The 5 Best Smart Locks for Front Doors + Buying Guide

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Thanks to a smart lock, you’ll never have to look for your key again because all the doors open automatically for you! It sounds like science fiction, but it has become a reality. 

Of course, good door locks must meet certain quality criteria in order to provide the necessary security. In this article, we present the most important security features of electronic door locks. We will also show you which operating modes are available – from fingerprint to numeric code there is a lot of choices. 

In general, all models presented can be installed and modified relatively easily, so that the use of a specialist is not necessary. The manufacturers provide clear video instructions for this.

After presenting the best smart door locks for front doors, we also go into what you need to look out for and what features are important.

The 5 Best Smart Door Locks for Front Doors

August Smart Lock Pro + August Connect

If you are looking for the best Smart Lock on the market, the combination August Smart Lock Pro + August Connect* is hard to beat. 

The August option only replaces the locking mechanism of the inner door. This simplifies the installation considerably and you do not have to replace the locking cylinders. With a normal screwdriver, you can install the Smart Lock in just 10 minutes!

Once this is done, you will have several ways to access and manage the lock. With the app you can monitor the smart lock around the clock. 

It is also quick and easy to leave access to other users. A special feature is the special DoorSense technology. A built-in sensor informs the user that the bolt is correctly installed and the door is really locked. With this function, the lock can be activated immediately after the door is closed.

With the August Connect module, the door lock can be remotely controlled via WiFi. The lock is also compatible with Apple HomeKit and Amazon Alexa, allowing you to create automated workflows. It is conceivable that the light in the corridor could be switched on automatically as soon as the door lock is opened. All you need is a smart light bulb. 

Nest X Yale – The best lock for Google Home

Landlords no longer need to worry about losing their house key, as the Nest X Yale* uses a keyboard instead of a physical key. 

Who is the smart lock for? For people who need a smart lock that works great with Google Assistant.

This smart lock is a product of Jack and Yale. An elegant touch keyboard replaces the key mechanism and the old lock. The outer frame is made of satin metal, polished brass or bronze. It has four AA batteries that last about one year until replacement.

Users need only select an access code (four to eight digits) to open the door, and users can also use a mobile app. In addition, Nest X Yale has an automatic locking function that automatically locks the door after a while when the users are absent. Google Home users can also control the smart door lock with their voice.

You can check the lock status on the go, lock your door when residents are not at home, and add your lockout commands to Google’s routines. 

Nest X Yale is not fully loaded with functions. However, the routines that users have at their disposal work well and are very well integrated into the Google Assistant smart home.

Yale Assure Lock SL – The most elegant lock

The Yale Assure Lock SL* is stylish, attractive, practical and works well with smart home devices. Who’s it for? For those who are looking for an elegant and functional device for the entrance door in the house.

Locks must be functional, but they are often bulky and large. However, the Smart Lock system of Yale Assure SL is different from the competition.

Thanks to its noble and soft appearance and small size, this is a delicate device that everyone will admire when entering through the front door.

The lock is ideal for those looking for an elegantly simplified door lock that can be integrated into the smart home in conjunction with a modular network connection. 

The device is available in polished brass, brushed silver or bronze. The smart lock has a number pad that lights up when you tap the lower-left corner. 

The input field is clearly visible on dark nights or in bright light. If no one is using it, it disappears and all that remains is a shiny empty area.

Electronic Door Lock Danalock V3

The Danalock V3* electronic door lock is conveniently controlled via smartphone or Apple Watch. 

Like most other smart door locks, you can distribute access rights to others via the app. 

For installation, the existing cylinder is replaced by a Danalock cylinder and a motor lock is screwed on – without drilling.

Biometric Smart Lock

This biometric smart lock* controls access with a biometric sensor. 

Almost 1000 fingerprints can be stored. Of course, you can also open or close the lock with the app.

And the best thing about it: thanks to the monitoring function, users can always track who opened the door at what time.

This lock regularly receives very good ratings from Amazon and is praised, among other things, for the ease of installation and reliability of the lock. 

Electronic Door Locks: This is Important When Buying

Application

Electronic door locks, some of which are also known as smart locks, are available for various applications. These could be private rooms, family houses or even large company buildings. 

There are also electronic door locks with integrated intercoms and surveillance cameras.

Voice control

Some electronic door locks can also be controlled by voice commands. For example with the Danalock V3. This is especially useful when guests arrive early and the owner is busy in the kitchen. 

To ensure the safety of the doors, voice control only works from the inside.

Installation

As a rule, electronic door locks are screwed to an existing lock on the inside of the door. 

The original key normally remains in the lock and fits into the Smart Lock. The installation instructions for door interlock systems help with installation questions.

Security Mechanisms

Thanks to the closed-circuit current system, most electric locks can be opened even during power failures. 

In case of a power failure, many electronic door locks can be unlocked with a classic key.

Advantages of Electronic Door Locks?

Electronic door locks are available in a variety of options and price ranges. 

But one thing is certain: All electronic locks in this article can do much more than just open and close. 

If you connect your smart lock to the Internet, you can grant access rights to craftsmen, postmen, the cleaning lady or friends via the app! If the locking system is extended by a video intercom system that transmits videos or pictures to a smartphone, this becomes all the more practical. 

You can also unlock the front door with a Smartwatch on your wrist. Smart locks can also be connected to smart home systems such as Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, Innogy or homee.

Related article: The best Alexa compatible door locks | Smart Locks

With electronic door locks, smart home fans who want to take better control of their daily lives get a lot for their money. But not only that: children who like to leave their keys in the changing room can open the front door with a digital code or a fingerprint scanner. 

