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While not featured in home security systems, smart locks are a great investment for households looking for the highest level of security. Smart locks make it easier to keep track of people coming in and out of the home and offer homeowners and residents different options for entry, such as fingerprint recognition, keypad codes and fobs.
The best smart lock won’t be the same for every household. When deciding on a smart lock, you need to consider what type of door and lock you currently have, what features you want to prioritise and what your budget is.
Our experts have rounded up the best smart locks for UK households. We’ve catered to a range of door and lock types as well as budgets to help you make the right decision.
Our research and scoring show the Ultion Nuki to be the best overall smart lock. The simple installation process, multiple security features, integration with UK doors and ability to upscale make it perfect for any household.
If the Ultion Nuki doesn’t suit your needs, we’ve hand-picked 4 other smart locks for you to compare. Each model ranges in price, smart-home compatibility and lock type so you can find the best smart lock for your home.
| Ultion Nuki | Yale Linus Smart Lock L2 | Nuki SmartLock Pro 4th Gen | SwitchbotLock | Igloohome Smart Mortise 2 | |
| Price* | £259 | £220 | £255 | £129.99 | £389.99 |
| Lock type | Lever | Deadbolt | Deadbolt | Deadbolt | Mortice |
| Opening mechanism | Physical key, electronic key, auto-unlock, optional key fob and fingerprint keypad | Phone app, smart watch, optional keypad | Physical key, phone app, smart watch, optional fob, keypad and sensor | Voice control, Apple Watch, Bluetooth, NFC tags, physical key and optional keypad | Physical key, Bluetooth, keypad, RFID tags/stickers and key card |
| Power source | Batteries | Rechargeable batteries | Batteries | Batteries | Batteries |
| Connects to | Apple HomeKit, IFTTT, Homey and Amazon Alexa, Google Home and Airbnb (with separate bridge) | Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings and Philips Hue Smart Lights | Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomeKit and Samsung SmartThings | Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Siri, IFTTT, Samsung SmartThings and Apple HomeKit (with separate SwitchBot Hub 2) | Airbnb via app |
Ultion and Nuki have banded together to create one of the best smart locks on the market. The Ultion Nuki is designed to work with PVC and composite doors. Since it requires no drilling or wiring, it’s ideal for DIY enthusiasts.
The Ultion Nuki can lock or unlock on arrival thanks to geofencing support. It can also be opened via fingerprint recognition or with a physical key. Keep in mind that you won’t be able to use your existing key due to the specialised mechanism, but you can request replacement keys for free. If you want more ways to access your home, you can invest in a fob, keypad or both for an additional cost of £49, £145 and £166, respectively.
If you want a more advanced model, consider investing in the Ultion Nuki Plus for £379. This smart lock comes with built-in wifi access from anywhere and a rechargeable battery.
The Ultion Nuki smart lock is ideal for all properties and suits homeowners and renters. Its DIY nature means anyone can install it in minutes. Thanks to the inclusion of a manual key, you won’t have to worry about being locked out during a power outage.
Support for Apple HomeKit and IFTTT – as well as Amazon Alexa, Google Home and Airbnb with a separate bridge – offers further control and the ability to control your locks through your existing ecosystem.
If you’re comfortable with the price tag, the Ultion Nuki is one of the best all-around smart locks for UK homeowners and renters who value their security.
The Linus lock from Yale is one of the more attractive options available. (Yale)
The Yale Linus Smart Lock L2 is one of the best options if you care about aesthetics as well as safety. This sleek smart lock can be installed at home and doesn’t require any modifications to your front door, making it suitable for both renters and homeowners.
If you do require professional installation, you can pay £149.99 for the Yale smart door lock installation service.
Unlike its predecessor, the Yale Linus Smart Lock L2 can be set to unlock or lock at specified times and auto-unlock when you arrive home. With the Connect Wi-Fi Bridge, you can also access remote monitoring and receive smart alerts using the Yale Home app.
Despite being touted as a keyless smart lock, our experts highly recommend using the included Thumbturn Adaptor, which enables the use of a physical key. This is to ensure you won’t accidentally end up locked outside because of a power outage or issues with the Yale Home app.
This sleek design comes in two colours, so you can choose between silver and black, depending on which would look better with your door. It’s a good starter option, as it’s not overly expensive and can be modified to your needs. There are also add-on devices you can include when you buy this lock, including the Yale smart keypad, which gives you another way to unlock the door.
Nuki’s lock can be added to an existing deadbolt lock for simple installation. (Nuki)
If you want something that will attach to your existing lock, the upgraded 4th generation Nuki Smart Lock Pro is a great option with many advantages. Integrated wifi means you can use the app on your phone or smartwatch to open the door while still having the option to use a physical key.
Pressing the button on the Nuki Smart Lock twice will activate ‘lock and go’, meaning the door will lock behind you once you enter. Setting up this function means it will recognise you when you approach the door and unlock itself for you, ideal for when your hands are full. If you want more ways to access your property, a keypad and door sensor can also be purchased for an additional fee.
