Why Upgrade to a Budget Smart Lock?

Smart home technology has come a long way, and you no longer need to spend hundreds of dollars to get a reliable, feature-rich smart lock for your front door. The market is now flooded with budget-friendly options that offer keyless entry, smartphone control, voice assistant integration, and robust security features—all for under $150 or even under $100.

Whether you’re a renter looking for a non-destructive upgrade, a homeowner wanting to add convenience to your daily routine, or someone who simply keeps losing their keys, a budget smart lock can transform how you interact with your home. In this comprehensive guide, we’ve tested and evaluated dozens of affordable smart locks to bring you the very best options available.

Our Selection Criteria

Every smart lock featured in this guide was evaluated against the following criteria to ensure we recommend only the best budget options:

• Price-to-Feature Ratio: We looked for locks that offer the most features for their price point, ensuring you get genuine value rather than a stripped-down product.
• Security & Build Quality: ANSI/BHMA grading, encryption standards, tamper alerts, and overall construction durability were carefully assessed.
• Installation Ease: Most budget smart locks should be installable by the average homeowner in under 30 minutes with just a screwdriver. We prioritized models that deliver on this promise.
• Smart Home Compatibility: Integration with popular ecosystems like Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings, and IFTTT was a key factor.
• App Experience & Reliability: The companion app should be intuitive, responsive, and regularly updated. We tested app performance, notification speed, and remote access capabilities.
• Battery Life: A good smart lock should last at least 6 months on a single set of batteries. We evaluated real-world battery performance and low-battery warnings.
• Access Methods: Keypad, fingerprint, smartphone app, key fob, traditional key—the more options, the better, especially at a budget price point.
• Customer Support & Warranty: Even budget products should come with decent warranty coverage and accessible customer support.

Each product is assigned a Deck Score out of 10, which reflects our overall assessment based on the criteria above. For more on how we evaluate smart home products, visit our about page.

Quick Comparison: Best Budget Smart Locks at a Glance

Wyze Lock — Best Budget Smart Lock Overall

The Wyze Lock has earned its reputation as the undisputed king of budget smart locks, and for good reason. At a price point that undercuts most competitors, Wyze delivers a lock with built-in WiFi, a companion keypad, auto-unlock functionality, and a remarkably polished app experience. If you’re already invested in the Wyze ecosystem, this lock is an absolute no-brainer.

Design & Build Quality

The Wyze Lock features a clean, modern design with a matte black finish that complements most door styles. The interior unit houses the motor and battery compartment, while the exterior features a traditional keyway alongside the included Bluetooth keypad. The lock replaces your existing deadbolt entirely, which means you’ll need to remove your old hardware during installation. Build quality is solid for the price, with a metal exterior escutcheon that feels durable and weather-resistant.

Features & Performance

What sets the Wyze Lock apart from other budget options is its built-in WiFi connectivity. Unlike many competitors that require a separate bridge or hub for remote access, the Wyze Lock connects directly to your home network. This means you can lock and unlock your door from anywhere, receive real-time notifications, check lock status, and manage user codes—all without additional hardware.

The auto-unlock feature uses your phone’s location to detect when you arrive home, automatically unlocking the door as you approach. While this feature works well most of the time, we recommend keeping your phone’s location services enabled and the Wyze app running in the background for the most reliable experience.

The included keypad mounts beside your door and communicates via Bluetooth with the lock. It supports up to 20 unique access codes, making it perfect for family members, dog walkers, or cleaning services. You can create scheduled codes that only work during specific time windows—a feature typically reserved for much more expensive locks.

Smart Home Integration

The Wyze Lock integrates seamlessly with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, allowing voice-controlled locking (unlocking via voice is disabled by default for security). It also works with IFTTT for custom automations and integrates with other Wyze products for powerful routines. For example, you can set up a rule where unlocking the front door after sunset automatically turns on your smart lights.

Pros & Cons

August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen) — Best for Renters

The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock takes a fundamentally different approach from most smart locks: instead of replacing your entire deadbolt, it replaces only the interior thumbturn. This retrofit design means your existing keys, exterior hardware, and deadbolt mechanism all remain intact. For renters who can’t permanently modify their doors, or homeowners who love their existing lock hardware, the August is an ideal solution.

