Smart door locks with deadbolts are perfect for those of us who do not want to replace the locks on our front doors. Besides adding a ton of convenience, these locks let you reap the full advantage of the current lock hardware of your door. In short, it’s like upgrading your existing door lock into a smart door lock. On top of that, some of the smart door locks with deadbolts let you use physical keys as well. So even if you do not have your smartphone with you, you can still use the physical key to gain entry.
The good news is that there are quite a few smart door locks with deadbolts out there. These locks are not expensive and let you go about your job with ease.
So without further ado, let’s get started. But first,
1. SimpliSafe Smart Lock
SimpliSafe Smart Lock
Buy
The SimpliSafe smart lock is one of the least expensive smart locks on this list. And for the price, it packs several interesting features. For instance, it supports temporary PIN generation, Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa integration, and smart locking mechanisms like Auto Lock, Away Mode, etc.
The installation process is easy and simple, and several authoritative reviewers have voiced this feature. It installs over your door’s existing deadbolt and doesn’t require any additional drilling. The latter makes it great for renters and apartment dwellers.
The lock works as advertised, whether it’s alerting you to an open door, generating temporary PINs, or triggering the auto-lock functionality. The latter kicks into action when the Home mode or the Away mode kicks into action. All you need to do is set the time as per your convenience, and that’s about it.
The SimpliSafe smart lock is compatible with both Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. When enabled, you can ask the lock to arm itself, i.e., lock the door. However, neither Alexa nor Assistant lets you control the door lock.
But at the end of the day, the SimpliSafe smart lock is not independent and relies heavily on the in-house SimpliSafe app. The premium plan is priced at $25 per month and gets you access to intelligent features like PIN generation, send alerts, or set up schedules, among others.
2. Wyze Smart Lock
Wyze Smart Lock
Buy
Wyze is known for its inexpensive gadgets, and the Wyze Smart Lock is the new one to join this lineup. Looks-wise, this smart lock is not the sharpest one out there. But it gets the work done, and it does so beautifully (for the price). It’s small and compact and features a small thumb turn. More importantly, the app provides you with a detailed activity log to give you a clear idea of who is using the app and when.
The Wyze smart lock does its basic duty well—locking and unlocking the door at your command. You can use the companion app to lock/unlock the door or set an auto-lock schedule. In addition, it features geofencing which lets you unlock the door automatically when you are near your home. This feature comes in handy when you have your hands full when you come home from a long trip. Finally, it also lets you see when the door is left ajar.
The Wyze smart lock has a few limitations. For one, it doesn’t support Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa. Secondly, the app doesn’t support temporary PIN generation for your house guests. For that, you will have to download the app and make do with that. The good news is that the app has 2FA authentication. And yes, there’s no keypad. However, you can invest in a separate keypad to make it a complete unit.
Unlike the SimpliSafe smart lock, there’s no concept of a subscription fee. It’s a one-time investment, and though it has some fewer features, you get what you are paying for—a smart lock.
Agreed that it is not the coolest-looking lock out there, but it does a pretty good job of responding to lock and unlock commands.
3. August Smart Lock and Connect
August Smart Lock and Connect
Buy
Another smart door lock with a deadbolt is the August Smart Lock (3rd gen). It fits over the traditional lock, and you have to replace the interior lock. One of the main advantages is that you can unlock it with your house key or the companion app. Like the Wyze door lock, it doesn’t have a keypad. That said, it has some cool features up its sleeves, such as the Auto Unlock, DoorSense, Geofencing. And it operates over Bluetooth.
The installation process is straightforward. As long as you follow the step-by-step guide, you will be on the clear. The August Smart Lock counts DoorSense as one of the interesting features. The lock alerts you if the door has been left ajar or if the lock hasn’t engaged properly.
As noted earlier, you won’t be able to set PINs for your guest. But the companion app lets you create guest accounts for a fixed period (or a recurring schedule), which is a huge plus.
One of the limitations of having a keyed entry is that you can’t deny access to anyone with a physical key to the door.
As we mentioned earlier, the August Smart Lock is a Bluetooth-equipped lock and doesn’t support smart assistants. However, you can get hold of the August Wi-Fi adapter if you want to bring the smarts. You’ll have to shell a few extra bucks of the adapter. But on the upside, you get remote access to the lock.
It’s not without its issues. For instance, a few users have complained that the lock is loud compared to its competitors.
If you prefer a doorknob, you can consider buying the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock. It delivers an impressive performance. And it counts quite a few smart assistants like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Nest, and Apple Homekit, under its roof.
Buy August Wi-Fi Smart Lock
4. Schlage Encode Smart Wi-Fi Deadbolt
Schlage Encode Smart Wi-Fi Deadbolt
Buy
The Schlage Encode is one of the popular smart door locks with deadbolts. This one stands apart from the rest, all thanks to its classic looks. It checks off quite a few features, such as support for Amazon Alexa, Amazon Key, and Google Assistant, Access codes, alerts and notification, and Auto-lock. More importantly, it bundles a 12-button capacitive touch-screen keypad along with the key access.
The keypad at the front means you and your house members can punch in key codes for access. And not only that, you can generate temporary and permanent key codes for both house members and temporary visitors. For now, Schlage lets you create up to 100 codes. Compared to the 4 PINs of the SimpliSafe lock, this is a huge difference.
At the same time, it supports voice commands and you can use either Alexa or Assistant voice commands to lock/unlock the door. Furthermore, it supports Amazon Key. If you have Key membership for garage deliveries, you can make the most out of this smart door lock.
Like the one above, the Schlage Encode lock also supports physical key entry. And yes, you can see all the entries via the Lock History module in the app. It’s not without limitations though. For example, it doesn’t support Apple HomeKit and IFTTT.
The app is fast and so is the lock. When the right PIN is coded in, it is swift to unlock.
The Schlage Encode is quite popular on Amazon and has attracted many positive reviews primarily for its easy installation process and performance.
Turn the Knob
If you are opting for a smart lock based on Wi-Fi, you must ensure that your house has a strong Wi-Fi connection near the door. This way, the locking and unlocking mechanism will be fast and quick. If your house has a spotty internet connection, you can consider buying a Wi-Fi range extender.
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