Best smart locks for Google Home
Having the best smart lock in your home means added peace of mind when you’re away or when you’re sound asleep at home. Compared to traditional locks, smart locks help trigger alarms instantly if someone is trying to tamper with it, and they also add a new level of convenience for guest access or hands-free access when you get home. If you wish to take your smart lock game to another level, you should really consider getting one that supports Google Assistant.
The best smart locks usually work with all the popular smart home ecosystems like Google Home, Amazon Alexa, and Apple HomeKit. You can get one to work with your existing deadbolt, or replace your entire lock with a more secure system. The numerous options include locks with keypads, fingerprint sensors, and even a built-in camera.
The Google Nest x Yale Smart Lock is the best overall option since it has been designed in collaboration with Google. There are plenty more though, and here are some of the best smart locks that work well with Google Assistant.
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At a glance
1. Google Nest x Yale Smart Lock
Best overall
This lock ties in beautifully with other Google Nest products with automated features like disabling your Nest Secure alarm when you come home. It can be unlocked automatically with your phone and has a backup number pad.
Read more below.
2. August Smart Lock (3rd Gen)
Best budget pick
The August Smart Lock unlocks automatically when your phone is in range and has a deadbolt thumb turn on the front, so you can still use it manually from the inside. Just keep in mind, you’ll also need to pick up the August Connect bridge.
Read more below.
Best style
This one connects directly to Wi-Fi, so no bridge is needed. It’s also got a standard keyhole for folks who don’t have or want to use a smartphone to unlock the door, and it works perfectly with all virtual assistants. Plus, the classic style of the lock works with nearly any home design.
Read more below.
4. Kwikset Halo Wi-Fi Smart Lock
Best for rentals
Ideal for rental properties, you can create up to 250 unique user codes with this smart lock, disable and delete them from the app, and even set up schedules. This handy feature means that each guest can have their own code that deactivates once their stay is over.
Read more below.
Best premium pick
This high-tech lock features a fingerprint reader that can save up to 99 prints, a digital number pad with rotating numbers for safety, a standard key slot, and a video doorbell. Thanks to the built-in solar panel, you won’t even have to recharge the batteries.
Read more below.
6. August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen)
Best discreet design
This is an upgraded version of the regular August lock and comes bundled with the Connect bridge for Google Assistant integration. It comes in a stylish circular housing, and unlike its cheaper counterpart, the Pro model supports HomeKit and Alexa.
Read more below.
Best overall
If your home is part of the Google Nest ecosystem, the Nest x Yale smart lock is pretty much tailor-made to the needs of your smart home. You can control this lock from anywhere using Google Assistant, and it ties in beautifully with your other Google Nest products with a bounty of automated features, such as disabling your Nest Secure Alarm when you come home.
You can also set it to unlock automatically with your phone, and there’s a backup number pad. Like most smart locks, you also have the ability to create unique passcodes for family and guests, and you can set a schedule to control when they work. Installation is pretty straightforward too, with no intense modification to your door needed. Just make sure you follow the included instructions and install the Nest app. One downside to the Nest x Yale smart lock is that there’s no Voice Unlock feature, which is a bit strange.
Best budget pick
Although it lacks the futuristic appearance and cutting-edge features of other August smart locks, the August Smart Lock is a great choice if you want smart security without breaking the bank. You still get the ability to control the locking and unlocking of your door from your mobile device, plus it’ll alert you if your door is ajar or if you forget to lock it before you leave the house. As someone who’s constantly wondering if they remembered to lock the front door, this is a great feature.
Installing the August Smart Lock is also quite simple, as it fits over your existing deadbolt on the inside of the door; the outdoor lock can remain untouched. You can even keep your existing keys for manual locking/unlocking. It’s a bit on the bulky side, however, so keep that in mind if you like your smart home devices to be sleek and discreet.
Best style
If you have the budget, the Schlage Encode Plus is one of the top-rated smart locks on the market. You get built-in Wi-Fi, of course, but you can also set up to 100 different access codes to give to friends and family and monitor the lock history of each user. You also get customizable notifications and voice control for Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit, and Amazon Alexa.
Installation is simple, too. You just need a screwdriver for most standard-sized doors. The lock is available in a few different color options and style varieties, so it shouldn’t interfere with the look of your home. Something else that helps this lock stand out is how it, well, doesn’t stand out. The classic design works with a wide range of home styles. We went for the rounded “Camelot” style in Aged Bronze, and the lock looks like it was meant to be there. The main issue of the Schlage Encode Plus is its price; prepare to spend at least $300.