Design & Build Quality

The August lock is a compact, cylindrical device that mounts to the interior side of your door over the existing thumbturn. It’s available in silver, matte black, and dark bronze finishes. The exterior of your door remains completely unchanged—you won’t even know it’s a smart lock from the outside. This stealthy design is a major advantage for security-conscious users who don’t want to advertise their smart home setup.

Build quality is excellent, with a premium feel that belies its budget-friendly sale price. The August brand has been in the smart lock space for years, and the 4th generation reflects that experience in every detail.

Features & Performance

The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock’s standout feature is DoorSense, a small sensor that attaches to your door frame and tells the app whether your door is actually closed, not just locked. This eliminates the anxiety of wondering if you locked an open door. The auto-lock and auto-unlock features are among the most reliable in the industry, using a combination of WiFi, Bluetooth, and GPS to determine your proximity.

The August app is polished and feature-rich, offering detailed activity logs, guest access management, and integration with dozens of third-party platforms. You can grant access to guests for specific time windows, create recurring schedules for service providers, and revoke access instantly.

One area where the August lock falls short compared to competitors is battery life. The CR123A batteries typically last 3 to 6 months depending on usage, which is shorter than the AA-powered alternatives. The lock does provide low-battery warnings well in advance, and replacement batteries are readily available.

Smart Home Integration

August leads the pack in smart home compatibility. The 4th generation supports Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings, IFTTT, and dozens of other platforms including Airbnb and rental property management tools. This broad compatibility makes it one of the most versatile smart locks on the market, regardless of your preferred ecosystem. If you’re building a comprehensive smart home setup, the August lock plays nicely with virtually everything.

Pros & Cons

Ultraloq U-Bolt (Standard) — Best for Multiple Access Methods

If you want the maximum number of ways to unlock your door without breaking the bank, the Ultraloq U-Bolt is hard to beat. This feature-packed smart lock offers five different access methods: fingerprint scanning, keypad entry, smartphone app, mechanical key, and a unique shake-to-open feature that lets you unlock by simply shaking your phone. It’s like getting a premium smart lock at a budget price.

Design & Build Quality

The Ultraloq U-Bolt features a compact exterior unit with an integrated fingerprint sensor surrounding the keypad. The design is functional rather than flashy, with a weather-resistant housing rated for outdoor use. The interior unit is similarly compact and houses the motor and battery compartment. Overall build quality is impressive for the price, with a solid zinc alloy exterior that feels robust and secure.

Features & Performance

The fingerprint sensor is the star of the show here. It stores up to 20 fingerprints and reads them in under half a second, making it one of the fastest biometric scanners in the budget category. The sensor uses a 360-degree reading design, meaning you can place your finger at any angle and it will still register. In our testing, the fingerprint reader was accurate and reliable, with very few failed reads.

The backlit keypad supports up to 60 unique codes, which is significantly more than most competitors. You can create permanent codes, timed codes, temporary codes, and even cycling codes that change on a schedule. The shake-to-open feature, while gimmicky, works surprisingly well and provides a hands-free option when your hands are full of groceries.

One important note: the standard U-Bolt uses Bluetooth for smartphone connectivity, meaning you need to be within range of the lock to control it via the app. For remote access, you’ll need to purchase the Ultraloq WiFi Bridge separately, which adds to the total cost. However, even without the bridge, the lock functions perfectly with the keypad, fingerprint, and key access methods.

Smart Home Integration

With the optional WiFi bridge, the Ultraloq U-Bolt integrates with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for voice control. It also supports IFTTT for custom automations. The Ultraloq app is well-designed and offers comprehensive user management, activity logs, and settings customization. While the smart home integration isn’t as broad as August’s, it covers the essentials that most users need.

Pros & Cons

Hornbill Smart Door Lock — Best for the Tightest Budgets

When every dollar counts, the Hornbill Smart Door Lock delivers an impressive set of features at one of the lowest price points in the smart lock market. Don’t let the budget price fool you—this lock offers a backlit keypad, app control, auto-lock functionality, and solid build quality that rivals locks costing twice as much. It’s proof that you don’t need to spend a fortune to get a reliable smart lock.

