Best Smart Locks and Keypad Deadbolts for First-Time Homeowners (2026)

Our first-30-days checklist says to change or rekey the exterior locks in the first few days, because nobody knows how many copies of the old keys exist: the sellers, their relatives, a dog walker, a contractor from years ago. A smart lock can close that gap and mean you never hand out a key again, but only if you buy the right type.

This guide explains which smart locks retire the old keys and which leave them working. It covers BHMA grades, door fit, Wi-Fi vs. Matter, app security, and the one fire-safety rule you can't bend, then compares four locks from Schlage, Kwikset, August, and Yale.

The Old-Keys Problem, and Which Locks Solve It

A replacement smart deadbolt brings its own new cylinder

Most smart locks replace the whole deadbolt: the bolt, the outside keypad and cylinder, and the inside unit. A new deadbolt comes with a new cylinder and new keys, so the old keys are dead the moment you install it. Three of the four picks below work this way.

A retrofit lock keeps your old cylinder, so rekey it too

Retrofit locks like the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock mount on the inside of the door, over your existing deadbolt's thumbturn. The outside doesn't change, and August says outright that you keep your original keys. For a new homeowner, that means every old key still works. If you choose a retrofit lock, have the existing cylinder rekeyed too.

Keypad codes replace copies

Once a lock has a keypad, you stop cutting keys. The cleaner, the in-laws, and the contractor each get their own code, which you can limit to certain days or delete when the job ends. A lent key can be copied. A deleted code is simply gone.

Kwikset SmartKey: rekey it yourself later

Kwikset's SmartKey Security lets owners rekey a lock at the door without taking it apart, using the current key, the included SmartKey tool, and the new key. Kwikset notes that only someone with both the working key and the tool can do it. It's handy later, when a key goes missing or you want every door on one key.

Don't stop at the deadbolt. A keyed knob or handleset below it still takes the old key, so rekey or replace it, and cover the back, side, and garage doors too. If the house came with a smart lock, factory-reset it and set it up under your own account. Until you do, the previous owner may still have access.

What Actually Matters When You Choose One

Security grades: BHMA AAA and Grade 1, 2, 3

The Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association (BHMA) is the ANSI-accredited body that writes lock performance standards. Its residential deadbolt standard, ANSI/BHMA A156.40, rates Security, Durability, and Finish separately, each as A (best), B (better), or C (good), so AAA is the top rating. Other BHMA standards use Grade 1, 2, and 3, with Grade 1 the highest. Compare letters with letters and grades with grades, and trust only a grade the manufacturer publishes for that exact model.

Door fit: bore, backset, and thickness

Most U.S. exterior doors are drilled for a standard deadbolt: a 2-1/8 in. hole through the face, a 1 in. hole in the edge, and a backset (door edge to the center of the big hole) of 2-3/8 or 2-3/4 in. Replacement smart deadbolts generally fit doors 1-3/8 to 1-3/4 in. thick, and the Yale below takes up to 2-1/4 in. On a pre-drilled door, installation takes a screwdriver. Schlage recommends a #2 Phillips and warns that a power drill can strip the screws. Our tool kit guide covers the basics.

The bolt must throw freely

This step decides how long the batteries last. Kwikset calls misalignment between the bolt and the strike the most common cause of short battery life, because the friction makes the motor work harder. Throw the bolt by hand with the door open, then closed. If you have to push or pull the door to lock it, adjust the strike or tighten the hinges until the bolt slides home on its own.

The strike plate needs long screws

In a forced entry, the thin wood jamb around the strike is often what gives. Swap the short strike screws for 3 in. screws that reach the framing behind the jamb, and drill pilot holes first. Schlage's commercial deadbolts use 3 in. screws in the strike reinforcement for exactly this reason: to resist kick-in attacks.

Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Z-Wave, Zigbee, and Matter

• Wi-Fi built in: the lock joins your router directly, so you can lock, unlock, and change codes from anywhere. The trade-off is battery life, and many models need a 2.4 GHz network.
• Wi-Fi through a bridge: the lock talks to a small plug-in bridge that connects it to the internet (August sells its Connect Wi-Fi Bridge for this).
• Bluetooth only: the lock works only when your phone is near the door, with no remote alerts or code changes from away.
• Z-Wave or Zigbee: the lock connects to a hub, such as a security panel or smart home hub. Good if you already have one.
• Matter: a Connectivity Standards Alliance standard that lets one device work across the major smart home platforms, over Wi-Fi or Thread. Thread devices need a Thread border router, which many recent smart speakers and hubs include.

Apple Home Key, Google Home, and Alexa

Apple home keys put a key in Apple Wallet so you can tap an iPhone or Apple Watch on a supported NFC lock, and every resident in the Apple Home gets one. Among the picks below, only the Schlage supports them. Most Wi-Fi locks work with Alexa and Google Assistant, but check the maker's compatibility list for the exact model.

Access control: codes, schedules, and the log

Look for enough user codes for the household and regular visitors, schedules (a code that works only weekdays 9 to 5), temporary codes, auto-lock after a delay you set, and an activity log that records key entries too. Pair the lock with a video doorbell to see who's at the door before you unlock it from your phone.

Power and backup

Replacement smart deadbolts usually run on four AA batteries, and Wi-Fi drains them faster: Schlage and Kwikset quote roughly six months per set for their Wi-Fi models. Use the type the maker specifies (Kwikset says alkaline, not lithium or rechargeable, for Halo) and change them when the app warns you. If they die anyway, the keyed models open with the physical key, and the Yale has terminals under the keypad for a 9V jump-start.

Account Security and Privacy

Once a lock is in an app, the app account is a key to your house.