This lock allows access to up to 200 people with the option to set access to recurring, regular or one-time only. If you want to see who’s been coming and going from your property, you can use the activity log on your Nuki app.
SwitchBot’s lock simply adapts existing locks, so is great iof you don’t own your home. (SwitchBot)
If you don’t want to make any alterations to your door, the SwitchBot Lock is a fantastic option. This smart lock can be easily attached and detached from your lock without any drilling or wiring required, making it great for renters.
The SwitchBot Lock touts 7 different ways to access your property depending on which extras you decide to purchase. Thanks to its smart-home compatibility, you can use your voice to unlock your door with eligible devices from Amazon Alexa, Google Home and Siri, among others. If you choose to add a keypad, you can open the door using a code or fingerprint activation, as well as your existing physical key.
While not the most aesthetically pleasing lock on this list, the low price and simple installation process make the SwitchBot Lock a great pick for renters or those just stepping into the smart lock space.
Igoohome’s smart lock syncs with Airbnb so allow short-term keyless entry. (Igloohome)
The Igloohome Smart Mortise 2 stands out from the crowd by going back to basics and shunning smart-home compatibility and wifi integration. This smart lock uses a physical key, Bluetooth compatibility and RFID tags and stickers to allow entry into your home.
You can send guests PIN codes via apps such as WhatsApp, SMS or Facebook Messenger, so there’s no need for other people to download the Igloohome app. PIN codes can be set to last for a certain amount of time and be given while away from the home so guests can access the property whenever needed.
Airbnb hosts can synchronise listing calendars with an Igloohome account for PIN codes to be automatically generated for guests at specific times. Keep in mind that due to the lack of wifi connection, you cannot sync your Igloohome Smart Mortise 2 with any smart-home apps or control it via voice commands.
Installing a smart lock is, for the most part, a simple process that shouldn’t prove too difficult for the amateur DIY enthusiast. Depending on what type of smart lock you opt for, installation will include adding a device to your existing locking mechanism or replacing it with a new one, but neither of these are too complex and will be explained in full when you purchase your smart lock.
Some locks will be a bit trickier because they come with a keypad, doorbell or another add-on that might take a little longer to install. If you have reservations, some companies offer professional installations for a fee, or you can contact a locksmith service that assists with smart lock installation.
Smart locks vary in price, but you should expect to pay somewhere between £100 and £300, depending on the model and features you desire. A smart lock should be considered an investment, and you’ll want it to last you a long time, so it’s worth paying a little bit extra for something you’re happy with and will suit your needs best.
The majority of smart locks will either replace or adapt to the lock type your door already has (deadbolt or lever). We’ve found that deadbolt replacement/adaptor style locks are more common, but if you have a door with a lever lock type, you shouldn’t struggle to find a suitable smart lock.
If the smart lock replaces your lock, this will mean a little more work to install, and it’ll also be more of an effort to remove the smart lock if you decide against it. Before buying, you should consider which type of smart lock suits you best depending on your needs.
Smart locks can provide your home with a lot more security than a standard model. Misplacing your physical keys can be unsettling, and knowing you have other options can offer peace of mind.
Depending on the opening mechanism, a smart lock enables you to open the door with a fingerprint, voice recognition, on your app or Apple Watch or with a unique code on the keypad. You’ll have complete control over who can access your home, and if you have guests entering the property (for example, if you’re an Airbnb host), some models will allow you to give out limited-time codes and other modes of entry to ensure security is prioritised.
Smart-home compatibility is an important factor when choosing a smart lock, as you want to make sure your new lock will work with any existing ecosystems. Luckily, there are lots of options for various types of locks, so you’ll most likely find there’s something out there that works for you.
If you require your new smart lock to connect to the smart assistant you currently use, for example, Google Home, Amazon Alexa or Samsung SmartThings, you’ll find that the majority of smart locks will connect to a variety of these – either through the wifi that’s built into the device or via a separately purchased ‘bridge’ that will connect your smart lock system with your smart assistant.
Encryption is a way of encoding data to make sure that only authorised people can access it. The data on a smart lock system might include footage of people who use the lock as well as the personalised codes or fingerprints used to get into the property with the lock. A smart lock should have robust encryption to protect your data and ensure it’s impossible to hack into. Most smart locks use Advanced Encryption Standard with 128 bits (AES-128), but some use AES-256, which is the encryption used by banks and other high-security companies.
Yes, smart locks are usually powered by batteries, either AA or AAA, and some use rechargeable batteries, eliminating the need to keep purchasing new ones. More rarely, a smart lock will wire into your power supply.
Smart locks are rarely included in home security systems, although some home security system brands, such as Yale, do offer smart locks as separate products. If you already own a home security system, a smart lock can be a great way to increase security, especially if you’re concerned about the entry points to your property.
