The best smart locks you can buy to make your front door high-tech by Christian de Looper on Feb 7, 2018, 11:16 AM The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase. 
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You don't need an expert to install a high-tech security system anymore, thanks to the many smart home devices you can install yourself. If you want a smart lock to protect your home, we recommend the August Smart Lock Pro because it's easy to use and very secure. The home is getting a whole lot smarter, and home security is a big focus for tech companies. From smart security cameras to smart doorbells, connected technology can allow you to keep a much closer eye on your home. But what about your actual door? It turns out that there are a ton of great smart locks that you can install in your front door. There are a few things to consider before you choose which smart lock is right for you and your home. For starters, you’ll want to think about whether you want to replace the entire deadbolt, or simply buy a retrofit lock that will allow you to use your old keys. Retrofit locks generally fit onto your lock on the inside of your door, giving you smart control while eliminating the hassle of having to use new keys. Full deadbolt replacements, however, have their own advantages. For starters, some of them offer much easier input methods on the outside of the door, like a number pad or touch sensitivity. You’ll also want to think about how you want to integrate the lock with the rest of your smart home. A number of locks are beginning to offer compatibility with smart home systems like Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings, Amazon Echo, and Google Assistant. To make it easier, we've rounded up the best smart locks you can buy for your home, whether you want a retrofit option or an entirely new deadbolt. SEE ALSO: The best doorbells you can buy whether you want a smart doorbell or a wireless one The best smart lock overall  Why you'll love it: The August Smart Lock Pro is well-designed and easy to use, plus it offers smart home compatibility and automatic features like geofencing. August has made quite a name for itself in the smart lock business over the past few years, and for good reason. The August Smart Lock Pro is the follow-up to the original August Smart Lock, and it’s been highly reviewed countless times, thanks to its easy installation, high level of connectivity, and excellent app. Installing the August Smart Lock Pro is pretty easy, and it should take about 10 to 15 minutes. Instead of replacing your entire deadbolt, the device simply replaces the back, inside portion of it, so you’ll be able to keep your normal deadbolt installed. Once installed, you can connect the August Smart Lock Pro to a range of smart home systems. Those include the likes of Nest, Samsung SmartThings, Amazon Echo, Google Assistant, HomeKit, and so on. It's safe to say that you’ll be able to connect your lock to pretty much any smart home system. Best of all, the August Smart Lock Pro works automatically. You can set it to automatically lock when you leave and unlock when you get home, so you don’t have to worry about forgetting to lock the door when you leave the house. It'll also alert you if your door is unlocked. The August Smart Lock Pro has been pretty highly reviewed, too. The device was awarded a score of 8/10 from Wired, while CNET gave it an equivalent 4/5. Pros: Well-designed, easy-to-install, smart, highly compatible Cons: A little expensive
The best deadbolt replacement smart lock  Why you'll love it: The Kwikset Kevo is highly secure, but the best thing about it is its super easy tap-to-unlock feature. Kwikset has been building locks for decades, and its expertise in the field continues to be unmatched. So much so that we think the Kwikset Kevo is the best deadbolt replacement smart lock you can buy. Installation of the lock is relatively easy, but once it's installed, using the device only gets easier. Kwikset is known for its “tap to unlock” technology, whereby the lock connects to your phone through Bluetooth, so you can just tap the lock to lock or unlock your door. If you want expanded compatibility and connectivity, you can buy an add-on accessory called Kevo Plus, which plugs into your Wi-Fi router and connects your lock to the internet, so you can control your lock remotely. When it comes to smart home compatibility, the Kevo isn’t the best around, but it can connect to an Amazon Echo, has an IFTTT channel, and works with Nest, August, and Ring. For many of those smart home connections, the Kevo Plus add-on is required. Pros: Easy to use, easy to install, tap to unlock, can unlock remotely with Kevo Plus Cons: Expensive, not as compatible as some others
The best keypad smart lock  Why you'll love it: The Schlage Sense lock is pretty easy to install and offers a decent app, but the keypad brings its ease of use to the next level. Schlage is another classic lock maker that brings a lot of experience to the table. The company has launched a few smart locks over the past few years, and we think the best of them is the Schlage Sense. Like the Kwikset Kevo, the Schlage Sense offers key access, but it also has an easier input method: a keypad. You can create and use codes to lock and unlock the door. That’s very helpful for guests because it means you can create a code for them, then delete it when they no longer need to access your home. The Schlage Sense connects largely through Bluetooth, but it can also connect to the internet through the Schlage Sense Wi-Fi adapter, which gives remote access. The device isn’t as compatible with smart home systems as some smart locks, but it’s still friendly with Apple’s HomeKit and Amazon Alexa. The Schlage Sense lock is easy to install in 10 to 15 minutes. It’s battery operated, so it works even when the power goes out. The battery should last about one year, and the lock will alert you weeks before it runs out of battery power. The lock has gotten some pretty great reviews, too. TechHive gave it 4/5 stars, while Tom’s Guide gave it a slightly more conservative 7/10. On Amazon, it sits in with an average of 4/5 stars. Pros: Easy to install and use, works with HomeKit and Alexa Cons: A little expensive, could offer better integration
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