Best Smart Locks in 2026: Which Keyless Door Locks Are Actually Worth It?

Bottom line up front: The Schlage Encode is the best smart lock for most seniors — it replaces your deadbolt completely, has built-in Wi-Fi (no hub needed), and lets family members enter with a permanent or temporary code. The August Smart Lock Pro is the best choice if you don't want to replace your existing deadbolt — it installs on the interior in 10 minutes and your existing key still works.

Last updated: 2026-06-16

Fumbling for keys in the dark. Forgetting whether you locked the door before leaving. Giving a spare key to a home health aide and wondering who else might have copied it. These are real daily frustrations for older adults — and smart locks solve all three.

A smart lock lets you lock and unlock your door with a phone app, a keypad code, or voice command. You can set temporary codes that expire automatically (for a visiting aide or grandchild). You can check door status from anywhere. And you can lock the door remotely if you can't remember whether you did before leaving.

What smart locks don't do: they don't make your door harder to kick in. They don't replace a solid deadbolt. They replace the key cylinder while leaving the physical deadbolt mechanism unchanged. Security-wise, a smart lock is equivalent to a regular deadbolt — the smart features are about convenience and access control, not physical reinforcement.

What to Look for in a Smart Lock

Installation type — Some smart locks replace your existing deadbolt completely. Others (like August) retrofit onto the interior of your existing deadbolt, leaving the exterior cylinder unchanged. The retrofit approach is easier to install but requires a compatible deadbolt.

Connectivity — Smart locks connect via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or Z-Wave. Wi-Fi built in (like Schlage Encode) means no hub is required. Bluetooth-only locks require your phone to be nearby to control them remotely — that's not remote access, that's just proximity access.

Access codes — Look for locks that allow multiple permanent codes (for family members) and temporary codes with expiration dates (for aides, contractors, guests).

Auto-lock — Critical for seniors. Sets the door to lock automatically after a configurable time (e.g., 30 seconds after closing). Eliminates the "did I lock it?" worry entirely.

Battery life — Most smart locks run on AA batteries for 6–12 months. Look for low-battery alerts sent to your phone before it dies.

Backup key — Many smart locks include a backup key cylinder. Worth keeping one hidden on your property in case of battery failure or phone issues.

Quick Comparison Table

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Our Top Picks for 2026

1. Schlage Encode — Best Overall Smart Lock

Price: $170–$230

Connectivity: Built-in Wi-Fi (no hub needed)

Access codes: Up to 100

Battery life: 6–12 months (4 AA batteries)

Auto-lock: Yes

The Schlage Encode is the most foolproof smart lock on the market for a simple reason: it works the moment you install it. No hub. No bridge. No separate Wi-Fi adapter. The lock connects directly to your home's 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network and is fully remote-controllable from day one.

The touchscreen keypad is straightforward — you enter your code and the door unlocks. The keypad lights up in the dark. You can store up to 100 codes, which covers a large family plus regular service providers. Each code can be given a scheduled access window — a home health aide's code can be active only on weekday mornings, for example.

Schlage's built-in alarm sensor detects forced entry attempts (someone trying to kick the door or tamper with the lock) and sounds an audible alert. This is a meaningful security feature that few competitors include.

The installation replaces your full exterior deadbolt and requires about 30 minutes with a screwdriver. No professional locksmith needed.

What we like:

Built-in Wi-Fi — truly plug and play, no hub
Up to 100 access codes with scheduling
Built-in alarm sensor for forced entry detection
App allows remote lock/unlock from anywhere
Schlage is a 100-year-old locksmith brand

What could be better:

Replaces the full deadbolt, not just the interior
Wi-Fi only (no Z-Wave for smart home integration)
No built-in fingerprint reader

Who should choose this: Most seniors and families. If you want one smart lock that works immediately without buying any other equipment, this is it.

2. August Smart Lock Pro — Best Retrofit Option

Price: $150–$220

Connectivity: Z-Wave + Bluetooth (requires August Connect hub for remote access, ~$60)

Access codes: Unlimited (via app)

Battery life: 3–6 months (4 AA batteries)

Auto-lock: Yes

The August Smart Lock Pro has a distinct advantage over every other lock on this list: it does not replace your existing deadbolt. It clips onto the interior of your existing deadbolt's thumb turn — the part you twist on the inside. Your exterior looks completely unchanged. Your existing key still works. Guests and family members who don't use the app or codes can still use a physical key.

