Bluetooth Door Lock – Can You Remotely Lock and Unlock Your Door With a Bluetooth Door Lock?

Bluetooth smart locks are the most popular option for homeowners looking to add convenience and security. They are easy to install and connect to your smartphone using a mobile app.

They require a password for entry, making them less likely to be hacked by burglars. They also have a shorter range than Wi-Fi locks.

Keypad Deadbolts

In addition to eliminating the need for physical keys, smart lock keypads can also provide a way for users to remotely unlock doors. Whether you want to give a temporary code to a repairman or use a voice command through your smart speaker to lock and unlock, most models let you assign up to 100 access codes that can be revoked or deleted with a few taps on a smartphone app.

Some keypad deadbolts are stand-alone and don’t require a hub to work, while others connect directly to a home WiFi network using Z-Wave technology or the Apple HomeKit protocol. The latter can be useful if you manage a vacation rental property and need to grant temporary codes to cleaners, babysitters, or dog walkers. However, most smart locks that connect directly to your WiFi will burn through batteries faster than those with a hub.

The Schlage Sense is one of the easiest to install and most user-friendly WiFi keypad locks on the market, bluetooth door lock allowing homeowners to connect to the device using a free smartphone app and without a whole-home smart hub. You can add and delete PINs, set up schedules, receive alerts, and monitor usage from any location with a connected smartphone. It also includes DoorSense, a door sensor that can notify you when your door is open or closed.

Smart Door Locks

A smart lock lets you unlock your door remotely using your smartphone, set up guest access, and revoke access if someone loses or misplaces the code. Adding one to your home can also make it easier to track who comes and goes, and some models even integrate with smart-home systems like Alexa and Google Assistant.

Some smart locks use Wi-Fi to communicate with your phone and the cloud, while others rely on Z-Wave or ZigBee radios for remote control. Look for an ANSI/BHMA certification to ensure the lock meets industry standards for strength and security.

We’re big fans of the August Wi-Fi, which uses Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to control your lock (it automatically switches between the two depending on whether you’re at home or away). This feature keeps battery life high, as does a smart feature that locks the door when it senses your phone leaving its range.

Another top choice is the Defiant Smart Wi-Fi deadbolt, which offers multiple ways to enter the house, including an app, key codes, and physical keys. It has a premium finish and sleek, contemporary design, although it lacks the geofencing capabilities of our top picks. It does, however, include a Wi-Fi bridge in the box, making it easy to add to existing smart home setups, and its built-in gyroscope works well to relay the real-time status of the lock.

Z-Wave Locks

A smart lock with bluetooth and z-wave integration is great if you want the ability to use it with voice assistants like Alexa or Google Assistant. But if you need to control it remotely, you’ll need a hub or router that supports z-wave, which isn’t always easy and requires manual updates.

Unlike bluetooth, z-wave uses a different radio frequency to communicate with other devices in your home. It’s known as a mesh technology because the more devices you add to your network, the stronger the signal gets. It also has wider hub compatibility than bluetooth.

The best z-wave smart locks are compatible with most hubs, including Wink Hub 2, Samsung SmartThings and others. The Kwikset Obsidian with Home Connect and the Schlage Sense have the added benefit of supporting Apple’s HomeKit, which allows you to unlock your door using Siri commands.

Both the Kwikset and the Schlage lock are designed to replace your existing deadbolt, but they have some notable differences. The Kwikset is a more minimalist design with a keypad that lights up on touch. It works with a range of wireless sensors and can monitor your home’s temperature, humidity and water leaks. The Schlage Sense has a larger touchscreen and more features, including a camera that can see who’s on the other side of your door.

Wi-Fi Locks

If a smart lock doesn’t connect to your home network via Wi-Fi, it won’t be able to communicate with a smartphone app or a smart home hub. That means you can only control the lock with a physical key, the lock’s built-in keypad or other methods like voice commands from a connected speaker.

Many smart locks are designed to work with a smartphone app, and they can also integrate with smart-home hubs that allow you to view entry and exit logs in real time. That way you can know who’s coming and going from your house, whether you’re at home or away.

Some Bluetooth models come with a Wi-Fi bridge to enable bluetooth door lock remote access and integration with your phone and compatible smart home systems. For example, our long-running top pick the August Smart Lock has a Wi-Fi built in, so you don’t need to pay extra for the $79 August Connect that pairs your lock with your home network.

Another great option is the Yale Assure Lock 2 (about $260). It supports the most popular smart home standards including Alexa, HomeKit and SmartThings (and soon, Matter), which makes it easy to pair with a compatible hub or smartphone. It’s not as handsome as some of our other smart lock picks, but it’s a great value and has the added benefit of a tamper-deterrent alarm.