Design & Build Quality

The Hornbill smart lock features a sleek, modern design with a black or silver finish. The exterior combines a touch-sensitive keypad with a hidden keyway for emergency access. The interior unit is compact and unobtrusive. While the materials don’t feel quite as premium as higher-end options, the construction is solid and weather-resistant, with an IP54 rating for outdoor durability.

Features & Performance

For its price, the Hornbill lock offers a surprisingly complete feature set. The keypad supports up to 150 user codes, which is more than any other lock on this list. You can create permanent, temporary, and timed codes through the companion app. The auto-lock feature automatically locks the door after a configurable delay (10 seconds to 5 minutes), ensuring you never accidentally leave your door unlocked.

The TTLock app (used by Hornbill and several other budget smart lock brands) is functional and reliable, if not the most polished app experience. It provides activity logs, user management, and remote unlocking when paired with the optional Bluetooth gateway. The gateway also enables integration with voice assistants.

One standout feature is the passage mode, which keeps the door unlocked during specified hours—perfect for times when you’re hosting a party or expecting frequent deliveries. The lock also features a low-battery alarm and emergency USB power port, so you’ll never be locked out due to dead batteries.

Smart Home Integration

With the optional gateway, the Hornbill lock works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. The integration is basic—you can lock the door via voice and check its status—but it covers the essential use cases. Without the gateway, the lock operates independently via the keypad and Bluetooth app. For users who primarily want keyless entry without smart home integration, the gateway is entirely optional.

Pros & Cons

Schlage Encode (Refurbished/Sale) — Best Security on a Budget

Schlage is one of the most trusted names in physical security, and the Encode smart lock brings that heritage into the connected home. While its retail price pushes it slightly above our typical budget threshold, the Encode frequently goes on sale or is available refurbished at prices that make it a legitimate budget contender. If security is your top priority, the Schlage Encode’s ANSI Grade 1 rating—the highest residential lock grade available—makes it worth the investment.

Design & Build Quality

The Schlage Encode is built like a tank. The exterior features a capacitive touchscreen keypad with a fingerprint-resistant coating that keeps the surface looking clean. The lock mechanism itself uses a commercial-grade motor and a reinforced deadbolt that resists kick-ins, lock picking, and bump attacks far better than budget alternatives. The interior unit is larger than some competitors due to the built-in WiFi radio, but it remains unobtrusive on most doors.

Schlage offers the Encode in several finishes including satin nickel, aged bronze, and matte black, allowing you to match your existing hardware. The lock comes with a limited lifetime mechanical and finish warranty, plus a 3-year electronics warranty—the best warranty coverage in this roundup.

Features & Performance

The Encode’s built-in WiFi means no additional hubs or bridges are needed for remote access. The Schlage Home app provides remote lock/unlock, access code management (up to 100 codes), activity logs, and real-time notifications. The lock also features a built-in alarm that can detect potential door attacks and alert you immediately.

The touchscreen keypad is responsive and well-lit, with numbers that appear only when touched. This not only looks sleek but also prevents wear patterns that could reveal your code to potential intruders. The lock supports auto-lock functionality and can be programmed with unique codes for different users, each with customizable schedules.

One trade-off for the Encode’s robust feature set is battery life. The built-in WiFi radio consumes more power than Bluetooth-only locks, resulting in approximately 6 months of battery life under normal use. This is shorter than some competitors but still manageable, and the lock provides ample warning before batteries need replacement.

Smart Home Integration

The Schlage Encode works natively with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit. It also integrates with Amazon Key for in-garage or in-home delivery, Ring security systems, and Samsung SmartThings. This broad compatibility, combined with Schlage’s reputation for reliability, makes the Encode an excellent choice for users who want a lock that will work seamlessly with their existing and future smart home security setup.

Pros & Cons

eufy Security Smart Lock Touch & Keypad — Best Fingerprint Smart Lock on a Budget

eufy, a brand under the Anker umbrella, has built a reputation for delivering high-quality smart home products at aggressive price points. The eufy Security Smart Lock Touch & Keypad continues that tradition by offering a fast, reliable fingerprint sensor, a full keypad, app control, and an included WiFi bridge—all at a price that significantly undercuts premium competitors with similar features.

