Product Reviews – DIY Home Security Guide

Your car key, your home key, your office key: between them all, your keychain is admittedly quite full. It’s also pretty weighty in your pocket or your purse. Sometimes you wish you could forego keys entirely. You’ve had a neighbor switch to a keyless door lock recently with very good results, and you’re thinking maybe it’s time to do the same. What are the best keyless door locks for home security? The top 3 keyless door locks are: Schlage Connect Smart Deadbolt Z-Wave Plus Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro + Wi-Fi Bridge August Smart Lock Read on for reviews of each of these three exemplary keyless door locks. We’ll also discuss the benefits of going keyless and how to choose the right lock for you. Let’s get started! The Top 3 Keyless Door Locks for Your Home Schlage Connect Smart Deadbolt Z-Wave Plus Schlage is one of the leading names in keyless door locks, and their Connect Smart Deadbolt Z-Wave Plus is quite renowned among homeowners. Z-Wave Plus S2 security is not only great for peace of mind with its top-notch encryption, but this technology instantly syncs with your preexisting home automation system. You’re then free to lock or unlock your door anytime from your smartphone or computer. If you own an Amazon Alexa or Echo and rely on it in your day-to-day life, the Z-Wave Plus plays nicely with this tech. Just access your hands-free speaker using voice commands and Alexa or Echo will take care of the rest. If you’re on the Alexa app, you can also lock or unlock your door this way. Have a big family? The Z-Wave Plus lets you create 30 different access codes for everyone in your household. You can add or revoke door lock access anytime using your smart hub like Alexa. To connect with the Z-Wave Plus, your family only needs to press a button or scan a QR code. Besides Amazon products, you can also sync your Schlage Z-Wave Plus with Google Assistant, Ring, Nexia, Wink, and Samsung SmartThings. Schlage also gives you a wealth of door lock styles, colors, and finishes to select from to match the Z-Wave Plus to your home décor. The Schlage Connect Smart Deadbolt Z-Wave Plus costs $165. Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro + Wi-Fi Bridge The next keyless door lock we heavily recommend is the Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro. With six-in-one keyless access options, you have your choice between using a mechanical key, Magic Shake, Auto Unlock, a code, a fingerprint, or the Ultraloq smartphone app to get into your home. That will keep anyone you want out left on the doorstep. With the Wi-Fi Bridge, you get a handful of useful features. First, you can track home activity even when you’re away with remote activity. Also, you can lock your door from anywhere, even if you’re miles and miles from home. If you have a visitor or guest who needs to get in while you’re not home, you can also send an eKey or a code through the Wi-Fi Bridge. Then, when this person goes in your home, your Ultraloq app pings you and lets you know. A US standard door should be able to support the Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro, and the company calls installation “simple.” The keyless door lock doesn’t need to be drilled or wired and requires only four screws for installation. Like the Schlage Connect Smart Deadbolt Z-Wave Plus, Amazon Echo is compatible with the U-Bolt Pro, as is Google Home. When you speak with your favorite home assistant, ask it to lock or unlock your door and it’s done. Include the rest of your family on the U-Bolt Pro, whether temporarily or permanently. Then, with the Ultraloq app, they can press a button to get in. Magic Shake is another access option where you shake your phone to unlock the door. You can manage users and review a log record of who got in anytime on your app. The Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro + Wi-Fi Bridge costs $189.99 and up. August Smart Lock The third and final keyless door lock we want to discuss is the August Smart Lock. Undoubtedly the smallest lock on the list, it’s also the only one that doesn’t feature an emergency key slot. That said, it’s meant to go over your deadbolt, so you can still get in the old-fashioned way if you need to (such as when you don’t have Internet access). According to August, you’ll install the Smart Lock in about 10 minutes, maybe even less. As we said, it fits over your deadbolt. If yours is a cylinder shape, then the August Smart Lock should be a perfect fit. The Smart Lock, like the other keyless door locks we’ve reviewed, also pairs up with Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa. You can review your door status, unlock, and lock the door using voice commands, which is quite handy. The Smart Lock also boasts Apple HomeKit compatibility so you can chat with Siri and lock your door at the same time. Two-factor authentication and data encryption keep your door lock safer and more secure. You can even turn the Smart Lock off if you misplace or lose your phone as a security precaution. Otherwise, when you usually have your phone with you (or your Apple watch), the accompanying app lets you track who’s entering your home thanks to notifications and a continually updating activity feed. How would anyone else get in? With guest keys, of course. These are handy for fellow family members as well as housecleaners or babysitters. Another cool feature you get with the Smart Lock is DoorSense. This built-in technology lets you know if your door is ajar or safely closed. The August Smart Lock costs $199.99. What Are the Benefits of Keyless Door Locks? If you’re not sure whether paying upwards of $200 for a new door lock is a smart investment, we can assure you it is. Just check out the following benefits you’ll enjoy with your new keyless door lock. Saves Time Each minute you spend on your doorstep fumbling around for your keys in the dark is another minute you’re not paying attention to your surroundings. That can prove dangerous, especially if you live in a high-crime area. With a keyless door lock, you only need your phone handy (and sometimes not even that, as some locks work with Apple smartwatches) and you’re in your home within moments. Choose Who Gets In If it’s been years, even decades since you’ve gotten your housekey produced, you might not remember who has it. A keyless door lock lets you choose exactly who’s allowed entry and who’s barred. Also, the next time you have a friend housesitting, or you hire a housecleaner or dogwalker, you won’t have to run to the store to get more copies of your key made. You can just give them temporary or longer-term home access through the keyless door lock. Acts as an Extra Means of Security A locked door might be viewed as a challenge to some criminals, but a keyless door lock is another thing entirely. They likely won’t be able to figure it out, so they won’t even try. Instead, they’ll move on. Greater Peace of Mind Traditional doors are secure, but a keyless door lock gives you a whole new sense of peace of mind. Instead of lying in bed at night torturing yourself over whether you locked the main door, you can check your app and do it remotely. You’ll be asleep in no time. How to Choose the Right Keyless Door Lock for You We may have only reviewed three keyless door locks, but these are considered the best of the best on the market right now. If all three seemed appealing to you in their own way, here are some factors to keep in mind that will make your decision easier. Compatibility Each of the three keyless door locks we reviewed is compatible with Google and Amazon voice assistant products. If you want greater compatibility, then the Schlage Connect Smart Deadbolt Z-Wave Plus is your best bet. As we discussed earlier, this also syncs with Samsung SmartThings, Wink, Nexia, Ring, and Google Assistant as well. The other two keyless door locks do not. Ease of Installation Keyless door locks are generally pretty simple to install, but the August Smart Lock may be among the easiest. It fits over your deadbolt, so you already know where to put it. Price Few factors will help you decide which keyless door lock to go with more than price. We’re not advising you to choose the cheapest lock just because of its price. If it has the features you need for your home security, that’s what should convince you to buy it. The least expensive of the three keyless door locks on our list is the Schlage Connect Smart Deadbolt Z-Wave Plus. The August Smart Lock and Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro + Wi-Fi Bridge are both more expensive at almost $200 apiece. Still, considering the Z-Wave Plus is $165, you’re only talking about savings of like $35 or so, which isn’t very significant. Conclusion A keyless door lock lets you lock or unlock your door remotely via your smartphone or voice assistant like Alexa or Siri. You also get to choose who can get in, and you’ll receive notifications, so you know when your door is safely closed. Whether it’s the August Smart Lock, the Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro + Wi-Fi Bridge, or the Schlage Connect Smart Deadbolt Z-Wave Plus, these three keyless door locks are all solid picks for a safer, happier home.