The Best Smart Locks

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Basic smart locks start at around £90

High-end smart locks can cost upwards of £300

Smart locks can give you more control over your home, and make it safer


We’ve all been there. You wake up late, can’t find your keys, and it’s already 8:45am. You fly out of the house, slamming the door behind you, and arrive at work just in the nick of time.
As you sit down at your desk and breathe a sigh of relief, you’re suddenly gripped by a terrible panic: “Did I remember to lock the door?”

If this story sounds at all familiar, it might be time to invest in a smart lock. A smart lock lets you unlock and lock your door remotely, via your smartphone. Installing a smart lock eliminates the need for physical keys, and puts your house’s security (quite literally) at your fingertips.

Plus, smart locks aren’t just more convenient than using bolts and physical keys – they’re also more secure. And it’s a good job, too – in 72% of cases, burglars come through your front door, and 5% of the time, they’re using a key.

Don’t become one of the statistics. Read on to find out how smart locks work, how much they cost, and which one is best-suited to the unique needs of your home.

If you’re short on time, though, get straight to the good stuff by filling out this form. Simply answer a few quick questions about the home security system you’re looking for, and our qualified installers will be in touch with free quotes.

a person holds a phone with a lock symbol

Don’t let burglars lead you up the garden path – stay safe with a smart lock


What is a smart lock?

A smart lock… is the future. It’s also a safe, simple way of getting in and out of your smart home, and securing the entrances to your property. With a smart lock, you can lock and unlock your front door – as well as provide others access – wirelessly, from a smartphone or with a key fob.

Many smart lock systems also incorporate cameras, giving you the ability to snap headshots of those entering your house, and create a log of comings and goings. Other smart locks let you send encrypted ‘virtual’ keys via email or SMS, to provide house access to friends or guests when you’re not around.

Smart locks on the higher end of the scale include features such as voice activationauto-locking, and ‘geofencing’. A geofence is essentially a virtual perimeter you set up around your house. When you step beyond this border, your door locks automatically behind you – providing peace of mind, and saving you crucial minutes on those busy weekday mornings!

How much does a smart lock cost?

Basic smart locks start at around £90 per unit, but the going rate from decent suppliers is around £130 to £180. High-end smart locks and bundles can cost upwards of £300Expert installation may present an extra cost of around £120 per device, dependent on the smart lock provider.

What is the best smart lock on the market?

We compared the best smart locks available for UK homes and picked our favourites based on price, efficiency, features, and availability. For us, the best smart lock on the market is the Pineworld Q202 for its durability, multiple access methods, and feature-rich app.

Rounding out the top 5 smart locks for UK homes are the Ultraloq UL3 BT, Haifuan 304, Samsung SHS-1321, and August Smart Lock Pro + Connect Bundle.

Top 5 smart locks

Read on to find out what makes these smart locks our top picks. Compare features, browse prices, and unlock some great value for your home. Let’s go!

The best smart locks for UK homes:

Pineworld Q202 smart lock

The Pineworld Q202 comes with emergency charging features – just in case

Pineworld Q202: Best for all-round excellence

Pineworld’s best-selling and highly-rated smart lock offers five methods of access. You or your approved guests can get in via fingerprintRFID (radio-frequency identification) cardmechanical key, app, or (for the purists) a good old-fashioned password.

The Pineworld Q202 comes with a handy mobile app, Tuya, to offer tracking capabilities and simple door access. Better still, it automatically locks after every time the door is used.

The sleek black design looks good on your door, and you won’t have to worry about replacing it anytime soon – its zinc alloy stainless steel frame is rust-proofweather-proof, and (most importantly) burglar-proof, too.

Doorbell and hijack alarms notify the neighbourhood if someone tries to tamper with it. And they’ll notify you, too, with real-time alerts delivered straight to your smartphone.

The Q202 also takes away the hassle when even the largest of extended families come to stay – it supports up to 100 fingerprints, 100 ID card user codes, and three master codes. Add to that the fact that it’s highly affordable, and Pineworld’s lock is about as smart as they get.

 

Price: £139.99 (free delivery) SHOP NOW

Pros

  • Comes with power-saving and emergency charging features
  • Wonderful mobile app

Cons

  • Can be tricky to install, despite an instructional YouTube video being available online

Ultraloq UL3 BT: Best for innovative features

Three AA batteries. They don’t tend to go far in your TV’s remote control, but in the back of the Ultraloq UL3 BT, they’ll give you a whole year’s worth of use – that’s up to 8,000 accesses.

Herculean battery life aside, this savvy smart lock still boasts an impressive range of innovative features. Its “anti-peep password” means you’ll never have to worry about burglars guessing your password by looking for worn-out keypad digits, or be mindful of someone looking over your shoulder while you’re letting yourself in.

And its “knock to open” feature allows you to unlock your home just by knocking four times on your phone – even if it’s in your bag or pocket. Add its fingerprint reader into the bargain, and you’re looking at a lock with ultra levels of home protection.