Best for rentals
Although you obviously don’t have to be a rental owner to use and love the Kwikset Halo Wi-Fi Smart Lock, we think it’s a great choice if you run an AirBnB or vacation home for a few reasons. For starters, you can create up to 250 unique user codes at a time, set schedules for each one, and disable or delete them all directly from the app. That’s a really handy feature if you have a ton of guests coming and going.
If you have a contractor coming through, you also have the ability to set a one-time user code, plus you can remotely disable the keypad any time there’s an issue. Like most smart locks, the Kwikset Halo connects to your existing Wi-Fi network and it’s compatible with both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. Although it was a bit expensive when it first came out, the Kwikset Halo now regularly gets discounts, so keep an eye out for a good deal during the next sale.
Best premium pick
Whether you want the extra security or you just want to impress your guests with a James Bond smart lock, the Lockly Vision Elite is a feature-packed option that really lets you choose how you want to keep your home safe. The lock comes with a fingerprint reader that can store and remember up to 99 prints, plus there’s a PIN pad that scrambles the location of the numbers so others can’t snoop on you to figure out your code. Sure, that might seem like overkill, but that’s exactly what you should be looking for when it comes to home security.
Installation can be a bit tricky and it’s not the cheapest smart lock on the list, but the Lockly Vision Elite makes up for these issues with a bounty of helpful features. You also get a door sensor that’ll notify you when your door is ajar. Plus, the app is easy to use and comes with additional features like access code scheduling and a battery life indicator.
Speaking of the battery life, thanks to the solar panel built into the keyhole cover, you don’t have to worry about your lock’s batteries dying. The Lockly Vision Elite gets the vision part of its name thanks to the video doorbell functionality included in this device. This lock is an all-in-one solution for securing your home.
Best discreet design
Perhaps the most interesting-looking lock on the list, the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen) is a round device that fits over your existing deadbolt on the inside of your door, so outsiders will have no idea that you even have a smart lock installed. This design also means that the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock is super easy to install, you’ll just need your trusty screwdriver.
As we detail in our August Wi-Fi Smart Lock review, the lock also has built-in Wi-Fi, so you wont need an additional hub, plus, it has features like Door Sense which lets you know when your door is ajar. You also have the option to use biometric authentication, which means you can lock or unlock the door using your face or fingerprint.
How to choose
Smart locks are very popular these days as the benefits and versatility are huge. It’s equally important to choose the right one for your needs. Here are some of the points to keep in mind.
Price: Smart locks typically range from around $90 to $400, and the features and capabilities directly dictate how much you’ll be paying. You don’t have to spend fortune in order to get the best security, as there are plenty of good cheap smart locks too from reputed brands that do the job just fine.
Features: Decide what features are important to you in order to narrow down your options. A simple Wi-Fi smart lock that works with your door’s existing deadbolt will be cheaper compared to the one that has a keypad and features like auto-lock when you leave the house.
Power source: A smart lock is an IoT device, which means it requires power to stay connected to the internet. Depending on where you live and how reliable your electricity supply is, you can choose from locks that are battery operated, hardwired to your home’s power source, or a mix of both worlds.
Which smart locks work with Google Assistant?
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While all of these smart locks support Google Assistant for voice controls like locking and unlocking remotely, only a few of them can do so as standalone smart locks for Google Home. The Google Nest x Yale Smart Lock works independently of any bridges or hubs, connecting directly to your Wi-Fi network. It’s our favorite smart lock on the list, and it’s made even better if you already use some of Nest’s other products.
Schlage Encode Plus is the best backup option and might even be preferable if you have Apple users in your home. While the Nest x Yale lock also works great with Apple products, the Schlage Encode Plus can be unlocked with just a tap of an iPhone or Apple Watch when the Apple Home Key is set up. Plus, this one connects directly to Wi-Fi and even has a physical key backup option.
The August Smart Lock operates strictly off Bluetooth, meaning you won’t be able to control it when you’re away from the house, but you can still control it with Google Assistant when you’re nearby. While this sounds negative initially, the August Smart Lock can reduce the risk of Wi-Fi hacking or disruption by sticking with only Bluetooth. Of course, you can still grant access to friends or Airbnb guests with PIN codes or Bluetooth keys.
Do you need a bridge/hub?
For some smart locks, you’ll need to keep a specialized Wi-Fi bridge plugged into the wall somewhere near the lock for full remote operability. August’s Wi-Fi Smart Lock comes bundled with the August Connect bridge, but you’ll need to buy it separately if you get the standard 3rd-generation Smart Lock.
Typically sitting in the $60-$70 range, these bridges aren’t cheap, and they’re yet another added cost for you to consider. However, they add such vital connectivity to their respective products that it’s hard to not recommend them. If you don’t want to invest in an add-on product for your lock, look for one with built-in Wi-Fi. Such locks are easier to install and setup, and work with your existing home network.
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