried and tested in the real world, as well as being a market leader. As you’d expect from Yale, the lock build quality is excellent, and immediately feels like a quality product. In the box, you get two new door handles, which replace your existing ones with just a few screws, and a new internal lock body.
Once removed, you simply measure the door thickness and select the relevant screw/bar pack – there are three to accommodate most doors. A small cable needs to be installed through the door frame, which is a bit of extra hassle, although the plug on it is designed to be slimline and fit through smaller gaps.
As with the Yale Keyless Connected below, there are two small metal contacts on the base of the lock, which allow it to be powered by a 9V battery in the event of the internal AA batteries going flat. In addition, the same Yale wireless module plugs into the top of the internal lock body, linking the Yale Conexis L1 with the wider Yale ecosystem.
The lock also works in standalone mode, syncing with the Yale Conexis L1 via Bluetooth (which has a cool twist to unlock feature), and Yale fobs and cards can also be added as backups or for friends and family. Five virtual keys are included, but additional keys need to be purchased separately, which feels a bit unfair. The fitment is slightly fiddly, but not terrible, and operation was reasonable in testing – though hindered by an ageing app that can misbehave.
The Avia smart lock is made by Mighton, which has decades of experience in home security products, including smart window locks and the like.
This experience shines though, with the lock offering a robust replacement for a multipoint Euro cylinder lock, along with insurance ratings and a £1000 guarantee against break-ins. The cylinder is a three-star Euro cylinder and works just like a normal key-operated lock if you want it to, while the overall package has been tested to PAS 24 2016, which is the British Standard for windows and doors.
Installation is straightforward, as with the Nuki, and indeed the two locks share the same lock barrel, so are equally secure from that perspective. The Avia smart lock is a more old-school visual design compared to the Nuki, but otherwise surprisingly similar in operation. This is probably partly due to the Apple HomeKit connection but also down to it being a solid product.
Indeed, the robustness of the Avia is standout, another appreciated element being the manual thumbturn that non-smart-lock devotees can use to open the door from inside in an emergency. The car key-style fob that also opens the door is a neat touch.
Overall, we were impressed with the build quality, connectivity and flexibility of the Avia, easily ranking it in a podium position. Ease of use here is the real benefit and it’s easy to pretend the lock isn’t smart at all, ideal for homes where some members of the family are not convinced by cutting-edge technology. If you’re looking for an Apple-compatible, robust, and insurance-approved Euro cylinder smart lock, this is worth a serious look.
Out of the models on test, the Igloohome Smart Mortise 2+ is a unique type of smart lock. In the box, you get two new handles, an entire new mortice unit and a bunch of differing length screws, drill guides and instructions.
This is one for a professional installer or a very competent DIYer. The handle units are much larger than standard mortice units thanks to the keypad, so measuring up will be crucial too. Mortice locks are common on wooden doors, such as French windows and glazed garden doors, especially on older properties, so might be in a class of one if that’s your style of existing door.
The mortice lock has no visible markings on it, so may not conform to the common insurance standard BS3621 (intended for five-lever mortice deadlocks). However, once installed, the variety of options is impressive. Thanks to the number pad, you can create a range of codes, including time-sensitive, single-use and permanent ones, directly lock and unlock via the Igloohome app over Bluetooth, link RFID tags and cards, use your fingerprints and, as a last resort, there are physical keys too.
The really clever bit behind the Igloohome Smart Mortice 2+ is the company’s ‘algoPIN’ technology, which creates a unique code on the company’s servers that remotely generates keys for the lock without the lock being connected via wifi, or near your smartphone. The result is that local wifi dropouts or even in the case of a holiday home, no wifi at all, won’t have an impact on access. The lock is integrated with Airbnb, Booking.com, Booking Sync and AgodaHomes too.
Overall, this is a brilliant lock for holiday rentals, and one of the few smart mortice locks on the UK market. The range of access options is excellent, and the ‘algoPIN’ ingenious – although the latter is dependent on the Igloohome servers still operating.
The Bold Smart lock is a low-fi take on the smart lock, but not in a bad way. The simplest of the locks on test, the Bold is simply a euro cylinder lock with a battery-powered Bluetooth unit on the outside end. There are different sizes to accommodate varying door thicknesses, so it’s important to check yours before buying. Installation is simply a matter of removing your old cylinder with a screwdriver, and syncing your phone to the lock app.