Design & Build Quality

The eufy smart lock features a modern, minimalist design with a circular fingerprint sensor integrated into the exterior unit above the backlit keypad. The lock is available in black and silver finishes, with a weather-resistant construction rated for outdoor use. The interior unit is compact and houses both the motor and battery compartment. Overall, the design strikes a nice balance between functionality and aesthetics.

The included WiFi bridge is a significant value-add, as many competitors charge $30–$50 extra for this accessory. The bridge plugs into any outlet near your door and enables remote access, notifications, and voice assistant integration without any additional purchases.

Features & Performance

The fingerprint sensor on the eufy lock is fast and accurate, reading prints in approximately 0.3 seconds with a 3D imaging system that’s resistant to fake fingerprints. The lock stores up to 20 fingerprints and 20 keypad codes, providing ample capacity for most households. The sensor uses a push-and-pull design—simply place your finger on the sensor and pull the handle to enter.

The eufy Security app provides a clean, intuitive interface for managing users, viewing activity logs, and controlling the lock remotely. You can create permanent, temporary, and scheduled access codes, and the app sends instant notifications whenever the door is locked or unlocked. The auto-lock feature can be configured with a custom delay, and the lock also supports a one-touch locking feature from the exterior keypad.

One notable feature is the local storage of all data. Unlike some cloud-dependent smart locks, the eufy lock processes fingerprint data locally on the device, which is a significant privacy advantage. Your biometric data never leaves the lock itself.

Smart Home Integration

With the included WiFi bridge, the eufy lock integrates with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for voice control. Apple HomeKit support is available on the HomeKit-compatible variant, though it typically costs slightly more. The lock also integrates with other eufy security products, such as security cameras and video doorbells, for a cohesive security ecosystem.

Pros & Cons

Level Lock (Essential Edition) — Best Design on a Budget

The Level Lock takes a radically different approach to smart lock design: it hides all the technology inside a standard-looking deadbolt. From the outside and inside, it looks like an ordinary, high-quality lock—there’s no keypad, no touchscreen, no visible electronics. This invisible design philosophy makes the Level Lock the perfect choice for design-conscious homeowners who want smart functionality without the techy aesthetic.

Design & Build Quality

The Level Lock Essential is a marvel of miniaturization. The entire smart lock mechanism fits inside a standard deadbolt housing, with no visible difference from a traditional lock. It’s available in satin nickel, matte black, and satin chrome finishes, and the build quality is exceptional—Level uses stainless steel construction with a Grade 2 ANSI/BHMA rating. The lock is so well-designed that it won multiple industrial design awards.

The trade-off for this invisible design is the lack of a built-in keypad. Instead, you unlock the door using your smartphone, an optional key fob, Apple HomeKey (on HomeKit-compatible models), or the traditional key. For users who want keypad access, Level offers a separate wireless keypad accessory.

Features & Performance

The Level Lock Essential connects via Bluetooth and integrates deeply with Apple HomeKit, including support for Apple HomeKey—allowing you to unlock your door by tapping your iPhone or Apple Watch against the lock. This NFC-based system is fast, secure, and incredibly convenient for Apple users. The lock also supports auto-lock functionality and can be included in HomeKit automations alongside other Apple HomeKit devices.

The Level app is clean and minimal, reflecting the company’s design-first philosophy. It provides basic lock/unlock functionality, user management, and activity history. For Android users or those who want remote access, the Level Lock Connect bridge (sold separately) adds WiFi connectivity and broader smart home support.

Battery life is excellent thanks to the efficient Bluetooth-only design and single CR2 battery. Level rates the battery at approximately one year of typical use, and replacement CR2 batteries are inexpensive and widely available.

Smart Home Integration

The Level Lock Essential shines in the Apple ecosystem with full HomeKit and HomeKey support. For Alexa and Google Assistant integration, you’ll need the Level Connect bridge. The lock can also be integrated into broader home automation routines through HomeKit, making it a powerful component in Apple-centric smart homes.

Pros & Cons

Deck Score Rankings: How Our Picks Compare