A smart lock lets you open your door with a code or a fingerprint instead of a key, and some let you lock and unlock from your phone. The big decision is whether you want Wi-Fi at all. Here are four top-selling smart locks, how they differ, and what Canadian police and the Government of Canada say to check.
Prefer to watch? Here is the video walkthrough of how to choose a smart lock. Short on time? Watch the quick Short on whether you need Wi-Fi.
Quick answer
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Start with how you want to get in. A keypad lock is the simplest. A fingerprint lock is the quickest at the door. A Wi-Fi lock lets you lock and unlock from your phone.
A simple place to start: the Weiser Halo, ranked #4 in Deadbolts when we checked. It’s a Wi-Fi lock that connects without a hub. If you’d rather skip Wi-Fi, look at the Weiser Powerbolt 3 keypad lock.
Four smart locks, by how you get in
| Product | Best for | |
|---|---|---|
| Weiser Halo Wi-Fi Smart Lock | Best for locking and unlocking from your phone. #4 in Deadbolts when we checked. It joins your home Wi-Fi with no hub, stores up to 250 passcodes and comes with 4 AA batteries. The product page lists a 20-minute fire rating (UL certified) and BHMA Grade 2. Skip it if you want a fingerprint reader: it’s a touchscreen keypad lock. | See price |
| Weiser Powerbolt 3 keypad deadbolt | Best if you don’t want Wi-Fi. #3 in Deadbolts when we checked. A keypad lock with up to 25 user codes plus one-time codes, an auto-lock timer and a battery life of 12 months, per the product page. It’s BHMA Grade 3. Skip it if you want to lock or unlock from your phone: it has no Wi-Fi. | See price |
| Tapo Smart Wi-Fi Door Lock (DL110) | Best for fingerprint entry with a rechargeable battery. #7 in Deadbolts when we checked. It stores up to 100 fingerprints and unlocks in 0.42 seconds, and it also takes keypad codes, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, with backup physical keys. The product page says the removable USB-C battery lasts up to a year. Skip it if you’d rather not recharge a battery. | See price |
| DESLOC B200 Fingerprint Smart Lock | Best for cold winters. #2 in Deadbolts when we checked. A fingerprint lock that stores up to 50 fingerprints and unlocks in under 0.3 seconds. The product page lists an operating range of -30°C to 70°C (-22°F to 158°F), IP54 water resistance and BHMA Grade 3, with up to 12 months on 4 AA batteries and a USB-C emergency power port. Skip it if you want to lock from your phone while away: the app uses Bluetooth and the page says a separate gateway is needed for remote control. | See price |
Specs come from the retailer’s product pages and can change, so check the current page before you order.
What should a door have before it gets smart?
A smart lock is only as strong as the door and frame around it. The Edmonton Police Service’s door security advice:
- Use a deadbolt on every exterior door. The bolt should throw at least 1 inch (2.5 cm).
- Fasten the strike plate with long screws that go through the frame and into the wall stud. The police advice is a strike plate 6 to 8 inches long, or longer.
- Use solid wood or steel for exterior doors, not hollow-core.
- Keypad and electronic deadbolts can be fitted to existing door openings.
How do you keep a smart lock secure?
Most smart locks are connected devices, so the Government of Canada’s advice for smart devices applies:
- Change the manufacturer’s default username and use a strong password for your Wi-Fi and your smart devices.
- Turn on automatic updates, or update as soon as you’re prompted.
- Keep smart devices on a separate guest network if your router offers one.
- Turn Bluetooth and other features off when you’re not using them.
Common questions
Will a smart lock fit my door? Check the door prep on the product page. The Weiser Halo and Powerbolt 3 pages list a 2-1/8 inch bore, doors 1-3/8 to 1-3/4 inches thick and a backset of 2-3/8 or 2-3/4 inches. The DESLOC page lists doors 38 to 50 mm (1-1/2 to 2 inches) thick and a backset of 60 or 70 mm (2-3/8 or 2-3/4 inches).
What if the battery dies? Check that your lock has a backup key. The Weiser Halo and Weiser Powerbolt 3 product pages list two keys in the box, the Tapo page lists backup physical keys, and the DESLOC page lists a USB-C emergency power port.
Which of these are fingerprint smart locks? Two. The Tapo Smart Wi-Fi Door Lock stores up to 100 fingerprints and unlocks in 0.42 seconds, and it also takes keypad codes, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The DESLOC B200 stores up to 50 fingerprints, unlocks in under 0.3 seconds and lists an operating range of -30°C to 70°C. The Weiser Halo and Powerbolt 3 are keypad locks without a fingerprint reader.
Do I need Wi-Fi? No. The Weiser Powerbolt 3 is a keypad lock without Wi-Fi, which also means one less connected device to secure.
Before you buy
- Measure your door’s thickness and bore, and compare them with the product page.
- Decide how you want to get in: keypad, fingerprint, phone, or a mix.
- Check the battery type and keep spares if it takes batteries.
- Thinking about security more widely? Our video doorbell guide and smoke alarm guide cover two more things worth checking.
Sources: Edmonton Police Service, Door security; Get Cyber Safe, TVs and smart devices. Product details come from the manufacturers’ and retailer’s product pages, so check the current page before you order.
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