• Turn on two-factor authentication in the lock's app and the email account behind it, as the FTC and CISA recommend, so a stolen password alone can't get in. Kwikset says its app turns on two-step verification by default. For other apps, check the security settings.
• Use a unique password for the account.
• Remove old users' codes and app access when a contractor finishes or a roommate moves out, and skim the activity log now and then.
• Avoid guessable codes such as 1234, birthdays, or the house number.
• Keep the firmware updated, since manufacturers patch security problems through updates.

Fire Safety: Keep the Way Out Simple

At a Glance

Picks Worth Buying

1. Best overall — the all-rounder with the top grade

The Encode Plus replaces your whole deadbolt, so it arrives with its own cylinder and keys, and Schlage certifies it AAA for security, durability, and finish. Built-in Wi-Fi needs no hub. It holds up to 100 codes, each permanent, recurring, or temporary, and the app adds lock history, alerts, auto-lock, and an alarm for door movement or forced entry. It's the only pick here with Apple home keys, and it also works with Alexa and Google Assistant. It fits doors 1-3/8 to 1-3/4 in. thick. Pros: top published grade, the widest phone and voice support, built-in alarm. Cons: costs more than the Kwikset; Schlage quotes up to about six months per set of four AAs; rekeying later is a locksmith job. Best for: most front doors, especially in iPhone households.

2. Best keypad value — rekey it yourself

The Halo Keypad does most of what the Schlage does for less, and adds SmartKey: it ships with new keys, and if one goes missing you can rekey it yourself instead of calling a locksmith. Kwikset certifies Halo to BHMA AAA. Built-in Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz) needs no hub. The app schedules, disables, and deletes up to 250 user codes and logs locks, unlocks, and manual key entries. Auto Lock relocks after a delay you set, and the lock works with Alexa and Google Assistant. Kwikset rates four alkaline AAs at about six months, and the app warns you when they run low. Pros: do-it-yourself rekeying, top published grade, scheduled codes, two-step verification on by default. Cons: no Apple home keys (Kwikset offers those on its Halo Select Plus), 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi only, alkaline batteries only, and a plain push-button look. Best for: a keypad lock you can rekey yourself.

3. Best retrofit — keeps your deadbolt, so rekey it

August's lock replaces only the inside thumbturn. The outside stays the same, your deadbolt does the locking, and, as August says, you keep your original keys. That suits renters, but for a new homeowner it means the old keys still open the door, so rekey the existing cylinder when you install it. It fits most single-cylinder deadbolts and has built-in Wi-Fi with no bridge. Auto-Lock relocks the door when it closes or after a delay you set, DoorSense reports whether the door is actually shut, and guests can get virtual keys. It works with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit. Pros: no exterior change, quick install, DoorSense, wide platform support. Cons: doesn't retire the old keys; two CR123A lithium cells that August rates at up to three months; no keypad unless you add an August keypad; only as secure as the deadbolt underneath. Best for: renters, and owners who will rekey the existing lock.

4. Best with fingerprint — keypad, fingerprint, and a key

A fingerprint can't be handed to someone else or copied at a hardware store like a key, which is why this keyed Yale earns the spot. It's a full replacement deadbolt with its own cylinder and key, a push-button keypad for up to 250 entry codes, and a fingerprint reader. Yale says fingerprints are stored on the lock and encrypted. Built-in Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz) works with Alexa and Google Assistant, and Yale says the lock can be upgraded later with a Matter or Z-Wave smart module. It runs on four AAs, with 9V jump-start terminals under the keypad, and fits doors 1-3/8 to 2-1/4 in. thick. Pros: three ways in (finger, code, key), 9V backup, local fingerprint storage, upgradable radio. Cons: Yale publishes ANSI/BHMA Grade 2, a step below the top grade; 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi only; costs more than a keypad-only lock. Best for: households that want a way in that doesn't depend on a phone or a remembered code.

How We Chose

We compare the category first — what a first-time homeowner actually needs from a smart lock — then weigh manufacturer specifications, verified buyer feedback, and how the product type is used in real homes. We don't accept free products or payment for placement, and every pick names its compromise. How we research and review.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I rekey or replace the locks on a house I just bought?

Either, as long as it happens in the first few days. Rekeying keeps your hardware and changes the pins so the old keys stop working, which is cheaper when the locks are in good shape. A replacement smart deadbolt comes with a new cylinder and keys, so it does the same job and upgrades the door. Cover every exterior door, any keyed knob or handleset below a deadbolt, and the garage door opener codes.

Can a smart lock be hacked?

The practical risks are rarely exotic: a weak or reused app password, codes nobody deleted, and old firmware. Turn on two-factor authentication, prune users, and let the lock update. The mechanical grade and the strike screws still matter as much as the app.

What happens if the smart lock's batteries die?

The app warns you first, so change the batteries when it does. If the lock goes dead anyway, the keyed models open with the physical key, the Yale can be jump-started with a 9V battery, and the August sits on a deadbolt your existing key still opens.

Can I install a smart lock myself?

On a door already drilled for a standard deadbolt, yes. It's usually a screwdriver job. Drilling a new door, or fixing a sagging door so the bolt lines up, is where a carpenter or locksmith earns the fee. Our DIY vs. hire a pro guide covers where that line falls.

The Bottom Line

For most front doors, get the Schlage Encode Plus, a new AAA-rated deadbolt that retires the old keys and adds Apple home keys. For a cheaper keypad lock you can rekey yourself, get the Kwikset Halo Keypad Wi-Fi. Keeping your current deadbolt? The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock fits, but rekey the cylinder, because the old keys still work. For fingerprint entry, choose the Yale Assure Lock 2 Touch. Whichever you buy, make sure the bolt throws freely, put 3 in. screws in the strike, turn on two-factor authentication, and keep the inside thumbturn easy to reach.

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