 

Price: £155 (free delivery) SHOP NOW

Pros

  • Installation is a straightforward, DIY job
  • Comes with an 18-month warranty

Cons

  • Online reviews suggest that the fingerprint reader can be a little patchy

HAIFUAN 304 (HFA5300-45): Best smart lock for ease of use

With a sleek chrome design, voice navigation, and a length of intuitive security features as long as its name, the Haifuan 304 (HFA5300-45) is a shrewd choice for the first time smart lock buyer.

The Haifuan 304 offers three options for unlocking your home – card, pass code, and mechanical key. While this is fewer than other smart locks featured here, the Haifuan makes up for it by being… well, just very simple to use. The keypad lights up when you touch it, and auto-locking can easily be toggled on or off. It has a cracking memory, too – you can add up to 100 codes or 800 card users.

 

Price: £139 (free delivery) SHOP NOW

Pros

  • Easy right or left handle switching means you can place it anywhere
  • Password protection function offers extra security

Cons

  • It’s a little on the basic side, especially when compared with some of the other smart locks featured here

Samsung SHS-1321: Best smart lock for value

Big brand name, small smart lock – Samsung’s foray into the world of home security is a good one. The futuristic-sounding SHS-1321 is a compact, discreet-looking addition to your front door, taking up little space while offering you ultimate peace of mind.

That small size is matched only by its bargain-basement price – it’s available new for as low as £103.88 through Amazon, making it the cheapest smart lock on our list. But that doesn’t mean that it’s light on security features – it’s immune to bumps, picks, intrusions, fires, and basically any kind of lock tampering. Does that cover everything?

 

Price: £114.99 (free delivery) SHOP NOW

Pros

  • Ideal for child-proofing internal doors
  • Durable and reliable

Cons

  • Doesn’t come with a mobile app, or offer remote locking access

August Smart Lock Pro + Connect Bundle: Best smart lock that works with Alexa

There’s an old saying that goes, “You get what you pay for.” And it’s true with the August Smart Lock Pro + Connect Bundle. Why? Because, though you’ll pay a premium, you get… well, everything.

The August Smart Lock Pro works with SiriAlexa, and the Google Assistant, letting you control your home’s security with a simple voice command. Better still, its app offers an activity log, allowing you to keep tabs on comings and goings at all hours through your smartphone. And, providing you have a screwdriver and a few spare minutes to hand, it’s easy to install, too.

 

Price: £399 (free delivery) SHOP NOW

Pros

  • Automatic locking and unlocking features included as standard
  • Attaches to your existing deadbolt

Cons

  • It’s expensive!

Finding a smart lock for your home

Choosing the right smart lock for your home doesn’t have to be a chore. And it doesn’t need to be expensive, either – you can pick one up for around £100, and even install it yourself, within moments.

But how do you choose the right smart lock for your home? What happens next?

Don't worry about it. You've read this page; you know what to do at this point. You've got this.


FAQs

How do smart locks work?

Smart locks work by connecting either to your wifi network, or through a Bluetooth connection. Most smart locks also come with a mobile app for your smartphone or tablet. These apps allow you to lock or unlock your front door remotely, view a log of the various entrances to your property, and control which users have access to your home.

Are smart locks safe?

Smart locks are designed to protect your home, and to make you and your family safer. But the question remains… are they safe? Can smart locks be hacked?

The answer to both questions is yes.

Like other devices belonging to the ‘Internet of Things’, smart locks are always going to be vulnerable to tech issues. Data is being transferred via the airwaves (so to speak) and interception of this data (hacking) is a possibility, albeit a remote one.

That’s because hacking a smart lock is difficult to do, and would require a good degree of technical knowledge. Thankfully, that should exclude most opportunistic burglars looking to make some quick cash at your expense.

Did You Know?

5% of burglars gain access to UK homes with a key.

Plus, having a smart (and smart-looking) lock installed acts as its own deterrent. If you’ve got such an impressive lock on your front door, what other high-grade security systems might lie beyond the threshold?

The bottom line is that smart locks are safe – especially when compared to the alternative. Remember – 5% of burglars gain access to UK homes with a key. At least with a smart lock, you’ll always know when your home is locked – and you’ll certainly never get stung for leaving a key under the plant pot.

Fill in our form for free home security quotes, and find the best product for you.

What are the pros and cons of smart locks?

As with everything, there are both pros and cons to using a smart lock, and it might not always be the right choice for your home. Here are a few things to consider before you make a purchase:

Pros

  • Gets rid of the dangers of lock picking
  • Some smart locks work with other applications in your home, like Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa
  • Allows you to see who’s coming and going (so you’ll know what time your teenager got home last night!)
  • Saves you hassle exchanging keys when housesitters or family come to stay
  • Makes unlocking and locking your home a breeze

Cons

  • Losing your phone could leave your home at risk
  • You’re at the mercy of wifi and Bluetooth networks… any power or internet outages could leave you locked out
  • Potentially vulnerable to hacking
  • More expensive than regular locks
  • Most smart locks rely on batteries… and batteries die
Written by:
Rob Binns Eco Experts
Rob’s three-pronged love of the environment, emerging technology, and hands-free convenience soon drew him to the Eco Experts. Whether he’s singing the praises of smart speakers or explaining the electrifyingly eco-efficient benefits of light bulbs, Rob loves writing to empower UK homeowners.
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