Smart Lock Door Knobs & Levers
Looking for a smart lock to replace a simple knob or handle on your door? We lay out your options and some of our favorites below.
How we chose the top Smart Lock Door Knob
Buying Guide
Does your front door only have a handle or knob on it, or are you looking to add a security door lock to an interior or garage door?
You have come to the right place as we dive into the available models and options for you to find the perfect fit for your home or apartment.
Smart locks for doors with only a handle or knob are some of the most straightforward locks to choose from on the market as you do not need to try and match your existing deadbolt or handle hardware and can simply replace the entire mechanism.
What is the best smart door knob lock to buy?
Now that we have narrowed down your options based on the door handle type there are several other points to consider when shopping for a new lock for your door, as well as the best smart locks we've tested.
Our Quick Picks
Short on time? Here our some of our favorite picks based on some common filters for people in the market.
Things to consider
Access Codes
If you are looking for the ability to add access codes for your kids and guests or to make sure the delivery gets into your home safely there are several options these locks accomplish this.
Some have them built-in and will include either push buttons or commonly a touchscreen that will light up as you approach.
The other option is to add a keypad accessory that is installed next to your door and communications to the lock.
The third is via the locks smart phone app which can act as a key for other users.
One thing to keep in mind is with a Bluetooth lock you will only be able to add codes when you are near the door and not remotely. If you are looking to manage your codes from a long distance you will want a lock that has either Wi-Fi built in or connects with a hub that does so that it can connect to your home router.
Integration with smart home ecosystems
Do you already have an Alexa, Apple TV or a smart home hub in your home?
Many of the smart locks on the market let you:
- Check status of your lock from your phone
- Lock and unlock the door using voice control
- Have your lock be a part of a "recipe" like a good night mode that turns off lights, locks door and sets security system.
Click on the buttons below to filter the Bluetooth locks by each of their compatible systems.
Additional Smart Lock Features
Smart locks also come with a range of other features that could be the deciding factor for your purchase.
Remote Locking
Check or manage your lock while away from your home
Most of the time Bluetooth connectivity is not going to be the best option for you if you want this out of the box without having to purchase an additional bridge device or smart home hub.
At the moment only one lock has the ability to generate and manage keys remotely without an additional device.
Proximity Locking
Automatically lock behind you or unlock as you approach
With this feature you can have your door automatically lock behind you after a certain amount of time (typically 30 seconds) or have it use your phone's GPS and Bluetooth to automatically unlock the door as you approach.
Fingerprint or Touchscreen
Use your fingerprint to open your door or a touchscreen
With this feature you can either open the door using an access code and a back-lit touchscreen or your fingerprint to securely open your doors.
Comparison: Smart Locks with a handle
Yale Assure Lever Lock
Finish Options: Bronze and Nickel
Connectivity Options: Apple Homekit, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi Via Bridge/Hub, Z-Wave, and Zigbee
Google Assistant: Yes with add-on hub
Siri Support: Yes
Alexa Support: Yes
iOS App: Yes
Android App: Yes
- Multiple connectivity options including Wifi and Bluetooth via the August Connect version or Z-Wave and Zigbee to connect to your existing smart home hub or security systems.
- The August Connect version will use the August app for everything which has nice benefits for integrations and access codes, etc.
- Remotely locking with all of the connected versions.
- Can get a version with physical buttons if you don’t like touchscreens and would like to save on some battery life.
- Could be a benefit but not having a physical key slot or backup key could be seen as a downside
- Confusing branding between Yale and August (Yale’s parent company purchased August in 2017) in terms of figuring out what apps to use, what will connect with what.
- No real dedicated app for the Yale Assure line. Reliant on 3rd party apps for control and they each have their own levels of ability with regards to access codes, remote locking, etc.
- Only a few finish options are available.
Once you get past the confusing line-up of Yale Assure and August connectivity this lever lock offers a full feature set and could be a perfect fit for you if you are looking for a clean lever/handle replacement.
The lock offers several types of connectivity options which can be confusing including a Z-Wave and Zigbee version which will work well for those of you already with a home hub or smart security system like Alarm.com or SmartThings. The second option is to go with the August Connect version which connects via Bluetooth and Wifi via a small hub that plugs into a wall socket. This version gives you remote locking and monitoring out of the box without another hub.
If you are really needing a backup physical key you will need to look elsewhere as this lock has no key access at all.
The lock does not have its own dedicated smart phone app and relies heavily on either the August app if you have that version or your smart home hub app. This has some positives if you are already familiar with those systems but confusing if this is your first “smart” product.
Additional options for you include either a touch screen or physical button version.
Overall the Yale Assure lever is a solid option that has good user reviews and a wide range of connectivity options to fit your exact needs.
