Best Smart Locks for 2026 (From a Locksmith)
The smart locks a working Harrisburg, NC locksmith actually installs in real homes — and why.
What is the best smart lock to buy?
For most homes: Schlage Encode Plus or Yale Assure Lock 2. Both are ANSI Grade 1 or 2, have built-in Wi-Fi (no extra hub), and survive years of weather on a North Carolina front door.
For renters or anyone who wants to keep their existing deadbolt and key: August Wi-Fi Smart Lock — it bolts to the inside of your current lock so the outside still takes the original key.
For short-term rentals: Schlage Encode with rotating guest codes, or Lockly Vision if you also want a built-in camera and doorbell.
Avoid no-name Amazon brands — they tend to fail the strike-plate alignment test, run out of firmware updates within 2 years, and make rekeying or warranty replacement a nightmare.