With some WiFi locks, you can use the app to track who has just arrived or left home. During the lunch break, you could quickly check if all children have come home safely.

Overview of the Advantages of Electronic Door Locks

+ Users open the front door via a Bluetooth connection, a mobile app, a digital code or a fingerprint

+ The electronic lock opens automatically when approached (geofence)

+ The door closes automatically after opening

+ Users distribute access rights on the road

+ Property owners can accept (AirBnB) guests from all over the world

+ Users connect the locking system for the smart home functions to the WiFi or work exclusively locally via Bluetooth and other manufacturer-specific radio standards

+ The old key remains functional for emergencies

Security Problems with Smart Door Locks?

A typical proverb says: Where there is sun, there is shadow. This also applies to electronic door locks. 

As a security feature for locking houses, all selected manufacturers pay particular attention to secure wireless encryption. However, there is no blocking system – neither electronic nor purely mechanical – that is 100 percent protected against manipulation. 

It is doubtful that a criminal would try to penetrate the complex encryption of an smart door lock instead of looking for an easier way into the house (windows, back entrances).

Many security portals carefully examined smart door locks in the security category and could not find any security gaps in the models presented here.

Bluetooth Door Lock or WiFi Door Lock?

Some owners of electronic door locks feel comfortable if the lock is not connected to the Internet. 

All door locks presented in our report can be used without a connection to WiFi. You communicate locally via Bluetooth with a smartphone or an app. 

In addition to Bluetooth, many models also offer connectivity via WiFi at home, allowing the electronic locking cylinder to interact with a smart home system if required. Even management via an app from on the road is only possible with a door lock with WiFi support.

Differences in the Electric Locking Systems

The electric door lock makes it clear that there are different possibilities in the area of unlocking and locking. These should be chosen in such a way that it fully meets your own wishes and the required security. The electric door lock has the following differences:

Use with numerical code

By entering a numerical code, you can open and close an inner or outer door quickly and completely without a key. 

For this purpose, a specific code is entered into the system, which is transmitted to persons who require access authorization. Depending on the manufacturer and model, you can often feed in several PIN codes so that each individual has their own access. 

The disadvantage of the numerical code is that it can be forgotten, which makes it difficult to open the door.

Entering a fingerprint

In contrast to entering a code, opening a door with a finger scan is much faster. 

At the same time, the fingerprint protects against unauthorized use by unauthorized persons, as each fingerprint is unique. You don’t need to take a key with you or remember a code, your finger is always nearby and won’t get lost. 

If users prefer a smart door lock based on fingerprints, they should not choose a low-cost smart door lock, but rather ensure that the finger is reliably recognized the first time.

Smartphone unlocking

In the course of modern technology, many things are now controlled by a smartphone. This also applies to electric door locks, which can be handled via a smartphone with the corresponding app. 

As soon as the smartphone electrically approaches the door lock, it is activated and the door opens as if by magic.

Decisive Buying Criteria for Smart Door Locks

The smart door lock offers a high degree of security. Besides protection, the operation also plays an important role. The electric door lock is available in different versions and guarantees individual access authorization. 

Our comparison of smart door locks for front doors not only shows the relevant features but also provides an overview of the most important purchasing criteria.

Processing

The processing depends on the corresponding version. There are finger scans, PIN code entry, smart card or smartphone-controlled app. 

Each option has its advantages and disadvantages. It is therefore important that the corresponding door lock is electrically configured according to the requirements. 

It should be noted, however, that errors can occur with a WiFi door lock or a radio intercom system. For this reason, many manufacturers have installed an emergency lock that can be opened with a conventional key.

Ease of Use

Which lock is chosen naturally depends on the application. This depends primarily on how many people are to use the smart door lock. 

For companies with many employees, it is important that the smart door lock can distribute many individual accesses or access rights. In some companies, the management can thus individually set which employees have access to which areas of the company and where not.

Installation

A comparison of electric door locks shows that individual models consist of a cylinder with a smart lock and an electronic input device. 

Installation requirements are as important as the devices themselves. The dimensions of the door frame play the same important role as the size of the keyhole. 

Once users have selected an electric door lock with the smartphone app, they must ensure that the latest software is installed on the smartphone. Otherwise, the functionality of the app cannot be guaranteed.

Tips on Buying a Smart Lock: Important Criteria at a Glance

App Control

In any case, the users have a smartphone. So why not use it as a key? Depending on the model, the electronic door lock can be opened via the app or automatically unlocked when owners approach the lock. 

This does not require a WiFi door lock (local communication via Bluetooth is sufficient).

Assign the Access Authorization on the Fly

Your life will be easier if you can let the postman or painter into the house from the supermarket. 

With some door locks, you can distribute temporary authorization for smartphones via the app. 

Smart Home Integration

Smart homes have not reached everyone, but the advantages are obvious. In combination with an electronic door lock, the apartment welcomes us with pleasant background music and cozy evening lighting. 

The heating was switched on on the way home at best.

The Normal Key Remains Operational

Depending on the design of the smart lock for the front door, the old key can still be used. An emergency function ensures that the door key is always in the lock and is turned by the motor of the electronic locking system. 

This means that you can insert and turn the key simultaneously from the inside and outside. Some manufacturers also offer emergency keys with which the door can be opened mechanically anyway.    

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Attention: When installing electronic equipment, please be sure to observe the manufacturer’s safety instructions. You have to take care of your own safety. The information on this site only helps you to learn.
Disclosure: This website is the property of Martin Lütkemeyer and is operated by Martin Lütkemeyer. Martin Lütkemeyer is a member of the Amazon Services LLC Affiliate Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to enable Web sites to earn advertising revenue through advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Links marked with * are affiliate links.