Your Yale Assure Lever Lock options:
Comparisons
How do the different Yale lever locks compare to each other?
Option 1) Pick a finish
Pick out the look that matches your door and house style.
Option 2) Add a compatible smart home hub
Got the Z-Wave version but don’t have a smart home hub yet? Here are some of your options.
Lockly (pin genie) Secure
Finish Options: Bronze and Nickel
Connectivity Options: Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Via Bridge/Hub
Google Assistant: Yes with add-on hub
Alexa Support: Yes with add-on hub
iOS App: Yes
Android App: Yes
- Users can send time-restricted codes via text or email to grant guest access.
- The patented Pin Genie digital touchscreen scrambles codes so prying eyes can’t detect your code.
- The lock comes with a backup 9v battery for use in the case of battery failure.
- ‘Do not disturb’ mode disables the access keypad at any time.
- Suitable for outdoor use and is proven to work between 4 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Fingerprint access for up to 99 users.
- The touch screen can be difficult to view in direct sunlight, especially with scrambled layouts.
- The smartphone app can be a little tricky.
- Poor customer service means that problems can take a long time to resolve.
- Need additional Wifi hub for remote locking and integration with Alexa and Google Home.
The Lockly Secure lock keeps things simple, with all the no-frills features that a smart lock needs. While it boasts fewer accessibility features than some rival products, the product is more reliable and secure than most.
Connection to the lock is via Bluetooth – not WiFi out of the box (you will need to add a Wifi bridge to get these capabilities)- but users can also use access codes or the hard keys which come with the lock.
Lockly also boasts tremendous battery life, but provides a backup 9V battery for emergency use.
At its mid-range price point, this smart lock performs extremely well, without the bugs and problematic performance of most rivals and with a large range of features that competitors are missing.
Your Lockly (pin genie) Secure options:
Comparisons
Your first decision with the Lockly product link is to choose between Handle or Deadbolt replacement then if you need the fingerprint access feature (These are called Lockly Plus)
Option 1) Pick a finish
Pick out the look that matches your door and house style.
Option 2) Add Remote Locking
If you are looking to add Alexa and Google Assistant support along with long distance remote locking you will need to add a Wifi Bridge:
Lockly Wi-fi hub
$79.99
Option 4) Add a compatible smart home hub
If you decide to add a Wifi Bridge you can hook up and interact with your lock from your Alexa or Google Home enabled device.
Ultraloq UL3 Bluetooth
Finish Options: Bronze and Nickel
Connectivity Options: Bluetooth
Alexa Support: Yes, within Bluetooth range
iOS App: Yes
Android App: Yes
- Original launched on Indiegogo
- iOS and Android app have decent number of reviews and overall score.
- If you are in Bluetooth range the lock says it supports Alexa integrations with its own Alexa skill. Many customers have had difficulty in getting this to work.
- Only supports long-distance control and access logs with an additional Wi-fi accessory bridge.
- Fingerprint access is a plus for some and a minus in terms of security for others. We could not find information on how and where they store the fingerprints on the device.
- Some users complain about some general quality issues and reliability of the fingerprint reader.
- If you already have a deadbolt this is meant to only replace your handle/lever so will need to buy the deadbolt cover accessory.
The Ultraloq UL3 seems to have two types of reviews 5 stars or 1 stars.
The 5 star reviews praise its wide range of features and good looks with the people getting 1 star complaining about build quality and never getting the lock to actually function in the first place.
So overall if you get a good working lock than you should be in luck. Customer service seems to be solid from this company with users with defunct units getting their returns and refunds processed quickly and support staff helping them walk though any connectivity or other issues.
If you are looking for remote control, access and monitoring along with Alexa support this lock does have this feature. The only requirement an additional WiFi bridge unit.
If you don’t have the additional Wifi accessory you will be limited to adding codes, etc only when you are in Bluetooth range of your lock.
Some common user complaints include reliability issues with the fingerprint scanner and the Alexa skill not connecting properly so you can control the lock with your voice.
With the strong customer support backing it along with the number of 5 star reviews from customers getting the lock up and running successfully we can recommend this lock as a solid choice especially if you require fingerprint access.
Your Ultraloq UL3 Bluetooth options:
Comparisons
Option 1) Pick a finish
Pick out the look that matches your door and house style.
FAQ
Installation
Integration and Connectivity
Security
About Smart Lock Scout
We are here to help you keep your home and family safely connected. Whether you’re looking to pick a smart lock system, we’ve spent hundreds of hours researching locks to help you find the best product to fit your specific situation.
At Postscapes we combine our years of experience following the smart home market along with user reviews to take the guesswork out of living securely connected. Learn More
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