Bold assures that the battery is good for more than two years, and in-app warnings give you the opportunity to change the batteries before being locked out.
A morse-code style system allows you to tap an emergency code into the outer lock if you’ve lost your phone, a fiddly process and one best avoided. Overall, the Bold build quality feels good, and installation is easy, but the lack of interoperability with other smart home devices means it’ll always be siloed to some extent. This might be ideal in some cases, though, such as securing communal areas of an apartment building, a rental unit or halls of residence.
The cost of a smart lock varies considerably, firstly because some (like the Bold) are simply a replacement for the euro lock cylinder, while others (like the Yale Conexis L1) are a whole new lock and door hardware handle. Installation is a key consideration here, as fitting a more complex lock might cost as much as the lock itself.
However, fitting a smart lock can be a complicated business, so it’s best to err on the side of caution and find a professional if you’re in any doubt at all.
Another cost consideration is the accessories, such as separate hubs to connect smart locks to wider smart home systems, extra fobs for family members, and in some cases separate keypads for extra security.
Buying a smart lock in the UK is complex for several reasons. Firstly, some locks are not insurance-approved (more on that below), so standard home insurance may not cover your contents once fitted. Secondly, there is a range of UK-specific lock systems and some of these are not compatible with smart locks.
Thirdly, very few smart locks are compatible with all of the common smart home platforms, such as Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Samsung SmartThings and Apple HomeKit (the Yale Linus being an exception).
The first thing to check when looking for a smart lock is your existing lock system, which in the UK varies widely. One of the most common is the Euro cylinder pattern, which you’ll find on most modern UPVC and composite doors, and is relatively easy to swap out for another lock body.
Most of the smart locks here are designed around this system, as it’s relatively standardised, very common, and modular. An equally common model is the rim cylinder night latch, which is widely catered for, especially by Yale. It has undoubtedly become the ‘Hoover’ of rim cylinder locks, as locksmiths refer to "Yale" locks as a shorthand for "rim cylinder locks".
Next, you’ll need to take into account any existing smart home gadgets you have like security cameras, alarm systems, video doorbells and plugs – and check whether your chosen smart lock is compatible. Most locks will work as standalone units, but the real benefits come when integrated into a smart home system so that more complex and sophisticated events can be catered for.
For example, you might want to connect your heating to the main door lock so the house warms up automatically when the door is opened, and maybe turn the lights on too.
Another consideration is visibility and location. There are two schools of thought in smart lock design, one that involves an obvious "smart lock" and keypad on the outside of a door, and the more subtle approach that operates the inside of the lock, leaving the outside looking like a standard key-operated door lock.
The stealthy models are a much better proposition for homeowners and renters, looking for a smart lock to improve security. The more visible options with keypads are more tailored to higher traffic situations, such as an office building or maintenance area, where large numbers of staff might need access at various times, but non-authorised people need to be kept out.
The fact is, some smart locks are more secure than others, and many of the locks here on test are from recognised experts in the security game. This is partly due to obscurity – there are few smart locks “in the wild”, and some (notably the Brisant and Avia) that take pains to look like a normal lock from the outside.
It’s worth bearing in mind that casual house burglars will not be technically adept enough to even consider hacking into a smart lock, and the hackers that can pull off such technical feats are usually not walking the streets looking for personal effects to steal.
The best, most secure smart lock will be compromised by poor security elsewhere on your network, so changing default router admin passwords and other basic digital security steps should be done during installation.
Similarly, if you’re using your phone as a key it needs to be secured with a password or biometric login such as a face or fingerprint scan, and kept as safe as possible when out and about.
That said, adding a smart aspect to your home lock does add the possibility (albeit remote) that it may be hacked, so it’s worth considering carefully where to use them. A good example might be to install a smart lock on the outside door of a porch, allowing you to remotely open the door for couriers or the postman, all while keeping the traditional inside door firmly locked.
Smart locks as a breed are a mixed bag. The cheap clones available from major internet retail sites are in general absolutely not insurance-approved, although it’s not always the case.
Some insurers might specify that doors have multi-point locks secured when the property is empty, but this might not apply when a smart lock is used for “access management”, such as allowing family members to come and go while one family member is at home, for example.
Other locks, such as the Yale Conexis L1, are insurance-rated and tested and can offer separate, standalone compensation if a lock fails in real-world conditions. In short, you get what you pay for. Established brands will do a much better job than unbranded budget options, but it always comes down to the specific wording of your insurance, and how you are using the smart lock.
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