If you are a homeowner, you might wonder if you should buy a smart lock for your door. A smart lock is a device that allows you to lock and unlock your door remotely using your smartphone, voice assistant, or other smart devices.

You can also grant guests, family members, or service providers access without giving them a physical key. It sounds convenient, but is it worth it? 

Our best residential locksmiths in Miami, FL, will provide some pros and cons of smart locks and 4 affordable ones to consider.

Pros of Buying a Smart Lock

• Convenience: With a smart lock, you don’t have to worry about carrying keys, losing them, or forgetting them. You can simply use your phone or voice to lock and unlock your door. You can also set schedules, geofencing, or auto-lock features to ensure your door is always secure.

• Security: Smart locks can enhance your home security by alerting you of suspicious activity, such as someone tampering with your lock or trying to break in. You can also monitor who comes and goes from your home and revoke access anytime. Some smart locks even have cameras or biometric sensors to verify visitors’ identities.

• Flexibility: Smart locks can make your life easier by allowing you to share access with anyone you want, such as guests, family members, friends, or service providers. You can create temporary or permanent codes, send e-keys, or grant access via an app. You can also control when and how long they can access your home and track their activity.

Cons of Smart Locks

• Cost: Smart locks are more expensive than traditional locks, ranging from $100 to $300 or more, depending on the features and brand. You might also need to buy additional accessories, such as a bridge, a hub, or a keypad, to connect your smart lock to other devices or networks. Moreover, you might have to pay subscription fees or batteries to keep your smart lock running.

• Compatibility: Smart locks are not compatible with all doors and deadbolts. You might need to modify your door or replace your existing hardware to install a smart lock. You also need to check if your smart lock is compatible with your smartphone, voice assistant, Wi-Fi network, or other smart devices that you want to use with it.

• Reliability: Smart locks rely on technology that can sometimes fail or malfunction. For example, your smart lock might not work if there is a power outage, a network issue, a low battery, or a software glitch. You might also encounter hacking, jamming, or spoofing attacks that compromise your smart lock’s security. Therefore, you should always have a backup plan, such as a physical key or an emergency code, in case your smart lock fails.

Cost of Smart Locks

Smart locks allow you to lock and unlock your door using your smartphone, a keypad, a fingerprint scanner, or voice commands. They can also monitor who enters and leaves your home and integrate with other smart home devices and services. Smart locks can vary in type, features, and capabilities, which affects their cost. 

According to Forbes, smart locks can cost between $100 to over $300, depending on the model and installation. A smart lock deadbolt costs $150 on average, while a lever smart lock costs $200. Most high-quality smart locks usually start around $200.

According to PCMag, the cost of smart locks varies depending on their features and capabilities, but the price range is between $100 and $300.

Cost of Smart Lock Installation

You can buy a smart lock and call a residential locksmith to install it since it is a complicated installation process.

According to Fixr, the average cost ranges from $250 to $400 for a cheap locksmith near me to install a smart lock.

4 Affordable Smart Locks to Buy

Here are some affordable smart locks that you might find useful:

August Smart Lock (3rd Gen): This lock is priced at $100 and can be controlled using the August app. It also has auto-lock and auto-unlock features, and you can give out guest keys and track unlock activity.

Hornbill Smart Deadbolt: This lock is priced at $109 and has a sleek pin pad design. It can be installed in minutes and it has a mobile app that allows you to control it remotely.

Kwikset Home Connect 620: This lock is priced at $120 and can be controlled using the Kwikset app. It also has a touchscreen keypad and can store up to 30 user codes.

SwitchBot Smart Lock with Keypad: This lock is priced at $139 with a keypad and can be controlled using the SwitchBot app. It also has a keypad and can be installed without screws or drilling.