This matters for seniors for a few reasons. First, installation is genuinely 10 minutes — no deadbolt replacement, no rekeying. Second, your regular key habits don't need to change if you don't want them to. The August app and auto-lock features layer on top of your existing setup, rather than replacing it.

The Z-Wave connectivity integrates with most smart home platforms, including Amazon Echo Plus, Vivint, and SmartThings. That makes August the best choice if you have or plan to get a full home automation system.

The downside: remote Wi-Fi access requires the August Connect hub ($60 extra). Without it, you can control the lock only via Bluetooth when your phone is within about 100 feet.

What we like:

Retrofits on existing deadbolt — no replacement needed
Existing key still works as backup
10-minute installation
Alexa/Google Home/Z-Wave integration
DoorSense tells you if the door is actually closed and locked (not just locked while ajar)

What could be better:

Remote access requires separate $60 Connect hub
Battery life shorter than competitors
Physical footprint inside the door is noticeable

Who should choose this: Renters who can't replace the deadbolt. Seniors who want their regular key to keep working. People in smart home ecosystems who need Z-Wave compatibility.

3. Yale Assure Lock 2 — Best Touchscreen Simplicity

Price: $150–$200

Connectivity: Built-in Wi-Fi or Z-Wave (model-dependent)

Access codes: Up to 250

Battery life: 12+ months

Auto-lock: Yes

Yale's Assure Lock 2 is the simplest keypad experience tested. The touchscreen is large, the numbers are clearly backlit, and code entry is intuitive even for users with limited tech experience. The keypad-only design (no phone required to unlock) means family members who don't have smartphones can enter using a memorized code.

Yale's app is clean and well-designed. Remote access works reliably on the Wi-Fi model without any hub. Battery life at 12+ months is the best in this category.

Who should choose this: Seniors who primarily want a keypad code lock — simple numbers, backlit, easy to read — with the bonus of occasional remote control via phone.

Common Smart Lock Questions

Q: What happens if the battery dies?

Most locks notify you via phone app when battery is low. If the battery dies entirely, you can use your physical backup key (all major locks include one), or temporarily hold a 9V battery against the terminals on the outside to generate enough charge for one unlock. It sounds like a hack but it's a designed emergency feature.

Q: Can someone hack a smart lock?

Smart locks are not meaningfully easier to hack than the door itself is to kick in. In practice, "smart lock hacking" requires physical proximity and specialized equipment. The far more common vulnerability is weak digital passwords for the lock's associated app account — use a unique, strong password and enable two-factor authentication. (See our password manager guide for an easy way to handle this.)

Q: Do smart locks work during a power outage?

Yes. Smart locks use batteries, not household power. They continue functioning normally during outages. Internet-connected features (remote lock/unlock, app notifications) do require Wi-Fi to be active, however.

Q: Will a smart lock work with my existing door?

Most smart locks work with standard American deadbolt cutouts (ANSI Grade 2). If your door has a deadbolt, a smart lock will almost certainly fit. Retrofit models like August work with an even wider range of existing hardware.

What Smart Locks Won't Do

Smart locks improve access control. They do not:

Make your door harder to break down (physical security depends on door frame reinforcement and deadbolt bolt length)
Replace an alarm system (they have no monitoring or alert-to-police capability)
Prevent someone from breaking a window near the door handle

Think of a smart lock as an upgrade to your key management, not a standalone security system. Pair it with a camera (Ring doorbell at the front door is the logical companion) and a monitored alarm system (SimpliSafe is our top pick) for complete layered protection.

The Bottom Line

Smart locks solve real problems for older adults: no fumbling for keys, remote door check from anywhere, and the ability to give temporary access to aides and family without making physical copies.

Schlage Encode is the cleanest implementation — built-in Wi-Fi, no extra hardware, 100 codes, built-in alarm. It's where most people should start.

If you want to keep your existing deadbolt and key, August Smart Lock Pro is the right call — fastest installation, keeps your existing hardware, and existing keys still work.

Either way, combine the lock with a camera on the front door and you've meaningfully improved home security without any professional installation required.